THE GOG BLOG SPEAKS OUT- 20 YEARS LATER WE MISS PAYNE

THE BAER NINE IS OPEN and so are 18 renovated holes at the Schaumburg Golf Club at 401 North Roselle Road. If you have not played the new 18, you should before the temperatures force your game indoors for the winter. The renovation work on the Tournament Nine is moving forward, and should be open by the middle of next summer. Schaumburg is emerging as one of the best public golf courses in the Chicago area. So make sure you go check it out. Once the outdoor season closes, the simulators in the clubhouse are very good. And new courses have just been added. At Schaumburg you can always enjoy Chandlers Chophouse for great food and beverage. This weekend is the Turkey Shoot, go tee it. Schaumburggolf.com or call the pro shop (847)-885-9000.   _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin or Facebook. Doing the Payne pose at Pinehurst No.2

THIS FRIDAY it will have been 20 years, since we lost Payne Stewart.

So who can ever forget Payne, I think anybody that has ever met him has a great story to tell.

I interviewed Payne a few times, and he had some great thoughts. On could the USGA hold a U.S. Open at Cog Hill on Course #4, Stewart,” I’ll bet the USGA could come in here and do all sorts of wonderful things to this place.”

On the biggest win of his career, Stewart told me it was the Quad Cities Classic-or the Hardee’s Classic at the time (now the John Deere Classic). Why ? Because it’s the only tournament his father saw him win before he passed away from cancer. His thoughts on the Ryder Cup were so direct, that every USA Ryder Cup Team should hear him talk about what it meant to him to be part of that team. Maybe Steve Stricker can find the video or audio for the team room next year.

I take pride in having played the three courses Stewart won majors on. Kemper Lakes the PGA in 1989, Hazeltine the U.S. Open in 1991, Pinehurst No.2 in 1999. Where he closed it out on 18 with a great putt. I have tried making that putt several times, and have not made it yet. You can try as well, visit Pinehurst.com and make your tee time on the 2024 U.S. Open course, and host of this years U.S. Amateur Championship. This Friday, take a moment to remember Payne Stewart, golf could use more pro’s like him.

Mistwood Golf Club and Gof Dome owner Jim McWethy, talks about his club. If you haven’t played Mistwood yet, you are missing out. Mistwoodgc.com (815)-254-3333 in Romeoville.

Outdoor golf season seems to be fading on us, as temperatures are starting to dip, into the 50’s and 40’s.

Tomorrow it could make 60 degrees, I suggest you take advantage of it. I think I will. If you are posting scores for your handicap, the days left to get rounds in are winding down to zero, as the CDGA will cut off local rounds for handicap at the end of the month.

ARE YOU HAPPY with the scores of your rounds of golf this year, and if you feel like your clubs have let you down. And you should be getting more out of your game with better equipment, maybe it’s time to visit a club-fitter. Because you need to see what improvements can be made. Our story about Willowbrook based fitter Club-Champion will be along this week.

I’M Looking forward to try out two new putters I have acquired in the last three weeks, including my first Callaway Odyssey putter, a Marksman Seven-S.

The new suites at the French Lick Casino, opening November 15th. Frenchlick.com

ON THE TEE SHEET for later this week, is a look at the new suites that are now under construction at the French Lick Resort.

The suites along with the new Valley Sports Bar, and French Lick Casino, should be attractive for guests.

French Lick resort now has sports book betting, so if your ready to bet what you can’t bet here in Illinois, go try the French Lick Resort. Frenchlick.com.

Mistwood Golf Club teaching professional Nicole Jeray warms up, after a cold third round in the Senior LPGA Championship.

IT WAS great covering the Senior LPGA Women’s Championship at the French Lick Resort last week.

Everyday I checked in with Mistwood Golf Club teaching professional Nicole Jeray during the tournament, where she finished the championship in a tie for 36th place. Jeray is real delight to talk golf with, and fun to watch play when competing in a tournament. She has won the Illinois Women’s Open twice, and has multiple runner-up finishes.

It’s amazing how close Jeray is to breaking through on a top finish, in a Legends Tour event, or a women’s senior major tournament. Even though she still has a couple of years left before she is old enough to play in the U.S. Sr. Women’s Open (where you must be 50 years old to enter). Jeray held on to her LPGA Tour card until just recently, when she decided to take a job at Mistwood Golf Club and Golf Dome as a teaching professional.

Jeray is coaching the high school girls team at Nazereth High School, where two players qualified to go downstate to the state championship. So while Jeray is working with junior golfers and women at Mistwood. Men looking to take a lesson, would be smart to consider Jeray. Because Women touring professionals often have games that compare with the men’s game. To book lessons with Jeray or other members of the Mistwood Golf Club professional staff, see Mistwoodgc.com or call (815)-254-3333.

MANAGEMENT at KEMPERSPORTS confirms to Golfers on Golf that the White Pines Golf Dome will not be put up this winter. But all options are on the table for next year, in the winter of 2020-2021. The shell was showing it’s age, and so it was not in good enough condition for another season.

RAVISLOE GOLF CLUB has made some changes. Among them was parting company with head golf professional Andrew Godfrey and general manager Jeff Siegmund.

Stay clicked in, because the Gog Blog returns this week. RS

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About Rory Spears

Rory spent over 8 years growing up working at Rob Roy Golf Club in Prospect Hts.IL, then two years at Chevy Chase in Wheeling. He has covered golf in Chicago since 1986. Rory was one of the initial members of WSCR all-sports radio Chicago and covered golf there for 5 seasons, before moving on to work for ESPN/Sportsticker and ESPN Radio. In addition to hosting Golfers on Golf Radio on WCPT AM820 Chicago, he writes for both the Chicago District (CDGA) Magazine, and formerly Chicagoland Golf. Rory has played over 525 courses in 39 states, and rates golf courses. He does golf course management and communications consulting, within the golf industry.