Enjoy ocean and golf course views from your room at the Hammoch Beach Resort in Palm Coast Florida. See HammockBeach.com or call (386)-246-5500

BY: RORY SPEARS, Editor & Direct of Content.

The Atlantic Ocean sits not much more than 100 feet behind the 8th green pictured here.

It’s Florida and the ocean is close by, somehow it’s a golf course that has the Golden Bear written all over it.

Credit the ownership of the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast for bringing the game of golf’s greatest player to design a course on the ocean in golf crazy Florida.

The Ocean Course at the Hammock Beach Resort is a Jack Nicklaus signature designed golf course. While the tips play at 7,201 yards to a rating of 75.5 and a slope of 144, those numbers could be higher if you catch the course on a day where the wind howls in off the ocean. The six holes on the course where the ocean come into play, are more than any other course in Florida.

The Par 3, 17th hole has the ocean lurking right behind it.

Your day at the course starts by arriving at the clubhouse where a friendly staff greets you by taking your clubs. Once your settled in, you take your cart over to the full-sized driving range. Behind you some hundred and 125 yards away you hear the sound of the ocean rolling up on the beach. You can enjoy the sights and sounds of the ocean while you practice on the putting green.

The golf course starts off be heading inland through the property and home or condos that sit along the golf course. While you might not see the ocean for the first seven holes, you will see plenty of water as you navigate your way around the course.

The 192 yard Par 3, 4th hole on the Ocean Course.

More of the water comes into play on the front nine after the first hole. For those of you who worry about long water carries, there are not many of those those. Most of the water runs along the sides of the holes.

When you reach the 8th and 9th holes you can hear and then see the ocean. While pace of play is important, do bring your camera’s. You will want a shot or two of these holes and a group photo.

The back nine starts by taking you away from the ocean, but several holes wrap around small ponds, until you reach the 15th hole with the ocean coming back into view behind the green. The 16th hole has ocean views from the tee box, the par 3 17th hole has ocean views the entire hole. The par 4, 18th hole much like the 9th, runs along the ocean taking you back into the clubhouse.

The green of the 468 yard par 4, 9th hole.

The par 3, 8th hole and the par 3 17th hole will get most of the attention because they have the ocean views. But the par 3,12th hole that can play 225 yards from the tips, has a green that is flanked on three sides by water and will give any golfer a memorable tee shot.

Nicklaus designed the course with five sets of tee’s so the course is enjoyable for golfers of any skill level. The front tee’s sit at 5,115 yards.

When you have finished your round, why not enjoy your 19th hole with great food and favorite beverage at the Atlantic Grill on the second floor of the clubhouse, complete with views of the golf course and the ocean. The pro shop on the first floor is completely stocked with a full line of great golf apparel and more.

Several national golf publication have rated the course on their best in state or resort course lists. It has been rated in the top 50 best courses in the country for women.

For more information on the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort, call the clubhouse at (386)-447-4611 or the resort at (386)-246-5500. Online visit HammockBeach.com.

INNISBROOK GOLF RESORT, PALM HARBOR FLORIDA. HOME OF THE VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP. VISIT INNISBROOKGOLFRESORT.COM.

The Ocean Hammock Beach Resort Hotel. BY: Rory Spears Editor and Director of Content.

There are plenty of choices to pick from when you look for resort golf in Florida.

But one property you should pick is the Ocean Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast just south of St. Augustine on the east coast of the state.

While there are numerous golf resorts to pick from, not many can offer both ocean views from your room and from the golf course.

Ocean Hammock is the home to 36 holes of golf and you can’t go wrong with either golf course, both offer great challenges to test your game while still being fun for golfers of all levels.

The Clubhouse at the Conservatory Golf Course, that will host the Big Ten Match Play Championship this coming week.

The Conservatory Golf Course is a Tom Watson design, is located a few miles from the hotel but is an easy drive over from the resort. If only your drives on the course were as easy to hit.

Shortly after the club opened in 2004, it hosted a fall series event for the PGA Tour. Now the Big Ten is coming in with it’s spring season match play championship. the No.1 team in the country Illinois will be the top seed.

The golf course challenges all aspects of your game. If you find it on a windy day it can be rough going. While the rough wasn’t deep, the fairway bunkers can be. If you want a tip from the club’s professional, it’s a simple one. Stay out of the fairway bunkers.

One of the fairway pot bunkers on the Par 4, second hole.

Watson’s love of the British Open show’s here at the Conservatory with his use of the pot bunker. Not all of them are flat either, some sit up in air or on mounds or slopes.

The fairways have plenty of mounds and slopes, much like what is found on courses in Scotland or Ireland. Golf courses with that look, are often played with a bump-and-run game mostly found on windy days. Something that you could find on your next round at the Conservatory.

Standard fairway bunkers found on early on the back nine.

The tenth hole is one of the most interesting par 5’s you will ever play. To put it mildly, there is plenty going on there.

A rolling fairway, full of mounds and bunkers, both sand and grass will leave golfers looking for that spot where they can get a flat lie. But one other thing that stands out is the routing of the “cart path”. That path is the bunker that runs across in front of the green. Long large waste bunkers run through out the course, especially on the back nine where you drive carts right through the bunkers on several holes.

The Conservatory can play a lengthy 7,776 yards from the back (Black) tees. There are six sets of tee’s with front tee’s playing from 5,235. The Black tee rating is 78.2 and with a slope of 150. The course has been ranked several times, by a variety of national golf publications over the years.

For more information on the course located in Palm Coast, call the golf shop at (386)-246-6710. You can also call the Hammock Beach Resort at (386)-246-5500 or on line see HammockBeach.com.

Ocean Hammock Beach Resort Palm Coast Florida. With two golf courses, the Conservatory by Tom Watson, and the Ocean Course by Jack Nicklaus. HammockBeach.com

The Snake Pit Starts on 16 on Copperhead, home of the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour. By: Rory Spears, Editor & Director of Content. Follow Rory on FB & Twitter @GogBlogGuy

The PGA Tour is now back at Innisbrook, why aren’t you. One of the great golf resorts in America is getting ready for the return of the PGA Tour, and the Copperhead Course with the Snake Pit, that makes up holes 16-17-18 is ready for the pro’s and it’s ready to test your game.

Before the pro’s come around in March, or after they leave the time is right for you to play this PGA Tour golf course.

Two of our local Illinois favorite tour players have won on this course. Both Kevin Streelman and Luke Donald have hoisted the trophy here. As the resorts video says, you don’t have to be a long hitter to enjoy Copperhead. It adds that both Streelman and Donald who aren’t long bombers, have both won the championship.

There is no doubt where you are when you arrive at the Copperhead clubhouse.

While Copperhead is the resorts top golf course, it’s not the only one on the property. The Island course and the North and South courses round out the the four 18 holes courses. There is a short course for juniors and beginners.

Copperhead was designed by the late Larry Packard, who actually celebrated his 100th birthday at Innisbrook in 2012, shortly before he passed away.  Copperhead was one of the some 600 courses that Packard worked on during his long career in golf course architecture. Copperhead is getting a newer look in time for the championship, with all the bunkers getting the new white tour sand. It will look great on TV, and even better when you come play the course for yourself.

The Par 4, 18th hole on Copperhead. The final hole of the Snake Pit.

There are only so many PGA Tour courses you can play, and Copperhead at Innisbrook is one of them.

Make sure you enjoy dining in the Copperhead Clubhouse, home of Packard’s Steakhouse. How about a nice juicy steak, to enjoy with your favorite cold beverage after golf.

You can go to the resorts website and get tickets to come to the Valspar Championship, if you wish to watch the pro’s as they head through their Florida swing.

While at Innisbrook you can stay in one of the overnight buildings that is named for the great golf courses of the world. The Merion, Maidstone, or Pinehurst buildings. How about the Augusta National, Pine Valley or Cypress Point buildings. Several of the building are named after the the famous courses in Scotland or Ireland.

Why not make Innisbrook in Palm Harbor Florida just north of Tampa, the location for your next golf trip or golf/business venture. See Innisbrookgolfresort.com for more information. Part of the Salamander Hospitality Group.

                        Kinderlou.com Valdosta, South Georgia’s Fastest Growing Golf Community.

BY: RORY SPEARS EDITOR & DIRECTOR OF CONTENT, at Innisbrook Resort Palm Harbor Florida, Follow Rory On Twitter @GogBlogGuy

Golf season has teed off and it has arrived just in time. Yes it was great to take 10 weeks off thanks to the start of winter.

After opening the season at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta Georgia, it was great to spend three days around the PGA Show. I will have numerous features in the days ahead from the show, about the products you will see on the shelves of your favorite golf shop in the upcoming days and weeks ahead.

I spent three days at the PGA Show. One day was the demo day at the Orange County Golf Center, and then two days on the convention floor. It was there I reconnected with some show friends of past years and found some new ones as well. Stay clicked in for the all the details.

Part 2 of this trip is to spend some time visiting the resorts you should consider when you want to golf away (from the home area that is). One of the first features will be another edition of great golf on a cold day. My first round after the show was in Naples where the mercury hit 83. What I found is one of the best courses in Florida, the Calusa Pines Golf Club. It’s not your normal looking Florida golf course. A tip of the cap or golf visor to ownership for encouraging all golfers at the club to walk.

This weekend I’m checking out the Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor. In about 7 weeks the PGA Tour will arrive here with the Valspar Championship. Both Luke Donald and Kevin Streelman have won here in recent years. The championship is played on the resorts Copperhead Course, which was already getting ready for the tournament.

The new sand has been dropped in the bunkers on Copperhead.

The new tour white bunker sand has been dropped in the all of the courses bunkers. but not all of the bunkers have had the sand ranked into position yet.

The course got almost 1 inch of rain last night and into the early hours of this morning, so the greens were not really rolling at tour speed when i played the course. The players that win here will have a precision game, tight fairways are the norm here. Yes a tree removal program would help the course improve on a few holes and there is room to do that, without taking away the bite of Copperhead. The Snake Pit holes 16-17-18 will test the best golfers. Tomorrows round is the well liked island Course here, full reviews coming soon.

Then it’s over to the East Coast and the Ocean Hammock Resort in St. Augustine, before heading up to the Carolina’s both North and South.

Streamsong is ready to build the new Black Course, to go along with the Red and Blue Courses.

In between the Tampa and Orlando area’s and just south of Lakeland Florida sits Streamsong.

The hot new property of 2013 is back in the news again. Joining the Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore designed Red Course, and the Tom Doak designed Blue Course. Will be the Gil Hanse designed Black Course that should open in late 2016 or early 2017.

I would bet it’s open by the the PGA Show rolls in to the area in January of 2017. Could there be a fourth course, bet on it to appear down the road somewhere. New course construction, yes that has a great ring to it.

The Gog Blog is touring Florida, stay clicked in or better yet, jump on the plane or get in the car and head south. It’s time to launch your golf season. Come and Play. RS

 The Award winning domes in the Chicago area. Links and Tee’s in Addison on Lake Avenue and the Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center on McHenry Road. Customer Appreciation Day at L & T’s on Jan. 31st and at BG Golf and Sports Center on Feb. 7th. See addisonparks.org or bgparks.org for more information.

It was one of those days

It was one of those days, that hurt’s more than a bad shot on 18, like me (left) on day last summer.

The first day at the PGA Merchandise show is usually a fun one, and there were some great moments. Catching up with people like Mike Davis of the USGA,and Scotty Cameron the putter creator from Titleist.

Their was plenty of media friends and golf industry people that it was good see again. The problem was the one friend I won’t see again. No sooner had I started roving the main floor of the convention center, my phone rang and I got the news. The reports were out that another one of my good media friends had passed away.

The Daily Herald’s Mike Spellman one day short of his 51st birthday had suffered a heart attack, and was taken from us too soon. Just like last year when the Herald lost Tim Sassone, you see Spellman took over the Blackhawks beat when Sassone passed. Spellman barely had time to get his skates sharpened on the beat when a higher power came calling. A heart attack we hear is why.

Spellman was more than just the new Blackhawks guy, he could do it all and that’s why the DH had him help out on the all beats when they needed someone to step in. Baseball, Hockey, Hoops, Football, Arlington Park and the golf tournaments. He was everywhere.

As a result, I spent many years sitting next to or close to Mike in press boxes or press tents all over town. Spellman just like Sassone and WBBM’s Eric Brown who we lost last year, were among a group of the Chicago sports media you just enjoyed being around everyday at work. It’s people like them who helped make the long days on the job more tolerable.

Spellman covered golf as well, we teed it up at a few media days together over the years. Just last Friday night somebody patted me on the back in the Hawks press box, it was Mike, he was walking by and wanted to say Hi. He knew I was getting ready to depart for this trip down south, and I know he was wishing he could join his fellow DH writer Len Ziehm and I here in Florida for the show and some golf.

In 2010 during the PGA at Kohler, Spellman and both commuted home some nights instead of staying in Wisconsin all week. One night we took turns passing each other on 94 all the way back home. This year the PGA will return to Kohler, again I won’t be staying up north every night all week.

That drive home will seem a little different this year. So will the next Blackhawks game I cover to when I get back from Florida. I know that on those nights, I will be thinking about another friend lost sooner than should be the case. RIP Mike, you will be missed.

RS

                             The Award winning Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Center is open for business everyday, rates start at just $11 for 30 minutes. Customer appreciation day is coming up on Feb. 7th, from 11 Am to 2 PM, raffles, prizes, equipment manufacturers, food and more. Details on this day, lessons, Todd Sones free clinics and more call (847)-459-2321 or visit bgparks.org.

BY: RORY SPEARS, Editor &                      Director of Content

A return to Kinderlou Forest started my 2015 golf season. Pictured the par 3, 17th hole.

It was great to be back on the golf course again. 70 degrees (at least for a few holes) and a beautiful day, sunny and no wind.

I took some time off at the end of last year to recharge for a busy 2015. In yesterdays column I mentioned some of what’s going on in the months ahead. It should keep us golf guys busy. You fans will have plenty of tournaments to go to, and some renovated courses to play.

BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm and I start by tackling the PGA Merchandise Show’s Demo day today outside of Orlando. Ziehm has been the advance scout having been in Florida for a while now, in the meantime Tim Cronin holds down the fort in Chicago.

The pretty par 4 12th hole at Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta GA. You can follow Rory out of the forest here right of the fairway and on Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

The time off 10 weeks with no golf left me ready to play. It wasn’t pretty, the scorecard that it is, even if it felt good to just to play. Too many doubles and triples showed there is plenty of rust to work off.

Highlights, Yes there was a few. The 60 foot birdie putt on the par 4, 7th hole was the first of 2015. Three par’s including a near ace on the Par 3, 195 yard 15th give’s us something to write about, and another reason to be fired up about getting right back on the golf course. Which will happen later this week after the PGA show closes down on Friday. I hit the ball okay for the most part, but 8 bunkers 7 off tee shots didn’t help.

It was great to catch up with former Kemper Lakes head golf professional Bob Spence who is involved at Kinderlou on several fronts. First up was the golf side, but now Spence is involved with creating the next phase of this great South Georgia property just 15 miles from the Florida state line.

A new lake at Kinderlou is being dug out by Spence and crew.

A new lake just to left of the 13th hole, will wind back through the trees and be portioned off by two dams. 100+ new home sites will be created around the water. This project is taking shape as I write this, what’s not known is how fast another golf course will come online here.

Spence has submitted a design for a second course, but no date on when that could happen. Inn the meantime you can check out if headed on Int. 75 Valdosta way, the new Kinderlou Inn right next to Austins Steakhouse and the interstate. Exit 16 is new look inn, that was in the past a member of a chain of motels. So if you didn’t follow our advice about a Kinderlou visit last year, do it this year. I’m staying in the best villa here on property I have seen on a golf course. Four bedrooms, full kitchen, fireplace, big screen TV, Whirlpool tub, two-car garage, you get the point. See Kinderlou.com for more information.

After demo day, at the Orange County Golf Center where Masters Champion Bubba Watson will be hitting some shots tomorrow, will be two full days of roaming the Orlando Convention Center. Not sure what I’ll find yet, but there will be plenty to see.

What I do know, is it’s time to travel golf, play golf, see golf and go speak golf. I’ll be in touch all week long. Stay clicked in. It was great to be on the course again. Go play, or practice in the domes. RS

             The Links and Tee’s Golf Facility on Lake Avenue in Addison is open every day. It’s also a winner again this year by the GRAA for a Top 50 Golf Facility. The customer appreciation day is coming up on Jan. 31 just two weeks away. Golf Scene Host Steve Kashul will be the MC, prizes, raffles, contests, new equipment and more. Call (630)-233-7275 Ext. 4 or visit Addisonparks.org.

BY: Rory Spears, Editor & Director of Content for Golfersongolf.com. Standing on the 8th hole at 2015 U.S. Open Site Chambers Bay.

The year is not very old and already I have been asked, what I would like to see this year in golf. That got me thinking and I realized that there are quite a few things I would like to see.

From the world of professional golf as the debate goes on about, new guard and old guard. There are some things that would be good for game.

First off the majors. It all starts at Augusta National in April. There are not many players that have won the career Grand Slam, less than 10 in fact. This year there is a chance to add two great players to the list.

First up would be Rory McIlroy who has won two straight majors, at Augusta he will be bidding for his third major in a row and his 5th major overall. Most importantly McIlroy is bidding for the career Grand Slam, it would be nice to see him get it. Yes that would be good for golf.

Two, the U.S. Open and it’s a new venue called Chambers Bay just south of Seattle in Washington. Peter Uihlein won the 2010 U.S. Amateur there and should be in the field, that being said the crowd will be pulling for “Lefty” Phil Mickelson to complete his career Grand Slam. Yes that would be good for golf.

Third up on the major list is the British Open at St. Andrews. It would be nice to see either Rickie Fowler or Jordan Spieth break through and get their first major. Yes that would be good for golf.

Finally the last chance comes at nearby Whistling Straits in Kohler/Haven Wisconsin, where it would fantastic to see 48 year old Steve Stricker win his first major in his home state. Stricker just underwent surgery for a bulging disc but should be 100% by August. This too would be great for golf.

At our local PGA Tour stops, I’d like to see Luke Donald win at Conway Farms come BMW time. Donald a Conway Farms member would be a great champion for BMW and Western Golf Association to have. The John Deere Classic really fires up when Stricker or Iowa native Zach Johnson are around the leader board. Either one of those players winning the JDC again, I’d like to see. Yes that is good for golf.

The U.S. Amateur comes to town this August at Olympia Fields. I would like to see one of our local players walk away with the trophy, or someone coming out of Mike Small’s Illini team, or one of Wildcats that is part of the Pat Goss golf machine. Speaking of Mike Small, I’m hoping the Illini hold that No.1 ranking and win the NCAA Championship and prove that a northern school can win it all.

I’m looking forward to the two tournaments at Rich Harvest Farms. The Palmer Cup in June, and the Western Amateur in August. Our state championships and Chicago Open should provide some exciting golf.

The Encompass Championship returns to north Shore Country Club in July, hopefully like the last two years it comes down to the last putt on the last hole.

From a personal side. First up is getting a new driver in the bag, badly needed I might add. A few more yards off the tee would be great.

Locally I can’t wait to play both, the Mt. Prospect and Glenview Park District golf courses when they reopen this summer from renovation. I can’t wait to enjoy my first meal in the new clubhouse at Mistwood site of the Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open.

Yes there is quite a few things I would like to see in 2015, first on the tee is the PGA Merchandise this week in Orlando. There should be a lot to see there and I’m looking forward to it. I’d like to see the long awaited for renovation project at Oak Meadows start rolling this fall.

2015 should be a great year for golf, let’s hope it is. RS.

 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AREA AWARD WINNING GOLF DOMES. The Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center, and Links and Tee’s Golf Facility in Addison. The Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Center will hold Customer Appreciation Day on Feb. 7th from 11 Am to 2 Pm. Links and Tee’s will do the same on Saturday Jan. 31st, visit both domes and enjoy contests, raffles, lessons, and see new equipment from the golf companies on site. More information BGGSC (847)-459-2321, or L & T’s at (630)-233-72752 Ext 4.

GOLFERSONGOLF.COM by Rory Spears (R) Editor & Director of Content with Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich (L).

The news came this week that Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove had done it again.

After 15 years of hard work, making phone calls, shaking hands, hosting regional championships, Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich got the phone call he was waiting for. It was the one from the NCAA that Rich Harvest Farms had been awarded the men’s and women’s 2017 NCAA National Championships.

When the 2014 NCAA Men’s Central Regional was played at Rich Harvest Farms (RHF) last spring, Rich spoke with several NCAA committee members and started to feel good about his chances of landing the national championship. Now that dream is a reality.

Rich wasted no time after the announcement of the International Crown, in putting up the events first billboard on the edge of his property in Sugar Grove.

While 2017 is a couple of years away, 2015 is now front and center on the calendar. This year in June the Palmer Cup named after Arnold Palmer, will be played at RHF. In August the Western Golf Association brings in the Western Amateur Championship.

2016 will be a big year for Rich Harvest Farms, it’s the long awaited arrival of the International Crown that is already expected to outdraw the Solheim Cup that was played at Rich Harvest Farms and won by the United States in 2009. In 2017 Rich Harvest farms was supposed to host the Western Golf Association’s Junior Championship in it’s centennial year, now that championship might have to wait one year to be held at Rich Harvest Farms. Throw in a couple of college invitationals and RHF has quite a busy schedule.

So what has made Rich Harvest Farms such a tournament destination in recent years ?

“First off the membership is not that big,” said Rich. “Then I work at getting our members involved involved in the tournament, as a result they have really come to enjoy the events.”

Rich (L) with LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan during the Pro-Am at the 2014 International Crown at Caves Valley near Baltimore.

Rich and his staff have never stopped working on the golf course, that according to Rich is really called Rich Harvest Links. Rich refers to his 1,800 plus acres of land as Rich Harvest Farms, but the golf course that takes up almost 300 acres is Rich Harvest Links.

Several hours a day Rich spends meeting with his staff, and discussing ideas on how to make golf course better.

But what is a more amazing story is how the golf came to be in the first place. Rich started construction in 1985, and wrapped up the 18 holes in 1998. He did it with company that had not built golf courses before. As the old saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day ” and neither was Rich Harvest Farms.

Rich started out as a caddie at Butterfield Country Club. He would take cocktail napkins from the club and start sketching golf holes on them. When he left the club, he would the designs and store them at home in a cigar box.

Rich an avid golfer, gets a lesson from PGA Professional Chip Beck (R).

When Rich started building his golf course the original plan called for just three holes. A par 3, a par 4, and a par 5, so he could practice before heading over to play at Butterfield where he had become a member. In fact he was the first Butterfield caddie to become a member at the club.

Rich started by building six holes, then three more, then one hole, then one more hole, and finally the last seven holes. At first, holes were built with a variety of tee boxes to play holes over and over but in different ways. Once the 18 holes were complete, it didn’t take long until Golf Digest showed up and put the course on it’s America’s Greatest 100 course list. The LPGA came along shortly afterwards offering the Solheim Cup.

The Par 3, 7th hole on the Silver Nine.

Now it seems that the sky is the limit for Rich Harvest Farms. The Chicago area golf fan has Jerry Rich to thank for bringing great tournaments back to the area.

It was only a few years back that Chicago was losing all of it’s tournaments from all of it’s tours. Now with Rich working hard to bring tournaments back to Chicago, golf fans have a full slate of events to attend in the next few years, both amateur and professional. With the latest addition being best in college golf. Chicago won’t be getting a Final-Four anytime soon, but they are getting the equal in golf.

Click here, to hear the history of the building of Rich Harvest Links as told by Jerry Rich himself.

For more information on Rich Harvest Farms and the tournaments that are coming in the next few years, please visit Richharvestfarms.com.

    The Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center has won a 2014 GRAA, Award. The best dome in Lake County to work on your game all winter long is open 9 Am to 10 Pm, Monday-Friday with prices from $11 for 30 minutes before 6 PM. After 6 PM or on weekends the rate is $12 per 30 minutes. Weekend hours are 7 Am to 10 Pm on Saturday, and 7 Am to 8 Pm on Sunday. BEST BARGAIN $85 for the 5 hour punch card. Customer Appreciation Day Saturday Feb. 7th from 11-2 Pm, club manufacturers, raffles, contests and more.

BY: RORY SPEARS, EDITOR &                         DIRECTOR OF CONTENT

Rich Harvest Farms

The NCAA has announced that Northern Illinois University and Rich Harvest Farms will host the 2017 NCAA Men’s and Women’s National Championships.

During an interview with Golfers on Golf, Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich admitted to becoming, “a little emotional ” when he got the news of being selected. Rich said he had being making phone calls and speaking with NCAA committee people for 15 years, trying to host the national championship. So it seems only fitting, that the call he had been waiting so long for, came in 2015.

This will mark the first time NIU will host an NCAA Championship in any sport since becoming a major college program in 1969. The women’s championship will be played first, May 18-24 in 2017. The following week the men will play from May 25-31.

Jerry Rich with part of his golf collection at Rich Harvest Farms.

Rich Harvest Farms has been part of Golf Digest Magazine’s Greatest 100 Courses for over a decade. The course will host the 2015 Palmer Cup championship this June, followed by the WGA’s Western Amateur Championship in August.

In 2016 the UL International Crown a global event in women’s professional golf will be held at Rich Harvest Farms.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase Northern Illinois University and our partnership,” said Rich. ” NIU hasn’t yet had the honor to host an NCAA Championship for any sport so we are thrilled to be part of this moment in NIU history. It’s been a passion of mine to nurture amateur golf. As an NIU alum, it is more special that I can offer up my golf course for this event.”

The par 3, 7th hole on the Silver Nine at RHF.

NIU and Rich Harvest Farms have been hosts to the 2007 and 2014 NCAA Central Regional (won by Illinois in 2014). The 2003 and 2013 Mid-American Conference Men’s Golf Championships (MAC Conference) and the annual Northern Intercollegiate tournament.

“Bringing this championship to our home course will have a tremendous impact on NIU Golf,” said NIU Huskies, Director of Golf Tom Porten. “It is particularly gratifying to see the long-time support of NIU alum Jerry Rich and his passion for growing the game through college golf, recognized. We have a strong partnership and look forward to showcasing college golf’s best in the spring of 2017 at Rich Harvest Farms.”

The excitement of hosting the championship at Rich Harvest Farms hasn’t been lost on NIU women’s coach Kim Kester.

“It’s exciting to add the NCAA Golf Championships to the list of the top national and international events that have been played or are coming to Rich Harvest Farms,” Kester said. “The course is really a hidden gem in the Chicago area, and I’m excited about the opportunity to expose the rest of the country to the course we get to use every day. We’ve seen great support for the college and international event’s held at Rich Harvest Farms, including the NCAA Regionals and the Solheim Cup. This event is not only the ultimate showcase event in college golf, but fans will see many future professionals in action.”

Click here, to hear the Interview with Jerry Rich on receiving the 2017 NCAA National Championship at Rich Harvest Farms, with updates on the other events coming to RHF.

Jerry Rich showing that Rich Harvest Farms is NIU Huskie Country.

“Rich Harvest Farms is looking forward to bringing out the best collegiate golf teams in the nation and watching the future of professional golf emerge,” Rich said.

The NCAA announced that the 2016 site  for the national championships would be Eugene Country Club in Eugene Oregon, home of the Oregon Ducks.

It was expected that the 2018 site might also be announced by the NCAA, and the French Lick Resort in southern Indiana would be selected as well. So far that announcement has not been made.

Join teaching professionals Jeremy Anderson and Jon Williams for classes on golf fitness and performance. Clases are two sessions and run 90 minutes each, dates are Feb. 4 & 11, and again on Feb. 18 & 25. The Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports center. Call (847)-459-2321, located at 801 McHenry Road.

Rich Harvest Farms is a private club owned and built by Jerry Rich. The golf course is 18 holes and and built through an area of 1,820 acres that comprise the entire RHF complex.

For more information on Rich Harvest Farms,please feel free to visit the clubs website at Richharvestfarms.com.

This marks the third time an area golf club has been selected to host this event. Olympia Fields was the first club in the are to host. It was followed by Conway Farms in the early 1990’s, only a couple of years after the club was first opened.

          The Links & Tee’s Golf Facility is Open Year Round, indoor dome for the winter and outdoor executive course and range-mini golf for the summer. Country night is Friday night at the dome, cowboys hats earn you a discount. See Addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275 Ext. 4.

BY: RORY SPEARS, EDITOR & DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, On the 1st tee at Scioto CC.

The Scioto Country Club was around long before Jack Nicklaus or his dad arrived, the club already had a great reputation but young Jack cut his teeth in golf at the club and the rest is history.

Scioto opened in 1916, as part of the Upper Arlington and Columbus Ohio area. From it’s opening until today, it’s one of the center pieces of the community. It’s known as the members home away from home.

The putting green next to the first tee.

The club was the first 18 hole course in Central Ohio, it was designed the famed designer Donald Ross. It gained fame so quickly, that it hosted the 1926 U.S. Open only 10 years after it opened.

The great Bobby Jones won the championship and the clubs tournament history was born. Scioto is one of only four clubs to have hosted the U.S. Open, the U.S. Amateur in 1968, the Ryder Cup in 1931, the PGA Championship in 1950, and the U.S. Sr. Open in 1986. The club will host the U.S. Sr. Open again in 2016.

While the club has a great tournament history, it’s most known history might be that it’s the club where the greatest golfer of all time Jack Nicklaus learned the game. Scioto has four professionals the are in the PGA or America Hall of Fame, they include George Sargent, Walker Inman Jr., Nicklaus, and the man who taught Nicklaus the game Jack Grout.

From behind the first green.

In the early 1960’s the club brought in Dick Wilson for a renovation, in 2008 both Nicklaus and Dr. Michael Hurdzan of the Hurdzan/Frey design firm located in Columbus. (Frey has since left the firm).

Both renovations have preserved the original Ross routing and design. Their have been only limited changes made to the golf course in preparation for the 2016 Sr. Open. They include the addition of a couple of tee boxes, and the removal of a couple of trees to help create spaces for hospitality area’s and camera locations. Large galleries are expected for the championship.

The Par 3, 4th hole is the first par 3 on the course.

The course requires strategic shot making, but has a reputation for being enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels.

Scioto features include a full size practice range, with a large natural grass teeing area. There is multiple short game area’s and a large putting green. There is an indoor practice area so members can work on their game all year round.

The clubhouse is close to 70,000 square feet, it has recently undergone a renovation. Dining facilities include the Donald Ross room and the 1916 Grille. The clubs fitness area a 10,00 square foot area was built in 1998, the programs have a reputation for keeping the membership both healthy and active.

The par 4 18th hole will challenge the best golfers.

The clubs history books show that Nicklaus made his first hole-in-one at the club. While the hole has changed in small ways since Nicklaus recorded his first ace, the par 3, 17th hole is where the Golden Bear recorded it.

This year the USGA will honor Nicklaus with his own building on the grounds of the USGA, on the weekend of his 75th birthday. But Scioto will always be known as the club that built Nicklaus.

For more information on Scioto or the 2016 U.S.Sr. Open please visit Sciotocc.com. You can follow the link to the senior open website, or visit USGA.org.