THE PALMER CUP at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove this coming week. June 11-14, Team USA vs Team Europe in this Ryder Cup style event, complete with top college players and named for Arnold Palmer. Practice rounds on the 11th, and play begins on Friday the 12th. Walk the fairways with the players, no ropes but Free admission and free parking. Visit Palmercup.org and Richharvestfarms.com for more information.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS : Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin & Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Rory above Right with the Palmer Cup.     ______________________________________________________________________

 JOHNDEERECLASSIC.COM Coming to the TPC Deere Run Golf Course July 6-12, defending champion Brian Harman returns to defend his title.

Defending Champion Brian Harman speaks on the recent Media Day, with Chariman Dave Everitt (L) and Tournament Director Clair Peterson (Bottom right).

He’s back. Yes defending champion Brian Harman will return to defend his John Deere Classic title in this years John Deere Classic from July 6-12.

In fact Harman is not the only past champion in the field this year. 2014 champion and 2015 Masters Champion Jordan Spieth returns to TPC Deere Run. 2013 champion and John Deere Classic board member Zach Johnson will return. 2010-2011 and 2012 champion Steve Stricker returns as well. Another recent commitment is 2005 champion Sean O’Hair. O’Hair is not likely to be the last past champion in the field come tournament week.

“We always look forward to welcoming back our defending champions, but first-time winners are in a special category,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson.” Winning you first PGA Tour is a monumental right-of-passage for every professional golfer. When they win here, they get into the Open Championship, qualify for the Masters, usually get into the PGA Championship. Most importantly from a a career standpoint, they earn the right to play almost any PGA Tour event they choose for the next two years. It’s a big deal in many ways-not to mention a first place check.”

The Deere leaps in front of the TPC Deere Run Clubhouse.

Harman spoke at media day what winning the John Deere Classic has meant to him, while coming in off some great play in the two PGA Tour events he had just played in down in Texas at Colonial and the Byron Nelson tournament. Harman was T-8 at Colonial and T-10 at the Nelson.

With his victory at the John Deere Classic, Harman earned the last spot in the 2014 British Open, where he finished T-26. Harman then was T-40 at the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla. Spieth who won the Masters this year, is still playing great golf and will challenge Harman as both look for their second JDC title.

The tournament will have TV coverage on all four of it’s rounds, the Golf Channel on four days, and CBS on the weekend. The purse this year is $4.7 million with the winner receiving $846,000.

There are a variety of ticket packages, and everyday kids under 12 are free with a paid adult. Special rates for seniors on Thursday during round 1. For more information visit the website or call (309)-762-GOLF (4653).

Click here to hear the interview from media day with champion Brian Harman.

Stay with the Gog Blog for more updates on the John Deere Classic as tournament week approaches.

  THE PALMER CUP Coming next week to Rich Harvest Farms June 12-13-14, practice rounds on the 11th. See team USA and Team Europe battle it out in this event named for Arnold Palmer, Walk the Fairways with the players (no ropes), Free admission and free parking. Come see the famous Rich Harvest Farms Golf Course, in advance of the Western Amateur and UL International Crown in 2016. Visit Palmercup.org for more information, or Richarvestfarms.com.                                                                                  ——————————————————————————————————————–

THE GOG BLOG BY RORY SPEARS, Editor & Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

Who can ever forget Payne Stewart, and his first major championship win in 1989, The PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes.

In 1989 the PGA Championship came to town, and a legend was born. Payne Stewart marching the fairways of the Kemper Lakes Golf Club in his Bears Colors and logo’s, came from behind on Sunday to overtake Mike Reid and win his first of three major titles.

But ten years before that day, a public course opened in the middle of Lake County. Green fees were higher than most public courses, but the word got out about what the course was like, and golfers started heading there by the car load. Jim Kemper of Kemper Insurance had created his high-end public and daily fee golf course, and it was a success. To this day some people will tell you that it started the high end public course building-boom, that ran through the Chicago area until 9-11 hit in 2001.

The green complex on the par 5 15th hole at Kemper Lakes, the water is in full view again.

But after hosting a PGA Championship multiple Grand Slam’s of Golf, Illinois PGA events and Illinois Opens, PGA Champions Tour events, USGA Championships, and Web.com tour events (as it’s called now), things changed at Kemper Lakes.

The professional and top level amateur tournaments quit coming, the best elite corporate outings found other homes. Then in time the golf course and it’s style of bunkers, tee’s, and more started to show it’s age. It’s look fell out style and Kemper Lakes could not command the top dollar it once did. Change then came in the form of ownership after Jim Kemper passed on, and in 2003 the course was sold, and in 2006 the new ownership group made the club a private course.

The Par 3, 3rd hole is the first water challenge of the round.

With plans to improve the golf course, membership was quickly at half of the planned 300 members. Little-by-little the club grew to over 250 members, and now there aren’t many memberships still available.

As the club grew the plan to renovate the golf course started to come together, and in 2012 the plan to renovate the bunkers was begun. After three years of work by architect Rick Jacobson and his team, that plan is complete. By having the plan done over three years, the course did not have to close down.

The Par 3, 6th hole has a new look, from the bunker renovation plan.

“Our owners committed the funds and hired Rick Jacobson to redo the bunkers,” said John Hosteland, the Club’s General Manager. ” It was a three-year plan so not to disrupt play for the members. Those renovations are now complete, and it’s been a seamless transformation into a premier championship venue that we believe is once again ready for the best players in the world.”

Hosteland added,” this summer we’ll be welcoming golf media and various golf governing bodies out to visit Kemper Lakes. We are calling this our “Restore the Roar” initiative, if there is a chance to bring a national tournament to Kemper Lakes, we’re ready.”

The Par 4 12th hole, is the only hole on the course without sand bunkers.

While bunker work is done, the entire master plan created by the club is not quite there yet.

There are several new tee boxes that will be built, and when they are complete the total yardage should measure over 7,500 yards. Kemper Lakes currently sits at 7,217 yards from the tips.

Some of the holes that will see the creation of new tee boxes include, the Par 4, 9th hole could move back to about 480 yards from it’s current 448. The Par 3, 13th hole will see new tee boxes from both Left and Right angles. The Par 4, 14th hole will have it’s tee box pushed back and elevated.

   (Above) What the Par 4, 14th hole should look like from the tee, and new approach already in place to the green. The very long over 100 yard bunker that once sat running down the left side of the fairway is gone, but a new sandy nest has been created.

Holes 15 and 16 will see some new tee boxes added, those will challenge golfers. With trees being removed behind the current 15th tee box, the new back tee will now play from 620 instead of 578. A new back tee on one of Chicago’s most demanding par 4 holes the 16th, will move back almost into the water behind the 15th green and bring the par 4 up to near 500 yards. A few other holes could have new tee’s put in as well.

The green complex on the par 4th ninth hole.

The new white tour sand has given the course a fresh look, one that has the word tournament written all over it.

Coming up later this summer, the club plans to find a name for it’s group of closing holes. Kind of like the “Bear Trap ” at PGA National or the “Snake Pit” at Innisbrook on the Copperhead golf course. Something along the lines of “Payne’s Point” could be created for the group of final holes.

Another step that the club will undertake is, the creation of a championship committee to help bring a championship to Kemper Lakes. What type of championship would the club like, at this point they are only ready to start looking at options should they come from golf’s governing bodies.

But one this that is certain, Kemper Lakes is back in the championship mode for tournament golf. It is time to, “Restore the Roar.”

  THE PALMER CUP coming next week to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. June 12 through 14, come walk the fairways with the players of Team USA, and Team Europe to see who wins the trophy named for Arnold Palmer. Free admission and free parking, go to Palmercup.org or Richharvestfarms.com for more information.

CDGA.org

The ending was better than the start, as the 54th annual Radix Cup, played at the Oak Park Country Club was won in a late rally by the CDGA Amateur players over the Illinois PGA professionals by a score of 11-7.

Radix Cup format is that there are six matches, with 3 points available in every match for a total of 18 points. First team to 9 1/2 points wins the cup, like in the Ryder Cup if there is a tie, the victorious team from the previous year retains possession of the cup.

The day started off with the professionals looking to win by a big score like they did on 2014. The first team of professionals Steve Orrick and Frank Hohenadel went out and routed the am’s winning all three points, from Dave Ryan and Derek Meinhart.

Match Two didn’t go any better for the amateurs. It was another three point sweep for the professionals, as recently crowned IPGA Match Play Champion Jim Billiter and Adam Schumacher swept Jodran Fahel and Justin Smith. With two matches in the clubhouse it was Professionals 6 Amateurs 0.

Now just three points away from retaining the Radix Cup, the IPGA professionals hit a brick wall in getting further points.

Amateurs Glenn Przybylski and Blake Johnson started the comeback in Match 3, with a three point sweep of Connie DeMattia and Garrett Chausard. Match 4 saw the amateurs close the gap even further, when Jack Watson and Raymond Knoll won 2 1/2 out of 3 points from David Paeglow and Oak Park host professional Frank Bruno. Now the IPGA lead was down to 6 1/2 to 5 1/2.

IPGA.com

Match 4 saw the CDGA Amateurs take the lead when Kyle Nathan and Chadd Slutzky defeated Curtis Malm and Rich Dukelow by a sweeping 3-0 score. The overall score was now 8 1/2 to 6 1/2 in favor of the amateurs.

Both teams had their anchor players out for the final match. But the team of amateurs Tee-K Kelly and Dan Stringfellow that both play out of Medinah CC, were able to defeat Medinah teaching professional Travis Johns and Matt Slowinski of Conway Farms. Slowinski gave the professionals some early momentum when holed a 50 foot putt on the second green,but after that it was the amateur team making all the birdies. By winning 2 1/2 out of 3 points, the final score ended up 11-7.

Both teams played shorthanded. The professionals without Illinois coach Mike Small and the amateurs without Illinois freshman Nick Hardy, both had not yet returned from the NCAA Championships in Florida, where Illinois tied for 3rd place with the University of Georgia.

The Radix Cup might be moved back a week in 2016, to allow players to return from the NCAA Championships that will be played in Oregon.

During the post round dinner, Bruno made a pitch to help get event founder Harry Radix into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 2017, Radix was a finalist this year but was not selected into the Class of 2015.

  Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville Michigan is, Chicago’s Southwest Michigan Golf Destination. An 18 hole Ray Hearn Championship Course complete with some of the best finishing holes, and new golf villa’s. Book your stay & play at Islandhillsgolf.com. Just 2 hours from downtown Chicago.

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor & Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin & Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

The Men’s Fighting Illini Golf team wraps up the golf season. Photo courtesy of U of I sports dept.

Illinois did themselves proud, even though they didn’t quite make the goal they had in mind, and NCAA National Championship in the 2014-2015 golf season.

Illinois fought hard through the four rounds of stroke play, and made themselves the No.1 seed heading into the match play part of the championship, where the national champion is determined.

But as fate continues for the No.1 seed in this format, the favorite has not yet won the title as Illinois lost in the semi-finals to USC by a score of 3 1/2 to 1 1/2.

“”We probably had the greatest season in Illinois golf history this year,” head coach Mike Small said. ” We finished second here two years ago, but this team was far more steady and more successful than that team was all year round. But it’s a tournament where you have to get hot at the right time. I’m proud to coach these guys.”

Illinois was pushed to the limit in the quarterfinals by UCLA, before Illinois rallied to win by the score of 3-2. Illinois trailed in all five matches at one point, but Charlie Danielson started a comeback that turned the tide. He won 7 straight holes and his teammates started to follow suit. In the final match of the morning, Freshman Nick Hardy came back and won his match 1 UP for Illinois to advance.

Then in the semi-finals Illinois started off string against USC, that had upset Texas in the quarterfinals 4-1. But little by little USC started to comeback. USC’s Rico Hoey holed a shot for eagle from the 9th fairway to turn his match against Danielson at the turn. Then Dylan Meyer lost his second match of the day, before Thomas Detry evend things at 1-1. After Danielson lost USC was up 2-1, Hardy rallied on the back nine with back-to-back birdies to go 1 UP after 13, but couldn’t win another hole. Senior Brian Campbell had a 3 Up lead with four holes to play but had to settle for a All-Square result and a half-point.With that the season was over.

“Brian has been a star at our place for four years, and I hate to see him go,” Small said of the departing senior. The rest of the Illinois team will return this next fall for the 2015-16 season.

#5 USC will play #7 LSU for the championship. LSU defeated #2 Vanderbilt and #3 Georgia to advance to the title match.

 Chicago’s Southwest Michigan Golf Destination is Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville Michigan, only two hours from Downtown Chicago and not far from South Bend. The Ray Hearn designed Championship Golf Course and the new golf villa’s make Island Hills a great place for a stay and play. Visit Islandhills,com for all the details. Rich Harvest Farms will host the Palmer Cup named for Arnold Palmer, this premier amateur event will be played June 12-13-14. Walk the fairways of Rich Harvest Farms with the players from Team Europe and Team USA. Free Admission and Free parking for more information see Palmercup.org and Richarvestfarms.com.                                                 ______________________________________________________________________

  The American Club and Whistling Straits golf Club in Haven Wisconsin are ready to welcome you and the PGA Professionals for the PGA Championship coming this August 10-16, Rory McIlroy is the defending champion. See PGAChampionship.com for tickets and more, tickets are running low in all ticket plans get yours today. Are you ready to come play before the professionals do, Destinationkohler.com or you can call (888)-293-7337.

Whistling Straits early in 2015 on a foggy day.

You can still play the PGA Championship golf course for this summers PGA. Just head up to Wisconsin and tee it up at Whistling Straits before the course closes for the final championship preparations. Some 190 temporary structures will be built on the course.

Are you ready for Kohler, they are ready for you. No matter which of their four Pete Dye designed championship courses you wish to play, this summer is a great time to do it.

Yes construction has started on the Straits Course for the PGA Championship. But that doesn’t mean it’s too late to take Dad up to play for Fathers Day or the 4th of July weekend.

How about a team event. The PGA Amateur Team Championship will be played from July 31st through August 2nd.

If you just want a golf package there are plenty to pick from. Starting with Dye-Abolical, the Golf Escape, Golf Kohler, Rounds and Relaxation, Ultimate Buddies, Golf Blackwolf Run, or the Kohler Golf Academy for Women.

“We are tremendously excited to officially have on-course construction underway here at Whistling Straits,” said 2015 PGA Championship Director Jason Mengel. “With 75 days remaining until the championship, we’re right on schedule. It’s been a very busy and fun time, made even more thrilling by the incredible support we’ve seen from fans in Wisconsin, across the United States and around the world, as well as from our many corporate partners.”

PGA Championship tickets have been purchased from all 50 states and 28 countries. A ticketed adult can bring up to 4 juniors, aged 17 and under for free each day of the championship. See PGAChampionship.com for more details.

 Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville Michigan, is Chicago’s Southwest Michigan Golf Destination, this Ray Hearn designed championship layout plays through historical ruins found on the property, and sits between Lake Templene and the new spacious villa’s. See Islandhillsgolf.com for the stay and play packages, weekend villa’s close to selling out.

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

I got a call this past week, and the voice said, layoffs coming at the Golf Channel. When I asked were that was coming from, I heard it was someone with confirmed sources and close to the situation.

When I asked why, the first response was that the “Tiger Bubble” had burst. The Tiger bubble? okay !, but I said when you look at the big picture it’s really more than that, right?

Well yes, came my reply. Of course it is. But if viewership is down, and ratings are down, and ads are down, and sponsorship is down, as first suggested to me, you have to ask why. Are their too many x-tour players, or tour players in between the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour being overpaid, likely so. See when you have too many overpaid “talking heads”, it reduces what you can spend in other areas and that, is usually a killer.

Mt. Prospect Golf Club reopening from renovation around August 1st, stay clicked in right here for details on opening day.

Perhaps it’s the programming The Golf Channel puts on, while I like the Morning Drive Show, it doesn’t blow me away as being great.

In fact, some people have resorted to making announcements about new products, courses or architect announcements about who gets the project on Morning Drive. That hasn’t proved to be a great idea. GCMD program never gives those announcements their proper due, and why pass by the people who have your back long term, for TGC’s one-hit wonder world.

But even that is not TGC’s biggest problem. Perhaps trying to drive World # 156 (and sinking by the week) down everyone’s throats for far too long has only led to channels being changed and TV’s being clicked off. The bubble burst a long time ago, and TGC failed to realize that long before it’s viewers did.

You can talk all you want about moving the needle, but in the end which way was Woods moving it. That direction may finally be evident to the folks at Golf Channel and especially the people doing their social media posts, who have been missing the boat for a very, very, long time. It will be interesting to see when and where the hatchet falls in Orlando.

July 10-11-12 at the North Shore Country Club. For tickets or to volunteer see Encompasschampionship.com.

My BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm has been everywhere golf wise of late.Including the Ravisloe Country Club down in Homewood, a true Donald Ross golf course that the public can play.

Len was in French Lick for the Senior PGA Championship, that by the way had much better attendance than the PGA of America expected, in spite of going head to head with the Indianapolis 500 in it’s final round. Visit Lenziehmongolf.com to keep up with Len’s travels, that included a stop at Medinah this past week for the Illinois Patriot Education Fund outing, run by member Mark Slaby. I was there as well and it’s one of the best charity outings in the Chicago area. Helping out our Illinois Veterans.

2014 John Deere Classic Champion Brian Harman. JohnDeereClassic.com

John Deere Classic champion Brian Harman meets the media today at the TPC Deere Run course in the Quad Cities. It will begin the run up to the championship for ticket sales and the Birdies for Charity arm of the championship, another thing the John Deere Classic does so well. A tip of the cap or golf visor to Clair Peterson the tournament director, who is one of the best in the business.

I will have an update about media day at the JDC coming up here on the site later this week. I hope to see you all out in the Quads, come the week of July 7-12.

IN WISCONSIN another media day is taking place today at the home of the UW Badgers golf team the , University Ridge Golf Course that is a great track. A press conference has been called by the PGA Tour featuring Steve Stricker. It’s been rumored for a while, that insurance giant American Family Insurance based in Madison might be ready to sponsor a Champions Tour event with Steve Stricker as the host. Stricker like fellow Wisconsin golfer Jerry Kelly hits the 50 mark in 2017. Another Wisconsin PGA Tour player Skip Kendall is closing in on 50 as well. Everything golf continues to head in the direction of Wisconsin. We will see what this press event brings.

BUT THEN AGAIN..coming up soon is a two-year out media day at Erin Hills for the 2017 U.S. Open, guest speaker will be the Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker. Yeah, the governor for a golf media day. Question is, will we now see Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner at the one-year out media event for the LPGA UL International Crown. It’s coming to Rich Harvest Farms in July of 2016.

RICH HARVEST FARMS will host the Palmer Cup in just two weeks. USA vs Europe, top amateur players will participate, walk the fairways with them. No ropes, come see top level sports right up close. Palmercup.org or visit Richharvestfarms.com. June 12-13-14. Free parking and admission, RHF is located in Sugar Grove, just west of Aurora. Owner Jerry Rich joins us live this Sunday on Golfers on Golf Radio.

WOODBINE GOLF COURSE in south suburban Homer Glen closed this year when it was purchased by the the town, now comes word the course will reopen. At least for a while, stay clicked in here for details.

A SPECIAL GOG RADIO THANKS, to everyone who made our first live remote show go so well at Arlington Lakes Golf Course in Arlington Heights. Arlington Lakes will close for renovation next Monday after the Arlington Amateur wraps up. Architect Mike Benkusky who will oversee the project was among our guests.

BY TOMORROW it should feel more like June, Go Play. RS