The Walker Cup coming this weekend, Team USA vs Great Britain & Ireland from Loyal Lytham and St. Anne’s. See local listings. Team USA is defending champion. The UL LPGA International Crown, corporate hospitality, tickets and volunteer registration now available ULCrown.com coming to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, July 19-24, in 2016. It’s a beautiful day in Pinehurst, ALWAYS, see Pinehurst.com and visit the home of American Golf. Pinehurst home of the 2019 U.S. Amateur and the 2024 U.S. Open.

What is the UL International Crown, Click here to hear the 2 minute LPGA promotion narrated by Kraig Kann of the LPGA, ULCrown, Chicago’s biggest golf event in 2016.      _____________________________________________________________________

  The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is coming to the Chicagoland area in both the South and North Burbs. in 2017 the championship goes South to Olympia Fields Country Club, and in 2018 it goes North to Kemper Lakes Golf Club.

This championship is a collaboration between KPMG, the LPGA, and the PGA of America. This championship also focuses on the development, and advancement of women on and off the golf course.

 The Par 4, 3rd hole at Olympia Fields Country Club (L). The Par 5, 15th hole at the Kemper Lakes Golf Club, both will be key holes during the KPMG Championships.

“Our commitment to our partners at KPMG and the LPGA remains strong, as is our resolve to share this Championship with the nation’s finest golf courses and their local communities,” said PGA of America President Derek Sprague. “Both Olympia Fields  Country Club and Kemper Lakes Golf Club are well-versed in major championship golf. We believe both will build off each other’s momentum and deliver two magnificent championships befitting a world-class destination like Chicago.”

The championships will be the first women’s majors in the Chicago area, since the 2000 U.S Women’s Open at the Merit Club won by Karrie Webb.

“KPMG is committed to continuing to expand opportunities for women, in business and in golf,” said KPMG Global Chairman John Veihmeyer. “These two-world-class venues further elevate the Championship and what it represents for women on and off the golf course.” The championship will have an onsite Women’s Leadership Summit the day before the championship begins.

The championship will be televised on NBC and the Golf Channel.

“We are excited to bring the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to Chicago in back-to-back years at two great venues-Olympia Fields Country Club and Kemper Lakes Golf Club-which will provide an excellent major championship test for our players,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. “The Chicagoland area has always been a strong supporter of the LPGA and that was on full display back in 2009 when we hosted a successful Solheim Cup. With this announcement and the UL International Crown taking place at Rich Harvest Farms in 2016, the great fans in Chicago will now have an opportunity to see the best female golfers in the world in each of the next three years.”

Both clubs are excited to host these major championships in women’s golf.

“As we begin our second century of golf, the members and staff of Olympia Fields Country Club could not be more excited to welcome the PGA of America, KPMG and the finest women’s golfers in the world to our facility, ” said Jon Dye, President of Olympia Fields Country Club. “Olympia Fields has always taken pride in presenting the best in professional golf to great sports fans of Chicagoland.”

Olympia Fields North Course was designed by Willie Park Jr., and has had recent historical upgrades overseen by architect Mark Mungeam, while Kemper Lakes was designed by architect Dick Nugent and the late Ken Killian, architect Rick Jacobson is currently over-seeing a four year bunker and overall improvement program.

” In addition to Payne Stewart’s historical win, having hosted the 92nd U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and 45th U.S. Women’s Public Links Championship, there is a special connection between the best players in the game, Kemper Lakes, and the sports fans through out Greater Chicago, ” said Kemper Lakes Golf Club Owner Steve Jouzapatis. “We anticipate the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2018 will yield one of the most memorable weeks in women’s golf.”

The championship will be played at the Sahalee Country Club near Seattle Washington in 2016.

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the IPGA Match Play Championship trophy at Kemper Lakes.

The Gog Blog Returns with a special edition of the Gog Blog Speaks Out, looking at the women’s golf scene that is exploding in the Chicago market.

What does having the LPGA UL International Crown, the KPMG PGA-LPGA Championship in the Chicago area over the next three years mean in the big picture for golf in the Chicago area.

I’ll take a look at what could happen here, as the nations second biggest market is getting it’s share of top women’s golf events. RS.

 The Award Winning Links & Tee’s Golf Facility is located on 880 West Lake Street in Addison. Links & Tee’s who has won numerous GRAA awards, is open year round. Outdoor golf, practice and mini-golf all summer long. Then when November rolls around take your game and your clubs indoors to one of the Chicago’s Top Golf Domes. For more information call (630)-233-7275 or addisonparks.org. Ask about the $25 all day special. The new Mistwood Clubhouse opening late October, see Mistwoodgc.com.       ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. At Rich Harvest Farms with the LPGA UL International Crown trophy.

Happy Labor Day everyone, enjoy the day off if you have one, and go tee it up. Some clubs have some great discounts today, visit their websites or call the pro shop.

Yesterday was week 21 of 23 for Golfers on Golf Radio, time flies when you are having fun, and it’s hard to believe there are only two week left of the radio show, before it becomes the website and some podcasts for the winter.

This past Monday it was time to tee off the 2016 UL International Crown, Defending Champion Spain had Belen Mozo and Australia sent Minjee Lee to Rich Harvest Farms last Monday. What is the International Crown, next July it comes to Sugar Grove, and to tell us more, hear the 2 minute promo by the LPGA and narrated by communications director Kraig Kann.

Corporate hospitality, some ticket options, and volunteer registration is now open. See ULCrown.com.

Spains Belen Mozo (L) and Australia’s Minjee Lee (R) with the UL International Crown Trophy at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove.

Next summer the biggest professional golf tournament in the Chicago area, will be the UL-International Crown.

Which countries will make the field, one problem right now for defending champion Spain, is that they are currently 9th in the race to play in the Crown. Problem is only 8 countries get in, so if the Crown was held today, Spain would be stuck on the outside looking in.

But you have to expect they will move inti the top by next spring when the countries are decided. Then the race to see which players make the team is still going. Fun-Fun-fun this will be all the way into next July.

BMW CHAMPIONSHIP next week at Conway Farms, full coverage all week from the championship right here. Hear from the players and more right here.

Luke Donald talking after Round 4 of the 2013 BMW Championship at Conway Farms.

Luke Donald has mounted a charge in the Fed Ex Cup playoffs, and as of now he will make it into the field at Conway Farms by a few spots.

Winfields Kevin Streelman will join Donald in the field, but it’s an uphill battle for Mark Wilson of Elmhurst, who made the cut in Boston on the number, but has slid back further in round 3.

If you haven’t caught our interview with Donald yet, it was posted a few days ago. Donald worked with architect Dennis Wise on the improvements at Conway Farms.

CONGRATS TO JIM BILLITER the champion of the 93rd Illinois PGA Championship at Medinah. He played great for 3 days on the “Camel Course” at Medinah to win, holding off Matt Slowinski and Travis Johns.

Billiter was asked about the history of his club, the Merit Club in Libertyville, and the hosting of the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open, won by Karrie Webb. Billiter was optimistic that the club might ready to give the USGA a chance to bring another U.S. Women’s Open back to the club. That would be nice.

THE NEW MISTWOOD CLUBHOUSE, has had it’s grand opening pushed back from this month, to the end of October. Owner Jim McWethy was hoping to have the clubhouse ready in the next two weeks, but says end of October is more likely the time frame now. He is hoping to have the clubhouse open before the course closes for the season. Follow the progress at Mistwoodgc.com.

THE GOLF COLLECTIBLES society brings it’s annual convention to town, at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles next week.More coming up on that in the week ahead, plus Merion Golf Club historian John Capers III joins Golfers on Golf Radio next week to fill us in on all the details.

THE NEW CHICAGOLAND GOLF September is out, check it out online of pick up a copy at your favorite pro shop or golf retail outlet store.

The Gog Blog is back all week, stay clicked in and Go Play everyone. RS

   The 2016 UL International Crown coming July 19-24 to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Spain is the defending champion. Are you ready to see the fight for the Crown, some tickets now on sale, volunteer positions now available, get your corporate tent. See ULCrown.com. (L) Spains Belen Mozo-Minjee Lee Australia, (R) Jerry Rich and Golfers on Golf Radio Host Rory Spears flank the first International Crown poster.           ______________________________________________________________________

Golfers on Golf Radio 9 AM Sunday mornings only 3 shows left for 2015. Standing L-R Mike Munro & Ed Stevenson, Seated L-R Rory Spears & Bill Berger. tune into WSBC AM 1240 and WCFJ AM 1470.

Happy Labor Day everyone, and it’s time to go labor your way to the golf course, where there are plenty of great golf specials this entire weekend and Monday as well.

This morning Golfers on Golf Radio is on the tee at 9AM and we hope you will join us for a great show.

We have some surprise guests this weekend and we think you will enjoy them.

If you miss us because you are on the golf course or practice range, you do get a mulligan. Check out this website under past shows in the week ahead, and click in and listen online.

THIS WEEK, you will hear from two visiting LPGA players Spains Belen Mozo and Australia’s Minjee Lee, who came into town last Monday to tee off the LPGA International Crown, that comes to Rich Harvest Farms in July 2016.

IPGA Championship winner Jim Billiter of the Merit Club, holds the trophy at Medinah Country Club.

We will have some final thoughts on the Illinois PGA Section Championship, from champion Jim Billiter of the Merit Club, and runner up Matt Slowinski of Conway Farms.

The PGA Tour wraps up in Boston and the players get a week off before heading to lake Forest and the BMW Championship.

Will our local players get in the field, it appears that Kevin Streelman, Luke Donald and Mark Wilson all have a little work to do, to make the field of 70 at Conway Farms.

In the past couple of days, we hope you have enjoyed the stories on Luke Donald, Zach Johnson, and Jim Furyk, all who can’t wait to play at Conway Farms this year, and all who had amazing tournaments at Conway in 2013 for different reasons. hear their stories right here.

More news and the Gog Blog Speaks Out coming up this week, stay clicked in. The weather is nice, go play everyone.

    THE LINKS & TEE’S GOLF FACILITY at 880 West Lake Street in Addison is Chicago’s Year Round Golf Complex. In the summer it’s outdoor golf and practice, lessons and mini golf, all complete with the $25 all day play and practice discount. In the winter, move you game inside to the award winning gold dome one of Chicago’s Best. So call (630)-233-7275 or visit online addisonparks.org for more information.                              _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the 18th hole at Conway Farms, home of the 2015 BMW Championship.

There are certain rounds of golf that will stick with you for a lifetime. Especially when they come during a competition, in the case of Jim Furyk one of best rounds he ever played came in Round 2 of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms back in 2013.

On that day Furyk joined the 59 club when he broke the course record at Conway Farms set by member Luke Donald.

Furyk overcame a bad 3-putt on the fifth hole and regained his momentum to make the incredible score. It was a day that he will never forget.

   Jim Furyk’s actual scorecard from Conway farms on the day he shot 59 in Round 2 of the 2013 BMW Championship. (R) Furyk holding up the scorecard for members of the media in press tent after the round.

At the conclusion of the PGA Championship, he spoke with a few reporters about that day, and advised players in the then upcoming U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields where he won his his only major the 2003 U.S. Open.

Click here to hear Jim Furyk’s interview about his 59 at Conway Farms, and some new information about the ball he posed for pictures with that said 59.

Tickets for the 2015 BMW see BMWChampionship.com Support the Evans Scholars Foundation WGAESF.com.

  The Links & Tee’s Golf Facility located at 880 West Lake Street in Addison. Links and Tee’s is an award winning year-round golf facility. Outdoor golf and mini-golf all summer long, inside the golf dome (one of Chicago’s best) all winter long. Call (630)-233-7275 or visit addisonparks.org for more information. NOW $25 play and practice all day long. ______________________________________________________________________

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

2015 British Open Champion Zach Johnson with the trophies pregame at Wrigley Field.

Zach Johnson won his second major this year, when he won the British Open at St. Andrews. He joins a small club of golfers who have won both the Masters and the British Open at St. Andrews.

Johnson was also victorious at the 2013 BMW Championship at Conway Farms the site of this years BMW.

While Johnson is not the defending champion in the BMW Championship, (Billy Horschel is), he does have bragging rights when it comes to Conway Farms.

So to help promote the championship coming up Sept. 14-20, Johnson made a tour of Chicago with the hardware after the PGA Championship. One of those stops was Wrigley Field at a recent Cubs game.

While Johnson did throw out the first pitch, a long rain delay kept him from singing the 7th inning stretch again, something he did after his Masters wins a few year ago.

Pre-game he did do an interview session with the media and you can hear it below.

Click here to hear Zach Johnson’s pregame interview in full.

To get tickets for the BMW Championship at Conway Farms please visit BMWChampionship.com.

   The UL International Crown is coming to Rich Harvest Farms July 19-24 in 2016, some tickets now on sale, or register to be a volunteer at ULCrown.com. Spain’s Belen Mozo and Australia’s Minjee Lee with the International Crown Trophy. Rory Spears wearing the Sunice Typhoon golf jacket, see the new 2015 line of golf outerwear at Sunice.com.  _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the 18th hole at Conway Farms, home of the 2015 BMW Championship.

The Western Golf Association has announced that, the 2020 Western Junior Golf Championship will be held at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest.

This marks the first time the WGA Junior Championship will be held at the club. The championship was first played in 1914 and the club was founded in 1895. It will be the first time in over 100 years that Onwentsia will host a WGA golf championship.

The Onwentisa club, was one of the 11 charter clubs that help found the WGA in 1899, to help spread the game od golf across the Midwest area of the United States. The Western Junior Championship is the nations oldest junior championship in America. It has been contested in 15 states and several of the Chicago area’s top clubs.

 The historic Onwentsia clubhouse (L), and the Par 3, 9th hole (R) at the Onwentsia club.

Welcome to the Onwentsia Club of Lake Forest. Home of the 2020 WGA Junior Championship.

“Few clubs have the history and the tradition of Onwentsia,” said Vince Pellegrino, the WGA’s Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “The club holds a special place in the history of the WGA, and we’re excited to bring this event and a field of the country’s best junior players to Onwentsia.”

Onwentsia’s history starts in 1893 in the yard of Sen.Charles Farwell, who created a seven hole golf course,complete with sunken tomato cans for holes. In 1895 the club moved to it’s current location on Green Bay Road, where it received it’s current name, which is an Iroquois word that means a meeting place of sporting braves and squaws.

The golf course had it’s first nine holes designed by Charles Blair Macdonald, and three years later architects Herbert Tweedie, James and Robert Foulis to complete the second 9 holes and give the club a full 18 holes.

WGAESF.com

“As a founding member of the WGA, we welcome the opportunity to help carry on the tradition of the Western Junior Championship and host the finest junior players in the country,” said Jeff Walters, Onwentsia President.

The WGA that has now awarded over 10,000 college scholarships to caddies since 1930, has seen roughly 30 caddies come from the ranks of the Onwentsia club. The first was Charles Van Etten in 1952, Van Etten attended Northwestern University.

Future sites for the Western Junior Champion include, the Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak,Michigan in 2016, the Park Ridge Country Club in 2017, the Evanston Golf Club in Skokie in 2018, and Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove in 2019. Park Ridge will be hosting the centennial playing of the championship in 2017.

For more online information of the WGA Junior Championship please visit WGAESF.com.

   The New Typhoon Jacket by Sunice Golf Outerwear, see Sunice.com to view the entire 2015 line. Mt. Prospect Golf Club has reopened from renovation, book your Tee-time today at (847)-259-4200. Mt. Prospect, where what is new, is old. The UL International Crown is coming next July to Rich Harvest Farms, see ULCrown.com for details. Some tickets now on sale, sign up to volunteer. Spain’s Belen Mozo and Australia’s Minjee Lee surround the LPGA UL International Crown Trophy at Rich Harvest Farms. 32 Players, 8 Countries and Just 1 Crown, who is the best golfing country in the world.        _____________________________________________________________________

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

Jim Billiter Assistant Professional of the Merit Club, wins the 93rd Illinois PGA Championship at Medinah. Photo via IPGA and master Photographer Nick Novelli.

Jim Billiter has a great batting average in Illinois PGA major championships in 2015. He is batting 1,000 and it will stay that way for the rest of the year.

Billiter shot a final round 1 under par 70 to win the IPGA Championship at Medinah by 2 shots over Matt Slowinski from Conway Farms.

Starting the third and final round Billiter lead by three shots, but very quickly into the round the lead was gone and Billitier found himself back in a tie with Slowinski.

But Billiter righted the ship and Slowinski’s early charge ran out of steam. One group, the one right in front them included Medinah teaching professional Travis Johns.

Johns felt he had a chance to go really low in round 2, but bogeys on 17 and 18 derailed that. During the final round Johns came out hitting fairways and smoking it into the green, but front nine saw Johns unable to make any putts. That changed at the turn, and no sooner had Slowinski fallen back, Johns got the putter working and suddenly he was now 4 under in the round by the 13th hole and was only 1 shot back.

Click here to hear interviews with the Champion Jim Billiter, and with runner up Matt Slowinski.

Matt Slowinski rips a drive during the final round of the Illinois PGA Championship at Medinah. Photo IPGA, and Master Photographer Nick Novelli.

No sooner did Johns pull within 1 of Billiter, Billiter made two birdies and was quickly back up three shots.

Johns finished bogey-birdie-bogey to end up 3 shots back.

Slowinski started a back nine charge that got him back within two shots of Billiter, but seven under par was all Slowinski could muster, before his birdie on 18 slid past the hole.

Billiter struggled with his drive on the start of the back nine, hitting poor drives on 10-11 and 12. He did hit some great recovery shots to earn himself some well needed pars and stay in the lead. After birdies on 13-14, he made all pars in from there and earned the first place check of $10,000 from a purse of over $62,000.

Billiter was asked after his round about going for his third major in the Players Championship at Galena, but he won’t be able to play because of being on a trip to Ireland with members of the Merit Club, but he looks forward to that event in 2016. A major event at the Merit Club kept him from competing in the Illinois Open in July.

By winning the IPGA Match Play and the IPGA Championship in the same year, he joins a list of eight other player who have accomplished the feat, seven of those eight are in the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.

Another player to accomplish that feat was Two-time defending champion Mike Small, who shot a final round 1 under par 70, to finish in a T-7th place.

Katie Pius from Biltmore Country Club, who made the cut for the 5th time in 6 attempts while playing almost 5 months into a pregnancy, fell back with a 78 and dropped from 13th place to a T-28. With a top 8 finish, she could have been the fourth woman to play the Professional Players Championship (PPC) next year.

The players who are going to the national club professional championship are, Mike Small (exempt as past champion), Billiter, Slowinski, Johns, Orrick, Simon Allan, BJ Paul, Dakun Chang, and Frank Hohenadel. Winning a playoff to be the first alternate was Garrett Chaussard.

    The 2015 Sunice Golf Outerwear line, with the “Sport” pull over, to see the full line visit Sunice.com. The UL International Crown coming next July 19-24, Chicago’s premier professional event for 2016 visit ULCrown.com. The Walker Cup coming on September 12-13 from Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s, Team USA vs team GB & I. See USGA.org.   _____________________________________________________________________

   The 93rd Illinois PGA Section Championship from Medinah Country Club in Medinah Illinois. Final round play will be contested on Wednesday September 2nd, Mike Small is the defending champion.

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy, with the PGA Championship Wanamaker Trophy, at the PGA Museum in Port St. Lucie Florida.

The Merit Club’s Jim Billiter has already won the 2015 Illinois PGA Match Play Championship, now he is gunning for his second major of the year, the Illinois PGA Championship.

Billiter who started round 2 one shot behind leader Steve Orrick from the Country Club of Decatur, raced past Orrick and the rest of the field with a 5 under par 66 to hold a three shot lead over Matt Slowinski from Conway Farms.

Slowinski the leader in the clubhouse after the morning flight, shot a 2 under par 69 and sits at 5 under par.

Billiter started his round on backnine first, and went birdie-birdie-birdie to start his round, he ended his round with another birdie. While the match play championship is just that, and section championship is stroke play, that win will help Billiter because he knows he can now win section majors. Billiters wins over top players have him confident he can win again, but knows Slowinski will waiting to pass him if he doesn’t play well.

“Matt is great player and he can make a lot of birdies,” said Billiter.

Jim Billiter hits a tee shot in round 2 of the 93rd Illinois PGA Championship at Medinah, Billiters 2nd round 66 gave him a 3 shot lead heading into the final round.

Billiter admits his main goal this week at Medinah, was to make the top 8 and be able to qualify for the PPC (Professional Players Championship) in 2016. The top 8 finishers from the section and Mike Small will represent Illinois at the Turning Stone Resort, where the top 20 finishers will play the Centennial PGA Championship at Baltusrol Country Club in late July. Now he is adjusting his goal to win the championship.

For Slowinski, he is back in contention again after being the runner up at Medinah the last time the championship was held on the famed No.1 course. Slowinski has won the IPGA Match Play Championship and the season ending IPGA Players Championship, winning the section championship would give him three legs of the IPGA Career Grand Slam.

Orrick played a steady round of even par 71 to remain, in the hunt. twoplayers under par in round 1, Curtis Malm from White Eagle Country Club followed his 68 with a 78 and fell back, while the same hit Beverly Country Club’s John Varner who followed his 69 with a 76.

University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small who is attempting to win the championship for the 12th time, shot a 2 over par 73 and sits at 3 over par for the championship. Small is 11 shots behind Billiter and would need an extremely low round and some help from the leaders to win the title for the 12th time.

Biltmore Country Club’s Katie Pius has shot 72-74 and at 146 made the cut for the 5th time her sixth appearances is T-13. Pius needs to make up three shots and move into the top 8 places, to play in the PPC in 2016.

Medinah teaching professional Travis Johns, shot a 69 he says could have been lower, and would have been lower if not for bogeys on the last two holes. At 2 under par Johns is in fourth place, BJ Paul from Fresh Meadow GC is 5th at 1 under par. Five players are under par headed to the final round.

Frank Hohenadel from Westmoreland Country Club, who won the championship the last time it was played at Medinah in 2011, shot 67 on the strength of two-eagles. Hit sits T-6 at even par 142.

Click here to hear interviews with in order Matt Slowinski and Jim Billiter.

The cut fell at 153, or 11 over par and 61 players made the cut. Tee-times will start for the final round at 7:30 AM, with players teeing off of both tee boxes.

For more information on line visit IPGA.com