THE CLOCK IS TICKING, have you been out to Arlington Lakes yet for some quick 3-hole of six hole rounds yet, see Ahpd.org/algc or call (847)-577-3030. Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton located on Butterfield Road is home to 27 holes great golf see Arrowheadgolfclub.org for more information. While there check out Pelican Golf Center. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears. Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the 16th hole at Glen Dornach in North Myrtle Beach.

Wanna golf away. Well we have just the place for you, it’s called Myrtle Beach South Carolina.

Myrtle Beach is made up of golf courses, golf courses and more golf courses. There are plenty of Mini-golf courses as well.

The restuarants include the Greg Norman Grill and Sam Sneads. yes there is plenty of wine and drinks that have golfers names on them as well.

Coming next month is the World Golf Amateur that is spead out for over a week that gives golfers a four round event. If you start playing outside your handicap you won’t last long, so don’t even think about it. the World Amateur is just fun for the everyday golfer. A few thousand golfers participate every year.

The Par 3, second hole on the Norman Course at Barefoot Resort.

There are plenty of courses to pick from in Myrtle Beach on both sdies of Rt. 17.

There are a few resorts to pick from as well. One of them is the Barefoot Resort and Golf. There are 3 courses on the property, with a fourth course a Pete Dye course that is private.

As for the three courses that all the resort guests can play, there is the Greg Norman Course, the Davis Love III Course, and the Tom Fazio Course. All look pretty good. What else looks good. Well to start with on the deck of the main clubhouse designed Plantation style, was the sports/golf massage lady from the spa. For only $1 per minute you can’t go wrong. Shoulders, hips, back’s and or feet feel better very quickly. The beverage cart staff does a great job as well especially on a 90+ degree hot day. For more information on the Barefoot Resort see barefootgolf.com or you can call (888)-250-1793.

The 16th hole at Glen Dornach has South Carolina Golf written all over it.

Glen Dornach Waterway Golf Links is just that, it’s golf that runs through the trees, then pops out at times and takes golfers along some of the inter coastal waterways in the area.

Glen Dornach is in Myrtle Beach but located in Little River South Carolina. Regardless of where your staying, Glen Dornach provides a great golf experience. It’s fun for golfers of all skill levels, without too many forced carries, and wetlands to navigate. For more information Glendornach.com

Belleme’s Bend the par 4, 18th hole at Tidewater Golf Club.

The Tidewater Golf Club is one of the highly rated courses in North Myrtle, and after a few holes it’s easy to see why.

Tidewater at places does run through some nice houses, but they don’t crowd the golfers. There is plenty of fairway space and even more room if you miss the fairway with your big sticks.

The greens are plenty big, so even when you get home, you might not be home. But it’s always good to be putting. The clbhouse has great views of the closing holes and friendly staff will get you around the course, or take of the food and beverages once inside. There is no going wrong at Tidewater, that will route you past a few waterways so you can enjoy the views and boast as they sail past. For more information on Tidewater, see Tidewatergolf.com or call (800)-446-5363 or if you would like to stay in the area tidewatergolfvacations.com or call (843)-913-2420.

The best way to learn all about options in Myrtle Beach is to visit Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday online and see what all the options are. In Myrtle Beach a golfers paradise there are always plenty.

  MAPLE MEADOWS part of Dupage Golf is up and running for the 2016 golf season, while Oak Meadows is closed for renovation, don’t forget Green Meadows as well. For golf specials and more see DuPagegolf.com. Coming up soon is the Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open at Mistwood on July 18-19-20. It’s not too late ladies to sign up and play, if your handicap is low enough, sign up now. Visit Mistwoodgc.com for details.         ______________________________________________________________________

Are you getting the shaft. If not try the Fujikura Speeder shaft, it makes a difference. THE GOG BLOG BY RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

Come on out, we’re open. Yes the Arlington Lakes Golf Club in Arlington Hts. is open for play.

The Course Awakens is the new theme and it should be. Architect mike Benkusky has brought new life to Arlington Lakes, and the golfers who have played the course are enjoying it.

Arlington Lakes Golf Club is a 90 acre property built on top of what was once an Army Nike Missle base. Some of the old silo’s are still underneath the fairways and greens.

This was the first major work done to the 36 year old golf course. The project brought some major changes to the golf course. Including the reducing of the total number of sand bunkers from 106 to 37. The nine’s were fliped, and some re-routing was done on the new front nine, so that golfers with less time to play, could still get out on the golf course.

When there is a need for speed, play Arlington Lakes Golf Club’s, short loops. Media members were on the clock on the recent media Photo by Len Ziehm.

It’s getting dark, it’s going to rain or you need some fun or practice on the way into or home from work. Is the new junior or senior golfer only ready for a few holes, well the new short-loops at ALGC might be just right for you or them.

After holes 1-3, the routing now brings the golfer back to the parking lot. You can head out after 3 holes if you need to hit the road. Need more, okay play six holes. Behind the sixth green is the clubhouse, head in for some of your favorite beverages or grab a bite to eat. The new clubhouse improvements will be discussed later. If you play the full front nine, it’s convienant to hit the parking lot or the “Duffers Den” lounge upstairs in the clubhouse.

(L-R) Superintendent Al Bevers, Architect Mike Benkusky, and Arlington Lakes GM Tim Govern on media day.

The option golfers now have at Arlington Lakes are rounds of 3-6-9 or 18 holes. The new back nine does not have a quick return to the clubhouse, but a possible routing to do so is being studied.

In addition to the course changes is a bigger and brand new putting green, that sits directly between the first and tenth tee boxes. Roll your putts and walk a few steps to the first tee.

Benkusky had to rebuild 9 greens on the golf course, so that unfair slopes could be taken out and the staff could find spots for more pin placements. The course yardage has been reduced to just under 5,500 yards, but now includes a set of junior tees. The course might not be long, but should be more fun for the average golfer. The are now some driveable par 4’s and par fives that better golfers might be able to get home in two shots, to have an eagle putt.

The clubhouse received over $400,000 worth of improvements.

The clubhouse received it’s shae of improvements as well. The pro shop has been redone with a new look and new merchandise.

The tables and chairs are new both on the lower level and upstairs in the bar and grill area. The banquet room looks refreshed and is a great place for outing banquets or other special events.

The restrooms for both men and women have been refurnished, and so were the cart paths so the course is playable with carts after heavy rains. For golfers that enjoy using all of Arlington Heights golf courses, including the Nickol Knoll Par 3 course there is good news.

Once Arlington Lakes is back up and running at full speed, the park district is expected to explore options for improvements for Nickol Knoll. There is no time-table currently set for that to happen however.

For more information on Arlington Lakes, where you can never say it takes too long to play, please visit Ahpd.org/algc or call (847)-577-3030.

     NEMOCOLIN WOODLANDS RESORT just south of Pittsburgh PA. One Pete Dye Course open for play, another one on the way, Nemacolin.com. Arlington Lakes is now open from the 13 month renovation by architect Mike Benkusky, the course and clubhouse improvements will be enjoyed by golfers and non-golfers. See AHPD.org.      _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG BY RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the LPGA International Crown Trophy.

It all started at the PGA merchandise show in Orlando Florida in 2013, there would be a press conference by the LPGA about something special. A big announcement they called it. It was.

The LPGA had communications chief Kraig Kann and Commissioner Michael Whan make the announcement. The new International Crown was born. Not a golf team championship that only included parts of the world, but now the entire world. The tournament idea was sparked by Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich in Sugar Grove. Rich has now stepped back from the event he helped create, but the UL Crown marches on. The new venue is the Merit Club of Libertyville, the clubs first big championship since the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open won by Karrie Webb. Webb will return as part of Team Australia, but her chances or repeating as champion will be a little tougher this time.

Welcome to the Merit Club, the new sign reads 8 Countries and 32 Players only. All fans welcome.

The UL International Crown was played for the first time in 2014 at Caves Valley CC, just outside of Baltimore.

Team Spain was the winner, Sweden was the runner up. Neither of those countries will be back this time, they didn’t make it out of qualifying. As a result team Korea and Team USA are the top two favorites, but they were the top 2 favorites in 2014 and neither country won. The USA didn’t even make it to Sunday’s play. That should change this time around.

Karrie Webb winner of the 2000 US Women’s Open at the Merit Club is looking for a crown in her return 16 years later.

For the first time the UL International Crown will come to Illinois, it will move onto Korea in 2018. In 2020 it will likely go to Japan, China or back to the United States, but that decision has not been made as of yet.

If you are confused about it’s location, yes the Crown was supposed to be played in Sugar Grove at Rich Harvest Farms, but that all changed late in 2015.

The Crown week at the Merit Club will start July 19th and run through the final round of play on Sunday July 24th. First round play starts on Thursday July 21.

The Par 3, 11th hole at the Merit Club.

The eight countries that are playing for the crown this year are, Korea, the United States, Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, England, Japan, and Thailand.

The 32 players will be comprised of the top four rated players from the 8 countries listed.

Team USA will include returnees from the 2014 team Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis, and Christie Kerr. Solheim Cup hero Gerina Piller is the new member of the squad.

Tickets and information are available at ULCrown.com. The Gog takes a look at the Merit Club in the days ahead. Stay clicked in.

  THE ILLINOIS GOLF HALL OF FAME and Class of 2015 Inductee Leon McNair. (R) McNair receives street sign naming a stretch of road in front of Fox Bend Golf Club in Oswego, Leon McNair Highway.

Long time Illinois PGA professional Leon McNair passed away Monday at age 75. McNair had fought ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Just last October McNair was inducted to the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2015.

His wake will be Sunday starting at 2 PM, at the Dunn Family Funeral Home, 1801 Douglas Rd. in Oswego. His funeral will be held on Monday July 11th, starting at 11 Am at the St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 551 Boulder Hill Pass in Oswego.

For more details on McNair’s life and career. Please visit Tim Cronin’s Illinoisgolfer.net.

Leon McNair at the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame awards ceremony in 2015

Leon McNair who was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame last year, as part of the class of 2015, has passed away at the age of 75.

McNair the long time professional at Fox Bend in Oswego, was very active with the First Tee program of Kane County. Part of the road that runs in front of Fox Bend was named the Leon McNair Highway.

Services are expected this Sunday in the Oswego area, The Gog Blog will post details as we have them. All of us at Golfers on Golf pass our condolences along to the friends and family of Leon McNair.

   The Knollwood Club of Lake Forest will host the 113th Western Am coming August 1-6, admission and parking are free, See WGAESF.org. Arlington Lakes in Arlington Hts. is now open from renovation after 13 months. Tee times at (847)-577-3030 call today.         ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. In the 16th fairway at Glen Dornach in Myrtle Beach.

Happy 4th of July everyone, I hope all the golfers are out enjoying the deals the courses are offering today, before you head out to the fireworks.

A couple of area courses are offering golf at $17.76 today, sounds like a great promotion to me.

I should be back posting more often now that my computer is back from ABT. Special thanks to everyone there on getting it back to me days early and for a much better price that was anticipated. There is plenty to get caught up on.

From behind the flag on the 5th hole at Sand Valley, up to the tee box.

It has been an amazing last two weeks. It started back around the time Dustin Johnson was winning his first major championship at Oakmont inspite of the USGA.

I headed out to Rome Wisconsin home of Mike Keiser’s Sand Valley Golf Resort, and found 18 great golf holes designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. I played the 13 of them that were open, you can play all 18 of them later this fall when the courses opens. The drive up is about 3 hours and 45 minutes from the O’Hare area. Faster if you are west of Schaumburg.

From there, I returned and headed off to Ackerman Hills Golf Club on the Purdue Campus that has just reopened from a Pete Dye renovation. Ackerman Hills along with the Birick Boilermaker Course, give the Purdue campus 36 holes of great golf. Well worth the 2 1/2 hour drive from the Chicago area. Faster if you are in the south burbs.

MYRTLE BEACH thanks to Chris King and all the people at Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday who helped our Golfers on Golf Radio do our first live remote from outside the local area. Mike Munro, Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and myself played 54 holes of Myrtle Beach Golf and broadcast our show from the Tidewater Plantation Golf Club. If your in Myrtle Beach add Tidewater to your hit list.

YES MICHIGAN I headed north to upper Michigan to play the new Loop Courses at Forest Dunes in Roscommon Michigan a 5 1/2 drive from the Chicago area. Tom Doak has done a wonderful job on this concept of a reversable golf course. Make the drive and see which one you like better. The new lodging on property in the lodge or in the newer villas is outstanding. The orginal Forest Dunes course is still a Top 100 on a few national lists, and after playing it for the fourth time I agree.

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT the 7+ million spent by the resort on the room renovations in the tower was well spent. The rooms are outstanding, especially when you can enjoy them and a view from the upper floors.

I had a view of the club house and the Bear Course done by of course Jack Nicklaus, the course has had some tweaks done on it. I feel the Bear is ready to come out of hibernation and host another tournament again. It would be a great fit for the Sr. PGA with the championship already having a Michigan based sponsor in Kitchen-Aid.

TOMORROW is media day at the Merit Club for the UL International Crown, full report on the club that’s hosting a big championship for the first time in 16 years in just 2 weeks.

ENJOY THE 4TH, and stay clicked in. I’m back and with a lot to say. RS

  ARLINGTON LAKES ..we are open, come out and play. Short on time, try the 3-hole or 6-Hole loops, or play the traditional 9 or 18 hole rounds. Remodeled clubhouse and beer garden, see AHPD.org or call (847)-577-3030. ARROWHEAD GOLF CLUB home of 27 great holes and a great 28th hole for before or after golf. Arrowheadgolfclub.org located on Butterfield Road in Wheaton. Arrowhead Golf is now the home of the Pelican Golf Studio.  ________________________________________________________________________

Golfers on Golf Radio is, Standing L-R Mike Munro and Ed Stevenson. Seated L-R Rory Spears and Bill Berger. Golfers on Golf Radio Sunday mornings at 9 AM on WSBC AM 1240.

Golfers on Golf Radio returns back to Illinois after a week in beautiful Myrtle Beach South Carolina. Last week the show was aired live from the Tidewater Plantation Golf Club.

Now Chicago’s Favorite Foursome returns to Chicago and another week on the local front. So please join Mike Munro and Rory Spears for this weeks edition of Golfers on Golf Radio.

Golfers on Golf Radio wishes all the golfers and everyone listening a happy 4th of July.

This week’s show tee’s off in it’s usual tee time of 9 AM on AM 1240 WSBC. This weeks show has a great lineup of guests. In honor of the 4th of July this weeks program has not one but two destinations of the week.

The Homestead in Hot Springs Virginia

First on the tee box is Brett Schoenfield, the managing director  of The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs Virginia. Schoenfield joins us from the land of Sam Snead and the famed William S. Flynn Cascades Golf Course, that was built in 1924.

This year the Homestead is celebrating it’s 250th birthday, yes the resort that first opened in 1766, is 10 years older than the United States. The Homestead is now part of the Omni Hotel chain.

The par 4, 17th hole at Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon Michigan.

The LOOP is now open. No the Loop at Forest Dunes is not a new rock and roll station. It’s not the name of the new downtown area in Roscommon Michigan.

The Loop is the reversible golf course that can be played in two directions. You can play the Black routing, and come back the next day and play the Red routing.

To hear more about the Loop and the famed Forest Dunes Golf Course that is already on several Top 100 lists, join us and the clubs new GM and Illinois native Chad Maveus for more on Forest Dunes and the Loop.

Tim Govern has an open golf course again at Arlington Lakes AHPD.org.

Our final guest of the hour is Tim Govern the GM of the Arlington Lakes Golf Club in Arlington Heights.

Govern and his staff have an open golf course again, as Arlington Lakes has now reopened after a 13 month renovation by architect Mike Benkusky.

Learn more about the new 3-hole and 6-hole loops golfers can play who are short on time. The course now has some 60 less bunkers than before and is more playable for golfers of all skill levels. The clubhouse has gone a renovation as well. Learn more about Arlington Lakes in our interview with Tim Govern.

The Gog Blog Speaks Out, is back tomorrow on the 4th. Happy Holiday everyone. RS