WE MAKE CLUBS YES WE DO, even balls and bags, how about you ? For more on companies that make clubs, balls, bags see Callawaygolf.com or visit Titleiest.com.        _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Wearing the Cross Golf All-weather apparel, and holding the Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Putter.

The Swoosh Bleeds. Nike Golf posted on it’s website today, they are getting out of the golf equipment business.

Nike is done, finished and gone when it comes to golf clubs. No Nike has not totally bailed on golf, they will continue to make golf shoes and golf apparel.

Nike Brand President Trevor Edwards says the company is committed to being an industry leader in golf apparel and footwear. We will see.

What everyone is waiting to see, is what clubs will Nike endorsers Rory McIlroy (world #4), Tiger Woods (when or if he plays again) or Michelle Wie will put in their bags next. There are a few other top players who play Nike, but not many.

What will Rory McIlroy hit next.

As of this writing, McIlroy’s Twitter page and Facebook page were silent. There was nothing was out from the Woods camp either, but that’s no surprise.

McIlroy for all the hardware he has won in recent years, has had his issues with Nike clubs.

One club went splash in a pond at Doral, and was swallowed up by the Blue Monster that resides there.

Recently after yet another sprayed shot with his 3-wood, McIlroy whipped it bouncing down the fairway only to watch the head of the club snap off, as the club rolled past the 200 yard fairway marker.

Regardless of what you think of McIlroy’s temper or sportsmanship, his actions were not a ringing endorsement for the quality Nike clubs. Then again who can ever forget Woods punting his Nike club across the tee box at Augusta National during the Masters.

Why would any amateur buy Nike clubs, if players with McIlroy’s talent could not count on them to post a low score, or hit good shots in professional tournaments, or in the four major championships.

The debate has raged for years about just how good Nike products are. Various golf media or industry types will tell you that Nike products have ruined the games of players like Woods, Wie, David Duval and others. There are those that will tell you that Woods might have 18 or 19 majors by now if he had not switched to Nike. That Woods would have passed Jack Nicklaus and would hold the record for wins in majors. That Duval would have more than one major title and the same goes for Wie.

In 2005 Jason Gore was among the leaders heading into the final round at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, but final round 84’s (+14) don’t get it done on Sunday at major championships. From Pinehurst Gore struggled with his game, I asked him at the 2006 PGA at Medinah about his game. While he was still a Nike staff player, he didn’t have kind words for the Sasquatch Driver.

Wie had issues with her Sasquatch driver when she showed up at the John Deere Classic, she hit shots into places that didn’t receive errant shots on media day.

A few years back as he vaulted into contention at the Deere, Patrick Reed didn’t have much good to say about Nike either. Granted Reed had just switched over to Callaway and wanted to talk them up. But he told me not only were Callaway clubs better, but the Callaway golf ball was much better. Especially when hitting into the wind. The following March, Reed won the WGC Championship at Doral. with his Callaway clubs.

  (L) Titleist Putter designer Scotty Cameron left, and Callaway Club designer Roger Cleveland (R) with yours truly.

More than once Nike brought in someone who was going to be the next big club designer in the league with Titleist putter designer Scotty Cameron, the Titleist “Wizzard of Wedges” creator Bob Vokey, or Callaway wedge and club maker Roger Cleveland. But none of those people eventually turned into, who Nike hyped them up to be.

Nike didn’t say what this announcement meant for their staff players, or for the golf professionals who have their shops stocked with Nike equipment.

I reached Blackberry Oaks Golf Club General Manager Chad Johansen, who has been a strong supporter of Nike products via social media. Johansen was out of town, but  was surprised by the announcement. It left him wondering if he and his shop are now “free agents”.

There has always been doubt about how many of Woods and McIlroy’s clubs were really Nike, or were they just painted over and had the Nike stamp put on them.

There are many questions and as of now, Nike is providing few answers. So let the clearance sales of Nike products begin, and the competition to get those pro shops handling other brands to begin very quickly. Like today. RS

 THE INN ON WOODLAKE in Kohler Wisconsin, getting an addition this fall. Staying open while the improvements continue, DestinationKohler.com. Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton is your home for 27 great holes of golf, more details Arrowheadgolfclub.com ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the Western Amateur Sweet 16 trophy.

It’s always a great week when the Western Amateur comes to town. This week the championship is being held at the Knollwood Club in Lake Forest.

The Knollwood Club a 1924 Colt and Alison design, was renovated by Keith Foster one of the leading architects in the world and in classic course renovation and renovation. The club had become over planted with trees and green and fairway size was slowly getting smaller.

Original green sizes were restored, trees removed, and the course got a nickname of “Mini-Augusta” after the addition of white sand in it’s big upright bunkers. While there is room off the tee for the players to hit the ball, long approaches into elevated greens, that are large with subtle breaks will challenge these top amateur players.

There are plenty of local players involved including 2014 Western Amateur medalist Doug Ghim of Arlington Heights, and Northbrook’s Nick Hardy. David Cooke the 2015 Illinois Open Champions is playing one of his final events as an amateur before turning professional. Admission and parking are free, come enjoy the Western Amateur. The championship match will tee off around noon on Saturday. But there will plenty of great golf all week before then. See you there.

The First Tee Golf Ball in the PGA Museum in port St. Lucie Florida

PGA Tour professional and Northwestern Alum Luke Donald is holding his annual wine tasting in conjunction with the First Tee of Greater Golf coming up on September 12th at the Medinah Country Club.

The event is always fun and has plenty of great golf things to bid on, in the spirit of raising money for the First Tee program.

Every year Luke has brought along one of his fellow tour professionals to help raise money and this it has been announced that Rory McIlroy is joining Donald at Medinah. Contact the First Tee now as tickets are going fast.

UPCOMING this week right here. In addition to our coverage of the Western Amateur will be a look at the Beloit Club in Beloit Wisconsin, part of a great turn around of the city of Beloit headed up by ABC supply owner billionaire Diane Hendricks. BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm and I made the trip to Southwest Wisconsin and were amazed by what we saw. The course is managed by kent Instefjord the professional who opened Whistling Straits and Erin Hills in Wisconsin.

The JOHN DEERE CLASSIC on the tee next week, is announcing some exemptions and waiting for the last minute entry’s that should include some great names by Firday afternoon. Stay clicked in, we will have them.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP.. Congrats to Jimmy Walker on that first major win. Jimmy, it’s just two years too late. In 2014 I played a great golf bet in Las Vegas, called pick a player to win a major. I have won that bet three times, one year I did not was in 2014 when I picked Walker, had he won the PGA that year it would have been over $1,000 in my wallet. Who will be next years long shot to win a major, start checking later this year in the sports books.

DON’T move the PGA to May. Some golf writers have made that pitch. I don’t like the idea of the last major being over in July, and the three American majors being played by Mid-June. That idea, really DUMB.

OFF TO KNOLLWOOD..See you there. RS