THE WHITE PINES Golf Club IN BENSENVILLE has 36 holes and great 37th hole for before and after round food and beverages, it’s not to early to book your holiday party or special event. Check out the new outdoor tent for large events. 10% off your holiday party if booked by October 31st. Call (630)-766-0304 Ext 2 for details. it’s not too late to go enjoy Fall Golf, see Whitepinesgolf.com. Do you need to work on your putting, why not get the best putting aid on the market, the Perfect Putting Aid invented by CHAD JOHANSEN creator of the new Guide for Golf. Visit Chadjohansen.com for details or go see Chad in person at the Blackberry Oaks Golf Club in Bristol. Blackberryoaks.com. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on facebook, Linkedin and twitter @GogblogGuy. With the Ryder Cup

What a win for the United States, finally winning the Ryder Cup for the first time in 8 years. The final score 17-11.

Was the new system created by the PGA of America a difference maker this time around, or was it something else.

Did Hazeltine show through and earn a right for another major championship, or a future Ryder Cup host site down the road.

On Sunday of Ryder Cup week the Gog Blog caught up with Ryder Cup Chairman Patrick Hunt, for his thoughts on the week and what’s ahead for the Ryder Cup and Hazletine National Golf Club.

Click here to hear the interview with Ryder Cup Chairman Patrick Hunt. Stay clicked in for upcoming interviews with Kohler CEO Herb Kohler on the 2020 Ryder Cup coming to Whistling Straits, and for French Golf Officials on the 2018 Ryder Cup coming to Paris France.

   THE US OPEN makes a rare Midwest visit next June of 2017 at the Erin Hills Golf Club in Erin Wisconsin, for tickets see USGA.org/tickets. Eric Johnson is the new teaching professional at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, for more on golf see Nemacolin.com.  _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Shirt from the Carnoustie Sportswear men’s line.

The Illini continue to win. Which is just the way Coach Mike Small planned it, when he drew up the schedule and recruited the players that he did.

His best player on the team this past week at the Northern Intercollegiate, wasn’t even on the team. Playing as an Independent, Fr. Giovanni Tadiotto from the nation of Belgium was 5 under Par over three rounds at Beverly Country Club 72-68-68 on the Par 71 course. It was the first tournament title in his college career.

The Northern Intercollegiate that is normally played Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove was moved for one year, because of the NCAA National Championships being played there next May. All NCAA players have not been allowed at RHF since August 1st. Northern Illinois University served as tournament host.

Illinois at -7 under par defeated Indiana by 53 shots (+46) and Marquette (+50) by 57 shots.

“This was a solid outing for our team,” said Small. ” I’m proud of the way that they played. I am excited that Giovanni had a great outing, and winning the tournament while playing as an individual, he showed his true potential for a solid future.”

Tadiotto was two under par headed into the third and final round, and then carded five birdies on the final nine holes. Right behind him was teammate Edoardo Lipparelli who took second place with a three under par score. Juniors Dylan Meyer and Nick Hardy were able to finish third and fourth. Meyer shot 69 in both the second and the third round to finish 2 under par for the championship.

The tournament had a field of 12 teams in which six of them were from Illinois. The next tournament for Illinois will be held at the Isleworth Golf and Country Club for the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational, on October 16-18. The tournament is hosted by North Texas and UC-Florida, and will have the country’s top 15 teams in the field.

For more information on University of Illinois Golf, please keep it here or visit Fightingillini.com. Illinois remains the #1 team in the national polls.

   CHAD JOHANSEN Inventor of the Perfect Putting Aid, and now the Guide For Golf is waiting for you at the Blackberry Oaks Golf Club in Bristol. Start making more putts, get that lesson when you need it, bring your junior golfers to the course where Kids-Rule. See blackberryoaks.com and chadjohansen.com improve your game, play the game. DO YOU need tickets for the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, visit USGA.org/tickets.          _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Looking on the 9th hole at Shepherd’s Rock at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.

That second 18 holes at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington PA., is inching closer to being completed. Work remains on only two holes as the final days of construction tick away.

While the golfers are enjoying the fall golf season on the resorts #1 ranked public course in Pennsylvania, Mystic Rock, the second Pete Dye course now has a name, Shepherd’s Rock.

Shepherd’s Rock will open on July 1st of 2017. Shepherd’s Rock is the latest course on the new course construction list that helps show growth in the golf industry. The opening of a second course turns Nemacolin into a major golf destination.

Nemacolin Director of Golf and Activities Mike Jones (L) with Hall of Fame course designer Pete Dye on Shepherd’s Rock.

“The course is scheduled to complete construction by October 31st,” says Nemacolin’s Director of Golf and Activities Mike Jones. “16 holes are done and the two remaining holes are nearing completion. July 1st, 2017 will be the opening date.”

With opening day for Shepherd’s Rock now less than nine months away, Jones and his team know that Nemacolin will become a destination for golfers from all over the country.

“We are very excited to get our second Pete Dye Championship Course open,” said Jones. “The new addition will make Nemacolin one of the great golf destinations in the Northeastern United States.”

The Par 3, 14th hole on Shepherd’s Rock is done, grassed and growing in.

Dye along with architect Tim Liddy are putting the Shepherd’s Rock design together.

The golf course will play to a Par of 72, and a back yardage of 7,142 yards. The first hole shows the golfer that the terrain will be rolling through the Allegheny Mountains, and leave the golfer with spectacular views through out the round.

The two nines are different and will require the golfer to create a strategy to be successful on each nine. The front nine is only 3,306 yards, and will make the golfer play a strategic game to earn the scores of success. The back nine is longer at 3,836 yards, but more wide open for the longer hitters to enjoy.

In Mid-August the par 5, 18th hole was starting to take shape.

The final hole is a Par 5, that can play around 600 yards, the tee shot will drop down into a lower section of the fairway, before requiring the golfer to play uphill shots into a green that will have scenic mountain views to one side. With the Falling Rock Golf Hotel with it’s pools and waterfalls on the other side.

“With 36 great holes of golf and over 70 different activities to do on resort property, you will never get bored at Nemacolin,” says Jones.

“Shepherd’s Rock promises to be one of the best courses in the U.S.,” says Monte Hansen, Managing Director at Nemacolin. “Thirty-six holes showcasing the creativity and genius of Pete Dye, combined with our myriad luxury amenities and accommodations, positions us at the very top of premier resort destinations in the U.S.”

In addition to Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock, the Nemacolin Golf Academy offers the latest ways to improve your game at all levels. Nemacolin has added golf schools and club fitting area’s under the watchful eye of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 instructor Eric Johnson, who left Oakmont Country Club immediately after the U.S. Open to join Nemacolin. Jones left the Kapalua Resort on the island of Maui in Hawaii, earlier this year to join Nemacolin.

The first hole at Shepherd’s Rock comes into shape.

The Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is comprised of nearly 2,000 acres. The resort has 320 luxurious guestrooms, suites, townhouses, and private upscale homes.

Guests can also enjoy the resorts Spa, Casino, and Wildlife Academy. The Adventure Center has Zip Lines and a climbing wall. Take a Jeep and go Off-Road Driving.

There are 15 restaurants and lunges on the property. For meetings there is over 32,000 square feet of conference space and three ballrooms, a lecture hall and 25 meeting rooms. For more information visit Nemacolin.com or call 866-399-6957.

The Perfect Putting Aid, by Chad Johansen. Used by over 100 PGA Tour professionals.

That was some golf tournament, the Ryder Cup never fails to deliver for excitement, but at least this year american fans could rejoice in having a victory.

Whitepinesgolf.com Located on Jefferson Road in Bensenville. 36 holes and a great 37th that takes care of your food and beverage before or after your round. See the new special event tent, for your event or golf outings. Play golf at White Pines all fall, open until it’s too cold and snowy to play.

How fired up are fans for the Ryder Cup. Well over 68,000 of them came out to Hazeltine on the weekend before just to shop in the merchandise tent. How is that for an advance walk up in sales.

The 41st Ryder Cup was one for the ages, and no not just because the USA won for a change, like for the first time in 8 years. But is showed how much interest there is in golf, and how many people will show up to see a top level golf event.

It became apparent quickly and early in the week, that Ryder Cup continues to grow as event. The next question is will it outgrow itself, with the amount space for tents and fans it now requires. Paris in 2018 will be challenged, Whistling Straits and Kohler Company will be challenged in 2020, Italy will be in 2022, and Bethpage will be as well in 2024. There is no word yet on 2026 overseas, and 2028 back in america.

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. In the booth at the Ryder Cup.

My feature on Paris will coming soon, and it’s a good one. I spoke with some of the top officials in French golf, and they had a lot to say.

When the matches start at 7:35 in the morning and the amount of patrons on the grounds prior to 7 AM on a weekday in late September number more than 30,000 it’s amazing.

As someone who has now attended three Ryder Cups, I have seen nothing but growth at all of them. The Ryder Cup just keeps getting bigger. Where will it all stop. Good question, even Patrick Hunt the 2016 Ryder Cup Chairman told me (in an interview you will hear in a few days) that their could be a point coming soon, where tickets sellout, tents sellout and things get cut off even before the first tee shot is stuck or Ryder Cup week tee’s off.

The first tee as Thomas Pieters and JB Holmes prepare to tee off on Sunday.

I think Medinah in 2012 showed the world just how big the Ryder Cup could be, and now Hazeltine took a page from Medinah’s book and made it bigger.

Just about the time you think you will never see more people on a golf course in your life, along comes Hazeltine and then you do see more fans than ever before.

While it would be nice to say Medinah was the biggest ever Ryder Cup, sorry to say it no longer is. The course in Paris has been built stadium style with the Ryder Cup in mind, it will be interesting to see how that works out.

THE GOOD AND BAD from the 2016 Ryder Cup.

The good was an american win for the first time in eight years. The golf was exciting and kept the fans interested. After the first day the traffic backups around the golf course were not that bad. Security was tight but not ridiculous. The merchandise tent was busy all the time and they ran out of things, but they got replenished. On Sunday morning they had more to sell than Medinah did, the PGA of America and the vendors brought along a little more stock after seeing quicker sell out in 2012 and at the PGA Championship in 2015.

Food lines and porta-potty lines were not bad and keep moving. Hazeltine had more good viewing points than I expected them to have. One person even landed a plane on the water off the 10th hole and watched for there. The bleacher area’s were bigger and held more people, there was great walkways around the tents, so you could stay off the grass and not get run over by all the golf carts zooming around that had people in them doing, well who knows what.

There was great viewing area’s around the practice area’s, short game, putting green and driving range that was complete with the tunes playing. Do you like Prince music, you know he was from Minnesota, I have heard KISS more than enough for the rest of the year.

The opening and closing ceremony area was real nice. It was hard to see Hazeltines unique clubhouse with an 8 foot high orange fence around it. Working it was fun and not, the wireless network was not sufficient to handle the media demand. Audio from the interviews could have been at better levels, but hey that’s the way it is in the media compound at times.

But in the end, pretty well done. Hazeltine deserves another Ryder Cup someday, right after Medinah gets another one as well. RS

More thoughts and news from the Ryder Cup over the next few days, right here on the site.

  THE PAR 3, 14TH HOLE on the new Pete Dye Course at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington PA. Opening July 1, 2017, see Nemacolin.com. The White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville has 36 holes and more, go visit whitepinesgolf.com today.         ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on facebook, linkedin and twitter @gogblogguy. On the 12th hole at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington PA.

Last week on Tuesday we said “Farewell to the King”, since then golfers have wondered if it’s the end of an era.

Well it is from the standpoint we won’t see Arnold Palmer hitting that first tee shot at the Masters. We won’t see him driving around in his cart at Bay Hill before the tournament in March. The days of the new commercials with him will stop. But the effect he had on people and how he lived his life doesn’t have to stop if people keep him and his ways in our minds and how we do things in life.

Arnold Palmer speaks in 2015 before the start of the Palmer Cup matches at Rich Harvest Farms.

First up, while it’s nice to have a Arnold Palmer drink in honor of him and his passing, Palmer would more likely appreciate it, if you would go play a round of golf in his honor.

That would really mean something to him. If you want to do it one step better, you could go book a play and stay at his famed Bay Hill Lodge in Orlando. That is once it dries out from the recent hurricane rains.

Put your tab on your Mastercard and go from there. Make sure you get something with that famed umbrella logo on it. Arnie would be glad you did. I’ll be out playing tomorrow in his honor, you should too where and when you can. While your out playing and on or off the course, don’t be afraid to try and carry yourself the way the King would have. It might get you somewhere in life.

Locally both the Hawthorn Woods Country Club and the White Eagle Country Club are Arnold Palmer design golf courses. They are both private, but don’t turn down any invite you might get to play those tracks. Both are enjoyable. If your looking to donate money somewhere in honor of Palmer, try the Arnold Palmer Children’s hospital in Orlando. Trust me it’s a great cause. Arnoldpalmerhospital.com or visit bayhill.com for that round of golf.

IN THIS MONTH of breast cancer awareness it was great to see a breast cancer survivor be awarded the 2016 Woman of Distinction Award by the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA). Northwestern Woman’s golf coach Emily Fletcher was given the award at a luncheon last week at the Indian Hill Club in Winetka.

SO MUCH FOR TIGER..Woods WD’d out of the Safeway Open he was supposed to play in this week, he will be WD’ing from the Turkish Open he was supposed to play in. He is hoping to play in his Hero tournament in December. At this point there is now a possibility that might not happen either. What’s the old saying..what til next year.

THE FALL GOLF SEASON is moving along faster than we want it to. One of the best times to play golf for a variety of reasons is the fall months. But before we know it the clock’s will back up the daylight hours will be short. There is probably a good chance we only some 35 days left before it becomes dome season here in the Chicago area.

So get out and enjoy while you can, I know I will. Go play, the King would like that, and then have an Arnold Palmer after the round, the King would like that as well. RS

 THE WHITE PINES GOLF CLUB in Bensenville has 36 holes of golf and a great 37th hole, White Pines is your home for outings, banquets, holiday parties and more. Visit Whitepinesgolf.com. Nemacolin Woodland Resort in Farmington PA.,18 holes of Pete Dye golf now open for play, with 18 more on the way July of 2017. See Nemacolin.com. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG, by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the Chick Evans painting at the Glenview Club.

The (WWGA) Woman’s Western Golf Association, has named Emily Fletcher the 2016 WWGA “Woman of Distinction” award winner. Flecther serves as the woman’s golf coach at Northwestern University in Evanston.

The award has been presented since 1994, when it was first presented to Patty Berg. Fletcher received her award on October 6th during a luncheon at the Indian Hill Club.

The award is given to a woman who shows or displays a quality of leadership, involvement and commitment to the game of golf on either the amateur or professional level. The honoree will also have won or competed in a WWGA championship or made a significant contribution to the organization of the game of golf.

WWGA.org

Fletcher a native of Fort Eustis VA., started playing the game of golf at age 13. Fletcher played four years of college golf, first at Longwood University, and then two more seasons at Ferris State University in Michigan. Fletcher says she went to Ferris State because at the time they were the only school offering Professional Golf study as a major.

From there Fletcher landed on her feet in Arizona at the Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale. After both an internship at Desert Highlands and then the job of assistant professional there, Fletcher moved onto the Glenview Club in 1987 as instruction and golf operations. She still teaches there in the summer when away from the NU golf program.

L-R Cece Durbin, Emily Fletcher and WWGA President Kim Schriver at the Indian Hill Club.

Fletcher spent time working as the assistant director of Betsy King’s Wachovia Classic from 1996 into 2004.

Fletcher became the head coach of the Northwestern Woman’s Golf Team in May of 2008. Only two years later Fletcher was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went through months of of both radiation and chemotherapy before she beat cancer.

During her fight against cancer she never missed one of NU’s tournaments and only a few practices, her players never felt all the issues Fletcher was dealing with because Fletcher found a way to never appear as ill as she was at times.

Fletchers team won it’s first Big Ten Championship in 2013, and they have been winning championships ever since.

“I am still overwhelmed with the news of being recognized as the 2016 honoree,” said Fletcher. “My ties to the Glen View Club and the many members who are affiliated with the WWGA have made me aware of the tireless and significant work this organization continues to do on behalf of woman golfers. In my work of recruiting the best players to Northwestern, I attend both WWGA championships every year.”

Fletcher added, “looking back on the history of the other honoree’s is like looking at the history of a ‘who’s who’ of golf. It’s a tremendous honor to be associated with the likes of Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, Nancy Lopez, Peggy Kirk Bell and Kathy Whitworth. I am not sure how i got lumped in with these legends. I will continue to live up to the standard they have set in promoting golf and developing a passion for the game.”

WWGA President Kim Schriver added, ” As a parent and Director of the WWGA who has seen junior golf grow and provide young women an opportunity to compete in college, Emily is the coach I would trust to mentor my daughters on and off the golf course. She exemplifies the values, discipline and character that will grow the game and positively influence young women.”

In the last 45 years, the Woman’s Western Golf Foundation has granted over $3.5 million dollars of scholarships to more than 675 scholars from 45 states and over two dozen women’s college golf programs.

The WWGA has no paid staff and Directors and Trustee’s are volunteers who pay their own expenses. They run two championships a year, their national amateur championship and a junior championship. For more information on both championships in 2017 visit WWGA.org.

  THE WHITE PINES GOLF in Bensenville has 36 holes of golf and a great 37th for your pre-round and post round food and beverages. Banquets, Outings and more, please see Whitepinesgolf.com. Chad Johansen is not only the General Manager of the Blackberry Oaks Golf Club but he is the inventor of the Perfect Putting Aid and new Guide for Golf. For more information please visit Chadjohansen.com. #Wherekidsrule.    _____________________________________________________________________

 THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears. Follow Rory to the 2016 Ryder Cup, and on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. #USA and on to France in 2018.

The wait is over, after 8 years Team USA has won the Ryder Cup by a score of 17-11 over Team Europe. The 12 matches on Sunday swung back and forth, before the USA took control and ran away to grab the trophy. The final member of team Ryan Moore named as the last captains pick and winner of the John Deere Classic, won the final point needed to win the cup.

What a final day it was, it played out like Medinah to a point with Team USA taking the early lead at one point, then Team Euopre sized control and had the lead. At one point Europe lead in 6 of 7 matches and it looked like Medinah all over again was in the works.

Then Patrick Reed dug in during his match against Rory McIlroy that was the first match out, Reed set the tone by pulling A/S and then took a 1 UP lead, a lead he never relinquished. Then Jordan Spieth lost to Henrik Stenson, and JB Holmes got beat by Thomas Pieters and things started to tighten up.

The USA then got a key and surprising win out of Rickie Fowler over Justin Rose then started to turn the tide. Phil Mickelson had to fight hard, but won a half point with Sergio Garcia. From their the board started to red instead of blue the rest of the way. That allowed the USA to open up the lead and end up winning by the six points they did.

Ryan Moore’s opportunity to clinch the cup came because Brandt Snedeker won his match only a few minutes before Moore won his. Regardless Moore was thrilled that he got the honor to get that winning point. All of the other matches except for Matt Kuchar’s match that he lost wrapped up fairly quickly after the cup was won.

Zach Johnson won his match 4&3 over Matt Fitzpatrick in the anchor match right after Moore clinched the final point. Fitzpatrick the former U.S. amateur champion who spent a quick semester at Northwestern, played in only two matches and never mounted much of a charge in either one. He’s likely he will be better the next time around.

Pieters who played at Illinois, set a new European rookie point record for a positive start to his Ryder Cup career.

For the U.S.A., for the first time since Arnold Palmer captained the USA team in 1975, all american players won at least one match, and that feat was accomplished by Saturday.

So the Ryder Cup stays here for at least two years, until it is contested in Paris France in 2018 at Le Golf National. The course was created with the Ryder Cup in mind and can hold very large galleries. Which will be needed as this event continues to grow.

  THE PERFECT PUTTING AID by Chad Johansen inventor and General Manager of Blackberry Oaks Golf Club in Bristol. See Chadjohansen.com for more details on the Perfect Putting Aid and the Guide for Golf. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is located in Farmington PA.,18 holes of Pete Dye Golf with 18 more on the way, see Nemacolin.com ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to the Ryder Cup, and on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

WITH TWO DAYS in the Books at the 41st Ryder Cup. It’s TEAM USA 9 1/2 and TEAM EUROPE 6 1/2.

Will Sunday mark the first day of the USA holding the cup, or will it be a remake of the “Meltdown at Medinah.”

Saturday was quite a day at Hazeltine National Golf Club. It started with the USA holding a two point lead over Europe. By the time the morning Foursome matches were played it was down to only 1 point. The final bit of bad karma, saw top USA team of Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth losing a 4 UP lead with the 6 holes to play to Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose, the match ended A/S. Call it 6 1/2 to 5 1/2.

Early in the afternoon, Rory McIlroy and former Illini Golfer Thomas Pieters won their match over Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson 3&2 to tie things up at 6 1/2 all. then for short moment Europe had the lead, but that didn’t last.

The USA rallied in the last three matches to win them all and get the three point lead headed into Sunday. Matt Kuchar following the round says that Team USA will focus on the day and their match, not on what happened at Medinah 4 years ago.

To regain the lead Phil Mickelson and Kuchar took turns playing great golf, Kuchar at the start and “Lefty” on the backside to defeat Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia. 2&1.

Then the the surprise of the afternoon. After being A/S or behind for the first 16 holes, Ryan Moore and JB Holmes rallied to take a 1UP lead over Lee Westwood and Danny Willett. On 18 as both USA golfers missed the fairway, Westwood and Willett did not, they also found the green. Holmes and Moore had to settle for pars, and after Willett missed a putt to halve the match from just outside 10 feet, Westwood who had a shot to less than three feet, pushed his putt for the miss and the USA to get a full point.

With Jordan Spieth struggling, Patrick Reed played outstanding golf and helped the USA get the final point of the day 3&2 over Rose and Stenson.

Click here to hear interviews with the American Team and Captain Davis Love III after the afternoon session, and Team Europe Captain Darren Clarke.

The Sunday’s Singles matches start at 11:04 with Rory McIlroy playing Patrick Reed in the first match and nine minutes later it’s Stenson and Spieth. the final match just after 1 PM, is Matt Fitzpatrick vs Zach Johnson.

Sunday is Red-Out day for fans of Team USA, so wear Red and support Team USA.