HE’S BACK-Mistwood Golf Club and McQ’s Golf Professional Dan Phillips is back teaching golf again, after building marketing plans for both properties. Contact Phillips at McQsdome or Mistwood Golf Club (815)-254-3333 for lessons, club repair/fittings. CALLAWAY GOLF still improving the 2017 Driver of the Year, NEW EPIC 1-16-2018.      _____________________________________________________________________

Marc Leishman 2017 winner of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms.

THE GOG BLOG by Director of Content RORY SPEARS.

Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy

The 2017 BMW Championship had multiple winners, first up there was tournament winner Marc Leishman, and alongside Leishman was the Western Golf Association and the Evans Scholars . The numbers are in and the BMW Championship raised over $2.6 million dollars for the WGA/ESF.

The Western Golf Association since 1899.

The 2017 BMW Championship played in September at Conway Farms saw over 115,000 fans come out to see the Chicago area’s premier golf championship. As a result, the BMW Championship has now raised over $27 million dollars for the Evans Scholars Foundation.

During the championship if a player makes a hole-in-one BMW donates a full ride 4 year scholarship worth $100,000. This year Jason Day made ace on the Par 3, 17th hole with a 7-Iron from 188 yards in the second round of tournament play. As a result, it became the fifth time during the tournament since 2008, that BMW has awarded the scholarship.

By making the hole-in-one Day received a BMW M760i, which he donated back to the Western Golf Association and the ESF to help raise additional money.

Additional money was raised for the ESF, when BMW donated $50,000 in honor of caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay who was inducted during tournament week in to the Caddie Hall of Fame. Mackay until earlier this year, worked 25 years as the caddie for future Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson.

“During this season of giving, we’re proud to once again donate the proceeds from the BMW Championship to such a worthy cause,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “The tremendous support we received from our partners at BMW, as well as Chicagoland golf fans and the local and regional corporate communities, helps ensure the Evans Scholars Foundation is able to continue awarding full tuition and housing scholarships to caddies.”

This year Conway Farms hosted the BMW Championship for the third time in recent years, the walking only club has had more than 25 Evans Scholars enter the ESF program.

In 2018 the BMW Championship moves to the Philadelphia area and the Aronimink Golf Club in Newton Square Pennsylvania from September 4-9 in 2018. It then returns to Chicago in 2019 and will be contested at the Medinah Country Club, in suburban Medinah Illinois.

   THE CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATION SYMBOL-THE BARN AT COG HILL   A Gog Blog news update, by RORY SPEARS.

The Chicago Golf Community tonight is mourning the loss of long time Chicago Golf industry leader and golf marketer Carol McCue. She was 94.

A memorial service is set for Friday December 29th at Donnellon Funeral Home in Skokie at 10 AM.

McCue spent 40 years at the CDGA, and ran the office taking over as Executive Director, when the men were called away for military service during WWII. After leaving the CDGA, McCue was immediately hired by Joe Jemsek at Cog Hill to take over the marketing office there, as well as at St. Andrews in West Chicago, and eventually for Jemsek golf at Pine Meadow in Mundelein, once the course was restored and opened for public play in 1986.

McCue a member of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame, was a big baseball fan, loving the Cubs and enjoyed going to Chicago’s various horse racing facilities to bet the ponies.

The Chicago District Golf Association is expected to put out an official press release tomorrow. More extensive stories will be found within the next 12 to 24 hours at lenziehmongolf.com and at illinoisgolfer.net.

 MCQ’S DOME in Bolingbrook, Part of Mistwood Golf. Indoor Golf Dome, restaurant and Horse racing OTB. McQ’s  home of Blackhawk Hockey, Mcqsdome.com all winter long.  ______________________________________________________________________

  DAN PHILLIPS is back at MCQ’s Dome (L) teaching golf. (R) The Par 3, 16th the Flower Hole at SentryWorld,in Stevens point Wisconsin, that has been selected home of the 2019 USGA Jr. Girls Championship. For more information visit USGA.org.

THE GOG BLOG by Director of Content Rory Spears. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

It only took two years, and the USGA will return to the State of Wisconsin this time for the playing of the 71st Junior Girls Open. It’s the second USGA Championship to visit SentryWorld. The first being the 1986 USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, won by Cindy Schreyer, and was the year that championship received the most entry’s at 1,085, in the championships history from 1977-2014.

The USGA Junior Girls championship will be held from July 22-27 and is open to all females who will not turn 19 years of age before the final day of competition. The handicap maximum is set at 9.4 to be eligible to compete.

Some of the greatest names in women’s golf are past champions. Three time winner Hollis Stacy heads the list, and is followed by Mickey Wright, Nancy Lopez, Amy Alcott, Joanne Carner, Pat Hurst, I.K. Kim, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson.

As of 2017, the winner of the USGA junior Girls Championship wins an exemption into the following years U.S. Women’s Open.

The new logo at Sentry World.

“We look forward to bringing the U.S. Junior Girls Championship to SentryWorld and the state of Wisconsin for the first time in 2019,” said Stuart Francis, USGA Championship Committee Chairman. “The worlds best female players junior golfers are consistently identified in this championship, and we are confident that SentryWorld is a grand stage worthy of providing the ultimate test for these talented golfers.”

SentryWorld is a Par 72, 7,237 yard golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1982, and is part of a sports complex that includes indoor tennis, banquet space and restaurants.

The golf course was renovated in 2013 by Jones architectural team Bruce Charlton and Jay Blasi.

” The USGA’s championships are undoubtedly among the most prestigious golf events in the world,” says Mike James, general manager of SentryWorld and vice president of Sentry Services. “We look forward to hosting athletes from all over the globe on our redesigned golf course, and SentryWorld will truly provide a world-class environment for all players, officials and fans.”

The 2018 USGA Junior Girls Championship will be contested from July 16-21 at the Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. Poppy Hills is a public course also designed by Jones. The Junior Girls Championship will be the 15th USGA Championship that will be contested in the State of Wisconsin.

                                                                     THE CALLAWAY DRIVER EPIC EVOLVES starting on January 16th, 2018. You ready !

THE GOG BLOG by Director of Content, Rory Spears. At Boyne Mountain Resort with a new Callaway Woods family. Follow Rory and his Epic Driver down the fairway on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

At the start of 2017 I wasn’t ready for what Callaway Golf had to offer, but over the year that all changed. It started with a new Epic Driver, and expanded as the year went on.

While some golf companies are panicking and reeling it in, under CEO Chip Brewer Callaway Golf is moving forward. Those moves have been rewarded and the company continues to grow. Golfers by the legions are getting on board and playing better golf.

Callaway still has room to grow, and the work is not done yet, but any golfer that wants to be better in 2018 than they were in previous years, owes it to themselves to check out Callaway Golf before they purchase another new club, or buy another dozen golf balls. My Epic Driver didn’t have me blowing it way past my old driver, but I got more distance. Where the difference was night and day, was hitting fairways. From 2-4 per round, to 10-13 per round. One round I did something I had never done in 45 years of playing golf, I hit 14 of 14. It gets old always recovering from in the trees, hitting fairway bunker shots, hitting out of the rough, being forced to hit approach shots from over wetlands and around other hazards.

My handicap got back into single digits for the first time in almost 8 years. That effort was aided by the arrival of the Callaway Steelhead fairway woods, which added serious distance to that part of my game. The proper fairway woods were decided by a fitting at True Spec Golf in Highland Park, another recommendation before you purchase new clubs.

I’m not sure yet what Callaway will roll out in 2018, but if the #1 Driver sold in America for every month of this year is getting better, it will be hard to keep it out of my bag in the year ahead. It’s likely that Callaway will have something to say when it comes to other clubs and golf balls as well. Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X are giving the Pro V’s a run for their money, and at $8-9 dollars a dozen cheaper it won’t take long for golfers to realize the deal at hand.

JACK NICKLAUS the Greatest Golfer Ever. Period. Is the latest big name in the industry to downplay interest in Tiger Woods 12th or maybe 13th comeback. The golfing public and media would be wise to do the same thing, until if ever, Woods really provides something to talk about.

IT WAS NICE to hear today from Tom Connor the new Director Sales and Marketing at the Four Seasons Lodge in Lake in the Ozarks Missouri. Connor previously held the same job in Pinehurst, at Pine Needles and Mid-Pines, and another property since, out in Ohio.

Connor tells me that the resort is growing and with plenty of changes and golf courses improvements on the way. Stay tuned for details over the course of 2018 on what’s happening there.

USGA TAKES 2019 USGA Junior Girls Championship to the Sentry World Golf Course in Stevens Point Wisconsin and it’s famed Flower Hole in 2019.

TEMPS are expected to be in the low 50’s tomorrow, if any courses are still open and I know a few who are, it might be the real last chance to play outdoor golf in town during the year of 2017.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, I plan to keep posting what I can over the week ahead right up into Christmas eve, and then take a couple of days off. So Stay Clicked in. RS

   THE RYDER COURSE at PGA VILLAGE in Port St. Lucie Florida is now open after the completion of a renovation. See Lenziehmongolf.com for a full recap of the media day or our story here. Going to Florida this winter, book your tee times now. PGAVillage.com _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG with Director of Content, RORY SPEARS (L). Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. (R) Jerry Rich owner of Rich Harvest Farms holds the NCAA Championship trophy. Big Time College golf is returning to RHF ______________________________________________________________________

Mike Small (L) head golf coach at the University of Illinois, will lead his team back to Rich Harvest Farms in 2020 for the B1G Ten Golf Championships

It’s been a great week for the college golf announcements for the state of Illinois.

This past week it was announced by the college golf coaches association that the 25th playing of the (Arnold) Palmer Cup in 2021, will be held for the second time at Jerry Rich’s Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove IL..

Then comes news that the 2020 B1G Ten Golf Championship’s will also be held at Rich Harvest Farms.

The preview to those events at Rich Harvest Farms will be the 2019 (WGA) Western Junior Golf championship in 2019. The B1G Ten Championships are contested in the Spring, before the advancing teams move on to the regionals and then the national championships, which in 2020 will be played at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale Arizona.

Stay clicked in here for more new on golf tournaments coming to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove.

MCQ’S DOME in Bolingbrook, Chicago’s Premier indoor golf facility. McQ’s is a golf dome, 19th hole restaurant and sports bar, and a horse racing OTB, all rolled into one. So when you need a winter golf and fun day getaway, mcQ’s is the place to go. McQ’s now has a holiday sale that starts tomorrow at 7 AM through 8 PM. All this week 9 Am to 8 PM and next Saturday 7 Am to 8 PM. Over $100,000 worth of merchandise in some cases is now 70% off. Equipment and golf wear from ALl the top companies. The 2017 items must go, in order to make way for the new 2018 goodies. #giftcards for not only McQ’s, but for MISTWOOD Golf Club as well. In some cases you earn a free gift.    _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the Wilson Triton Driver.

THE LOCAL BOY STAYS LOCAL.

Winfield native Kevin Streelman who grew up learning the game at Cantigny Golf, and now is playing on the PGA Tour, has re-upper his equipment deal with the Chicago based Wilson Golf sporting goods.

Streelman a winner of over 16 million dollars as a touring professional, first joined Wilson Golf in 2011, and his new contract with Wilson will keep him with the company until 2019.

“I trust Wilson Staff to provide me with the very best in equipment as I continue to compete with the world’s best,” says Streelman. ” I also know that Wilson has the utmost confidence in my golf expertise to provide feedback and aid them in the research and development of new products. I am thrilled to be continuing my very successful partnership with the Wilson Golf Staff and I am excited about what’s to come.”

PALM HARBOR, FL – MARCH 17: Kevin Streelman holds the trophy after winning the Tampa Bay Championship/Valspar at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 17, 2013 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Streelman joins other Wilson Ambassadors including 3-time major winner Padraig Harrington, 3-time PGA Tour winner Brendan Steele, and other American players Troy Merritt and Ricky Barnes.

“Kevin Streelman’s importance to Wilson Staff over the years has been immeasurable,” said Tim Clarke, President of Wilson Golf. “His presence as an ambassador has been critical as we at Wilson continue to solidify our presence as one of the world’s finest golf brands. Streelman’s dedication to the research and development of our latest products helps us bring the very best to the marketplace, each and every year.”

In 2018, Streelman will continue to play Wilson’s highly recommended FG Tour V6 Irons and PMP wedges.

What Streelman currently has in his golf bag includes the FG Tour V6, 3-9 PW. Wedges, the FG Tour PMP 48* Traditional, FG PMP 54* Traditional, FG Tour PMP 60* Traditional.

Streelman previously served as a judge on Wilson’s Driver vs Driver reality club design show last year, and is expected to be a part of the next Wilson Golf club design program that is in the works.

For more information o Wilson Golf and Wilson products, please visit Wilson.com.

  THE RYDER COURSE at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie Florida, now reopen from renovation and taking tee times, for more see BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm’s recap from the recent media day at Lenziehmongolf.com. (R) The B1G TEN has announced that Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove will host the 2020 B1G Ten Golf Championship.               _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. In the simulators at the Schaumburg Golf Club.

The 2018 Senior Players Championship is offering special ticket discounts through the holiday season.

The championship will be played from July 9-15 at the Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park.

From now through Jan. 5th of 2018, there are ticket discounts through the championship website cspgolf.com.

These discounts are for all tickets and ticket packages. The Senior Players Championship is one of the five majors on the champions tour, and it secures the winner a place in the Players Championship at years end.

Among some of the former champions are Jay Haas, Fred Couples, Kenny Perry, Bernhard Langer and Scott McCarron. Some of the other tour players expected to compete are Vijay Singh, John Daly, Colin Montgomery and Lee Janzen.

The clubhouse at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park.

There are four tickets options for the championship and they are.

Wednesday Practice Round Ticket $15.

Any-Day Tournament Round Ticket $28, good for use any one day Thursday through Sunday July 12-15.

Wednesday Practice Round Egan Pavilion $20. Allows for entry on Wednesday July 11th, and includes access to the Egan Pavilion, a hospitality tent located near the 15th green and it provides upscale food and beverages for purchase, table seating and stadium-style seating for ticketholders. The Egan Pavilion offers superior views of tournament play in a comfortable, reserved setting.

The 18th hole and Clubhouse at Exmoor Country Club.

The Any-Day Tournament Round Egan Pavilion Ticket $48. Provides entry any day of your choice, July 12-15 and allows access to all top level amenities.

The Weekly Booklet $69. Provides entry each day July 11-15.

Egan Pavilion Weekly Booklet $109. Provides entry each day July 11-15 into the Egan Pavilion.

Patrons who purchase either of the two weekly packages by Jan. 5 will receive a complimentary 2018 Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship commemorative coin. Attendees will get a voucher to receive their coin upon arrival at the championship next July. Ticket prices will increase after Jan. 5th by $7-10 dollars.

The championship that will be conducted by the PGA Champions Tour and the Western Golf Association (WGA), marks the first time since 1997 that one of the five senior majors (US Senior Open at Olympia Fields) will be played in the Chicago area.

The second green and greenside bunker on the second hole.

“We’re pleased to be bringing some of the game’s legends to Exmoor and Chicago’s North Shore,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments. “We know first-hand how much fans in Chicago love golf, and we’re looking forward to the energy and excitement at the 2018 Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship will generate.”

Exmoor founded in 1896 is one of the 11 charter clubs that help create the WGA in 1899. In 1914 the legendary architect Donald Ross renovated the original Herbert J. Tweedie design.

Championship week is July 11-15, and ticket can be purchased at cspgolf.com.

   TICKETS ON SALE NOW for the 2018 Sr. Players Championship at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park July 9-15. See cspgolf.com for details.IT’S BEEN AN EPIC YEAR for Callaway Golf, and the Epic Driver, The #1 selling driver in the USA every month this year, for more information, Callawaygolf.com Epic Red now available for a limited time.   _____________________________________________________________________

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

2017 isn’t even in the books yet, but it’s already time to circle some dates on your 2018 calendar.

The Sand Valley Golf resort one of the fastest growing destination golf properties located in Nekoosa Wisconsin, has already announced some special dates for next year.

The Sand Valley Golf Course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw will open when the resort opens in April.

The Par 3 course known as the Sand Box will open the remaining 11 holes on May 1st. This past fall the first six holes of the 17 holes on the course opened for preview play. So all 17 holes will be open in 2017.

Your on the first tee at the Sand Box, the 17 hole par 3 course at Sand Valley.

The Sand Valley Golf Course the resorts first golf course, has been on the receiving end of a few national awards. First was best new course by Golf Magazine. Then Golf Digest Awarded Sand Valley the Best New Course of 2017 award in it’s last issue.

The award came with some words of praise from GD Architectural Editor Ron Whitten.

The resorts second course Mammoth Dunes by David McLay-Kidd, will have all 18 holes fully open as of May 31st. Start booking those tee times soon.

The second green on Mammoth Dunes by David Kidd.

The resort will have more improvements for 2018. There will be a new restaurant along with more lodging that will include single King rooms.

There will be a new practice center and more. If you have not yet been to Sand Valley, the menu at Craig’s Porch is very good, and it starts with the Pork taco’s that at only $1.50 a piece are the steal of the day.

For more information on Sand Valley Golf Resort, please call (888)-651-5539, or see on line Sandvalleygolfresort.com. There has not yet been any announcement by owner Mike Keiser about a third course or who the next architect might be. But stay clicked in right here for details if that announcement is made.

Sand Valley is between a 3 hour and 20 minute-to 3 hour and 50 minute drive, to most of Chicago and the Chicagoland area.

 THE RYDER COURSE at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie Florida has reopened from renovation,tee times are being taken now. PGAVillage.com. SAND VALLEY has now announced opening’s in 2018 for Mammoth Dunes and the Par 3 Course. Stay tuned.    _____________________________________________________________________

THE PALMER CUP AT RICH HARVEST FARMS, RETURNS IN 2021. The Gog Blog by Director of Content Rory Spears, follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy

IN 2015 THE UNITED STATES won back the Palmer Cup at Rich Harvest Farms from Team Europe.

Now the sequel has been announced for 2021 in Sugar Grove. The 2021 Palmer Cup will be the 25th annual playing of the Ryder Cup style matches. Rich Harvest Farms will be the first site to be a repeat host of the matches.

By 2021 it will be the fourth Palmer Cup that is played with both men and women as part of the event. The competition will be held from June 11-13 in 2021.

The Palmer Cup returns to Rich Harvest Farms in 2021.

“Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation is pleased the Arnold Palmer Cup matches are returning to Rich Harvest Farms,” said Amy Saunders, President of Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation. “Jerry Rich and Rich family have shown great commitment to men’s and women’s golf at all levels. Jerry has a passion to introduce the game and all the positive attributes it teaches to young people.”

The late Arnold Palmer Speaks at Rich Harvest Farms in 2015.

In 2017 Rich Harvest Farms played host to the NCAA National Championships as well as the Northern Intercollegiate event hosted by Northern Illinois University.

The golf course is played from the back tee’s to a par of 72, and a yardage of 7,715 yards. Rich Harvest Farms is the home for the non-profit Kids Golf Foundation, that has been a benefit to the over 150,000 kids it has connected with over the years. Rich Harvest Farms has been a host to the 2009 Solheim Cup, two Western Amateurs (2003-2015) and the upcoming in 2019 Western Junior Golf Championship.

The winning 2015 United States Palmer Cup Team

“I am very thrilled to bring the Arnold Palmer Cup back to Rich Harvest Farms and the Chicagoland area,” says Jerry Rich, President and CEO of Rich Harvest Farms. “When we hosted this prestigious event in June of 2015, the community showed great support, and my staff and I ready to expand on that success. It is exciting to watch the growth of the Arnold Palmer Cup to include mixed teams of men and women from the United States against the rest of the world for these thrilling matches. While showcasing the best collegiate players in the world, the Arnold Palmer’s legacy also will be on display during the duration of the event, and that is what makes this event one of the greatest events to host.”

The teams will now have 10 players and 24 matches will be played before the winners of the Palmer Cup are decided.

 TPT SHAFTS from Switzerland, coming to America see TPTgolf.com. A replay is coming up on Friday Dec.15th of the PGA Jr League Championship, The Golf Channel.  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content, follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy At McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook

The world of local Chicago golf stays moving in the winter, with the winter edition of The Golf Scene, hosted by Steve Kashul.

The show will air at a variety of times this month on NBC Sports Chicago, formerly known as Comcast Sportsnet.

This years winter edition includes features like the following.

A look at the Las Vegas National GC.

Cleveland Golf representative Chuck Thiry talks Cleveland Golf equipment.

Steve Kashul hosts the Golf Scene on NBC Sports Chicago

There will be a preview of the Tinley Park and Lake County Northern Illinois Golf Expo Shows.

A tour of the PGA Tour Superstore facility and a review of the benefits for shopping there.

Come see the inside of MCQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook, A golf dome, a sports bar and an OTB for horse betting all rolled into one.

A review and update at the Golf Center of Des Plaines, home of the Chili Open in January of 2018.

Check local listings for times and replays of the show if you missed it the first time. NBC Sports Chicago, and hosted by Steve Kashul. NEXT SHOWING this Wednesday at 5:30 PM.