The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Creation and Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.
THE NATIONAL GOLF LINKS on Long Island in New York and famous neighbor to clubs like 2018 US Open site Shinnecock Hills GC, and the Sebonack Golf Club, saw it’s clubhouse suffer damage from a daytime fire.
Over 100 fire fighters helped haul water up to the clubhouse when firetrucks could not fit through the front gates. Smoke was seen pouring out of one area of the clubhouse. Early reports say there is significant damage to some of the historic area’s of the clubhouse.
There was some work going on to an outdoor area of the clubhouse and it’s roof, that could be the cause of the fire starting. The club is known as the home of the famous windmill tower that sits near the closing and opening holes. National Golf Links was the site of the first Walker Cup matches in 1922. The matches returned to the area in 2013.
The C.B. Macdonald course later renovated by Seth Raynor is one of the most historic courses in the country and normally rates high among the lists of Top 100 courses. Golfers on Golf toured the clubhouse a few years back, and will speak about more about tragic event on Monday and on Golfers on Golf Radio this Saturday morning.
BLACKBERRY OAKS GM/PRO CHAD JOHANSEN joins Golfers on Golf Radio this Saturday for Week #2 as our celebrity guest host. Blackberry Oaks in Bristol is the home course for the Blackberry AM on June 23 and 24. See Blackberryoaks.com. Golfers on Golf radio Am 750 WNDZ 10 Am on Saturday mornings through Sept. 8th. _____________________________________________________________________
FROM FAR HILLS to WHEATON the word is out, Tickets are on sale for the Inaugural U.S. Sr. Women’s Open this July 12-15 at the Chicago Golf Club. NOW is your chances to get U.S. Open tickets from a very first U.S. Open, which doesn’t happen every year. THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS (L) at Far Hills and the USGA Museum in New Jersey. Follow Rory on facebook, linkedin and twitter @GogBlogGuy and to the Chicago Golf Club home of the C. B. Macdonald statue #USGA #Srwomensusopen ______________________________________________________________________
USGA.org
As of today fans can now purchase tickets for the U.S Sr. Women’s Open at the Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton Illinois.
Dates of Championship week are July 12-15, there are not likely to be tickets for purchase on practice rounds days.
“As one of the five founding clubs of the USGA, Chicago Golf Club has deep roots in the game of golf,” said Matt Sawicki, championship director. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome golf fans to sucj a historic venue for this monumental moment in women’s sports.”
Unlike most major USGA championships, the USGA, WILL ALLOW fans the special opportunity to walk within the ropes. Spectators will be able to walk the fairways of this venue, as long as they keep a respectful distance from players. The USGA is hoping this one of-a-kind intimate experience is a enjoyable one.
THE CLUBHOUSE AT THE CHICAGO GOLF CLUB
The USGA is offering two ticket options to be a part of this historic week.
The Trophy Club Ticket Package (Thursday-Sunday). The $50 dollar package includes two “Good Any Day” tickets with access to the Trophy Club and it’s upgraded tent facility with air conditioning. These tickets can be printed at home and then traded in for hard tickets at the venue.
The Trophy Club Ticket $30, is the same as above (except) it is good for only ONE DAY. Tickets can be purchased at ussrwomensopen.com. Kids that are 18 and under do receive complementary admission when accompanied with a paying adult. For questions regarding tickets@usga.org or by calling 1-800-698-0661
The format will be a four-day walking only 72 hole championship. There will be a cut to the low-60 players and teis after 36 holes. The total purse for the event is $1 million dollars.
The Chicago Golf Club was founded in 1893 by Charles Blair Macdonald, and was the host of the first U.S. Amateur. In 1923 the course was renovated by Seth Raynor and is still mostly the same. This will be Chicago Golf’s 12th USGA Championship with the last champion being the 2005 Walker Cup matches, won by the united States over a team from Great Britain and Ireland. The U.S. Women’s Amateur was conducted at the club in 1903.
For more information on the USGA and it’s championships please visit USGA.org.
BLACKBERRY OAKS GM/PRO CHAD JOHANSEN holds the Blackberry Am Trophy, the Blackberry Am will be contested on June 23-24. Johansen will sit in as the Golfers on Golf Radio Celebrity host this Saturday on Am 750 WNDZ, Chad will talk about the BB-AM, Blackberry Oaks Course imprrovements, the CJ Golf Academy and his golf inventions that include the Perfect Putting Aid and the Guide for Golf, Saturday morning between 10-11 am, TICKETS NOW ON SALE for the U.S. Sr. Women’s Open visit USGA.org for this historic event in golf at the Chicago Golf Club July 12-15 #USGA. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook, with soon to be pro Nick Hardy.
University of Illinois Senior Nick Hardy of Northbrook, is about to end his college career in just a few weeks.
Hardy will then begin his professional career in Mundelein at the Rust-Oleum Championship on the Web.com Tour, from June 4-10 at the Ivanhoe Country Club. Hardy was granted a special exemption along with Wheaton native and Ohio State alumnus T-K Kelly to play in the championship.
Kelly is already a professional and is competing on the Latinoamercia Tour.
See Rustoleum.com for more tournament information
“I’ve had a great college experience at the University of Illinois and have learned a lot from Coach (Mike) Small,” said Hardy. “I look forward to a strong finish with my teammates and then move on to the next phase of my golf career. I know how valuable a sponsors exemption is and I am very appreciative to the Rust-Oleum Championship for giving me this great opportunity.”
Kelly also expressed his gratitude to the championship for providing him with an exemption into the field.
“I am very thankful to have received a sponsor exemption to play in the Rust-Oleum Championship,” said Kelly. “I look forward to coming back to Chicago and playing in front of my friends and family.”
Kelly earned his first professional victory last year, and has conditional status on the Web.com Tour.
“The Rust-Oleum Championship is thrilled to be able to award sponsors exemptions to Nick Hardy and T-K Kelly-two of the finest young players to come out of the state of Illinois in decades,” said Tournament Director Scott Cassin. “We know both players plan to compete at the highest level and use the tournament as a springboard to future success.”
Hardy has played in both the 2015 and 2016 U.S. Open’s and made the cut in the 2017 John Deere Classic. Kelly in 2017 won the Puerto Plata DR Open in the Dominican Republic and had four other Top 10 finishes. Kelly is a two-time Illinois State Amateur champion.
Golfers on Golf Radio has returned for 2018, L-R Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and Rory Spears at WNDZ AM 750
Golfers on Golf Radio is back on the air for yet another season. Chicago’s longest running golf radio show was back on the tee this past Saturday. It came off the first tee firing and breaking some real golf news.
Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and I are looking forward to the next 21 weeks of being with you on Saturday mornings, either after your round, or before you head out to your first tee. MCQ’S DOME in Bolingbrook is the premier dome in the Chicagoland area, if your looking out the window at all the snow this morning and looking to hit the golf ball. Go visit McQ’s Dome the best option until the outdoor courses are ready for play. #MCQS
NEED MORE DOMES how about a trip to the French Lick Resort. The historic West Baden Hotel at the French Lick Resort is a Must-Stay. Right now check out the Sunday and Monday stay package and golf at the French Lick Resort now $600 Frenchlick.com
IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO BE BACK ON THE AIR this past Saturday morning with our first edition of Golfers on Golf Radio for 2018. Having Arlington Heights native Doug Ghim live from the University of Texas, fresh off his Low-Amateur week at the Masters was a great drive off the first tee.
It was great news that Doug will turn professional right after the U.S.Open at Shinnecock, and in the meantime I wish him and Texas Teammates a nice run in the NCAA National Championships, hopefully they will play Illinois or Northwestern in the finals.
After our interview with Dave Neville of Callaway Golf, Brendan Sweeney of the French Lick Resort joined us, where we learned about the resort adding 9 more holes to it’s Valley Links course, exciting news indeed. Pete Dye disciple Tim Liddy and Golfweek golf architecture guru Brad Klein will walk the FLR property in a few weeks and submit a routing to the resort. Golfers on Golf Radio is looking to bring in some celebrity guest hosts over the course of the year, stay tuned and or clicked in, and we hope it will lead to more story’s getting broke on the air during GOG Radio.
THE PGA TOUR once again did a smart thing by moving up the tee times to complete the fourth round of the RBC Heritage Championship at Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. While the final round of the tournament was shown on CBS, it had been taped earlier, which was no big deal. The galleries enjoyed a nice day, and were able to see the completion of the championship before bad weather arrived.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL could learn from this. For all the stadiums that don’t have a dome or a retractable roof, moving around start times would be a real good idea. After sitting at both Cubs and Sox games in bad weather, both this year and in other years, it’s amazing how many games could have been played with earlier start times, or later start times in some cases.
TOMORROW the weather is supposed to be back in the 50’s. Hopefully it will be time to take the golf game back outside. All of the clubs that had spring scrambles or other events schedule for this past weekend, pushed them back a week or so because of the weather. Check in with your club to find out the rescheduled date.
BIG 3 PARTNER LEN ZIEHM has checked in from his clubhouse in Port St.Lucie Florida in the PGA Village. Ziehm has posted two columns on his Lenziehmongolf.com website. First up is golf in Key West Florida and the second is a book review of the new book called “Tiger Woods”, not approved by Woods, which means it’s likely to be good and truthful. Ziehm’s columns are back running in the suburban Arlington Heights Daily Herald on Wednesdays for another year.
LAST WEEK I went to Mistwood golf Club to attend the Callaway Golf Day for the Illinois PGA Section professionals. It was very informative and I will post a story recapping the day. Events like this are a great way to learn about the product line and more companies should do it. With the golf equipment market changing the way it is, golf companies should have days like this with both the pro’s and the general public on occasion. Given the right time and the right venue, I bet they would be well attended.
IT WAS not surprising to again see the ball numbers posted in the Titleist commercial that ran during the RBC yesterday. With Titleist having 91 players and the second highest being in the low 20 somethings. While the #1 ball in golf had a lead, and all those players are getting paid to play the ball, the days of Titleist at 118 and second highest competitor at 11, have changed in to 91-22. The market is changing.
Golfersongolf.com will be back this week with more stories, and yes I have some catching up to do after the last ten days, or missing days here, due to getting ready for the radio show. But it is great to be back on the air , 21 more exciting weeks to go. RS
Golfers on Golf Radio returned to the air on AM750 WNDZ on Saturday morning at 10:00am. We opened the season with Masters low-amateur Doug Ghim, of Arlington Heights who checked in from his school the University of Texas in Austin.
Ghim shared some great Masters week stories and announced that he will turn professional the week after playing in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock, but first wants to help Texas win the NCAA Championship. He also reminisced about his day playing junior golf with the Illinois Junior Golf Association (IJGA), and the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour (MAJGT).
Listen to the interview:
Golfers on Golf is talk radio created by golfers for golfers, and is broadcast live on WNDZ 750AM in Chicago. The program is hosted by Ed Stevenson, Rory Spears, Bill Berger, and Mike Munro.
Golfers on Golf is talk radio created by golfers for golfers, and is broadcast live on WNDZ 750AM in Chicago. The program is hosted by Ed Stevenson, Rory Spears, Bill Berger, and Mike Munro. This week’s show includes:
2018 Masters Low-Amatuer, and Chicago area native, Doug Ghim talks LIVE with the guys about his first major at Augusta National, his days playing Illinois junior golf, and his plans to turn pro after the US Open.
Dave Neville, Director of Brand and Product Management with Callaway Golf chats with Rory Spears.
Brendan Sweeney checks in from the French Lick Resort.
SPRING WEATHER GOT YOU COLD AND WET, try McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook. You can work on your golf game, do your Kentucky Derby prep in the OTB, or enjoy great food and beverage in the grill. MCq’s, Chicago premier golf dome is located on Bolingbrook Drive call (630)-739-7600 or visit Mcqsdome.com. THE FRENCH LICK Resort has good priced spring golf packages for Sunday’s and Monday’s, please visit Frenchlick.com and come play the award winning Pete Dye and Donald Ross Courses. ______________________________________________________________________
GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO is L-R Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and Rory Spears. In studio at WNDZ AM 750, show time is 10 Am on Saturday’s.
WE ARE BACK, and it’s nice to be back for the start of our 22 week run for the 2018 golf season.
Tee time for now is 10 AM on Saturday mornings,on Am 750 WNDZ Chicago. If our old tee time at 9 AM reopens, we could elect to make a change, stay tuned.
On behalf of our group, Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and yours truly, we welcome you our listeners and readers back in the fold. As for being Chicago’s favorite foursome, our fourth Mike Munro will drop in when he can, and we could add some celebrity guest hosts to join the group from time to time. Stay tuned again.
Masters low amateur Doug Ghim
We opened the season with Masters low-amateur Doug Ghim, of Arlington Heights who checked in from his school the University of Texas in Austin.
Ghim shared some great Masters week stories and announced that he will turn professional the week after playing in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock, but first wants to help Texas win the NCAA Championship.
The new Callaway Rogue Driver, Go Rogue. Callaway.com
This past week at the Mistwood Golf Club, Callaway Golf held a day for the Illinois PGA Section professionals, and another day at the Glen Club for more pro’s on Thursday.
During the quickly growing in numbers day at Mistwood, I spoke with Dave Neville Director of Brand and Product Management of Callaway Golf, and we played that interview on the show.
For all of you who missed the interview here it is again. Go Rogue.
Click here to hear the interview with Dave Neville of Callaway Golf.
You are on the first hole at the Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort.
Our final interview of the show was with Brendan Sweeney, the former Medinah Country Club caddie, who now serves as the Golf Marketing Director of the French Lick Resort, in of course French Lick Indiana.
First on the tee is a spring package for Sunday’s and Monday’s at the resort, play the Donald Ross Course, play the Pete Dye Course, stay at the two-famous hotels and all for $600.
But better yet was the announcement that more golf is coming to the resort. Currently the resorts third course the Valley Links course is nine holes. That will be changing to 18 holes in the near future. Pete Dye disciple Tim Liddy and Golfweek architecture guru Brad Klein will walk the property in the week ahead, and submit a proposal to the FL Resort on a proposed routing. A few other architects will be in the mix as well, it will be interesting to see who does the project.
The Par 4, 7th hole at the Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison.
IT’S MORE GOOD NEWS for the Preserve at Oak Meadows, while Ed Stevenson could not be specific, it appears that the Preserve, already a winner of a major award with Golf Digest Magazine, will be receiving yet more accolades from someone or some organization in the golf industry. We await the announcement. Congrats to Ed, architect Greg Martin and everyone at the DuPage County FPD on what is coming down the pipeline.
The plans for the new clubhouse are moving forward, the hope is for construction to begin next year, with the clubhouse opening in 2020. Golfers on Golf Radio returns for week 2 of 22 next Saturday at 10 Am, we hope you can join us on Am 750 WNDZ.
CHICAGOLAND GOLF PUBLISHER VAL RUSSELL holds up the Chicagoland Golf Chicago Golf Show edition, the April edition is now out in time for the expected arrival of the outdoor golf season. Pick up a copy at favorite golf course or golf retail store. Still too cold for you, if so take your game to McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook. (630)-739-7600. ______________________________________________________________________
University of Illinois Sr. Dylan Meyer was nsmed Big Ten Player of the week after his win at the 3M Classic in Augusta.
Dylan Meyer won the 3M Augusta Invitational for the second straight year, as was named the Big Ten Men’s Player of the week.
It was the second time the Evansville Ind. Sr has won the year thus year, and it was the fifth time he was won the award during his time during his career at Illinois.
Meyer had scores of 67-69-69 for an 11 under par score of 205, that won him the 3M Augusta Invitational. As a result of his performance, Meyer’s stroke average for the year is 70.59 and he has been under or at even par 15 of his 22 rounds this season. As a result Meyer has earned a sponsors exemption to the Valspar Classic in 2019 on the PGA Tour.
Meyer played in this years Valspar where he made the cut. He was T-8 after the first day.
THE GOG BLOG is written by Rory Spears. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Linkedin and Facebook.
GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO returns this Saturday at 10 AM, our new Tee-time on AM 750 WNDZ, for show 1 of 22 weeks.
MCQ’S DOME is open for golf in final days of the winter golf season, if the bad weather is going to keep you golf game inside for another week, spend it at McQ’s, while your there, enjoy the end of the Blackhawks and Bulls seasons, and the home openers for the Cubs and White Sox. It’s Masters week, and prep for the Derby a month away in the OTB. McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook, for details Mcqsdome.com or call (630)-739-7600. _____________________________________________________________________
THEY ARE OPEN-Mistwood Golf Club is opening for the season tomorrow, and McWethy’s Tavern is your place post round in the clubhouse. Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, please visit Mistwoodgc.com or call (815)-254-3333. Play Kelpies Corner. ______________________________________________________________________
MISTWOOD, THEY ARE OPEN TOMORROW- THE PHIL KOSIN ILLINOIS WOMEN’S OPEN July 16-18.
Mistwood has done some course improvements this spring, come out and see them and play one of Chicago’s top public golf courses. The last week of June Mistwood will host the 118th Women’s Western Golf Association Amateur Championship.
You like Amen Corner in Augusta, well come out and try Kelpie’s Corner at Msitwood, holes 14-15-16-17 around the lake go for one of your best rounds of the summer. If the weather doesn’t have you ready fr the outdoors tomorrow, go to Mistwoods sister property, McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook.
The performance Center is open, and you can practice under the heaters. and then turn to the Irish style bar for a cold warm, or maybe this weekend a warm one.
The partial island green the par 5, 3rd hole, and the welcome to Kelpie’s Corner on 14.
THE NEW CALLAWAY ROGUE DRIVER With Jailbreak Technology, now used by both defending Masters Champion Sergio Garcia and 3-time masters winner Phil Mickelson, THE NEW ROGER CLEVELAND WEDGE DESIGN the Mack Daddy’s in the bag of Phil Mickelson at the Masters Tournament. For more information Callawaygolf.com #Rogue _____________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS,. On the 9th green at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club home of the 2018 US. Open. Follow Rory the Director of Creation and Content on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or on Facebook, and Linkedin.
With the playing of the Masters Tournament this week in Augusta Georgia, it’s time for the 2018 golf season to begin the playing of it’s major tournaments.
The four majors are called majors for a reason, they are the biggest tournaments in golf. They are the tournaments that all golfers want to win the most. They are career defining moments, they are Hall of Fame defining moments.
This year the four-majors all have some story lines behind them. At certain majors there usually is a story line about one player who then becomes a sentimental favorite for one reason or another. So for 2018, here are my hopes for the four best potential major winners. The ones that make sense for the game, the fans (or this week the patrons) and the players themselves.
THE MASTERS-RORY MCILROY, the green jacket and a Masters win are the only thing thing missing from this Irish guys closet and career golf room. With his win at Bay Hill, McIlroy seems to have found his putting stroke, and can go low again when needed. There are only five players who have won golf’s ultimate prize, The Grand Slam and only the great Bobby Jones has done it one year. McIlroy had a chance to win the Masters once, and let it get away during the “Back nine on Sunday”. Here is hoping that doesn’t happen again, and McIlroy completes his career Grand Slam this coming Sunday.
THE U.S. OPEN-PHIL MICKELSON at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. “Lefty: as he’s known, needs just one more win to wrap up an amazing career. That win is the U.S. Open, a win at the open would give Mickelson his career grand slam and that is something the golf world love to see. Mickelson like no other player brings a presence to the golf arena, not felt since Arnold Palmer. Mickelson has a way with the fans that most players will never have. Mickelson has six second place finishes at the U.S. Open the most recent being in 2013 at Merion, when he came up a shot short of a playoff with Justin Rose. Mickelson had a great chance at Winged Foot in 2006, but failed to convert a putt on the 18th green. He came up a shot short in the famed 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, when the late Payne Stewart won his last major. Mickelson had a shot at Shinnecock in 2004, losing to Reteif Goosen, but he loves the golf course and it should suit him just fine come June.
THE BRITISH OPEN- A FIRST TIMER AT CARNOUSTIE GOLF LINKS. Every year in golf at least one major is won by a player who wins his first major. With no player trying to win a career Grand Slam at the British this year, this major would be best won a player who has not win a major before, and may or may not fall into the category of, “The Best Player to not have won a major”. That can be a long time veteran like Matt Kuchar who almost won last year, losing out to Jordan Spieth. It can be an up and comer like Bryson DeChambeau who fits the bill of a European type player with his Plus-Fours on. It can be European players like a Jon Rahm or Tommy Fleetwood, many Americans, especially younger ones would pick Rickie Fowler. Our hope is that the “Open Championship and the Claret Jug” go to a first time major winner at this very historic major venue.
THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP-JORDAN SPEITH AT BELLERIVE COUNTRY CLUB, when Jordan Spieth won the 2017 British Open at Birkdale, he put himself in position to win the career grand slam. Now with three of the four legs done and in the trophy case, it’s the only major the kid from Texas still needs. A Midwest venue like Bellerive just outside of St. Louis is the perfect place to do it. The PGA Championship will be played for the 100th time this August, and with the new dates and schedule change, it might never get played in August again, as it moves to May come 2019. The centennial PGA Championship deserves a great player, a classy player, someone good for game on and off the golf course. That player is Jordan Speith who hopefully will fulfill his career slam at the years final chance for glory. That is unless you count the Ryder Cup in September.
Here’s keeping our fingers crossed for a special year in the major championships, and that 2018 is a great year for the game of golf. RS
