SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB has started the indoor golf season. Your on the tee today at one of many Top 100 Courses or Ryder Cup Venues. Add great food and beverage from Chandlers Chop House right upstairs, and your year-round golf season never ends at the Schaumburg Golf Club. 401 N. Roselle Road just minutes from Woodfield Mall.
SCHAUMBURG GC GM Jon Parsons on the indoor facilities the club can offer golfers.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook, Linkedin and now Instagram. On the second tee, in the Preserve at Oak Meadows.
Tickets are now available for the Chicago area’s biggest golf event in 2019, the BMW Championship at the Medinah Country Club next August.
Golf fans you can now order your 2019 BMW Championship tickets for Grounds, upgraded Trophy Club, the 1899 Club and the green Coat Club tickets. These tickets are available in limited quantities . The are a variety of corporate hospitality options that are now available.
The BMW Championship at Medinah is now the second leg of a three event playoff format. The new dates for the championship that have been after Labor Day in past years, has now moved up to August 13-18.
THE PAR 3, 13TH HOLE AT MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB, on Course #3, that will host the 2019 BMW Championship.
BMW Championship holiday ticket packages will run through January 4th of 2019. Ticket buyers who purchase a date-specific tournament round Trophy Club ticket via the special offer link, will receive a FREE BMW Championship folding chair ($25 value), and a lower ticket price. Those who will be getting the chair, will receive a voucher to pick it up upon arrival at Medinah.
Trophy Club tickets are $105 for championship rounds Thursday through Saturday, and they are $390 for a weekly booklet.
WGA VP Vince Pellegrino speaks about the BMW Championship
The Trophy Club venue is located on the 18th fairway, with food and beverages available for purchase. The Trophy Club offers a climate controlled venue with a Sports bar design that includes executive restrooms, big size flat screen TV’s, and video screen, in addition to a large outdoor seating area. Children 16 and younger don’t need a ticket if accompanied by a ticketed adult.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing the world’s top PGA Tour professionals to Medinah Country Club and Chicago’s tremendous golf fan base,” said Vince Pellegrino, Western Golf Association sr. vice president of tournaments. “Given the overwhelming excitement already received about the 2019 BMW Championship returning to such a historic venue, we expect general tickets and holiday packages to sell out quickly.”
The last time the WGA’s major tournament was contested at Medinah was when the Western Open was played there in 1966. The BMW will still feature the remaining 70 players still in playoff contention, and fighting for the 30 remaining positions open in the the following weeks Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Proceeds benefit the Evan Scholars Foundation, and since BMW came in as the title sponsor in 2007, the BMW Championship has raised over $28 million dollars for college scholarships for foundation caddies. For more information on the 2019 BMW Championship or purchasing tickets please visit bmwchampionship.com.
THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is your year-round golf facility. The newly improved simulators have new Top 100 and 2018-2020 Ryder Cup venues to offer you all winter long. So why not keep your game sharp in the off season, and figure out what clubs you might like to replace before you take it back outside. Great food and beverages right upstairs from Chandlers Chop House. Schaumburg Golf Club is located at 401 N. Roselle Road just minutes from Woodfield Mall. Take a break from holiday shopping and tee it up at the Schaumburg Golf Club, Schaumburggolf.com or (847)-885-9000.
Schaumburg Golf Club’s General Manager Jon Parson’s talks about winter golf at SGC.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and on Linkedin and Facebook. In the broadcast booth at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine CC, home of the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
POLITICS, it’s a funny little word, that at times has some big consequences.
First up is the farce going on at Canal Shores. The latest media outlet to take issue with what’s going on there, is the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board that took issue with a column, that ran within the last day or so.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) voted 5-4 in favor of paving over most of the Par 3, 10th hole at the Canal Shores Golf Course that sits on the border of Wilmette and Evanston. Why?, so that a developer can build a few houses on some land that doesn’t have an access road to the property in the first place. Something the developer knew, when he bought the land in the first place. But with big time politics involved and the whose-who involved, the vote doesn’t always go the way it should.
Can this still be stopped, you betcha. Will it? good question. Toni Preckwinkle the current Cook County Board President can stop it, but will she. The road that the developer wants will reportedly cost Cook County taxpayers some $700,000. Then the Cook County highway department gets to maintain it, for even more money. Who benefits here, just the developer looking to fatten the wallet, and maybe some political friends of the developer. Perhaps the land could be sold to the golf course and used to enhance the golf course and it’s facilities. But then there is politics getting in the way.
The map showing the land issue at Canal Shores.
The Canal Shores issue might not seem like a big issue, but it could set a bad precedent here. If the MWRD gets away with this one, what’s the next golf course that gets the shaft, and I don’t mean a new TPT or Fujikura shafts either.
Toni, do the right thing here. Stop the paving of the 10th hole at Canal Shores, and do remember the golfers and the people who oppose this, are voters as well.
THE BIG BOONDOGGLE as written by our BIG 3 media partner Tim Cronin the publisher of the Illinois Golfer, is the proposed golf course on the lake front, that involves both the South Shore and Jackson Park courses. Don’t get me wrong the concept on lake front golf in Chicago isn’t bad, but the whole deal about where, and cost, doesn’t appear to make sense or cents here.
More than one person who has studied the project knows from a dollars and sense standpoint, it doesn’t make sense, and it will cost way too many dollars to build. The lake front golf course project that has been tied to a Barack Obama presidential library, might sound good on paper, but… The library is facing it own’s challenges, and now the word that the Illinois taxpayers could be on the hook for up to another $250 million for area infrastructure improvements around the proposed library is frightening in it’s own right. That is likely to draw it’s own set off it’s own set of protests, different from the current ones.
The renamed Mistwood Golf Dome is open for business, with McWethy’s Sports Bar, and Toptracer/Top Golf technology in it’s hitting bays. Mistwoodgolfdome.com
Even if you could build the new course, it would be tough to financially sustain it and draw enough golfers there to play. The initial cost estimates are far short of what the bill would end up being. It’s not a good location for any big time professional golf event. Talk of a BMW Championship being played there is just that, talk. With BMW possibly driving off into the sunset after Medinah come next August, would a new sponsor, even one based in Chicago, want to go there. Getting large crowds into and out of the lakefront is a mess, as I witnessed last night attending the Bears game. Imagine fighting traffic into the Soldier Field area to park, and potentially then having to be shuttled to the golf course further down south on the lakefront, and then back to the Soldier Field area.
Golf industry consultant Bill Daniels the founder of Golf Chicago Magazine, has had a handle on the proposed golf course for a while. His idea of bringing out local architects Greg Martin and Mike Benkusky for a reality look at the courses that are proposed for a redo, and getting their thoughts made real sense and made for a story this past summer in Chicago Tribune (Eric Zorn column).
It appears that there is even more now that meets the eye, on what the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District and the State of Illinois could be on the hook for in terms of dollars, regarding the Obama Library, and any golf course that’s tied into that project.
With a new governor coming on board, and a new mayor taking over the City of Chicago next year, the political scene in Illinois could change. Let’s just hope if it does change the golf scene in Illinois, it’s for the better. RS
THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME is under a new name (formerly McQ’s), and has the new Toptracer technology that brings a whole new look to the dome. Come see what all the talk is about in Bolingbrook, Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600. THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is up and running for the winter golf season, it’s upgraded simulator bays include Ryder Cup venues and several new Top 100 Golf Courses. Check out Schaumburggolf.com or (847)-885-9000. Located at 401 N. Roselle Road. _____________________________________________________________________
The Gog Blog by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook, Linkedin and now Instagram. Working with Dan Phillips in the Mistwood Golf Dome.
MORE GOLF NEWS, coming close to wrapping up the backlog in from the in basket.
FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT friends, if your looking for a new job. One of the countries most historic clubs needs a superintendent. The Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington Virginia has the help wanted sign out for it’s 27 holes. Apply at ANCC.org.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club is getting ready for a busy schedule in January, with three events, visit adgolfclub.com for details on the HSBC/Gary Player and women’s golf events at the two clubs.
GLENEAGLES RESORT in Scotland has been voted the European Golf resort of the year at the 2019 IAGTO Awards. Since Gleneagles opened in 1924, beneath the Ochil Hills in the heath of the Perthshire, the glorious playground has been a must-go for destination travelers for almost a full century. Gleneagles has it’s very own train station on the 850 acre property. The resort has three golf courses.
“Gleneagles is an authentically Scottish experience, and a destination for fun and adventure in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable,” said Conor O’Leary, General Manager of Gleneagles. For more details on this famous Scottish golf destination, see gleneagles.com.
OVER ON THE IRELAND SIDE..Adare Manor has won the Resort of the Year for Ireland via the IAGTO Awards. Details at Adaremanor.com.
THE FINAL ROUND of the national PGA of America Assistant’s Championship is underway on the Wanamaker Course in PGA Village, in Port St. Lucie Florida. Good news is that our four local Illinois assistants all made the cut. Dan Olson of Quail Creek, Chris French of Aldeen, and Andy Mickelson of Mistwood Golf Club are all in the Top 10, but probably just a few too many shots back to win the tournament.
Kudo’s to Illinois golf coach Mike Small on his Top-20 finish in the Senior PGA Club Professional Championship, and a spot in the 2019 Sr. PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Rochester NY.
THE GOG BLOG Speaks Out is up next this week, so stay clicked in for more great golf content. RS
TPC SAWGRASS PAR 3 17TH, and the PAR 3, 16TH AT TPC SCOTTSDALE two of the most famous Par 3 holes on the PGA TOUR, two courses you can play. That’s right, you can play them in Florida or Arizona, or at the SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB right here in Illinois. The SGC has upgraded it’s simulators for the indoor golf season that has arrived. While golfing away all winter long right here in Schaumburg, you can enjoy the food and beverage provided by Chandlers Chop House right upstairs. So while you do your holiday shopping at Woodfield Mall just 5 minutes away, why not take a break and enjoy golf on several TOP 100 courses just down the street. Schaumburggolf.com or call the club at (847)-885-9000, located at 401 North Roselle Road. #golfallwinterlong
Schaumburg Golf Club’s GM Jon Parson’s talks the winter golf season at the SGC.
IT’S ONE OF THOSE DAYS here in Chicago, not so much in Pinehurst. The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and or Facebook and Linkedin. #putterboystatue
IT’S NOT FUN to look out the window when you like to play golf and see the snow starting to fall as it has here in Chicago today. By next week it will all be gone again, which isn’t so much a bad thing. There are those of us who still would like to play one more round of outdoor golf here this year, before it really becomes golf dome season.
IT IS less than 70 days until the Gog Blog departs for Orlando and the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show. Can’t wait for that week,because it always feels like the new season is upon us. I hope some of you have headed out to the GO FOR IT DOME in Yorkville where Blackberry Oaks pro and GM Chad Johansen has a 1 shot for $5,000 dollars today event going on if you make a hole-in-one. Closest to the pin wins a new Wilson Cortex Driver, the winner of the Wilson’s Golf’s Driver vs Driver 2 contest on The Golf Channel.
THE JACK NICKLAUS architecture design team is hard at work at projects around the world. But they do have three big renovations happening right here in the United States.
The Great Waters Course at Reynolds Lake-Oconee in Georgia. The Renegade Course at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, and on the Florida State University Course in Tallahassee Florida. Details at Nicklaus.com.
THE 18TH HOLE AT THE DORMIE CLUB in Pinehurst North Carolina.
The Nebraska based Dormie network has expanded with the purchase of the Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh Indiana.
The Dormie Network is in the process of assembling a nationwide stable of high-end properties, that combine the experience of destination golf, with an exclusive hospitality of private membership Each of the network clubs offers an intimate, pure golf experience in a relaxing and accommodating atmosphere, that is great for business or relaxation.
Among the other clubs in the network, include the Dormie Club in Pinehurst, Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Arbor Links in Nebraska City and Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke.
“We pride ourselves on providing exclusive private destination clubs strategically located around the country that offer our members pure golf as is should be,” said Zach Peed of Dormie Network. “A Dormie Network membership is truly unlike any other.”
“Every Dormie Network club is designed to feel like your home club,” said Dormie Network Operations Manager Mark Ruhga, PGA. “Each offers challenging and expeditious play in pristine course conditions, and genuine hospitality.”
For updates and improvements on all Dormie Network Clubs, and membership opportunities, see DormieNetwork.com or call (402)-858-2627.
Happy Holidays from Cog Hill Golf & Country Club
TIS’ THE SEASON to still be busy at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont.
This coming Friday is the Black Friday 2-man scramble event on the Ravines Course #2. The 3-Club Chili Open is next on the scorecard coming up in December.
The Cog Hill Holiday Open House is scheduled for Saturday Dec. 1st, from 10 Am to 3 Pm in the pro shop of the 2-4 Building. Great savings along with the famed Cog Hill holiday punch and snacks. But more golf is scheduled for Jan. 6th in 2019, the famed Eskimo Open is $49 dollars a person, which includes golf, Chili and a Drink & Prizes. Carts if available are $ 17 per person. Tee times are from 7 Am til 11 Am on Courses 1 & 3. Tee’s, men plays the whites and the ladies are on the forward tees. To sign up-(866)-264-4455 or Coghillgolf.com. Registration OPENS on Dec 15th.
FROM MYRTLE BEACH comes word of the success of the Short Par 4 Fall Classic that just wrapped up yesterday. 432 players from 38 states played in the 72 hole-two person team event. The event sold out months in advance, and then tournament organizers added 70 spots (35 teams) to the field, that has over doubled in size since it’s inception. Teams get flighted based on handicap and there is a different format every day, and the entry fee is only $375.
The classic participants get opening and closing dinners and apparel and gifts from Short Par 4, details about the 2019 classic at MyrtleBeachfallClassic.com.
LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE (LMI) sponsors the Mentor Cup that benefits Gene’s Dream Foundation. Part of the LMI Invitational the Mentor Cup founded by former Golf Channel Host Kelly Tilghman, supports the late Gene Weldon a PGA professional who helped mentor numerous kids during his 50 year career in the Grand Strand area. For more details on this event see Genesdream.com or MentorCup.com.
FINALLY FROM MYRTLE BEACH SC….Kudo’s to Ed Bullock and Larry Leagans being inducted into the MB-Golf HOF. Bullock oversaw the building of the Surf Club and then Myrtle Beach National, and went on to be the head professional at each club, and Leagans who ran the Eagle Nest Golf Club were inducted into the MB-Hall of Fame last Thursday night. The HOF opened in 2009 and has 23 members including Kelly Tilghman.
KEMPER SPORTS has introduced a new digital news letter Outside the Ropes, and is promoting it’s new website Kempersports.com
Chris Charnas
LINKS CAPITAL ADVISORS is your place for more information if your in need golf course consulting services.
If your not quite ready to sell your golf course but could use services in the area’s of Broker Opinion of Value, Operational Audits, Feasibility Studies, Sell/Hold Analysis, Developer Potential Studies, Conservation Easement Analysis, or more contact Chris at (312)-543-7192 or at Chris @links-cap.com.
Jerry Rich at Rich Harvest Farms
Last month Rich Harvest Farms was awarded a Conservation@Work certification by the Conservation Foundation. Foundation President & CEO Brook McDonald, recognized Rich Harvest Farms for it’s environmentally friendly and sustainable landscape.
RHF only uses plants on the golf course that combine with water conservation practices, reduces storm runoff. It lowers maintenance costs and offers an improved habitat for wildlife. RHF is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf.
Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich thanked course superintendent Jeff VerCautren and Scott Restich estate grounds superintendent for their hard work. Rich Harvest Farms will host the 2019 WGA Junior Championship, the 2020 Big Ten Championships and the 2021 Palmer Cup. Details at Richharvestfarms.com .
MATT ADAMS host of the Fairways of Life Golf Show for the last decade on SiriusXM radio has taken his show global with new distribution options. It is now a free show on Fairwaysoflife.com or of the Fairways of Life App in iOS and Android.
V1 SPORTS Instructors get recognition among Golf Digest’s “Best young Teachers” V1 Sports had 12 teachers make the Golf Digest list. Instructors from Illinois included Keil Alderink from Champions Ways Golf Performance, Lake Bluff, and Jake Thurm of Ruffled Feathers Golf Club in Lemont. More information at V1sports.com.
Artist and Golf Artist Cassy Tully shines in front of her new Milwaukee Studio.
Cassy Tully known for her art work in the golf industry, has opened her new studio in Milwaukee.
Tully’s work this year includes the art work for the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink and at the WGA Green Coat Gala.
Her golf work going forward includes the 2019 BMW Championship at Medinah and the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
Christmas with Cassy takes place on Friday December 14th from 4-8 PM, and on Saturday December 15th at 11 AM to 3 PM at her studio in the Third Ward District across the street from Summerfest at 159 N. Jackson Street Suite #104. Feel free to visit Cassytully.com and you can see her online store.
THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is taking your winter golf tee times for the simulator bays. NEW TOP 100 courses and Ryder Cup venues have been added. Play matches against your friends. Schaumburg’s golf simulators is the perfect place for a 1-Day local winter buddies trip, or the perfect warm-up before you head to a winter warm-up getaway destination. Don’t land somewhere warm this winter having not hit a golfball in weeks or months, visit the Schaumburg Golf Clubs simulators. The Schaumburg Golf is located minutes from Woodfield Mall, Schaumburggolf.com or (847)-885-9000. #Golf
Schaumburg Golf Club has a three year renovation going on across all three of it’s nine hole courses, Phase Two is moving along, click here for an update on the current work.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook and Linkedin. The lights are on in the Mistwood Golf Dome.
THE GOLF NEWS JUST KEEP’S ON ARRIVING IN THE, IN-BASKET.
Are you ready for new clubs this winter season, is someone getting you clubs for a holiday gift. The thing you really need to do before buying clubs, any clubs is to get fitted for the right ones.
There are plenty of options on how to do this, different companies are now all claiming to have the most extensive systems to give you the right fit.
Around the Chicago area you have several options on where to go for a fitting, and one of the major players in the fitting game, has brought in some major players in the game of golf, to align with them in the art of fitting golf clubs.
Three-time, Major Champion Jordan Spieth is endorsing Club Champion for club fitting.
Club Champion golf’s biggest facility in the art of club fitting, has signed Jordan Spieth as a Brand-Ambassador for Club Champion’s style of fitting.
The agreement with Spieth is for multi-years. Spieth agreed to the deal because of the way Club Champion can fit or build equipment even to the highest level of professional standards.
Club Champion prides itself in offering golfers almost every brand of equipment on the market. Currently Club Champion has 39 fitting studio’s across the country with 23 more expected to be open by spring of 2019. Need more ? Club Champion didn’t stop at just landing Speith as one of it’s ambassadors, in addition it has signed endorsement deals with known instructors Hank Haney, David Leadbetter and Cameron McCormick.
“I’m fortunate to have the Titleist Tour Van out on the road, so I know how important it is to have properly fitted equipment. I’m excited to partner with Club Champion because they really do provide a true tour-level experience that I am confident will help golfers improve their game and ultimately have more fun out on the golf course.”
Club Champion co-founder and Chairman Keith Bank explains that,” We are in the hyper-growth mode, and Jordan is the perfect spokesman for our team. We could not be more excited about adding someone of Jordan’s stature, class, and credibility to strengthen our leading position in the industry. He is a true professional in every sense of the word.”
Joe Lee, Club Champion’s co-founder and CEO,” Jordan is a true student of the game. He knows how vitally important it is for golfers of all levels to be properly fit to play better golf, shoot lower scores and enjoy the game more. Tens of thousands of our satisfied customers will attest to our ability to fulfill this mission and we are delighted to welcome Jordan into our Club Champion family.”
Club Champion uses a vendor-agnostic approach, offering more than 35,000 shaft and head combinations from most equipment manufacturers. In the Chicago area Club Champion plans to open a new fitting store in Schaumburg in 2019, to add to its list of other area locations. For more information on Club Champion call (888)-340-7820 or visit clubchampiongolf.com.
Canal Shores of Evanston
CANAL SHORES has lost the first vote taken by the MWRD board, by a vote of 5-4. That paves the way for some paving of it’s tenth hole, a par 3, for the benefit of a real estate developer that has some adjoining land to golf course and wants to build four homes on that property. They just need a road put in so the homeowners could actually get to their homes.
The developer ironically wants to name the area “Fairway Oaks.” But when you pave over a fairway and according to reports in an area that has “no oaks”, that name comes up short like a putt where the golfer just didn’t hit it. It’s being reported that the fight to stop this paving project is not over, we will see, so stay clicked in.
Blackberry Oaks GM Chad Johansen holds the BBO-AM trophy.
Blackberry Oaks in Bristol, home of the famed Chad Johansen Golf Academy, is seeing the CJGA take it’s game on the road for the winter months ahead.
TOMORROW 9 AM at the Go For It, sports dome on Galena Road in Yorkville just minutes from Blackberry Oaks, is the CJGA Open House starting at 9 AM, everyone gets one shot for a hole in one, make it and walk with $5,000. Closest to the pin wins the new Wilson Cortex Driver, winner of the Driver vs Driver 2. Call (630)-553-7170 for details or visit Chadjohansen.com for details. November 17th be there take a shot for $5,000.
The TPT golf shafts.
TPT Shafts launch “The Future of the Game” promotion with the renowned Leadbetter Golf Academy and Club Champion.
Golfers who purchase a TPT golf shaft from Club Champion by December 15th, are eligible to win 3 months of Online Coaching from a Leadbetter Certified Golf Instructor, and a mental game assessment, to help improve their overall game. TPT now has 175 authorized fitters around the world. For more on TPT shafts visit tptgolf.com
TPT also congratulates Champions Tour season ending Charles Schwab Cup winner Vijay Singh, who played the event using a TPT shaft in his driver.
OVERLOAD GOLF VENTURES has announced it has acquired Henry-Griffitts the industry pioneer in club fitting and club fitting education. Overload Golf is also putting Austin Fazio in place as the new CEO of Henry Griffitts. Fazio a golf industry veteran has what Overload feels as the drive to create the next chapter of Henry-Griffitts. Henry-Griffitts was founded in 1983 by Randy Henry and Jim Griffitts and has been a long time family owned business. Details at henry-griffitts.com.
SIZING UP GOLF SHOES, is Boston based New Balance that introduced for 2019 the Striker Golf Shoe, that has been designed as a lightweight, cleated shoe, that should give golfers a perfect fit with comfort and performance, and ready to wear right from the box. (photo on our Rory Spears Facebook page) The shoe is waterproof, and the REVlite midsole originally designed for runners, provides great comfort for golfers. The Striker comes complete with the Champ Slim-Lok Zarma Tour Cleat System with seven cleats, and is anti-clogging and brings solid traction. Colors are White/Grey, Grey/Blue, Black/Red, Suggested retail $99.95, 2-year warranty and now available.
NEW BALANCE has also added three new styles of footwear for women. The Minimus WP, the Minimus SL, and 574 SL. This new line for women is a combination of lightweight spikeless shoes, that delivers comfort and maximum performance. The Minimus WP comes in White/Black, Black Purple, suggested retail is $89.95 and they are now available and come a 2-year waterproof warranty. The Minimus SL is another spikeless shoe that is lightweight. Cost is $69.95 and now available, colors are White, Black, Light Grey and Khaki. The 574 SL is another spikeless shoe and it features a water resistant microfiber leather upper. Colors are White/Rose and cost is $79.95 and it’s now available. More details at newbalance.com.
CALLAWAY GOLF has also added new styles for women with the addition of the Halo SL and the Pacifica. The Pacifica’s Opti-Dri technology keeps moisture away from your feet to keep you comfortable while playing. The Opti-Vent mesh liner manages heat with with breathability for cool comfort. The Opt-Soft EVA midsole gives a natural feel and cushion on every step for maximum comfort. Retail is $89.95 and available in Black or White as of November 15th. The Halo SL prides itself on its solid style and breathability. It comes in White/Grey, Navy/White, Black/Grey and is now available at $69.95.
SCOTTY CAMERON has announced the release of his Pink-My Girl putter for today, details at Scottycameron.com.
KPMG announces Women’s Clinics for 2019. Across the nation there will be 12 full-day clinic’s that will welcome women to learn more about the game of golf. The clinics formerly known as PGA Golf Clinics for Women,will continue to be managed by the PGA of America in conjunction with 27 time winner on the LPGA Tour Jane Blaylock. The 2019 KPMG Championship will be played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska Minnesota from June 18-23, after a two-year run in the Chicago area. June 24th will be the Chicago area clinic day, with Westmoreland Country Club hosting the clinic, more information at KPMGWomensPGAClinics.com.
BOYNE GOLF in Michigan, has it’s Heather Course named 2018 Michigan Course of the Year. Boyne Resorts very first golf course “The Heather”, earns the award after a vote by the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA). the Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1966.
“The Heather’s challenge is absolutely timeless,” said Kate Moore of the MGCA in making the announcement. “It is widely considered to be one of the finest championship courses in the nation.”
The Heather Course is located at the Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs. It’s yardage plays all the way back at 7,148 yards and is complete with rolling fairways, natural wetlands, and tour white sand bunkers. For details or planning your 2019 golf trip,visit BoyneGolf.com.
GOLF SEASON DOESN’T END HERE IN CHICAGO, now it just moves indoors. The Mistwood Golf Dome is open for winter golf season, and is now complete with the state of the art Toptracer Technology that’s found at Top Golf. It’s the only Dome in America that has it, so visit Mistwood Golf Dome and see what all the excitement is about. The Mistwood Golf Dome (formerly McQ’s) is now complete with an updated McWethy’s Sports Bar, and the OTB is still spinning out of the turn. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600 located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. Hours through the end of December, opening weekdays at 9 AM and at 7 Am on the weekends. #toptracergolf. THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is upgraded it’s course list for the indoor golf season that’s upon us. Play your favorite golf partners in a Ryder Cup style match when you tee it up on 2018 Ryder Cup venue, Le Golf National or 2020 Ryder Cup site Whistling Straits. The Schaumburg Golf Club is located at 401 N. Roselle Road just minutes from Woodfield Mall. See Schaumburggolf.com or call the club (847)-885-9000 #golfallyear
SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB GM Jon Parsons talks about indoor golf season at SGC.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook, Linkedin and now Instagram. Are you ready for this kind of weather? With Putterboy Jan. of 2018.
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS SEASON and if not, visit our sponsors above. The good news is that there is no snow in Pinehurst right now, and the resort has great deals to come down and play the recently redone Pinehurst #4 by Gil Hanse.
More good Pinehurst news is that the new Pinehurst Village brewery is open and in it’s first 30 days, it has become a hot spot. More details on our upcoming whats new at Pinehurst feature coming soon.
CALLAWAY GOLF has re-launched it’s BIG BERTHA Irons for 2019, you can pre-order on November 30th, the clubs will be in retails stores on Jan. 18th of 2019. Callaway is running a limited sale price on it’s Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X golf balls, visit Callawaygolf.com for details. Callaway Golf is congratulating it’s staff player Aaron Wise for being the PGA Tour rookie of the year, Wise was runner-up in the 2015 Western Amateur at Rich Harvest Farms, before turning professional.
WWGA.org
Woodland Country Club has been named as the host for the 2019 Women’s Western Golf Association 93rd National Junior Golf Championship.
Woodland located in Carmel Indiana, will host this event for the second time, having previously hosted the tournament in 1969, when it was won by Mary Jane Fassinger. The dates of the 2019 championship are from June 16-20.
This marks the first time the Western Golf Association will conduct the event in conjunction with the WWGA. The course was designed by golf architect Bill Diddel and opened for play in 1956. HOF architect Pete Dye did a recreation of the original layout in 2002.
“Woodland Country Club is a great partner of the Western Golf Association, and we’re elated to have it as our host for the Women’s Western Junior,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments. “This tournament will attract the best junior golfers in the country, and the course layout will provide an excellent championship atmosphere.”
Contestants must be 18 years of age or younger, and must carry a handicap of 14.4 or lower. The first 36 holes are stroke play, which will determine the 16 match play qualifiers. Janice Kim won the championship this summer. Notable past championships include Christie Kerr (1994), Grace Park (1993) and Nancy Lopez (1972-74). Visit WWGA.org for more details on the tournament.
THE SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION that has more than 2,700 professionals has kicked-off it’s sixth annual “Mowing Patterns Contest.” Entries are being submitted on Facebook through tomorrow Nov. 16th, and the general public can vote on Facebook for the winning design from November 17-23. The winner will be announced on Nov. 26th.
GLOVE IT a golf industry leader in women’s golf products, has announced it line for 2019. The 2019 line includes 10 new styles with a combination of vibrant prints and some bold new colors. Golf bags for walkers, cart riders, along with head covers,gloves, shoe bags, visors, sports towels, and accessories for tennis are now available. The Scottsdale based Glove It is a two-time winner of Best New Products at the PGA Merchandise show. For a look at the 2019 line visit Gloveit.com or call (480)-968-2021.
The Illinois PGA section at IPGA.com
ROUND ONE IS UNDERWAY for the PGA National Assistant Professional Championship, in Port St. Lucie FL.
The Illinois PGA Section has four of it’s assistants competing this week on the Wanamaker Golf Course at PGA Village.
Andy Mickelson of Mistwood is the leader in the clubhouse after Round 1 for the IPGA professionals. Mickelson shot a 3 under par 69 and is in 8th place overall. Kyle English of Crestwicke CC in Bloomington was sitting T-15 at Even par with Jeff Kellen from the Mauh-Nah-See-Tee Club in Rockford. Chris French from Aldeen Club in Rockford was at +1 with a score of 73, and was T-22 with some players still on the golf course.
THE WASHINGTON STATE Golf Association that represents over 675 clubs and some 70,000+ golfers from around the state, will now be working with the Buffalo Agency to help improve it’s branding and website. Buffalo Agency has helped with improvements for the Massachusetts Golf Association and the First Green, with the Colorado Golf Association. More details at thewsga.org or by calling 206-526-8605.
The sixth hole at Gamble Sands in central Washington State, David McLay Kidd who designed the first course, will do a second course on the property.
MORE FROM WASHINGTON… Chambers Bay home of the 2015 U.S. Open and the 2010 U.S.Amateur shut down early this fall, and is closed until spring of 2019, as all the greens will get totally redone. Gamble Sands a destination in central Washington is having David McLay-Kidd, who designed the first course, design the properties second course that could open in late 2019.
Kidd’s work at Gamble Sands earned him the support of Mike Keiser, who then hired Kidd to build the award winning Mammoth Dunes at Keiser’s Sand Valley Resort in Nekoosa Wisconsin. Sandvalley.com.
THE RYDER CUP IS COMING IN 2020 to Whistling Straits in Haven/Kohler Wisconsin.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from everyone at Destination Kohler.
Do you need a winter getaway, for a few relaxing nights, with all the comforts of home.
How about all the comfort of the American Club, the Inn on Woodlake, a suite in the Carriage House, a visit to the 2020 Ryder Cup Shop.
How about some me time in the very relaxing Kohler Fresh Waters Spa.
You can plan golf for the 2019 season now, order gifts cards and more. Call Kohler at (888)-293-7337. Destinationkohler.com.
John Deere Classic Johndeereclassic.com
THE 2018 JOHN DEERE CLASSIC has raised a record $13.45 million dollars for local and regional Quad Cities charities.
This new record breaks the record of one-year ago by an increase of $1.18 million dollars.
The John Deere Classic has now raised more than $107 since the championship started in 1971, since John Deere took over sponsorship of the tournament in 1998, that figure is over $104 million of that $107 million dollar figure. 534 deserving charities received a check from the JDC. The JDC has the largest per capita contributions of any PGA Tour event based on the Quad Cites 375,000 residents. For details on Birdies for Charity, and the 2019 John Deere Classic please see Johndeereclassic.com.
MORE GOG BLOG NEWS COLUMNS ARE COMING in the days ahead. RS
THE BEST OF INDOOR GOLF, the renamed Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook is now complete with Toptracer technology, check out all the options Toptracer gives you when you visit the Mistwood Golfdome, Mistwoodgolfdome.com (630)-739-7600 for more details. Enjoy McWethy’s Sportsbar while you are there. THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB has updated the course list on it’s simulators. Can you win your Ryder Cup match, play 2018 venue LeGolf National, or 2020 Ryder Cup home Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Schaumburggolf.com or (847)-885-9000 for times. #chandlerschophouse.
Schaumburg Golf Club GM Jon Parson’s has more on SGC’s simulator’s for indoor play.
THE JUDGES HAVE SPOKEN- (L) President of Wilson Golf Tim Clarke and former NHL star Jeremy Roenick two of the three judges on Driver vs Driver 2 at Demo Day 2018 in Orlando. Along with social golf media guy Rick Shields the three judges made the final votes last night on Driver vs Driver 2.
Congratulations to winner Evan Hoffman whose Cortex Driver with Cage technology ($499.00) defeated Tim Slama’s Rozwell in the final episode.
Hoffman wins the $250,000 and in a great move by Tim Clarke, Wilson Golf was very impressed by Slama’s design, so as a surprising runner up prize, Wilson golf is paying for Slama’s final year of college at Oregon State University. In addition, Slama made it clear during the program that he wants to design golf clubs for a living when he finishes school next year, and Wilson appears they will be giving Slama a job at Wilson after he gets his engineering degree. So maybe some form of Rozwell will come along someday if, Slama becomes a Wilson golf club designer sometime in 2019.
**Editors note** During an exchange of emails with Tim Clarke yesterday, Clarke admits he has a crazy schedule for the next 48 hours, but will speak with Golfers on Golf as a soon as possible about the show and the new Wilson Cortex Driver. GOG is attempting to speak with winner Evan Hoffman as well. As soon as Wilson has a Cortex available here in Chicago to hit, GOG will post a review.
Here’s hoping Wilson continues with the format, but maybe it’s time for Putter vs Putter. RS.
THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB has become a year-round golf facility with the addition of it’s state-of-the-art simulator facility. Top 100 courses along with 2018 Ryder Cup venue Le Golf National and 2020 Ryder Cup venue Whistling Straits are now part of the course options that golfers have, along with TPC Sawgrass home of the famed 17th hole Island green, and the par 3, 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale the most exciting hole on the PGA Tour. For more information see Schaumburggolf.com or call the club at (847)-885-9000. Enjoy great food and drinks from Chandlers Chophouse while playing. SGC GM Jon Parson’s explains what’s available to golfers visiting the simulator bays.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook or Linkedin, and now Insatgram. Rory will attend the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando come January, only 70 days away.
THE COLD WEATHER IS HERE but the news from the golf world is still coming out fast and furious, here are a few more things from the news front, as I try and catch up with all that is going on. RS
CONGRATULATIONS to Mistwood Golf Club/Dome’s Director of Golf Andy Mickelson on being selected to the Bradley University’s Sports Hall of Fame, his Alma-mater. Mickelson will be inducted during a luncheon at the university on Feb. 1, 2019. Mickelson set school scoring records while being a member of the Braves Men’s golf team.
The US Open showcase at Erin Hills.
Erin Hills is holding a pro shop sale from November 23rd through the 26th, all items online are 30% off, no including gift cards. Free shipping is available for orders over $150.00.
In the pro shop. The pro shop is closed now, but reopens on Nov. 26th and stays open though January 4th of 2018. Monday though Friday and Saturday Dec. 8th. All items bought on the 26th of November in person are 30% off. In addition, you can now book tee times and overnight reservations for 2019, the course open on May 6th. (866)-772-4769.
TOP GOLF has opened it’s 50th venue in Pharr Texas, in the Rio Grande area. Top Golf will open a new venue here in Schaumburg Illinois, in late 2019.
Blackberry Oaks GM and Head Golf professional Chad Johansen (seen here holding the Blackberry Am trophy) is holding an open house this Saturday at 9 AM.
SEVEN TIME nominated teacher of the Year award, Chad Johansen will be holding an open house this Saturday morning at 9 AM, at the GOFORIT indoor sports facility in Yorkville, just minutes away from Blackberry Oaks.
If you wish to work on your game this winter, you can do so with Johansen at the facility, now in partnership with the Blackberry Oaks GC and the CJGA.
Blackberry Oaks golf memberships for 2019 are now on sale. You can call the club at (630)-553-7170 and get your membership today. Dates have not ye been set for the 2019 Blackberry Amateur. Visit Blackberryoaks.com for updates.
The University of Illinois Golf Facility
The university of Illinois wrapped up it’s fall golf season with a T-10th place finish at the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational in Windermere Florida.
Illinois was +13 for the championship, and was lead by Jr. Michael Feagles and Fr. Adrien Dumont de Chassart who tied for 29th place with four over par scores for the three rounds of the tournament.
Vanderbilt was first, 44 shots ahead of the Illini, that left Coach Mike Small unhappy with the fall finish.
“This is a disappointing way to finish off our fall season,” said Small. “We can’t expect to be in contention at a tournament if we start every round the way we did this week. We ran into trouble on the second hole today and it was hard to fight back from that. I saw a lot of positive things this fall season, so we will put this behind us and get down to business. We will take out NCAA-mandated time off and come back in a week and begin our off-season work.”
The Illini will head to Florida in January for the Tinervin Cup and compete at the Big Ten Match Play on Feb. 8th in Florida.
Giovani Tadiotto was named the Big Ten men’s golfer of the week, for the week of October 10th, after leading Illinois with a fourth place finish at the Fighting Irish Classic in South Bend, on the Universities Warren Course that will play host to the 2019 U.S. Sr. Open.
FORMER UNIVERSITY of IOWA head golf coach Charles Zwiener has passed away at age 93. Zwiener was the Hawkeye’s head coach for 32 years (1958-89). He was inducted into the schools HOF in 2001. His graduation rate for players was 100%. He coached 19 players who went on to be PGA of America professionals and 6 that played on the PGA Tour, including Dave Rummells and Guy Boros. He was a medalist at the USGA Men’s Amateur Championship and served as Director of Golf at the Finkbine Golf Course for 33 years.
THE ILLINOIS WOMEN’S TEAM won the University of Louisville’s Cardinal Cup, paced by Kentucky native Tristyn Nowlin who won the tournament at 6 under par. Illinois beat runner-up Big Ten foe Maryland by 19 shots. Nowlin was named Big Ten Player of the Week for her accomplishment. Coach Renee Slone was proud of how her team played in windy conditions. Bing Singhsumalee was T-2 finishing at even par. Singhsumalee a senior, earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors the week after Nowlin, with a T-2, -1 second place finish in Texas at the Trinity Forest Invitational.
Illinois Women’s Team member Freshman Kornkamol Sukaree was named AJGA Second Team All-American for her play over the last season in AJGA events.
NORTHWESTERN FR. DAVID NYFJALL, earned Big Ten Men’s Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks with a win at the UNC-Grandover Collegiate in Greensboro NC.. Nyfjall’s three round total of 211 five under par helped Northwestern to a third-place finish. Nyfjall overcame a six shot final round deficit to win the event.
TPC RIVER’S BEND in Maineville, Ohio will host the 2019 Big Ten Women’s Golf Championships. It will be the third straight year the club has hosted the championship. Michigan State has won the championship the past two years. The clubs GM and Director of Golf Jack Hunter says the club is proud of it’s partnership with the Big Ten Women’s Conference Golf Championship. The private club, an Arnold Palmer design has been recognized as one of the best courses in Ohio nine times by Golf Digest.
BGT Breakthrough Golf announces new partnership with The Duran Group, as U.S. based sales and distribution company. The focus of the partnership is for on course golf facilities and off course fitting retailers. Barney Adams, CEO/Founder of BGT said,” our relationship with the Duran Group is further testament to the growing popularity of the stability shaft (for putters). As putters have grown in size, and weight the shafts for years had not changed. But along came BGT in 2014 to launch new shafts, and to bring a more precise and technological shaft to the market. For more details visit the website at breakthroughgolftech.com.
WE ARE GOLF, that serves as a voice for the game of golf, will take industry leaders around Capitol Hill on May 1st of 2019, the 12th annual National Golf Day. National Golf Day is a celebration of the $84.1 billion dollar economy, and $4 billion annual charitable impact, the many environmental and fitness benefits. The meetings with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies, will cover the games 15,000 diverse businesses, two million jobs impacted, tax revenue creation and tourism value. For more details visit wearegolf.org.
THE HARBOR SHORES GOLF CLUB in Benton Harbor Michigan home of the 2020 Sr. PGA Championship (L), Medinah C.C. home of the 2019 BMW Championship (R).
THE PGA OF AMERICA has announced that Jeff M. Fettig will serve as the General Chair for the 2020 Sr. PGA Championship at the Harbor Shores Golf Club. Fettig who serves as the Whirlpool Corporation’s chairman of the board of directors, will serve as the ambassador for the championship and help establish the structure for the 1,600 volunteers who will work the championship. Fettig was previously CEO of Whirlpool Corporation from 2004 through 2017, the parent company for the championships sponsor Kitchen-Aid. Fettig sits on the Indiana University Foundation and on the board of the Kohler Company. For further information on the 2019 Sr. PGA Championship to be played May 21-26 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester New York, see PGA.org.
THE PATRIOT EDUCATION CLASSIC will be played on Tuesday May 28th, 2019 at the Medinah Country Club. The charity golf event one of the Chicago’s premier golf charity events, provides scholarships and educational opportunities to veterans and their dependents. Sign up this year and receive a discount. Patrioteducationfund.org.
PART 3 of the Gog News Blog will return this week. RS
THE NEWLY NAMED MISTWOOD GOLF DOME (formerly McQ’s) in Bolingbrook is up and running with the Toptracer technology to enhance your golf experience, visit MGD and check out the OTB and the McWethy’s Sports Bar, see Mistwoodgolf.com #golf. IN SCHAUMBURG the Schaumburg Golf Club 401 N. Roselle Road has outdoor golf open weather permitting, but the simulator bays in the clubhouse are open for play on cold days. Several Top 100 courses have been added, along with Ryder Cup Venues from 2018 Le Golf National, and 2020 Whistling Straits located in Haven/Kohler Wisconsin. For details visit Schaumburggolf.com or call the club at (847)-885-9000. #Chandlers
SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB GM JON PARSON”S talks about indoor golf season at the Schaumburg Golf Club and what’s new in the popular downstairs simulator bays.
THE GOG BLOG BY RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram. The lights are on at the Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook, home of McWethy’s Sportsbar and Toptracer golf. PHOTO’S Above Top row Jerry Rich at Rich Harvest Farms, and Bottom Left Wilson Golf GM Tim Clarke with Driver vs Driver 2 judge former NHL star Jeremy Roenick at demo day in Orlando in January of this year.
WHAT A WEEKEND it was, plenty to do, and on the golf front during a cool November weekend. The big event was on Saturday night downtown, when Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich was stunned by a group of over 160 people, that shouted surprise at at his 80th birthday party downtown. The gathering put on by his son Keith and his friend Myrna Kulp, was something he was not expecting.
Jerry Rich with Myrna Kulp. Happy 80th Birthday.
Rich was presented the Illinois license plate JR 23 by Secretary of State Jesse White himself. Rich who made the #23 famous when he played basketball in high school, long before some guy named Jordan did on the west side. Now all he needs is plates for the other 80 cars in his famed car-collection and all will be well. The guests all signed a Rich Harvest Farms logo’d golf bag as one of the surprise gifts for Rich, who will put the bag on display at Rich Harvest Farms. Rich Harvest Farms will host the 2019 WGA Junior Championship, the 2020 Big Ten Golf Championships, and the 2021 Palmer Cup named for the late Arnold Palmer. The Palmer Cup was played at Rich Harvest Farms in 2015 and was won by the United States team. Happy 80th Birthday Jerry Rich, and here’s to many more.
Ground has been broken for the new Topgolf in Schaumburg, on the site of now being torn down Motorola campus
NO SOONER did the media visit the Mistwood Golf Some in Bolingbrook (McQ’s name is gone) and learn about the new Toptracer technology that is now in it’s first dome in America, we find out that another Topgolf is coming to the Chicago area.
Ground has been broken for the new Schaumburg Topgolf that is expected to open in late 2019, bringing what Topgolf says is another 500 full and part-time jobs to the area. Meanwhile Driveshack
a company that has spun-off from American Golf has hired Topgolf CEO Ken May away to be it’s new CEO. Driveshack is competing with Topgolf for a piece of the entertainment/golf entertainment market. While Driveshack is expanding in 2019, there are no plans as of now to open a Driveshack in the Chicago area. When the the Schaumburg Topgolf opens, it’s expected the neighboring Topgolf in Wood Dale/Itasca on Thorndale Road will close.
CONDOLENCES to WWGA PR Director Susan Wagner, Chip Wagner and the Wagner family on the unexpected passing Bob Wagner (Sue’s son-Chips brother) at the young age of 47 this past weekend from a heart attack. Bob served as webmaster for the Women’s Western Golf Association on their wwga.org website.
KUDO’s to the newly elected or promoted officers of the PGA of America. Suzy Whaley as president and a good friend of myself and GOG, VP Jim Richerson now with Troon Golf. IPGA teaching professional Terry Russell makes the District 6 board of Directors.
IF YOU HAVE NOT been to the Mistwood Golf Dome Rt.53 in Bolingbrook just north of Boughton Road, you need to. It’s a case of the best dome in town just got better. Toptracer will add an element to your indoor golf experience that you should enjoy with all the options it offers. McWethy’s Sports Bar has some nice upgrades to it. LPGA Veteran Nicole Jeray is a great addition to the professional teaching staff.
DRIVER VS DRIVER 2 the final episode air’s tomorrow night at 8 Pm on the The Golf Channel, I don’t know yet if I like the Cortex or the Rozwell better, so it will be interesting to see what Wilson GM Tim Clarke and the other judges with decide. They both look pretty neat, so I’m anxious to hit one. Both sides, the USGA and Wilson Golf tell me that there will NOT be another conforming issue like what the first winning driver had to go through, I hope that’s the case.
HERE’S HOPING that Chicago area native and Chicago Golf Club member Tony Anderson who is up for nomination to the USGA Executive Committee, gets the votes in February to join the committee. The voting will be held in Texas at the USGA annual meeting. More USGA events in the Chicago area. #VOTEYES.
SATURDAY WAS THE FINALS of the Golf Scene TV Show winners contest, and a competition was held for prizes at the Schaumburg PGA Tour store, the contest was filmed and one lucky winner walked away with a set of new Callaway Rogue Irons, watch the next issue of the Golf Scene hosted by Kashul and produced by Tom Miller to see who the top winners were.
I WAS SURPRISED when I got told that Jane Blaylock had stepped back from the Legends Tour as CEO, as a result there have been some changes there that have drawn several stories in the last few days. The first was by BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm who got a pretty good look at things from Blaylock herself. What’s up for the Legends Tour in 2019, tough to say, but the board needs to find some sponsors and create a few more events.
ARE YOU getting excited about the Phil vs Tiger PPV from Las Vegas yet? nope, me neither.
BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm has hit the road and will be writing more about travel golf in Louisana & Texas in the days ahead, stay clicked in here and to LenZiehmongolf.com.
I HAVE TO wonder how many clubs this company Honma expects to sell by signing Justin Rose to play their product, as Rose walks away from Taylor Made for the first time in his pro career. Word is that prices are over $1,000 per club, and you thought PXG is pricey.
CALLAWAY GOLF is coming out with new driver for 2019 that is creating a buzz already, even though almost nobody has one yet. Details as soon I get them.
FORMER MEDINAH Country Club Director of Golf Michael Scully starts his time as General Manager Reynolds-Lake Oconee, formerly Reynolds Plantation today in Georgia.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS native Doug Ghim the low-am at this years Masters Tournament, is saying on Twitter that Las Vegas is now his new home town. Ghim recently advanced to the third and final stage of the Web.com tour school.
I’ll have more Gog News Blog over the next few days and some holiday golf ideas starting next week in advance of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
I am still hopeful that Mother Nature will cut us a break and give us a day or two of warm weather yet, before the heavy snow falls. I would like to get in another round or two outdoors before taking it inside full time for the winter ahead. RS
THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is open year round for golf, and the simulator room is a drive full of fun. Several Top 100 and Ryder Cup venues have been added, and while you are teeing it up, enjoy the good food of Chandlers Chophouse located right upstairs. For details visit Schaumburggolf.com or call the club at (847)-885-9000. #golf
SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB GM Jon Parson explains the indoor golf season at SGC.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. With the U.S. Sr. Women’s Open trophy at the Chicago Golf Club.
THE USGA has announced that there are three new candidates up for election to the USGA Executive Committee.
Those three include Chicago area native Tony Anderson, Deborah Platt Majoras of Cincinnati, and Fred Perpall of Dallas Texas.
If elected at the 2019 annual meeting next Feb. 23rd in Texas, the three will replace three members who are retiring, Greg Morrison, Mark Reineman and Clifford Shahbaz.
“This is an exciting and pivotal time at the USGA, as we continue to undertake game-changing work to ensure a healthy future for golf,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “The business acumen, executive-caliber skill, and governance experience demonstrated by these nominees further strengthen an already exceptional group of leaders who genuinely care about the game. We are thankful for their willingness to give back to the game.”
USGA CEO Mike Davis (L) and USGA President Mark Newell stand in front of the first green at the Chicago Golf Club during the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in Round 1 of the 2018 Championship.
In the center of the nominee’s is current USGA President Mark Newell, of McLean, Va., Newell has been nominated to serve a second one-year term as president of the United States Golf Association.
Newell was elected this February at the USGA annual meeting to be the associations 65th president. Newell directs the committee that serves as the policy-making board for the USGA.
Stuart Francis of Hillsborough, Calif., is nominated as president-elect, which is a position created to provide the committee leadership succession and continuity going forward. Francis competed in three USGA Amateur Championships, two NCAA Championships and was All-American honorable mention at Princeton University. With his work in the Silicon Valley technology industry, he has served as an advisor to many technology corporations and companies.
THE USGA will conduct the U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach in June of 2019. Photo-courtesy of USGA.
Anderson a member at the Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, had a 35 year career with the accounting firm Ernst & Young. He has and does serve on several boards in the Chicago area. He is a graduate of Chicago State University. He took up the game of golf at age 28 when a client gave him a set of clubs and challenged him to start playing the game.
Majoras is the Chief Legal Official and secretary for Procter & Gamble. Over the years Majoras has served as chairman for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission from 2004-2008, where she served as co-chair for the President’s Identity Theft Task Force, and several other boards that include both government work and as part of private corporations. She calls TPC River’s Bend her home course and has played golf for more than 15 years.
Fred Perpall a native of Nassau, Bahama’s, is the CEO of the Beck Group, and leads the firm’s domestic and international design, planning real estate consultancy and construction business. He has been an architect since 2003, and has degree’s from both University of Texas-Arlington and the Harvard Business School. He is a member of the board that built the new Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas- the home of the Byron Nelson AT&T Classic on the PGA Tour.
There are two current members of the Executive Committee that have nominated to serve as officers. Martha Lang as secretary and Thomas Barkin treasurer. Eight other members have been nominated to continue their service on the committee, with Dick Shortz being nominated to continue service at General Counsel.
For further information on the USGA and it’s committee’s, please visit USGA.org.
SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB has started the indoor golf season. Your on the tee today at one of many Top 100 Courses or Ryder Cup Venues. Add great food and beverage from Chandlers Chop House right upstairs, and your year-round golf season never ends at the Schaumburg Golf Club. 401 N. Roselle Road just minutes from Woodfield Mall.
