THE DRUMLIN PUTTING COURSE opens at Erin Hills on Thursday August 1st. Visit Erinhills.com for details, and tee times. THE NEW HEADQUARTERS for the Western Golf Association is taking shape in Glenview. The WGA putting caddies into college.       _____________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Point O’Woods Golf Club. Home of this weeks 117th Western Amateur Championship.

GOLFERSONGOLF.COM The Gog Blog, by Rory Spears. Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin or Facebook.

AFTER A decade a away from the Point O’Woods Golf Club, the Western Golf Association (WGA) has returned. Looking to create the next chapter of amateur golf history at the Southwest Michigan golf club.

2019 marks the 41st time the championship has been contested at Point O’Woods. Besides adding to the clubs history on the course, Point O’Woods will now have hosted the championship more years than any other club.

The field which consists of 156 players, and includes players from 20 different nations. Will find a course that looks different from 2008. In previous years the most frequent sound heard around “The Point”, was golf balls klunking off trees. That noise won’t completely go away this week. But because of the hard work of superintendent Adam Roels and his team, it will be heard less frequently. And that’s due to the removal of close to 1,000 trees, over the last decade.  Regardless, Roels and company still need to take out a few more. But if temperatures do climb this week, the players will have plenty of shade..

2018 Western Amateur champion Cole Hammer with the George R. Thorne champion’s trophy and the Cameron Eddy medalist trophy. Hammer was co-medalist in the stroke play qualifying and won the championship match Saturday, Aug. 4, 1 up over Davis Riley.

Defending Champion Cole Hammer heads up a powerful field. Hammer just completed his first year at the University of Texas. Where he won the Phil Mickelson Award, for being the nations top freshman.

Hammer will be looking to put his name on the George R. Thorne trophy, for a second time. But that’s never easy at the Western Amateur, where the last player to win back-to-back titles was Justin Leonard in 1992-1993.

“We are looking forward to returning to Point O’Woods, and renewing our partnership that has run almost 40 years,” said Vince Pellegrino Sr. Vice President of Tournaments. “This championship showcases the best players in the world of amateur golf. The clubs members and local fans, are supporters of amateur golf. And the golf course has always produced world-class champions.”

“Because majestic oaks, maples and pines are abundant here,” said tournament chair and club president Bruce Phaff. ” It makes for a beautiful walk, and a fine test of golf.”

The Point O’Woods Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., opened in 1956 with golf commencing in 1958.  The course, built at over 7,000 yards was considered long for that era. Par will be lowered from 71 to 70, for the championship.

Point O’Woods has currently produced 38 caddies, that have gone on to become Evans Scholars. For more information on the championship, please visit the westernamateur.com.

  THE NEW DRUMLIN PUTTING COURSE ar Erin Hills Opens this Thursday August 1st, for more details on the nations second biggest putting course, see ErinHills.com. THE BAER NINE at the Schuamburg Golf Club has opened the first seven holes, and will have the last two holes open any day now. For more details see Schaumburggolf.com.   _____________________________________________________________________

GOLFERSONGOLF.COM presents The Gog Blog- by Rory Spears. Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and on Facebook or Linkedin. On the North Course at Eagle Ridge in Galena.

OKAY SORRY…I know it’s been almost a week, since I posted the latest golf news you expect to get more often.

But last week was the return to Eagle Ridge in Galena. It had been 11 years since I had been on property. That was 11 years too long.

Because there is news coming from the resort. It was sold close to 90 days ago. The new owner is Mark Klausner a 22 year home owner, living in the Galena Territory.

Local ownership is something the resort has needed for a long time. And the future will be better off because of it. I did have the chance to meet Klausner, and he seems like a great guy. He does wear the Eagle Ridge logo on his sleeve,and more importantly in his heart.

Besides the fact there is some fixing up to do. Comes the reality that the golf operation does need some improvements across all of it’s golf courses. Currently new Director of Golf Ryan Brown who hails from Boyne Golf in Michigan, is still settling into his new job. Once Brown can plant his feet and roll up his sleeves, I’m sure the improvements in the golf operation will become visible to the golfing guests and members.

There will be meetings this fall to determine the course of action Klausner and the management team will take, as they start improvements and upgrades. From what I hear, just about anything could be on the table. It wouldn’t surprise me to see a different looking Eagle Ridge five years from now. Illinois needs a great golf destination property, and if Eagle Ridge “takes off” again, it would be good for the industry. Stay clicked in, I’ll be following developments in Galena.

DO YOU LIKE BEEF JERKY ?  It’s become a favorite snack of mine, and is great on the golf course. Golfers on Golf has learned that in the next 48 hours, the PGA Tour will announce it’s new line of “official” beef jerky. I wonder what flavors they will have.

SPEAKING OF THE PGA TOUR. it was great for the Memphis tour stop to have such a great field this past weekend. But a WGC-event the week after “The Open”, on another continent, seems questionable. If I’m on tour and played all four days at Portrush, I would WD out of Memphis. But kudo’s to the guys that played, and to see Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka in the final group on Sunday was fantastic. The galleries were big in spite of the high heat.

THE WESTERN AMATEUR returns to Point O’Woods starting tomorrow. Defending champion Cole Hammer is in the field.

TODAY WAS THE ILLINOIS PGA SENIOR MASTERS at Onwentsia in Lake Forest. When two IPGA professionals 50 years of age and over, get honored every year. This years award winners are both very deserving. Ed Posh from Village Links in Glen Ellyn. And Billy Rosinia from Flagg Creek golf course in Countryside. I’ll post more from the days events in the week ahead.

Tomorrow, I’ll visit the new Club Champion fitting studio in Schaumburg. Because it’s time to learn more about the golf club fitting process. Stay clicked in for details. RS

THE 18TH HOLE ON THE BAER NINE OF THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is almost ready for play. The 13th hole is open and golfers are enjoying it. The last two holes of the Baer Nine 17 & 18 will be open shortly. For tee times call (847)-885-9000.    ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG part of Golfers on Golf, by Director of Content and Creation, Rory Spears. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy The work will begin shortly.

MAJOR DAN ROONEY the Founder of the Folds of Honor, has joined forces with the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus.

The two will redesign and reimagine the first golf course to hold a Folds of Honor Fundraiser. Grand Haven Golf Club, in Grand Haven Michigan.

Besides upgrading the golf course, the new name of the course will be American Dunes. And it will be classified a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

“I love the game of golf,” said Nicklaus. “But I love my country even more.”

Grand Haven that first opened in 1965, had the father-son duo of Bruce and Jerry Mathews as designers. In 1998 Dr. John Rooney bought the club. 20 years later Dan Rooney told Nicklaus of his vision to improve and preserve the birthplace of the Folds of Honor. Nicklaus immediately agreed to take on the project.

To fund the project, there are 18 different hole sponsors. And several more private investors. Because there is hope to reopen by Memorial Day of 2020, work is already moving forward. Various members of the design team from Nicklaus Golf are donating their time.

“American Dunes will stand a vessel to raise awareness and donations to the Folds of Honor, while recognizing Jack and Barbara (Nicklaus) contributions to the military.” said Major Rooney.

The site has been described as a solid mix of sandy soil, mature trees, elevation changes and rolling terrain, locted 200-300 yards off of Lake Michigan. Nickluas and the design team, have made several site visits. And they are looking at potential options for improvements.

“The property is bascially sand underneath,” says Nicklaus. “It had magnificent trees that had grown up over time. But is that what this golf course should be with dunes off the lake. What we are trying to do, is create something that opens up the feeling of coming off Lake Michigan. Having the opportunity that creates a golf course that plays between the mature trees and rolling dunes, creates a course that is unique. If we can do that, while raising money for our military families, it would be something special in the game of golf.”

More details at Foldsofhonor.org.

  THE BAER NINE OF THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB NOW HAS 7 OF 9 holes opened for play, with the last two hoes 17 & 18 opening shortly. Details can be found at Schaumburggolf.com or call the club at (847)-885-9000. THE NEW DRUMLIN putting course at Erin Hills will open on August 1st. Visit ErinHills.com or call (866)-772-4769.      _____________________________________________________________________

Golfersongolf.com presents-The Gog Blog by Rory Spears. Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy with the JUG at Wrigley Field.

SHANE LOWRY congratulations you are the Champion Golfer of the Year. For 2019, enjoy. Ireland loves you.

What a display of golf to win by the margin that you did.

Royal Portrush comes away a winner as well. Looking solid on TV, and proving worthy of a return by the R&A in the years to come, with another Open.

Or is it the British Open, the Open Championship, or just ‘The Open’. Every few years there seems to be a new name on this major of golf.

RORY MCILROY…nice second round 65. But another bad first round. So bad you missed the cut and went home on Friday. Because 79 doesn’t get it done at majors. Besides, what’s up with bad first rounds at majors. Fix that please.

TIGER WOODS looks beyond fixable. What started with a very accurate call-out from Padraig Harrington about his preparation, was piled on by Paul Azinger. Saying Woods might never win again. Woods looked old, and broken down with a bad-back that looks ready to go out at any moment.

After missing the cut, Woods said he was “tired and wanted to go home.” Yep-2, yeah-2 comeptitive rounds in a month, and he is tired. Several national and tabloid writers took issue with that. Because that’s not how you say it. Hard to grow the game one writer suggested, when old and broken TW comes across like that.

PHIL MICKELSON doesn’t look much better. His 15 pound weight loss from fasting didn’t help. Cut-Cut-Cut.

NO-MORE 36 holes in one day plans. Doesn’t work even in July. It’s one thing to have to play 36 holes, when you have to make up a rain-out. But what two tournaments learned the hard way this past week is that, you don’t schedule 36 up-front. Because you are asking for issues, be it high heat or more rain.

Mistwood Golf Club got lucky to survive their 36 hole Illinois Women’s Open day. In fact some players in the IWO, said they like that format. Because they were used to it from college. But those fall and spring college tournaments, have plenty of issues from scheduling in that manner. Besides numerous finishings of Round 2 the next day, many of these events lose one full round all together.

THE WWGA had to reduce it’s 36 hole championship final to 18 holes. The CDGA had to reduce their 36 hole final day of the Illinois State Amateur to 18 holes. Oops and more Oops. As for three tournaments in one week, that’s another story.

THE NEW WGA HEADQUARTERS

THE NEW Western Golf Association (WGA) world head quarters is taking shape over in “The Glen”.

Located along the east side of Patriot Drive, and just north of the Glen Club. This new state of the art-looking facility should help continue to grow the number of caddies, that the WGA is putting into college. The WGA does appear to be on schedule to hit that 1,000 per year mark. That they wanted to reach by next year. Let’s hope they do.

DO YOU HAVE your tickets yet for the BMW Championship It’s less than 30 days away.

I AM back on the road this week, making a return to Eagle Ridge in Galena for the first time in 11 years. I’ll have more from there as the week goes on. Stay clicked in.

AS MUCH AS I AM looking forward to the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs, it seems weird that the majors are finished for the year. Hard to say whether I like the new schedule or not. At this point in time, not-so-much.

IN ABOUT 10 days, the Schaumburg Golf Club will have all nine holes open for play on the Baer Nine, and 18 of 27 holes will be complete. I can’t wait to go tee it up there. You should too, if you haven’t done so already. Early reviews are very good. See Schaumburggolf.com for updates.

I have a full story on the Schaumburg Golf Club coming up in the next issue of Chicagoland Golf, due out around August 1st. Pick up a copy in your local pro shop or golf retail store.

IT’s COOLED off outside, go play some golf. I’m back from on the Ridge tomorrow. RS

THE BAER NINE AT THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB now has 7 holes open from Phase 2 of the renovation. The last two holes should be open in around 10 days. Phase 3 of the renovation on the Tournament Nine is underway. Details Schaumburggolf.com  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS-Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy With the jug at Wrigley Field.

CONGRATULATIONS to Paul Lowery the 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year.

SARAH SHIPLEY from Hastings Michigan, is the 2019 Women’s Western Golf Association’s National Amateur Champion.

Shipley a Senior at Kentucky, defeated Antonia Matte 5 & 3, in an 18 hole final match. (Shortened from the normal 36 holes).

“I’ve alwasy liked match play,” said Shipley, 21. “And I have been playing really well of late. Because I won the Michigan’s Women’s Golf Association of Michigan Championship. That gave me more confidence.”

2019 WWGA National Amateur Champion Sarah Shipley

While Shipley plans to turn professional after college but it can wait. Because right now she plans to focus on her senior year with the Wildcats. Besides the win, Shipley is exempt into next years WWGA National Championship at Prestwick Country Club in Frankfort IL.

Where she will get a chance to defend her title in the 120th WWGA-Amateur.

Matte the runner-up from Santiago Chile,felt she played well in both of her matches on Saturday. But she could not make the putts, she said her putter was not working.

Shipley gets her name on the Maude Alexander Trophy, the first president of the WWGA in 1901.

The Drumlin Putting Green at Erin Hills.

The new Drumlin Putting green at Erin Hills, is ready to open August 1st.

The Drumlin was built in the area of the first tee box. Because of the size of the green and it’s location, the positioning of the first tee box was moved.

More news for Erin Hills. The golf course was selected to host the 2023, Wisconsin State Amateur championship. See Erinhills.com.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS announced that former Colorado Buffalo Justin Bardgett, has joined the Men’s Coaching staff. He serves as assistant to head coach Mike Small. Bardgett (Pronon-Barg-A) comes over from West Point with the Army Cadets. He previously played on the PGA Tour Canada, and PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE at Illinois. Barrington Hills native Reena Sulkar will join the team this fall. Sulkar lead her Barrington Hills High School team to a Sixth place finish in 2016, at the Illinois State high school golf championships. Sulkar joins Siyan Chen, as the new members of the women’s golf team.

THIS WEDNESDAY is Ladies Golf Night at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeville. And the cost is $35, it starts at 5:30 PM. See Mistwoodgc.com orcall ( 815)-254-3333.

TITLEIST BALL FITTING is this Wednesday at the Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison. It runs from 9-4 PM. Check in with the staff at the Preserve, to get scheduled. DuPagegolf.com

DESTINATION KOHLER is now taking reservations for golf in 2020. Book now and golf before the Ryder Cup arrives in September. DestinationKohler.com

READY TO PLAY ROYAL PORTRUSH…see GHWGolftours.com. Scottland and Ireland, your pick when and where.

IN MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA. The George Holliday Memorial Junior Tournament, will be held from November 28-30. The three courses are Arnold Palmer Courses, King’s North, the West Course and SouthCreek at Myrtle Beach National. Several age divisions MyrtlebeachjuniorGolf.comor call (843)-448-2308.

NANCY LOPEZ has committed to participate in the Mentors Cup in Myrtle Beach on October 26th.

PINECREST GOLF CLUB JUMPS TO LANDSCAPES GOLF MANAGEMENT, for management services. Pinecrest owned by the Huntley Park District, was looking to improve it’s golf experience, to it’s customer base. Landscapes based in Omaha Nebraska, has added several courses to it’s portfolio in recent months. Another local course working with Landscapes is Bull Valley Country Club in Woodstock. More details at Landscapesunlimited.com.

MIZUNO GOLF has announced it’s new MP-20 line of player Irons. That are an inspiration from the generations of “tour edition” muscle backs. Mixed with carbon steel and a layering of Mizuno’s TN87 blade iron, for the purest Mizuno ever created.

The three lines are the MP-20 (Muscle Back), the MP-20 MMC, mulit-material concept, with a thinner topline. MP-20 HMB hybrid irons with a “tour ready” profile. Product release date is scheduled for late September. Details at Mizunogolfnorthamercia, or on Facebook.

THE GOG BLOG RETURNS TOMORROW and Speaks out.

  THE BAER NINE HAS SEVEN HOLES OPEN-the last two holes 17 & 18 will open in early August. The final phase of construction is underway. See Schaumburggolf.com.     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG and Golfersongolf.com by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

IT’S OFFICIAL.

The new massive putting green at Erin Hills, called ” The Drumlin” now has an official opening date.

August 1st, 2019.

Are you ready for the putting challenge of a lifetime.

Tee boxes on the 2017 U.S. Open golf course were moved, to make-way for the new putting green.

            The Drumlin green at Erin Hills.

Erin Hills located in Erin Wisconsin, now has many more golf holes to play. Even though they may be shorter ones that are on the U.S. Open course. A course that will become host again, when the USGA Conducts the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. And the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open.

Book your tee times and over night stays for Erin Hills (866)-772-4769. Erinhills.com.

  THE BAER NINE AT SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is getting close to fully opening. The final touches are being applied, to the 17th and 18th holes. For tee times call the club at (847)-885-9000. The final phase of the renovation has started on the Tournament Nine.  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Linkedin and Facebook.

        CANTIGNY GOLF home of the 89th Illinois State Amateur Championship, run by the Chicago District Golf Association.

Ethan Farnam of Crystal Lake and Crystal Lake CC, rallied to win the Illinois State Amateur at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton.

Farnam had a long wait in a shortened final day to capture the crown. So when rain and high heat poked at the championship during round 2, changes were made. Because the weather radar was saying even higher tempartures reaching over 90 degrees, and more rain expected for the final 36 hole day. The decision was made to make the final round, only 18 holes. And that decision turned out to be the right decision, since there was barely time to squeeze in 18 holes.

Because heavy rains, thunder and lightning started pounding the area in the 6 Am hour, and continued until noon-time, tee times were delayed until 1 PM. So the leaders went off closer to 2 PM. Play then ended after 7 PM.

Farnam started the third round 4 shots back of David Perkins of East Peoria/Quail Meadows CC. But, throw in a 70 birdie putt on the par 3, 13th for Farnam, and a double-bogey by Perkins and things change quickly. In the end, Farnam’s 3 under par 69, was enough to win.

“It feels good to be on top of the leaderboad again,” said Farnam, who won the 2015 Illinois Junior Amateur Championship.

Perkins score of 6 under par, earned him a second place tie with Jordan Less of Elmhurst/Oak Brook Golf Club.

Farnam attends Saint Mary’s College.  He called the win, something that makes up for his tough stretch in the game. Because he left the Northwestern University Men’s Golf Team, and then considered giving up golf for good.

Perkins lost a 6 shot lead to Farnam in route to second place, and could only learn from the experience.

“It’s a learning experience. But I’ve had a few of those already. I think I caught myself trying to protect the lead too much and just should have kept on playing golf. He was playing well and I made a few mistakes, and he took advantage,” said Perkins.

Less called the back nine “fun”, because he finished his round with four straight birdies  and it earned him a T-2.

The next CDGA Championship is the, CDGA Amateur Four-Ball at Oak Park Country Club from July 29-31.

THE BAER NINE IS OPEN-THE FIRST SEVEN HOLES FOR NOW. With the last two holes opening shortly. Phase 3 now under construction. Tee times at (847)-885-9000 or visit online Schaumburggolf.com. Renovation work to be done by mid-summer of 2020   _____________________________________________________________________

Golfers on Golf Radio Saturday Mornings at 10 on the BIG AM 750 WNDZ-AM (L-R) Ed Stevenson-Bill Berger-Rory Spears

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO WEEK #17

Join us for Week #17 of Golfers on Golf Radio, Am 750 the BIG WNDZ-AM Chicago.

Ed Stevenson-Bill Berger and Rory Spears, bring you golf talk with a Chicago flavor to it from 10-11 Am.

Joining us on the tee this morning is Gabe Beronja, the head golf professional at the Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor Michigan.

Harbor Shores aJack Nicklaus signature design will host the 2020 Sr. PGA Championship.

Closer to home. The Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) is hosting it’s national amateur championship this week. The final match is today at the Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove. Tournament Chairman Susan Buchanan checks in with us.

We will discuss the British Open, or do you say the Open Championship. Recaps of this weeks Illinois Women’s Open at Mistwood. The Illinois State Amateur Championship at Cantigny.

Join us on the tee at 10 Am on the BIG Am 750 WNDZ-Chicago. It’s hot out, so take a break before you tee it up. Golfers on Golf Radio.

  THE 25TH PHIL KOSIN ILLINOIS OPEN at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. The half island third green is one of the best par 5’s in the Chicagoland area. (815)-254-3333. For great food enjoy McWethy’s Tavern inside the clubhouse, details Mistwoodgc.com.   ____________________________________________________________________

Jessica Porvasnik with the Phil Kosin trophy aftrer winning the 25th Illinois Women’s Open

JESSICA PROVASNIK held off a furious charge by Mistwood’s Nicole Jeray, to win the 25th Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open.

Provasnick two years out of Ohio State University, and a member of their women’s golf team. In her senior year Ohio State made the match part of the NCAA Championships at Rich Harvest Farms.

Provasnik emerged as the winner, when on-lookers and media types thought she would be in a playoff. But while the scoreboard had her at 4 under par, she knew all along that was not correct. Her birdie putt on 18 turned out to be the winner. The scorer put down the wrong score for her on the first hole, that went into the live scoring.

Runner-up Nicole Jeray rolls in a 10 foot birdie putt on the 16th hole.

Besides being a teaching professional at Mistwood, Berwyn’s Jeray was in her last chance to win the championship, in all three decades it had been held. Jeray was sitting top 10 after rounds 1 and 2, but waited just too long to mount a charge.

Jeray finally started her rally with a birdie 14, and followed with two more on 15 and 16. Firing at the flag on the par 3, 17th, she missed the green short side, but got up and down. Jeray could only par the par 5, 18th hole, and then sit and wait for a playoff that didn’t happen.

Challenging the toughest part of Mistwood known as “Kelpies Corner” which are holes 14-17 Because the fact is the players go over and around a lake. There are plenty of other issues that jump up and grab you. One of them is a cart path, that vaulted leader Kasey Miller’s ball OB on the 15h hole. Miller bogeyed 15 and 17, then like Jeray and amateur Monica Matsubara,missed a playoff by one shot. Matsubara who plays college golf at Northwestern, ended up edging Racine Wisconsin native Sarah Busey for low-amateur.

Anna Appert Lund who finished T-5, hit the shot of the day. Lund’s 7-Iron from 158 yards on the par 3 ninth hole, found the cup for the tournaments only hole-in-one.

Click here to hear interviews with runner up Nicole Jeray and champion Jessica Porvasnik.

Provasnik who been cashing checks at various women’s state opens in recent month’s, is looking forward to a better showing at Symetra Tour-tour school later this year. This week she will follow in the footsteps of last years IWO winner Hannah Kim. Kim who played college golf at Northwestern, won the IWO and the Tennessee Women’s Open in back-to-back weeks.

This years Phil Kosin IWO had a field of 52 players, down from the expected amount. But the scheduling conflict with the Women’s Western Golf Association amateur championship at Royal Melbourne in Long Grove didn’t help. A scoring recap of the IWO is at Mistwoodgc.com.

THE BAER NINE IS COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION seven holes open already, the last two holes 17-18 in the next couple of weeks. The final nine holes are now under construction, and should be ready for play in Mid-Summer of 2020. Call (847)-885-9000 ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears-Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy. For those who neeed some cooling off, with Pinehurst’s Putter Boy.

THE FOR SALE SIGNS ARE BEING TAKEN DOWN, and the Ridges have been sold.

In Galena 22 year homeowner in the Galena Territory Mark Klausner, bought the resort himself. Klausner plans to make across the board at the resort.

The best news is that since he is a golfer, he will revamp the golf operation. While Klausner is admittingly celebrating his first “par” as a golfer last year. He does undertstand what golf means to Eagle Ridge.

The Touchstone Golf Management firm is gone from the resort, and Director of Golf Reagan Davis left town with them, and is now working in Texas. So Ryan Brown takes over in the pro shop, after years at Boyne Highlands in Michigan. And a private club near Detroit. He is expected to start developing golf schools, and expand the teaching program.

Because the golf shops will be torn down, pro shops will change. The main restaurant at the General, and the remainder of the building could see changes as well. While the resort has made improvements on the courses in recent years, including better maintanence equipment. On the General course, the native grasseswere trimmed back, trees were cut back or removed. Tee boxes were fixed up. But there is still some work to be done. And don’t be surprised if all the courses, North, South, East and General get reviewed more in depth.

WEAVER RIDGE in Peoria has been sold to Jim and Carol Ring, who own nearby Metamora Fields. Because the Ring’s are not wasting time moving forward, D.A.Weibring has been hired to come in for course renovation work. Weibring will hold a town hall on Thursday night at the club, to get feedback on what the courses regular golfers like and don’t like. And adjoining homeowners can add some input as well.

Having the Ring’s as new owners is a “shot in the arm” for Weaver Ridge. Weibring told Golfers on Golf, that bunker work will be a priority in the renovation project. Matt Rogers who has been the general manager at Metamora Fields, is now serving as GM for both properties.

Rogers says the club will revisit the opportunity to build a hotel at Metamora Fields. Besides, there will be benefits with having two courses under one ownership. Therefore rates are changing, and new season passes will be available for purchase. Because they are good at both courses, golfers should enjoy the benefits.

More details to follow on this story.