FIRESTONE COUNTRY CLUB-Akron Ohio. Play and Stay packages are now available. _____________________________________________________________________

BY: RORY SPEARS-Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or friend him on Facebook or connect with linkedIn.

White Eagle Golf Club Director of Golf Curtis Malm-holds the IPGA Players Championship trophy at Conway Farms.

MAKE IT THREE different Illinois PGA major championships for Curtis Malm.

Malm the Director of Golf at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville, hung on to win the 2020 IPGA Players Championship by 1 shot at Conway Farms in Lake Forest.

Malm has previously won the Illinois Open, and was victorious in the IPGA Match Play Championship three straight years (2012-2014).

Malm started his march to victory with birdies on the final 2 holes in Round 1 on Monday. His 2 under par 69 gave him a two shot lead. His 69 in Round 1, was the only score under par for the day.

“I finished the first round really well. I hit two good shots into eight and nine to make birdies and finish 2 under. I hit a lot of quality shots the whole day yesterday,” said Malm. “Coming into the final round, I didn’t know what would happen. I was joking with some guys that I would shoot 80 or 85, but I hit some good shots, some bad ones and just got it done.”

Malm opened Round 2 with six straight pars in windy conditions, and then birdied holes 7 & 8 to open a four shot lead. But a bogey on 9 saw his lead drop down to two shots over Andy Mickelson (Mistwood Golf Club) and Tim Streng (Wildcat Golf Academy).

A birdie on the par 3, 11th hole pushed Malm’s lead back to 3, but another bogey on the 12th made the lead only two shots. After Streng made eagle on the par 5, 14th, and Malm could only counter with a birdie, the lead was down to one shot.

But the eagle on 14 and a par on 15 was all the charge Streng could mount, before bogeys on 16 and 17, combined with a double bogey on 18, pushed him out of contention. Streng finished alone in 4th place.

Malm lost his tee shot on the par 3 17th, and made a triple bogey 6. Malm then made bogey on the par 5, 18th hole. That reduced his margin of victory to only 1 shot, but it was all he needed.

Frank Hohenadel (Mistwood Golf Club) and Chris Green (Glen View Club) tied for second place with scores of 142 (even par). University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small and Brian Carroll (The Hawk Country Club) tied for 5th place, with 2-over par scores of 144.

This wrapped up the 2020 Bernardi Player of the Year points race. For more details visit IPGA.com. The Senior Players Championship is next Monday and Tuesday at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove (Oct. 12-13).

THE FIRESTONE COUNTRY CLUB IN AKRON OHIO- Play where the champions of golf have won at for years. Some limited public play options are now available. Visit ClubCorp.com/clubs/Firestone-CountryClub. Host for this years 2020 Senior Players Championship won by Jerry Kelly. 54 holes of golf, on the South-North & West Courses. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS-Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Facebook or LinkedIn. With the World Series of Golf Trophy at Firestone Country Club in Akron Ohio.

REPORTING FROM AKRON-OHIO.

IT’S BEEN A BUSY LATE SUMMER AND FALL for the Illinois PGA Section.

Four major championships were wrapped into 2 months, with time in between being spent raising some money for great charity causes.

This past week at  the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, the 2nd annual charity golf pro-am hosted by the Illinois PGA and former Chicago Cubs great Ryne Sandberg.

The pro-am raised funds for the Illinois PGA Foundation, First Tee of Greater Chicago, Maryville Golf Academy and Lambs Farm in Lake County.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Ryne Sandberg, a Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and one of the all-time great Chicago sports icons, to raise funds and awareness for the Illinois PGA Foundation, ” said Carrie Williams, CEO of the Illinois PGA Foundation. “The Foundation supports junior golf programs, grow the game initiatives, as well as internship and scholarship programs that allow young people the opportunity to work in the golf business, and attend college.”

  ONWENTSIA CLUB (L) was the home of this past weeks Illinois PGA-Ryne Sandberg pro-am. (R) Conway Farms serves as host to this weeks Players Championship for the IPGA’ sections top 35 players on the 2020 player of the year points list.

The pro-am included a pre-round luncheon, player gift package, on-course contest prizes and exclusive auction items. Teams were comprised of one PGA-professional and three amateur players. the outing was won by the team of Glen View Club Professional Jim Billiter.

“Last years inaugural event was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to building on that success,” said Sandberg. “We’ve got a good group of PGA professionals and local golfers who support the Illinois PGA Foundation programs as well as Lambs Farm, an organization I’ve supported for so many years, so we’re ready to tee it up and make a difference in our communities.”

BIRDIES FOR CHARITY-The Illinois PGA Section has released the final numbers from the Sept 8th, Birdies for Charity event at River Forest Country Club. While dodging rain showers that hampered play, IPGA professionals raised more than $350,000 dollars, bringing the ten year total to over $2 million dollars.

Over a 1,000 birdies were holed by the IPGA professionals. Funds are most directed to youth based charities such as Ronald McDonald House, Lurie’s Children’s Hospital, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDF).

David Paeglow with the Senior Illinois Open Trophy at Royal Fox Country Club.

David Paeglow (Kishwaukee Country Club) won the 2020 Illinois PGA Senior Open Championship at Royal Fox Country Club in St. Charles this past week.

Paeglow finished with a 36-hole score of 4 under par 138, to hold off University of Illinois Golf Coach Mike Small by one shot. Michael Troy from Zigfield Troy Golf Club was the other member of the final group.

Earlier this year Paeglow did not fare as well against either player in other IPGA Senior tournaments. But the third time was the charm.

“It was very satisfying to win,” said Paeglow. “I’ve been runner up numerous times in a lot of tournaments and it was great to finally finish out a tournament. My goal is to win these tournaments and not just do well. So today was satisfying and nice to have something to take home to the kids.” Paeglow eagled the 18th hole for the win. Four players tied for third place.

THE IPGA FINAL MAJOR of the year of 2020 IPGA Players Championship is this Monday and Tuesday at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest. The top 35 players on the Bernardi Player of the Year, points list are invited to this invitation only event. Host professional at Conway Farms Jeff Mowry, is also in the field.

Golfers on Golf will have a recap on Wednesday.

ILLINOIS GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Len Ziehm (L) and Rory Spears (R) on the First Tee at the Schaumburg Golf Club, have teamed up to bring you Chicago’s most complete weekly report on golf in the Windy City. More news than in the 19th hole. _____________________________________________________________________

CLICK HERE TO listen to ZIEHM & SPEARS SERIES 2020 Volume 29 Podcast.

This week Len and Rory discuss how golf remains strong in Chicago into October. The 5 year renovation at the Schaumburg Golf Club is complete. Tour Edge’s upcoming new equipment launch is coming.

What Changes Covid-19 and more could bring to the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. What Chicago pro is moving to Frisco Texas to be part of the new PGA of America headquarters.

The Illinois PGA wraps it up at Conway Farms next week with it’s final major of the year.

What Chicago area golf course could be outstanding with the some tree removal and a little renovation work. All this and more. Thanks for listening-Len & Rory.

THE BATHS AT BLACKWOLF RUN are opening in June 2021-DestinationKohler.com     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Facebook and LinkedIn. On the 1st hole of the Tournament Nine at the Schaumburg Golf Club.

IT’S DONE.

Proudly says Schaumburg Golf Club’s General Manager Jon Parsons.

Done is a five year renovation plan that has had the Schaumburg Golf Club in some sort of an under construction or “pardon our dust” for about five years.

Parsons and his team are now enjoying just letting golfers come out and play the golf course, all 27 holes of it.

There have been some 450-500 golfers per day, that have been enjoying the three renovated nine’s Schaumburg has to offer. Before long golfers will be back inside the clubhouse and down in the basement hitting practice shots and playing rounds in the state-of-the-art simulator area.

The Tournament Nine was the last reopen for play from renovation, and did so on August 1st.

Indoors and outside the Schaumburg Golf Club has emerged from the aura it had when the club was known as Golden Acres before the Schaumburg Park District purchased the golf course.

In fact, under prior ownership the greens and fairways got so hard in the summer months, the nickname golfers gave the club was “concrete acres.”

Now something like “pristine acres” would be more fitting for a current nickname, since the golf course in spite of the large amount of rounds played this summer since fully reopening, is in outstanding condition. The greens this week, are the best you have played on in the last few months, and still look like nobody has used them all summer. With the fairways and tee boxes in just as good condition, it would be fair to say the superintendent should be named employee of the year for the Schaumburg Park District.

The new par 3 on the Players Nine at the Schaumburg Golf Club.

Architect Todd Quitno who is part of the Bob Lohmann and Quitno golf design firm, did an outstanding job on the renovation.

Switching or flip-flopping two holes on the Players 9 for a better routing, and to use better available drainage was one of the first things that came to light when that nine first reopened. The trees that were taken out were the right ones to remove for various reasons. Even though a couple more could go or be transferred to other areas of the golf course. The movement of tees to help the aiming points off the tee will improve play, and make the course and surrounding neighborhood safer. The white tour-angle sand helps the course views just pop out to the players, and will be less penal for players who are not good bunker players.

The 18th hole on the Baer Nine will challenge golfers on their approach shot.

The Schaumburg Range and practice area’s are greatly improved. The range not only has better grass, when players are not on the mats, but better mats, and the length of the range has been increased to a better and longer yardage.

In addition the range is now double-sided, for private practice, lessons, and bunker practice on the back end of the range.

The clubs two putting greens have been improved and enlarged, so that for large outings or tournaments there is plenty of space for everyone to putt.

Even with the renovation complete, Parsons says the park district will spend the winter looking at other ways to improve the facility and the golf operation in 2021.

The time is now to come play the Schaumburg Golf Club.

The pro shop has a good amount of merchandise to pick from, if you need apparel or other golf supplies.

Located In the clubhouse is Chandlers Chophouse, a great place for food and beverage before and after your round.

When the temperatures dip and the snow falls, the downstairs simulator area has been keeping golfers hitting the ball all winter long. Or fitted for clubs need to up a players game heading into the next year. The commitment to this project by the Schaumburg Park District, and it’s board, has made this golf facility, one of the best public courses in the Chicagoland area. For tee times and more, see SchaumburgGolf.com or call the pro shop at (847)-885-9000. Located at 401 North Roselle Road in Schaumburg.