THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, LinkedIn or Facebook. In the studio at WCPT AM 820, home to Golfers on Golf Radio.
GOLF IS BACK in Illinois, barely but it’s back.
Golfers are thrilled to be back out on the golf courses. But there is a long way to go.
Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has been tough on the golf scene, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D), still hasn’t opened City of Chicago Golf Courses yet.
What else is missing are-no carts, no caddies, no open driving ranges or putting greens. No lessons or club fittings, no foursomes (just 2-some’s for now), food and beverage is almost non-existent, and the clubhouses are mostly not open. One local pro told me, most courses are not sent up to take payment online, another big hassle to do, and maybe in a few weeks online payments, will go off-line.
Sonny Park of Elk Grove Village, hit one of the first tee shot’s on May 1st right at 6 AM, at the Schaumburg Golf Club.
Friday May 1st was opening day for golf in the State of Illinois, even though some courses were open a few days in March, before Governor Pritzker closed them down.
Most of the local courses had 6 Am as the first tee time. But a cold night, led to frost delay’s that help up golfers anywhere from 1 to 2 1/2 hours in some places.
The heavy rains of the midweek, flooded a few courses by Friday, including Blackberry Oaks in Bristol that could not open until mid-morning on Saturday.
Matt Knott (pictured) and his son Jack, were first out at Mt. Prospect GC on Friday, after a 1 hour delay.
With the golf season on delay, the main complaint about our current golf season is that golfers really need the ranges open.
While Matt Knott of Mt. Prospect and his son Jack, said they set up a net in their basement and were hitting and chipping plastic golf balls. While getting some putting work in as well.
With no practice area’s open, golfers were standing near the first tee boxes, swinging as hard as they could to get loose, while trying to build their swing speed back to what it was in 2019.
Golf is open in Illinois, but barely for now. Hopefully some restrictions can come off by this next weekend. It would sure help.
The Gog Blog returns tomorrow, with The Gog Blog Speaks Out. RS