FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB ROSCOMMON MICHIGAN- has opened a new 10-hole par 3 golf course, learn more about it on Golfers on Golf Radio tomorrow 10 Am WCPT. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and on Facebook-Linkedin or Instagram.
Medinah Country Club professional Travis Johns is this coming weeks defending Illinois PGA Section Champion. Photo by Nick Novelli.
CAN HE WIN IT AT HOME.
Medinah Country Club teaching professional Travis Johns has the chance to defend his Illinois PGA Section Championship title on his home turf, the Medinah Country Club.
The Illinois PGA Section Championship is next Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday on Medinah’s #1 golf course.
Course #1 is one of architect Tom Bendelow’s historic Chicago area designs, the course was renovated by architect Tom Doak and his team from 2012 through 2014. Work started at 5 AM the morning after the 2012 Ryder Cup was completed.
Doak’s renovation has left players with a testy from nine, but with shorter holes on the back nine players can score, especially if they have some creativity with their short game around some smaller and tricky greens.
The Illinois PGA section championship could almost be called the “Mike Small Invitational”, as the University of Illinois golf coach has won the event 12 times. But has come up empty the last two-times the championship has been contested on Medinah #1. In 2017 Adam Schumacher then of the Indian Hill Club took the title, and prior to that it was current Mistwood Golf head professional frank Hohenadel. Hohenadel is back this year, but Schumacher is not.
Travis Johns (R) takes the IPGA Section trophy from former IPGA president Mark Labiak at Ruth Lake Country Club in 2019.
Small just a week ago won the Illinois PGA senior section title for a fourth straight time. Last year at Ruth Lake Country Club Small tied a course record in Round 1, and seemed ready for his 13th title until multiple bogey’s and double bogeys on the final nine holes opened the door for John’s to pass him and take the title.
This year things are different as John’s the 2019 IPGA Player of the Year, gets to defend his title on his home turf, but admits he has only played the course four-times in 2020.
CLICK HERE to hear an interview with IPGA Section Champion Travis Johns who defends his title this coming week at Medinah.
Johns only needs a win in the Illinois Open to have a career grand slam in Illinois PGA Golf, but insists he’s not looking at that. But he is looking forward to the week ahead at his home club.
Small will be gunning for a 2020 sweep in the section championships, and a few other top section players are expected to challenge front-runners Johns and Small. Golfers on Golf will have full coverage of the IPGA Section Championship next week at Medinah.