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BY: RORY SPEARS SR. WRITER & ASSISTANT EDITOR
December is here, and it’s time to tee off the Christmas & Holiday season. For many folks not caught up in the slang shopping weekend over the last few days, it’s time to roll. Yes today is Cyber whatever for some, time to put the Turkey leftovers aside and get back to work for most.
For most of the tour players, it’s time for a short break before the holidays give them a well needed couple of weeks off. Then get ready for the real start of the 2015 golf season in Hawaii. But the end of the 2014 season had some interesting events before the Turkey got passed out.
On the LPGA side, Lydia Ko cleaned up at the tour championship, and walked away with $1.5 million dollars, for winning the points race and the tournament. I remember being asked to interview Ko at the 2012 U.S. Women’s at Blackwolf Run. After round 2, I approached her and was the only reporter talking to her. Nobody else bothered, I’m not sure Ko will ever have a day at a major, where only one reporter will ask to speak with her. After round 4, when she was low-amateur only a handful of reporters spoke with her. Time has changed. Can Ko become the ladies version of Rory McIlroy, 2015 will tell quite a bit.
The story that got a lot of buzz on the men’s side, was that Tiger Woods hired a swing coach. Chris Como was brought on board Team Woods, what he brings to the table is still unclear. But if Woods actually wins in 2015, people will know what Como has brought to the party. Another thought is why Woods, who has gone through several teachers, and not gone through a few agents. Based on the poor way Woods recently handled his response to a Dan Jenkins satire of interviewing Woods, it’s been suggested in the media that Woods finally make the long overdue dump of agent Mark “Whiny Steiny” Steinberg.
IF YOU’RE SHOPPING TODAY and need a few idea’s check out our columns of the last few days. You will find several. In the few days ahead I’ll have some stories on some of the new clubs that have recently or will be coming out on the market.
A SPECIAL THANKS to Kristy Vik and the people at the Buffalo Grove Park District for coming on board with us as a winter sponsor. I haven’t seen a better golf dome in Lake County for the golfers in the northern burbs, to keep their game sharp in the winter.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE ENCOMPASS CHAMPIONSHIP..will our local Champions Tour event still be called the Encompass Championship by next July. It seems maybe it will or maybe it won’t, is Encompass looking at other things besides sporting events to invest, it’s promotional dollars on. What about North Shore Country Club, will 2015 be their final hurrah for the tournament.
American Society Golf Course Architects (ASGCA)
The American Society Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) has named Golfweek Magazine Sr. Writer Brad Klein the winner of their associations Donald Ross award. Klein who writes about golf course architecture and his written several books, including the famed Discovering Donald Ross was a unanimous choice.
Klein will receive his award at the annual ASGCA dinner, which will be held in March of 2015. Congrats Brad.
In addition during the meeting, Batavia based architect Greg Martin who serves on the executive committee as secretary, will move up to the role of vice president.
BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm has a new post on his site lenziehmongolf.com, from his visit to Pinehurst, Ziehm played the former Pinehurst National Course designed by Jack Nicklaus. the course has been taken over by the Pinehurst Resort and is now Pinehurst #9.
Stay with the Gog Blog all month as the holidays draw closer, plenty of gift ideas, travel ideas, and soon our features on top golf courses, dreaming of great golf on a cold day will return. Stay Clicked in. RS.