THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME IS OPEN make reservations for a hitting bay, and arrive 10 minutes early. MistwoodGolfDome.com. McWethy’s Tavern is open, but call first to check on pandemic restrictions. See McWethysTavern.com or Mistwoodgolf.com ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or friend him on Facebook at Rory Spears.
THIS WEEK COULD BE IT FOR OUTDOOR GOLF, get out and play if you can. The weather is changing and not for the better. But Tuesday into Thursday just might be outdoor golf days.
CONWAY FARMS in Lake Forest is getting ready to step it up on the renovation front.
Already one of the best golf courses in both the Chicago area, and the State of Illinois, Conway Farms is getting ready to get even better starting in 2021.
Likely in late August, renovation work will begin at Conway Farms. Leaving the club with 9 open holes for much of September. But at the end of September, the entire course will close for the year.
The clubs general manager of the last 27 years Todd Marsh, confirmed the upgrades and current time table to get the work started. Play should resume at the club in spring of 2022.
So what’s the plan. First up, Marsh made it clear that as always, the clubs planned improvements are for a better member and guest experience. Not to hopefully recruit professional tournaments. Marsh added that the club currently, has no agreements to host any tournaments or championships going forward. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be hosting a championship in a few years.
Conway Farms membership has always supported major golf championships over the years. The club’s track record of hosting the NCAA Championship, USGA events, and three PGA Tour-BMW Championships proves that. Word on the street is that the PGA Tour has been looking strongly at Conway Farms or Medinah, to host the now 2026 Presidents Cup. It’s likely one of the two clubs will be the host of the Presidents Cup, and the other club will end up hosting another championship in that time frame.
Maybe it’s a BMW Championship or whatever the tournament might be called by 2023, when the PGA Tour’s Fed Ex Cup Playoff event is expected to return to Chicago. Marsh says, “Olympia Fields did a great job hosting the BMW Championship this year, especially under tough circumstances.” So Marsh feels that Olympia Fields could get another shot to host the PGA Tour event, when it returns to Chicago. This time full of fans, skyboxes, and in the full hospitality mode.
But the upcoming scheduled renovation work, would make Conway Farms an even better destination for tournaments in the future.
It starts with the bunkers. Out with the old brown sand, in with the new Tour Angle-white sand. Bunker drainage will be improved across the golf course, but especially around the greens.
Will Conway Farms add yardage ? Marsh says yes, but is not sure what holes will get lengthened and or by how much. One thing that is certain, is that there will be improvements made in areas for galleries and gallery flow. Just in case the club does host a big tournament somewhere down the road.
My guess is that whether it’s 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026, Conway Farms that has been receiving inquiries from multiple golf organizations and professional golf tours to host another tournament or championship, probably will host something that will bring the fans, or patrons back to Lake Forest.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW…
The overgrown Blackhawk Trace golf course at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale.
In route to another project, I took time to see the closed Indian Lakes Resort Golf Course-Blackhawk Trace.
It’s a total overgrown wreck.
The tee’s, greens, fairways, and bunkers are a mess. The drainage and irrigation would have to be rebuilt if a golf course were to ever open again on that land. Likely cost is $2-3 million for just that part of the project.
Originally I was hopeful that when the Village of Bloomingdale buys the land (expected to be this week), that they would restore the golf course, as part of an open-space project that local residents are looking for. Now I’m not so sure that can be done.
In addition, the Indian Lakes Hotel didn’t look in great shape either. The entrance signs were cracked, the grounds, parking lot and hotel didn’t look much better. There is plenty of potential there for both a new golf course and a renovated resort hotel. But the cost would be a big dollar, and I’m not sure right now anyone is looking to come in and spend that kind of money. Which is sad in my books, I had some great times there over the years. In fact Europe’s Ryder Cup team stayed at Indian Lakes in 2012, they wouldn’t do that again today.
Dirt is being moved at Settlers Hill in Geneva, where the new driving range is going to be.
DIRT IS BEING MOVED at Settlers Hill in Batavia.
The course has closed for the year and the renovation is now fully underway. So architect Greg Martin and crew are starting to roll on next summers biggest renovation project, in the Chicago area.
Settlers Hill will be closed all of 2021, but is hoping to reopen about June of 2022.
The new routing plan by Martin, and the 4-hole junior course that has already been roughed in, looks like a great place that plenty of golfers of all ages should enjoy.
I’ll have more on the project in the next 10 days or so, do stay clicked in to learn more.
The Pils from the Hills that is, sipping suds, Wisconsin golf.
THERE IS PILS IN THOSE HILLS.
Some new tee boxes, and strains of bent grass were not the only new things added at Erin Hills this past summer.
For those who need some good Wisconsin brewed beer, before they down a Fescue Rescue, may I suggest the Erin Hills Pilsner Beer.
It’s really good, and yes I have taste tested it, along with some good Illinois pizza.
Normally I would recommend this as a holiday gift, because it would make a perfect gift. BUT someone, I’m not saying who HEHE, cleaned out the remaining cases of the EHP for 2020. But no worries, I suspect more will be brewed in 2021. So that gives everyone another great reason to go play Erin Hills next summer. In the meantime, make your online order for the holidays from Erin Hills. If you spend enough. You will get a really nice Erin Hills hat for free. They are comfortable too, trust me.
LenZiehmonGolf.com has a story on golf travel that looks at the industry, and is a good read. Check out Len’s website if your thinking of golf travel for the holidays or in 2021.
The Gog Blog returns tomorrow, so stay clicked in. RS