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THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or friend him at Facebook-connect with Rory on LinkedIn or with Instagram.

Architect Ray Hearn in the Ross Tartan jacket, for members of the American Society Golf Course Architects (ASGCA).

ARCHITECT RAY HEARN based in Holland Michigan, is one of the few members of the American Society Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), who is also an Evans Scholar (Michigan State University).

Hearn is best known for his work in the Chicago area at both Mistwood Golf Club, and Flossmoor Golf Club.

But when it comes to Chicago, Hearn is far from done. In fact, Hearn will be in town at least one day a week, every week from August to December in 2021.

However Hearn is not waiting until August to make his first windy-city appearance next year. He will have three projects that are moving forward.

The Par 3 7th hole at Flossmoor Golf Club.

Hearn did a renovation of the Flossmoor Country Club, as it was known when the project started in 2006. (Now Flossmoor Golf Club).

It wrapped up in 2008, but not exactly how Hearn had hoped it would. Hearn in will return in 2021 to Flossmoor, and begin the tree removal plan he didn’t finish over 10 years ago.

Several hundred trees were removed the last time around, and now 500 more are expected to be removed this spring. That and some other minor tweaks will add to the new look Flossmoor.

Hearn’s bigger task in town next year is the Midlothian Country Club in the south suburbs. Midlothian will host the 2023 Western Junior Championship. Hearn says he will have the course, championship ready before 2023. Because of improvements to the bunkers and a increase of yardage.

The golf course at the Oak Brook Hills Resort is on Hearn’s hit list, but the time tables on that project seem “to be determined”. But decisions are expected in 2021.

The par 4, 4th hole at Mistwood Golf Club, designed by Ray Hearn.

Hearn takes pride that his work at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, that will host the Illinois State Amateur in 2021.

But it comes with some sadness for Hearn. Mistwood owner Jim McWethy passed away this past summer, and Hearn calls the loss of his good friend a “punch in the gut.”

“This was a tournament that Jim always wanted to host at Mistwood,” says Hearn. “This would have meant a lot to him this coming summer during tournament week.”

Hearn’s profile continues grow on a national level, and even more in his home state of Michigan.

First up for Hearn in 2020, was renovation work at Metedeconk Country Club in New Jersey, this Robert Trent Jones Sr. project, with follow-ups from Jones assistant Roger Rulewich. Work is on-going as winter sets in. But Metedeconk is seeing some Top 100 recognition from a few national rating services, as improvements are made.

Back in Michigan Hearn is getting ready for several projects. The Water’s Edge Golf Course in Freemont Michigan, that will see the creation of new holes and a large practice area. That will be one of the biggest in Michigan.

Washtenaw Country Club an 1899 design will have Hearn taking out some 400 trees as part of a restoration. White Lake Golf Club that has many of it’s members from the Chicago area, will have Hearn reworking this Tom Bendelow classic.

Lincoln Golf Club in Muskegon County will have Hearn working on it’s practice range. While Hearn will also be kept busy at the 1920 Classic Coldwater Golf Course in Coldwater Michigan.

The 3rd hole on the Donald Ross Memorial Course at Boyne Highlands.

But perhaps one of Hearn’s biggest projects in his home state, will be a 3-course project to start with at Boyne Resorts.

The Donald Ross Memorial Course at Boyne Highlands will be updated.

A second project will be the Moor Course at Boyne Highlands, followed by a par-3 course that Hearn has big expectations for.

Outside of Michigan, Hearn is very excited about creating a brand new 18-hole golf course in Idaho. In addition to a project in New York that will have Hearn restoring an old-classic 9 hole Donald Ross that is now under new ownership. But that’s not all, as the new owner of the Ross Course has purchased over 100 acres of adjoining land. So Hearn will be constructing new holes on that part of the property.

At Midlothian, Hearn and the club’s maintenance team discovered a bin, of old notes and plans from Donald Ross. During the time Ross consulted at the club in 1912-1913, prior to the 1914 U.S. Open. Hearn called the find, “pure gold” if your an architect trying to learn from the clubs history and original designs.

Golfers who play in Chicago and Michigan, can find much of Hearn’s work. Over the next few years, they will find a bit more of Hearn’s handiwork to test their game against.