HOMEGROWN the new restaurant in the Atkins Course at the University of Illinois in Urbana. The golf course has opened for public play. See more at Atkinsgolfcourse.com
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Rory Spears on the 17th hole of the Atkins Golf Course at the University of Illinois in Urbana.
THE LONGEST DAY IS HERE!
TODAY is the 36 hole final qualifying for the U.S. Open.
So if your in, and you can go-low today, you will be playing at Brookline in two weeks.
There are several local players in the hunt for a spot in the open field. Northbrook’s Nick Hardy is one of them, and he is off to a great start in Ohio. Leading the field after playing the first 25 holes. So here’s hoping he holds on. But right now our other locals have some work to do. Because good golf isn’t always good enough, may some birdies find their way.
GOG Will recap the day in golf, later today when the results are known for our local players.
LADIES YOUR DAY IS HERE-tomorrow June 7th is Women’s Golf Day. This special day founded by Elisa Gaudet gives options for clubs to host the ladies, and hopefully get a few more women out playing golf.
Elisa Gaudet with the Women’s Golf Day logo at the PGA Show earlier this year.
THE LIV GOLF SERIES is coming up.
PHIL MICKELSON has just released a statement on the LIV Series website, he is back. It’s a good read, welcome back “Lefty”.
But the real question is, how well will it play out. Because for the players that do participate they face fines, suspensions and who knows what else.
The PGA Tour much to the disappointment of many is not playing ball here.
Dustin Johnson seems to be the main name headed out to the event. But Johnson is far from the only name golfer that will be in the field. Time will tell how long the LIV series remains and what shape it’s in by the time September comes along and the LIV Series makes it to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove.
THE RENOVATED ATLINS COURSE at the University of Illinois in Urbana is really nice. It’s a less than $100.00 price tag for 18 and a cart at any time of the week (top rate is $79.00 Fridays and the weekends).
Drew Rogers, and Illinois Coaches Mike Small and Renee Sloan did a great job making the golf course playable and challenging for the Division 1 NCAA golfers. But also for public players and Illini supporters and alums when on campus. So if your in the Chicago area, it’s worth the drive down to play the course. But do note* there are currently a lot of orange barrels blocking lanes on Rt. 57 in route to the Champaign and Urbana area. So if you are headed down, do allow extra time tot get to the golf course.
THIS WEEK if you would like to see some PGA Champions Tour Golf, it’s not far away up in Madison Wisconsin, at the Steve Stricker Am-Fam Insurance tournament. The golf course is University Ridge the home of the UW-Badgers team. Stricker and the American Family team put on a great show. It’s really nice to Steve healthy and back playing again on tour.
I Caught part of the season debut of GOLF360 TV, Dave Lockhart and Patrick Mannelly have a great new addition to the show, social media golf star Chicago based Katie Kearney. So tune-in and check out the show. The first edition has stories on the John Deere Classic and Michigan based Boyne Resorts.
The Gog Blog returns tomorrow. RS