HERITAGE OAKS 3535 DUNDEE ROAD IN NORTHBROOK is open with a new name, a new clubhouse, new Trackman range and renovated golf course. So do check out one of the Chicago’s area’s new golf facilities, part of the Northbrook Park District. You can call the club for tee times at (847)-291-2351, or online check out HeritageOaksGC.com.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With Bull Valley Golf Club owner and candidate for Governor of Illinois Gary Rabine. Vote Rabine in Tuesdays primary election.

(WRITING FROM WILMINGTON DE.)

Why Wilmington De. you ask. Because today is BMW Championship media day, at Wilmington Country Club.

One of the top courses in Delaware and most recently renovated by architect Keith Foster in 2008, Wilmington Country Club’s South Course will be a fine home for the 2022 BMW Championship. The clubs North Course was designed by Dick Wilson, the architect of Cog 4-Dubsdread.

The media group could be hearing from Patrick Cantlay today, the 2021 winner of the BMW Championship at Caves Valley. I’m also seeing an old historic public course called Rock Manor in Wilmington, that has a great story behind it. Rock Manor is a 100 year old course, which was saved from a road construction project, with great planning by architect Lester George.

More details on the Wilmington adventure in the days ahead.

WHY THE LIV…

THE LIV SERIES of golf has people talking, and plenty of it. But I still get questions about why would PGA Tour players jump tours, and risk severe penalties from the PGA Tour.

Because there are plenty of reasons to do so. So yes money is one of them, or maybe not just one reason why. But millions of reasons why. But ask yourself this question, if it was you. Would you like to work less days per year, and less hours per day, and make more money doing it. But of course you would.

SO IF you could work four days a week instead of five would you do it. The PGA Tour makes some of top stars get out of bed at 4 AM to make a 7:10 tee time. So does getting out of bed at 4 Am to go to work sound enticing to you. How about finishing your round at 5 PM, head back to hotel and have to be back at 6 AM the next day. Not always fun.

BECAUSE in other sports many players don’t starting at noon. You think NFL guys want to be getting hit at lunch time. NBA and NHL players look sluggish on early starts. Many baseball players hate day games. Say what you want about golf, but it is an athletic competition that you have to perform at the highest level to win and make money.

SPEAKING OF MONEY would you like to travel for work, spend money on plane fares, hotels and meals, and have to pay an associate (caddy) and then not get paid. Which is what happens when you miss the cut. So what happens when you make the cut, and the money barely covers expenses for the week. LIV golf guarantees a profit, even if you finish last.

IT’S BIGGER PURSES require player to rely less on corporate sponsors. Because companies paying you millions, require you to appear in ad’s. But also come to events where you need to hang out with a bunch of people you might not enjoy being with. Bottom line, it’s demands on your personal time that you don’t want to give up. IF YOUR A PRO GOLFER and you can make more money working 10-12 weeks a year than in 25 weeks a year, why not work 12 weeks.

PRO GOLFERS in some ways are like the rest of us. They have families, and could use the time off to deal with life brings them. So I think it’s time for the PGA Tour the DP European Tour and the LIV series to get together for the benefit of golf. Plus to all those world wide who love to watch the best players-play.

SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE WON BUT! Kudo’s to Lisa Copeland of Naperville, a fast rising star in golf. Copeland lost the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) Junior championship in a playoff. But Copeland who is getting ready to start high school, lost to a player who is ready to start college. I suspect Copeland will win the WWGA Junior in the next four years, if she continues to play in the tournament.

JOHN DEERE CLASSIC WEEK IS HERE and that’s always a good thing. Because this year being a week earlier is great thing for the championship. 2022 could be one of the best fields at the JDC in recent memory. If your looking to see the PGA Tour in Illinois, head down to TPC Deere Run-always a lot of fun.

IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED YET-think about making one for Bull Valley Golf Club owner Gary Rabine (Ray-bine), Illinois could sure use a golfer in the governor’s mansion in Springfield. the golf industry in Illinois supplies plenty of jobs, and brings in plenty of dollars and tax dollars for the Illinois economy.

THE GOG BLOG returns tomorrow. RS