All winter long enjoy Chicago’s award winning indoor golf facilities. The Links & Tee’s Golf Dome on Lake Street in Addison is open and ready for business. To see all the specials and upcoming events call (630)-233-7275 or visit Addisonparks.org. The Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Center is coming off a well attended customer appreciation day. But come enjoy the Free Todd Sones golf clinics or get the five-hour pass for just $85.00. Located on Old McHenry Road, call (847)-459-2321 or on line at Bgparks.org.
By: Rory Spears, Editor & Director of Content. Follow Rory on FB, Linkedin & on Twitter @GogBlogGuy
It’s been quite a week in the world of golf, so I’ll be spraying to all fairways (like Tiger) during this column. then hopefully holing a few more putts than Phil.
The golf world lost a great pioneer in Charlie Sifford who helped break the color barrier in golf. Sifford passed away last Tuesday at the age of 92.
Sifford barely had a chance to be remembered before the golf world lost a second great player, in Billy Casper who passed away over the weekend at age 83. Casper, like Sifford never really got the attention he deserved. Casper won two U.S. Opens and a Masters Tournament for his three major championships. His name hopefully will live on through his company Billy Casper Golf. The golf community will miss both of these fine gentleman.
TORREY PINES, the Farmers Insurance Championship was an exciting tournament, plenty of top young talent battled it out, and you can’t beat a 4-way playoff for excitement. Congrats to Jason Day, a top 4 player in the world who again looks healthy and ready to win that first major. It was nice to see J.B. Holmes in contention again, Holmes has had his health issues as well that kept him off the tour for a while.
TIGER AND PHIL, Phil might look slim and trim after losing 15 pounds in the off season, but his new healthy regime has not paid off on the golf course. In back-to-back weeks on courses he has won on before, Mickelson missed two cuts. Mickelson is blaming his putting at this point, but it seems like there is more going on that just a few missed putts for “Lefty” who will again be bidding for a career grand slam when he tee’s it up at Chambers Bay in June.
Tiger, another WD with an injury. The “Glutes” aren’t working for Tiger and Woods pulled out after 11 holes in round one. It seemed like this week finally, that people aren’t starting to realize that yet another Woods comeback might not be in the works. The debate is on about what’s wrong with Tiger, but answer seems to be that it’s more than just one thing. No he is not “close” to having his “A” game. As Golfweek’s Alex Miceli wrote, it’s time for Tiger mania to end, and that seems like the understatement of the week. Some media outlets need to get a clue and move on, but as we have seen before that probably won’t happen anytime soon.
A TIP OF THE CAP OR GOLF VISOR to the USGA for announcing the U.S. Senior Women’s Open to start in 2018. Big 3 Partner Len Ziehm has posted a column on his website Lenziehmongolf.com, and visit our story here on the Gog Blog.
There is no site announcement yet for the inaugural championship to be played in 2018, but some area courses will try and be in the mix. Including French Lick Resort and Cog Hill, Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich says he will “look into” hosting the event.
THE TINLEY PARK golf show tee’d off the 2015 golf season in Chicago this past weekend. I was at the show on Friday and right out of the blocks the convention center was packed. Congrats to Gregg Tengerstrom show director on delivering a great event, and get well wishes to hos show partner Joe Copeland, who was under the weather all weekend. The show will be not only bigger in 2016, but is expected to be moved back one week as well. This year all booth space was sold out.
NEXT UP is the Chicago Golf Show in Rosemont Feb. 27-28 and March 1st. Lee Trevino will be on hand as a special guest. More on the show as we get closer to the doors opening. The Illinois PGA will have a big presence at the show, stay tuned for details on that as well.
THE BUFFALO GROVE Golf & Sports Center has it’s open house this past weekend and they had quite a turnout, just like the Links & Tee’s Dome in Addison did a week ago. It seems like the golfers are ready for spring to arrive and golf season to return.
THE WEATHER in the area hasn’t been good lately, but Pebble Beach is up this week on the PGA Tour. I’ll be tuning in, you should too. It’s one of those weeks that gets golfers ready to go hit it. Hopefully the weather will get better and a sunny week will happen on most days of the championship.
The Gog Blog returns all week, stay clicked in. RS