LIV GOLF is coming to Rich Harvest Farms September 16-18. Tickets are going quickly so get them while you can. See the stars of golf as they return to Chicago. LIVGolf.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.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. With the new BGT Brava Driver shaft, in my Callaway Rogue ST Driver at Heritage Oaks Golf Club in Northbrook.
THE GREAT NEWS is that Golfers on Golf Radio is coming back.
Because for the next two weeks it returns at it’s normal tee time of 10 Am, Saturday mornings on WNDZ AM 750.
Chicago’s favorite foursome of, The Hall of Famer-the Daily Herald’s Len Ziehm, DuPage County Forest Preserve District’s IPGA Professional Ed Stevenson, the former PGA Tour player Bill Berger, and yours truly will talk the biggest golf show in town.
Because next week-the stars are back in town when LIV Golf comes to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. Names like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Cam Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and more.
This weekend our preview show looks at LIV Golf and how it continues to take off and change the face of professional tournament golf. Three days, 54 holes and a whole lotta fun (so I hear). We will see what it’s all about. Then on Saturday the 17th, show two looks at tournament in progress, and how Sunday’s finish is shaping up.
I will have more during the week on how Saturdays show is shaping up, as we get closer to the weekend. So stay tuned.
HERB KOHLER at the Baths Opening in June of 2021.
HERB!
I was saddened to hear about the passing of Herbert “Herb” Kohler this weekend.
When you think Wisconsin destination golf, you can’t help but think of Kohler. Even though Sentry World in Stevens Point, had the first course in Wisconsin some think of as the course golfers from other states came to see. It was Herb Kohler that turned the village with his families name on it, into a true golf destination. Because now Wisconsin has places like Erin Hills, Sand Valley, the courses of the Wisconsin Dells, the Lake Geneva area and more. That’s a credit to Kohler getting the golf ball rolling.
I look at Wisconsin in golf terms as the “Myrtle Beach of the Midwest”. With all the great golf options Wisconsin has.
I feel fortunate I got to spend as much time as I did around Mr. Kohler. He really had a way to keep all those around him laughing, and those who worked for him feeling challenged in their jobs.
The stories of Kohler and his architect the late Pete Dye are countless. I would ask the PR team before tournaments at Kohler if Kohler would talk to the media. At first they always seemed a little reserved about doing that. But when Kohler and Dye teamed up for a presser before one of the three PGA Championships, they brought the house down.
When more tournaments came along, the Kohler PR department was always asked by the media, when are Herb and Pete talking. The writers, the TV stations and radio folks had enough material to fill-up the notebooks and air-time, for a full week and then some.
When Whistling Straits was getting built Kohler would be in his office working. But would get a call that Dye was up to something out on the course. Kohler would drive out on the course, through the dirt piles and get his Jaguar stuck in the mud numerous times trying to find Dye. Course workers lost track of how many times Kohler’s car had to be towed out of dirt piles.
The Whistling Straits logo, take a good look at it. As Mr. Kohler told me once, he had a lady in the companies graphic arts department, create a few options. But if you see a little Herb Kohler in it, you should.
IF YOUR EVER playing Whistling Straits and you hear gun fire. It’s from a neighboring gun club on the lake. Kohler tried buying the owner out on several occasions but never could. In fact as the story goes, Kohler once sent the owner a blank check. The guy ripped up the check and mailed it back to Kohler. Kohler didn’t want his guests thinking they had to hit the deck when the rifles went off, or flinch in the middle of their backswings. But in the end, could never get the gun club shut down. But his efforts to do so, have made for great tales around the Village of Kohler.
I’m glad Kohler got to live long enough to see the big Team USA victory in the Ryder Cup last year, he enjoyed every minute of that. Herb Kohler was 83.
SORRY TO SAY I have not yet had a chance to go see architect Greg Martin’s finished product at Settler’s Hill. I toured the property three times during renovation with Martin, and can’t wait to play it. I’ll have more after I get in a full 18 holes, on the hill.
THE RESULTS are amazing when hitting a driver with the new BGT Barney Adams group new Brava driver shaft. I know at $399.99 the shaft is a little pricey for some folks budget. But if you can pop one in your driver, you might really enjoy the gain you will get off the tee. It’s in my new Callaway Rogue ST driver, after testing the numbers at Mistwood Golf Club with fitting specialist Matt Carter.
PART 2 of our look at the redone and rebranded Heritage Oaks Golf Club in Northbrook is here tomorrow. In podcast Part-2, Len Ziehm and I sat down with head golf professional John Billiter to talk the new technology side of the property. Which includes simulators, Trackman, GPS systems and more. Give it a listen.
With that, have a great week and go play some golf. Happy Labor Day everyone. RS