THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB at 401 North Roselle Road has three simulators open daily. Where you can play the indoor version of the Schaumburg Golf Club. The pro shop is filling up with summer supplies and Chandlers Chophouse is open and serving the best burgers in town. So book a bay SchaumburgGolf.com (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on X @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook

John Moran, left, speaks alongside Rand Jerris after they both received the Herbert Warren Wind Award during the 2025 Annual Meeting Dinner at The Carolina Hotel in the Village of Pinehurst, NC on Saturday, March 1, 2025. (Copyright USGA/Jason E. Miczek)

THE WINNER IS “The Prairie Raynor” by Chicago Golf Club historian John Moran, and Rand Jerris who spent over three decades at the USGA, overseeing the USGA Golf Museum and Library. Jerris now has his own consulting firm, Purple Valley Strategies.

Both Moran and Jerris were honored this past weekend at the annual United States Golf Association (USGA) meetings in Pinehurst North Carolina. Where both authors were honored by receiving the Herbert Warren Wind Award for their work in golf literature.

THE BOOK (published in 2024) is the vision released through the authors that incorporates historical photo’s and original sketches.

The cover of The Prairie Raynor book, by John Moran and Rand Jerris.

Readers can enjoy the story of Seth Raynor’s transformation of the Chicago Golf Club, into a historical design that has withstood the test of time.

Chicago Golf Club located today in Wheaton Illinois, went from being one of the five original founding USGA clubs. To being a venue that has hosted eight USGA national championships (with two more championships scheduled, the 2033 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2036 Walker Cup).

“The book reminds us of what it takes to stand the test of time,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “Chicago Golf Club is not just an iconic championship venue, but a beloved course that the greats in course architecture and agronomy have given to America. The incredible care that John and Rand put forth in creating this book reminds us why the story is important and why it’s deserving of recognition.”

Portrait of John Moran and Rand Jerris Ph.D., recipients of the Herbert Warren Wind Award, during the 2025 Annual Meeting at The Carolina Hotel in Village of Pinehurst, NC on Saturday, March 1, 2025. (Copyright USGA/Jaydon Brunson)

So the Prairie Raynor takes the reader through how Chicago Golf Club founder, Charles Blair Macdonald suggested the club hire Raynor to develop a new design, because of what had become an aging design and routing.

Because of the development of the rubber-core golf ball. The sport of golf and how it was played had changed in a just a few years.

But when Raynor arrived in Wheaton, his lack of knowledge in American prairie land became quickly apparent. So as a result, Raynor spent two full days sitting in the clubs clocktower. Where he would admire the expansive prairie land of the clubs current location.

The time turned out to be well spent, because his inspiration still stands over 100 years later. So does the clubs clocktower, now a monument to Raynor’s evolution in course design.

So as the book project started, Moran sought after Jerris to assist in an editorial role. But that quickly changed, and before long the two men were working as co-authors. Jerris brought the book an explanation on how Raynor’s work, is still of great influence in today’s designs.

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MORAN HAS BEEN part of the Chicago Golf Club for five decades. But began his time at the club as a caddie in 1977.

But in 1986 he became a member of the club, and currently serves on the clubs board of directors.

“Chicago Golf Club has been an important home for my family and myself. The opportunity to tell the story of the course with Rand Jerris has been a pleasure and a privilege,” said Moran. “My hope is that the book helps our club and others like it. So they can recognize and perpetuate the strong level of stewardship that has gone into the creation and decades of subsequent care. Which has made our golden-age course beautiful and still relevant.”

CLICK HERE to hear the interview with Chicago Golf Club member/club historian John Moran. As Moran takes you through the creation of book and history of the Chicago Golf Club.

“John and I challenged each other to find innovative ways to describe a golf course,” said Jerris. ‘Seth Raynor’s creative genius and the club’s exemplary stewardship of his masterpiece provided ample inspiration to do so. It is our hope that the book will spark meaningful conversations between golfers, golf architects, golf course superintendents, green committee chairs and historians about the meaning, value and stewardship of great golf architecture.”

CLICK HERE to hear the interview with Dr. Rand Jerris. Jerris reviews Chicago Golf Club history and the creation of The Prairie Raynor.

The book is available for purchase at Grant Books Ltd’s website or USGA Publications.