Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville Michigan, is Chicago’s Southwest Michigan Golf Destination, this Ray Hearn designed championship layout plays through historical ruins found on the property, and sits between Lake Templene and the new spacious villa’s. See Islandhillsgolf.com for the stay and play packages, weekend villa’s close to selling out.
The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.
I got a call this past week, and the voice said, layoffs coming at the Golf Channel. When I asked were that was coming from, I heard it was someone with confirmed sources and close to the situation.
When I asked why, the first response was that the “Tiger Bubble” had burst. The Tiger bubble? okay !, but I said when you look at the big picture it’s really more than that, right?
Well yes, came my reply. Of course it is. But if viewership is down, and ratings are down, and ads are down, and sponsorship is down, as first suggested to me, you have to ask why. Are their too many x-tour players, or tour players in between the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour being overpaid, likely so. See when you have too many overpaid “talking heads”, it reduces what you can spend in other areas and that, is usually a killer.
Mt. Prospect Golf Club reopening from renovation around August 1st, stay clicked in right here for details on opening day.
Perhaps it’s the programming The Golf Channel puts on, while I like the Morning Drive Show, it doesn’t blow me away as being great.
In fact, some people have resorted to making announcements about new products, courses or architect announcements about who gets the project on Morning Drive. That hasn’t proved to be a great idea. GCMD program never gives those announcements their proper due, and why pass by the people who have your back long term, for TGC’s one-hit wonder world.
But even that is not TGC’s biggest problem. Perhaps trying to drive World # 156 (and sinking by the week) down everyone’s throats for far too long has only led to channels being changed and TV’s being clicked off. The bubble burst a long time ago, and TGC failed to realize that long before it’s viewers did.
You can talk all you want about moving the needle, but in the end which way was Woods moving it. That direction may finally be evident to the folks at Golf Channel and especially the people doing their social media posts, who have been missing the boat for a very, very, long time. It will be interesting to see when and where the hatchet falls in Orlando.
July 10-11-12 at the North Shore Country Club. For tickets or to volunteer see Encompasschampionship.com.
My BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm has been everywhere golf wise of late.Including the Ravisloe Country Club down in Homewood, a true Donald Ross golf course that the public can play.
Len was in French Lick for the Senior PGA Championship, that by the way had much better attendance than the PGA of America expected, in spite of going head to head with the Indianapolis 500 in it’s final round. Visit Lenziehmongolf.com to keep up with Len’s travels, that included a stop at Medinah this past week for the Illinois Patriot Education Fund outing, run by member Mark Slaby. I was there as well and it’s one of the best charity outings in the Chicago area. Helping out our Illinois Veterans.
2014 John Deere Classic Champion Brian Harman. JohnDeereClassic.com
John Deere Classic champion Brian Harman meets the media today at the TPC Deere Run course in the Quad Cities. It will begin the run up to the championship for ticket sales and the Birdies for Charity arm of the championship, another thing the John Deere Classic does so well. A tip of the cap or golf visor to Clair Peterson the tournament director, who is one of the best in the business.
I will have an update about media day at the JDC coming up here on the site later this week. I hope to see you all out in the Quads, come the week of July 7-12.
IN WISCONSIN another media day is taking place today at the home of the UW Badgers golf team the , University Ridge Golf Course that is a great track. A press conference has been called by the PGA Tour featuring Steve Stricker. It’s been rumored for a while, that insurance giant American Family Insurance based in Madison might be ready to sponsor a Champions Tour event with Steve Stricker as the host. Stricker like fellow Wisconsin golfer Jerry Kelly hits the 50 mark in 2017. Another Wisconsin PGA Tour player Skip Kendall is closing in on 50 as well. Everything golf continues to head in the direction of Wisconsin. We will see what this press event brings.
BUT THEN AGAIN..coming up soon is a two-year out media day at Erin Hills for the 2017 U.S. Open, guest speaker will be the Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker. Yeah, the governor for a golf media day. Question is, will we now see Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner at the one-year out media event for the LPGA UL International Crown. It’s coming to Rich Harvest Farms in July of 2016.
RICH HARVEST FARMS will host the Palmer Cup in just two weeks. USA vs Europe, top amateur players will participate, walk the fairways with them. No ropes, come see top level sports right up close. Palmercup.org or visit Richharvestfarms.com. June 12-13-14. Free parking and admission, RHF is located in Sugar Grove, just west of Aurora. Owner Jerry Rich joins us live this Sunday on Golfers on Golf Radio.
WOODBINE GOLF COURSE in south suburban Homer Glen closed this year when it was purchased by the the town, now comes word the course will reopen. At least for a while, stay clicked in here for details.
A SPECIAL GOG RADIO THANKS, to everyone who made our first live remote show go so well at Arlington Lakes Golf Course in Arlington Heights. Arlington Lakes will close for renovation next Monday after the Arlington Amateur wraps up. Architect Mike Benkusky who will oversee the project was among our guests.
BY TOMORROW it should feel more like June, Go Play. RS