The Final Hours of Oak Meadows, you have today Monday left to play Oak Meadows before it shuts down until likely May of 2017 for renovation. Dupagegolf.com. This week the Encompasschampionship.com at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview, defending champion Tom Lehman is in the field. The Mt. Prospect Golf Club is expecting to reopen on August 1st, stay clicked in right here for details on opening day. _____________________________________________________________________
The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content, Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.
I am hoping the weather is warmer and the course is dry, fast firm at the Straits today, for media play day in the “Land of Kohler”. As you can tell by my picture, it wasn’t that way in late April when I made my first visit of the year to Haven Wisconsin.
My full report on the course and what the professionals will see in August coming up later this week. Do stay clicked in right here at The Gog Blog.
Tuesday closes the end of an era, with the final rounds at Oak Meadows. If you wish to play Oak Meadows get out and do it today Monday, Tuesday is a private outing and then works starts with architect Greg Martin and the renovation crew. Oak Meadows should reopen in May of 2017, if all goes well and Mother Nature isn’t all to nasty the next two winters. Dupagegolf.com for details and information on their other courses Maple Meadows and Green Meadows.
It’s tractor time, John Deere Classic Week is here.
Brian Harman is back to defend his title against a stellar field at the John Deere Classic, that includes current Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth, who won the JDC in 2013.
Three-time champion Steve Stricker returns and so does JDC board member Zach Johnson winner in 2012. Johndeereclassic.com for tickets and more information, Deere Run is an easy drive for the Chicago area, just right out on Rt.88 make a left turn at the second stop light. Yes it’s that simple.
Comedian Bill Murray starts an incredible week for the JDC when he tee’s it up in the pro-am on Wednesday morning, before Spieth does in the afternoon. The Encompass Championship might attempt to kidnap Murray from the TPC Deere Run course on Wednesday afternoon and bring him to the North Shore Country Club for golf with Murray’s friend Jeff Sluman, who will tee it up at Encompass. Please visit online Encompasschampionship.com for details and more information.
From Left to Right, Joey Sindelar, Brian Henninger, and Tom Lehman will be part of the Encompass Championship this week at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview. Come join them on the course like I did earlier this year.
Tournament time is here Illinois and Chicago area golfers, get out and see your favorite champions tour players. Fred Couples has now committed to play this week as well, Couples was second back in 2013 when Craig Stadler won on the last hole.
On the 18th Green of the Blue Monster at Trump Doral near Miami Florida.
DONALD TRUMP..It was obviously a slow day or two over at Golf Digest as Mike Stachura spent a good day or so writing about how golf could “Dump Trump” as in the Donald. Trying to take tournaments away from Trump courses and more.
Really, have we sunk to that level of nasty PC. Look if you don’t like a golf course owner, don’t play there, Don’t purchase a green fee, a shirt, cap or stop in the 19th hole. Go get fitted for clubs or buy the next dozen of Pro-V1’s in some other pro shop. I don’t want to make this golf site a political column but I will say this, Trump is running for president. A presidential candidate should take a stand on the issues that affect this country. Just voting “present” some 450+ times like the current guy did, when he “held” office in Illinois doesn’t get it done.
If you want to write golf and attack Trump, go after him on golf issues. I thought he did a great job in buying the Doral Resort and putting out the big money to elevate it’s status. He hired a great architect in Gil Hanse to fix up the Blue Monster, and it’s a much better golf course. Trump brought in the caddie experience on the monster and that gets a thumb’s up from me. But when I played there, it was $450 dollars to play, plus that caddie fee and tip. That does not get a thumb’s up from me. The rates are slightly different now but not much better. Trump runs the new Ferry Point Project, Links style course in the Bronx in New York. I saw the course from the expressway last fall, and it looked great. I give Trump credit for saving the project and bringing that tpe of golf experience to New York, but again bring your wallet. It costs more than the $155 to play Bethpage Black, that has hosted 2-U.S. Opens and will host an upcoming PGA in 2019 and the Ryder Cup in 2024.
If you want to grow the game and put out a great golf experience and Trump says he does, that don’t have green fees that people won’t pay. It’s sad that many golfers who play the Blue Monster won’t play it a second time, or even a first time unless someone else is paying. I don’t enjoy hearing people say, “well I can say I played it” but I’ll never come back.” That’s sad when it’s a good golf course like the Blue Monster is. I’d like to see Trump come out with some golf, that’s under a $100.
IF GOLF really wants to make a PC statement, and move some tournaments. Well let’s move them away from clubs that have ILLEGALS in the caddie shack, the maintenance barns, and in the food and beverage operation, taking away jobs from local kids trying to make some money or pay for college. It happens far to often. Those kids are the golfers of tomorrow, golfers the sport needs to grow the game.
CARRIE WILLIAMS is the new Executive Director of the Illinois PGA Section, she will officially start in August, for over 8 years she has run the Illinois Junior Golf Association as the Executive Director, and has done an outstanding job. I think she will do the same outstanding job at the IPGA.
Tournament season is here, get out and enjoy. Hopefully the weather will co-operate and all of us can get out and play as well. Go play. RS