The “Candy” golf outerwear by Sunice, see all the new 2015 styles at Sunice.com. The LPGA UL International Crown, coming to Rich Harvest Farms July 19-24 in 2016. See ULCrown.com. The Walker Cup September 12th & 13th, Team USA vs Great Britain & Ireland, see USGA.org for more information. Team USA is the defending champion.        _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Wearing the new Sunice Typhoon Jacket see more @ Sunice.com. Cap from Sand Valley, Mike Keiser’s new project under construction in Central Wisconsin. Photo by David Schuster, in the new 19th hole at the recently Re-Opened Glenview Park District Golf Course.

They’re gone ! That’s right last week they were here, and now they are gone. Who is they, well the USGA is who I’m talking about, and they have not scheduled a return for the next three years at a minimum.

All of the USGA Championship’s for the years of 2016-2017-2018 are gone and spoken for. Some of the 2019’s are gone as well, the U.S. Open is gone through 2024.

Over the years the USGA has brought 60 of their championships to the State of Illinois, the last being the U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields. But No.61 is nowhere to be found. It’s the first time in decades that no USGA event is scheduled for a Chicago area club, for the foreseeable future. Could an announcement be close on one, good question.

During the recent interview with USGA President Tom O’Toole I took part in, O’Toole made it very clear how the USGA operates when it comes to selecting championship sites, and he should know, not just because he is the current president, but he is the former head of the executive committee and has served on the championship committee.

USGA President Tom O’Toole speaks at the University Club in Chicago in 2014.

Where the process starts to host any USGA championship, is with the clubs themselves. They have to send a letter with an invitation to even be considered.

During the interview with O’Toole, he was asked if the USGA is getting invitations from Chicago area clubs.

Since not being on the championship committee anymore, O’Toole doesn’t see every invite that comes in, but he did suggest to the media present for the interview, to spread the word to Chicago clubs, to send in their invites in to the USGA. It was suggested that maybe the USGA isn’t getting the amount of invites from Chicago area clubs that it once did.

USGA.org

So I’ll help do just that. To all of our area clubs, if you like to see the USGA bring more of it’s championships to town, tell them. Fire off the letter and put that invitation inside.

You won’t get the U.S. Open right away, or maybe not at all, but now there are FOUR U.S Open’s to pick from, any one of the four is a good feather in the cap of your club.

Do you have two courses, or a neighbor close by that would be able to provide a great second course for championships like the Mid-Am or U.S. Amateur. If so the USGA just might want to hear from you. More than one golf course operator has told me over the years, that the golf business gets busier when tournaments come to town. Golfers get the urge to pick up the clubs a little more often. The USGA is located in Far Hills, New Jersey, for those who need to be pointed in the right direction.

Medinah Country Club, the site of this weeks Illinois PGA Section Championship.

SMALL for 12. Yes, Illinois Golf Coach Mike Small is going for his 12th IPGA Section title this week on Medinah’s renovated Course No.1.

I don’t know the last time I found that any golf had won the same tournament 11 times.

What is interesting is that Small did not win the last time the championship was played at Medinah. Will the renovation by architect Tom Doak change that, or can Westmoreland Country Club assistant professional Frank Hohenadel make it two in a row on the “Camel Course.” 136 players will be in contention starting at 7:30 Am on Monday morning. Best of luck to new IPGA Section Executive Director Carrie Williams as she overlooks the first major in her new position.

The Oak Meadows Tee-Sign auction ends today. Visit DuPagegolf.com

Tick-Tick-Tick the final minutes of the Oak Meadows tee sign auction is winding down.

Did you put in your bid yet for your favorite hole at Oak Meadows. The money raised goes for charities connected with the DuPage County Forest Preserve District.

Log on to DuPagegolf.com and follow the link to the auction site to place your bid while you still can. You can still sign up for the annual Rambo Scramble coming in October, this testing but fun event fills up quickly. It will be played at Maple Meadows this year, with Oak Meadows being closed.

CONGRATS TO JULI INKSTER on winning the LPGA Legends Championship at the French Lick Resort, follow Lenziehmongolf.com for more details and a full wrap up of the championship. Including Jan Stephenson’s win in the Super Legends category.

SPEAKING OF THE LADIES..the LPGA UL International Crown gets a PR boost today, with the arrival of some players at Rich Harvest Farms, to tee off the campaign to promote next years big event in Sugar Grove. It should be the biggest golf championship in the Chicago area in 2016.

2014 John Deere Classic Champion Brian Harman, speaks at JDC media day earlier this year.

A TIP OF THE CAP OR GOLF VISOR TO: 2014 John Deere Classic Champion Brian Harman on his sensational play yesterday in the final round of the Barclays Championship. Harman made not 1 but 2 holes-in-one over a span of 11 holes. I’m not sure what the odd’s of that are, but Harman might want to buy a lotto ticket as well.

THE TEMPERATURE is going to be heating up over the next week or two, go out and play some golf, and hit’em straight. I hope you have some extra time off with the Labor Day holiday next weekend. RS