The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Olympia Fields Coming June of 2017, the Walker Cup coming this weekend, see local times and listings, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes coming in June of 2018. The 2016 LPGA ULCrown.com coming to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, July 19-24 in 2016.

What’s the UL Crown. Click here to hear the LPGA Promotional Video with Kraig Kann.  _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the UL International Crown Trophy at Rich Harvest Farms.

The Chicago Golf Scene will have a new look in 2016, it’s all about the women now, they are coming to town, and they are taking over.

To golfers and golf fans, especially you men, this is not a bad thing, Chicago could do worse, much worse. We could have nothing, but the women will be coming to town, and they can flat out play. Women’s golf has never been in a better place around the world, now they will soon be in a great place, Chicago.

It seems that the people who run women’s golf, realize that this nations second biggest market is there for the taking, and they are taking it, and taking over.

Spain’s Belen Mozo (L) and Australia’s Minjee Lee (R) are ready to battle for the Crown at Rich Harvest Farms in 2016.

In men’s golf the PGA Tour doesn’t come around every year anymore, the USGA doesn’t have anything booked in the Chicago area through 2018. The PGA doesn’t have anything here for a few more years as well.

While the USGA seems to be looking for invitations for courses around the Chicago area, the PGA might be thinking ahead in awarding two, LPGA KPMG PGA championships, here in the Windy City.

In seems strange that some golf organizations continue to over-use the overloaded New York and Northeastern area courses, or the west coast in drought stricken California. Meanwhile the Midwest and the Chicago area, are a goldmine waiting to happen. The PGA is still counting all the money it made, at the best financial and profitable Ryder Cup ever, Medinah in 2012.

The question is being raised why clubs like Olympia Fields in 2017 and Kemper Lakes in 2018, would host a women’s golf event, even a major in the first place. The answer is believed to be that both courses, will get a PGA Championship down the road for doing so.

At this time, it appears that both clubs have not been promised a Men’s PGA Championship down the road. In fact there might be other steps to take, before they would get a Men’s PGA Championship.

The PGA of America loves Harbor Shores for it’s Senior PGA Championship, but they can’t play it there every year. Then as good as French Lick Resort was this year, the PGA would still like to be in a bigger market, with the potential to draw more fans than were in attendance on the Pete Dye Course at FLR.

It’s likely that both Olympia Fields and Kemper Lakes, will have to host another PGA event like a Sr. PGA and or a PPC (Professional Players Championship-The club pro championship) before the PGA Championship is on the table. Olympia Fields with two courses is a perfect PPC site, since the field is about the size of the recent U.S. Amateur. While Kemper Lakes would give some players who played in the 1989 PGA at Kemper Lakes, another shot at winning a PGA Championship in Lake County.

The PGA Cup which is another nice tournament (the club pro version of the Ryder Cup), would be a nice fit at either one of the courses.

But what can both clubs expect in hosting the ladies first. Apparently a profitable tournament.

In a letter to it’s members from the club president and board. Olympia Fields told it’s members that the interruption of play will be limited. That there would be no extra assessment to the membership, and that the tournament would break even at worst, and likely make a profit.

Olympia Fields sees that to remain relevant in the world of golf, and re-institute their relationship with the PGA of America, and gain national exposure in the recruitment of new members both local and national, publicity like this you just can’t pass up. National TV on all four days from the Golf Channel and NBC. The club says it wants to be a leader in promoting more women, to get involved playing golf.

Why does the Chicago golf market, seem to be needing a shot in the arm via women’s golf. Is it the state of politics in Illinois, that has both the population and businesses leaving in droves.

If that is playing a role, and it could be. Then Governor Bruce Rauner, Democratic majority leader Michael Madigan, and City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, had better get some skin in this skins game, to draw in the events that bring people, business and money to the Land-of-Lincoln. Senators Mark Kirk and Dick Durbin better be listening as well.

In 2016 women’s golf will make a big splash, even without the KPMG PGA events. The UL International Crown arrives first in Mid-July in Sugar Grove at Rich Harvest Farms, followed by the Illinois Women’s Open at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, that will finally have it’s 5 year, three phase renovation plan complete. The new clubhouse will be open, and owner Jim McWethy will be ready to showcase the entire facility, to what’s expected to be a large field.

The Woman’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) might even be ready to bring it’s national amateur championships back to Chicago, after a few years out of town.

WHAT HAPPEN’S AFTER 2018 YOU ASK ?

Well Jerry Rich is hopeful that the UL International Crown will be returning in 2020 to Rich Harvest Farms, if it isn’t. Don’t be surprised to see him on the market looking for a U.S. Women’s Open or taking the new U.S. Sr. Women’s Open that tee’s off starting in 2018. Rich is already hosting the Men’s and Women’s NCAA National Championship in 2017. I expect women’s golf to have a fine future at RHF, Crown or no Crown.

It appears that a few other local clubs might be ready to take a run at a Women’s Open or Sr. Women’s Open, including the Merit Club that hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 2000 or Cog Hill.

While there are still questions looming over men’s golf tournaments in Chicago, it seems like the ladies are moving and taking over. Hey the door was “open”, and they walked through it. RS