The new clubhouse at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville is now open, along with McWethy’s Tavern inside. More than 130 guests dined their on opening day last Wednesday. MCQ’s Dome is open for the winter golf season, come by and enjoy the new and improved MCQ’s, great BBQ, or play the horses in the OTB, Mcqsdome.com.   ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Behind the 18th green at Whistling Straits in Haven Wisconsin.

Frank Jemsek owner of the Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont.

Frank Jemsek the owner of Jemsek Golf and the Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, spoke with Golfers on Golf yesterday regarding a few stories going around town in the golf business.

It was brought to the attention of Golfers on Golf that things were changing at Cog Hill.

One report that has made the local press, is the possibility of change in the water system, and some annexing of land that includes Cog Hill.

Cog Hill after running on well-water for years, could be switching to city water. Cog Hill could have the chance of changing it’s address from Lemont to Palos Park. On the surface it might not sound like much, but Palos land or a Palos address is said to be worth more than a Lemont address.

As a result, a story working it’s way around town is that if Cog Hill becomes part of Palos Park, with increased land value, the Jemsek family was going to sell off all or part of Courses 1 & 3 for new homes. In which case Cog Hill would become either a 36-45 or 54 golf facility, instead of the 72 hole facility it is now.

When asked if he and his family were ready to sell off some of the courses at Cog Hill, Jemsek responded, “absolutely not.”

“I like having four golf courses and my family does too,” said Jemsek. ” Someday 40 or 50 years from now when I’m long gone, if the grand-kids think it’s the thing to do, they can sell. But right now my grand-kids like the idea of four golf courses.”

Jemsek did say that the family does own some 300 to 400 acres around Cog Hill, that is not part of the golf course.

“We bought that land so we could control what gets built next to us,” said Jemsek.

Some of that land, Jemsek might listen to a sales pitch for, but even that was not a certainty.

So in the meanwhile, if someone approaches you with a story about how Cog Hill or part of Cog Hill is getting sold off, forget it. It’s not true.

THE 2016 INTERNATIONAL CROWN AT COG HILL ?

Well it’s not out of the question, but according to Jemsek the answer is “not likely”. It’s not that the Jemsek’s wouldn’t like a tournament back at Cog Hill, they would. But the timing of this tournament might not work because of the July 19-24 dates of 2016.

That week is a busy week, with multiple four-course shotgun outings already booked, and several other outings already booked. That’s a lot of business and a lot of money that would have to be moved. Jemsek is not sure he could move those events, and if he did, he risks those annual customers not coming back in 2017.

While Cog Hill has everything you need for a major golf event, the timing of the International Crown’s dates just might not work. Maybe the Crown can adjust it’s dates, but that’s up to the sponsor UL (Underwriters Labs in Northbrook) and the LPGA Tour. But moving dates at this point in time, especially with the major championships and the Olympics already set, would be hard to do.

Jemsek did say that he felt sorry for Jerry Rich, because he knew Rich launched the idea of having an International Crown Tournament, and put a lot of time and money into the event.

Whether the LPGA international Crown comes to Cog Hill or not for now, remains in question. But one thing that is for sure, is that Cog Hill will have four golf courses for years to come.