MIKE JONES with PETE DYE on the routing of the new golf course at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort near Pittsburgh PA. Come see what Chief Nemocolin learned about the area years ago, Enjoy golf, gaming in the casino, spa and more. Nemacolin.com      _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. In front fo the clubhouse at TPC Deere Run home of the John Deere Classic.

Today’s destination for the media is the TPC Deere Run in the Quad Cities, as it’s media day for the John Deere Classic.

No defending champion Jordan Speith won’t be there, but recent college players who have now turned professional will be. Playing in the John Deere Classic on sponsor exemptions will be former Illini All American Charlie Danielson. Joining him will be Aaron Wise from the recently crowned NCAA champion Oregon Ducks. Wise you might remember was the runner up in the Western Amateur at Rich Harvest Farms. 2015. Wise was the medalist at the Canadian PGA Tour Q-school this spring.

What could be interesting is if the John Deere Classic becomes the fortunate tournament that gets many of the top players due to drop outs from the Olympics, one year ago it was thought the Deere could be getting the shaft from the PGA Tour being scheduled head to head vs the Olympics. Maybe not anymore. If players like Speith, Jason Day who got his start at the Deere on an exemption, or Dustin Johnson need a place to play between the PGA and the start of the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs, the John Deere Classic will be come quite a destination tournament the second week of August.

DURING GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO yesterday our show had two destination guests. Dan Ross the head professional from the Purdue University Golf Courses, the Kampen Course and the Ackerman Hills Course now renamed Ackerman-Allen course in honor of John Deere CEO Sam Allen who helped pull the funding together to make the new renovation possible. The Purdue University Birck-Boilermaker golf complex is now 36 great holes and a good golf destination. Visit Purduegolf.edu for more details on overnight stays around a play and stay for golf or golf and football.

NEMACOLIN WOODLANDS RESORT as someone who travels for golf around the country, I’d like to think I know most if not all the top destinations for for resort golf around the USA.

But it wasn’t until former Illinois PGA professional Mike Jones took the job at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort just an hour southeast of Pittsburgh, that Nemacolin came on my map as a golf destination.

Right now the resort has 18 Pete Dye holes open and ready for play, with another 18 on the way. The Hardy family that owns the resort has made it a great destination for golfers and non-golfers alike. The resort has golf, a spa, a casino, and a zoo and more. There is no shortage of activities at Nemcolin, named after Chief Nemacolin who roamed the area years ago. The resort is expanding in all-area’s and is looking to be more of a national destination instead of a local Pennsylvania area place to go. If your thinking golf travel add Nemacolin Woodlands Resort to your bucket list.

TUESDAY it’s time for the Western Amateur August 1-6 at Knollwood GC in Lake Forest to get rolling, with media day. I’ll have more on the WGA-Western Amateur coming up this week. But do plan on making Lake Forest a destination in early August and attend the Western Amateur, see the future PGA stars up close and for free at Knollwood.

The Gog Blog Returns on Tuesday, until then enjoy the weather and Go Play. RS