THE INN ON WOODLAKE in Kohler Wisconsin, getting an addition this fall. Staying open while the improvements continue, DestinationKohler.com. Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton is your home for 27 great holes of golf, more details Arrowheadgolfclub.com ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the Western Amateur Sweet 16 trophy.

It’s always a great week when the Western Amateur comes to town. This week the championship is being held at the Knollwood Club in Lake Forest.

The Knollwood Club a 1924 Colt and Alison design, was renovated by Keith Foster one of the leading architects in the world and in classic course renovation and renovation. The club had become over planted with trees and green and fairway size was slowly getting smaller.

Original green sizes were restored, trees removed, and the course got a nickname of “Mini-Augusta” after the addition of white sand in it’s big upright bunkers. While there is room off the tee for the players to hit the ball, long approaches into elevated greens, that are large with subtle breaks will challenge these top amateur players.

There are plenty of local players involved including 2014 Western Amateur medalist Doug Ghim of Arlington Heights, and Northbrook’s Nick Hardy. David Cooke the 2015 Illinois Open Champions is playing one of his final events as an amateur before turning professional. Admission and parking are free, come enjoy the Western Amateur. The championship match will tee off around noon on Saturday. But there will plenty of great golf all week before then. See you there.

The First Tee Golf Ball in the PGA Museum in port St. Lucie Florida

PGA Tour professional and Northwestern Alum Luke Donald is holding his annual wine tasting in conjunction with the First Tee of Greater Golf coming up on September 12th at the Medinah Country Club.

The event is always fun and has plenty of great golf things to bid on, in the spirit of raising money for the First Tee program.

Every year Luke has brought along one of his fellow tour professionals to help raise money and this it has been announced that Rory McIlroy is joining Donald at Medinah. Contact the First Tee now as tickets are going fast.

UPCOMING this week right here. In addition to our coverage of the Western Amateur will be a look at the Beloit Club in Beloit Wisconsin, part of a great turn around of the city of Beloit headed up by ABC supply owner billionaire Diane Hendricks. BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm and I made the trip to Southwest Wisconsin and were amazed by what we saw. The course is managed by kent Instefjord the professional who opened Whistling Straits and Erin Hills in Wisconsin.

The JOHN DEERE CLASSIC on the tee next week, is announcing some exemptions and waiting for the last minute entry’s that should include some great names by Firday afternoon. Stay clicked in, we will have them.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP.. Congrats to Jimmy Walker on that first major win. Jimmy, it’s just two years too late. In 2014 I played a great golf bet in Las Vegas, called pick a player to win a major. I have won that bet three times, one year I did not was in 2014 when I picked Walker, had he won the PGA that year it would have been over $1,000 in my wallet. Who will be next years long shot to win a major, start checking later this year in the sports books.

DON’T move the PGA to May. Some golf writers have made that pitch. I don’t like the idea of the last major being over in July, and the three American majors being played by Mid-June. That idea, really DUMB.

OFF TO KNOLLWOOD..See you there. RS