THE NEW SIMULATOR area in the clubhouse of the Schaumburg Golf Club, General Manager Jonathan Parsons shows off the place to enjoy golf all winter long. the Schaumburg golf club is located on Roselle Road in Schuamburg. (847)-885-9000.        _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on facebook, linkedin and twitter @gogblogguy. In the simulator at the Schaumburg golf club holding the new Titleist 917 Driver.

The Gog Blog is trying to enjoy the final few days of the fall golf season, I hope you are as well.

Yesterday, David Schuster of WSCR and I went out and enjoyed a round of golf at Pine Meadow in Mundelein. I must say that the greens (especially) and tees were in great shape, for any point of the season, much less in early November.

Afterwards I spoke with general manager Dennis Johnsen who says improved course conditions are the reason business and rounds are up at the Jemsek Golf run property for the second straight year. Johnsen says last year in 2015 rounds were up 10+%, this year you can add another over 8% increase. So much for the stories about nobody playing golf anymore.

Pine Meadow GM Dennis Johnsen.

I would also like to applaud Johnsen who will be honored this week at the PGA of America’s national meetings in New York.

Johnsen will receive the award for contributions of growing the game and and to junior golf. In spite of Johnsen’s hard work and dedication to junior programs since 1975, he was surprised when he got the call earlier this year and was told he was the winner.

“The process starts with a candidate from all 41 PGA sections across the country,” said Johnsen. “Then it gets narrowed to four finalists, then a winner is selected.”

The panel agreed that Johnsen’s approach to enjoyment and fun , coming before winning was very important. Johnsen says the quote used in the Pine Meadow programs is from Grantland Rice that reads, “when you meet the big scorekeeper in the sky, it won’t matter how much you have won or lost, but it’s how you played the game.”

Well said Dennis, and congratulations on your award, well deserved.

Schaumburg Golf Club general manager of golf operations Jon Parsons, shows of the golf simulator area in the basement of the clubhouse.

It was great to see what’s happening at the Schaumburg Golf Club. The new indoor golf area in the basement is really well done.

In fact all the recent changes there look good, including the expanded pro shop, the restaurant and the banquet area.

It appears that golfers in the area have noticed this as well, because the club will be doing around 55,000+ rounds again this year. So much for all those stories about nobody playing golf anymore.

There will be more to say shortly, but the Schaumburg Golf Club will be renovating all three nines over the next three years, starting in June of 2017 when work begins on one of the nine’s. Which nine is still yet to be determined, until the permitting process is concluded.

I enjoyed trying out the aboutGolf Simulators that are highly rated, they have a much realistic approach on the putting part of the round. Parson’s was kind enough to let try things out with the new Titleist 917 Driver, that is quite a club. In the meantime when it gets to cold to play outside call Schaumburg GC and set up some simulator time, call the course at the number at the top or visit schaumburggolf.com. or follow the course on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

WGAESF.org

The Western Golf Association (WGA) held it’s annual Black Tie dinner last Friday night in Chicago. A full story on that will be posted here in the short future as well.

The guest speaker was Johnny Miller with the emcee being golf reporter Mark Rolfing.

I will post my Miller interview soon, but below is my interview with Rolfing, who talks in depth about his involvement in a project to rebuild a new course in the Chicago south shore area, by connecting two current courses on the lake. The project will be part of a proposed location that will include the presidential library for current president Barack Obama.

Click here to hear the interview with Mark Rolfing.

While various names are being in conjunction with the project, Golfers on Golf has learned that Jerry Rich, owner of Rich Harvest Farms will be lending his support to the project. In what ways is still unclear, but financial involvement would be probable. Mike Keiser is also expected to be involved, along with the Chicago Park District and the First Tee Program of the Greater Chicagoland Area. It still remains unclear what President Obama’s role might be in the golf course, after he leaves office in January.

More golf news coming along week, so stay clicked in. RS