THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Follow Rory to McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook on Rt. 53 or to Schaumburg Golf Club on Roselle Road in Schaumburg. McQ’s Dome is full size golf dome, complete with a full restaurant and bar in the front, and an OTB to play the horses on the side. McQ’s is an official Blackhawks bar so watch tonight’s Redwings Blackhawks game at McQ’s puck drop is 7:30, see Mcqsdome.com or call McQs at (630)-739-1592. SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is now a year round golf faciltiy, no your not outside during the winter months, but indoors with new state of the art simulators. Play as a single, with a group on Top 100 courses, get a lesson or a fitting, while enjoying food from Chandlers Chop House. Schaumburggolf.com or (847)-885-9000. The GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter #GogBlogGuy, and to Chicago’s winter golf shows. _____________________________________________________________________
Gary Planos, the Mayor of Maui and the man who coined the phrase, what can I do for you, was remembered at Kapalua this past week.
As someone who made about 8 or 9 trips to Kapalua Maui, it was sad to hear last year of the passing of Gary Planos, the Evanston native and U of I grad and Evans Scholar who was one of those guys who was fun to be around.
His common phrase of what can I do for you, will never be forgotten. Sometimes in life you think back at times that you think of as the “good old days”, I know my trips to Maui were those good old days.
A solid week away from Chicago winter weather and the warmth of golf, the beach, the pool, open air restaurants and more. 85 degree weather, while Chicago was cold and snowy. It wasn’t hard to see why Planos after he went to Hawaii, stayed there for the rest of his life. One that did not last long enough.
The PGA Tour made sure he was not forgotten as Gary’s golf bag was beside the practice tee and the first tee during the Tournament of Champions this past week at Kapalua, a place that Planos put on the map. Odd’s are if you were from Chicago and were wearing the Kapalua butterfly logo around, you knew Planos. At times it seemed like everyone did. Hawaii of Kapalua does not seem the same without him.
Justin Thomas won the championship and earned a return to Kapalua in 2018, Thomas defeated Hideki Matsuyama by three shots. The two golfers have won six straight tournaments around the world.
Mike Jones at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington PA.
KAPALUA has had a second departure, Mike Jones the former IPGA professional who had stints at Stonebridge CC, Steeplechase, Golf Club of Illinois, Thunderhawk and Cantigny before heading to Maui for 8 years, is now back on the mainland. Jones has landed at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in the mountains south of Pittsburgh, in a town called Farmington PA.
This summer the resort will expand to 36 holes with the opening of Shepherd’s Rock another Pete Dye designed golf course. Look for it to open around July 1st, for more details see Nemacolin.com.
GOLF SHOW..the first Chicago indoor golf show of the year will be this weekend at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake. Doors open on Friday at noon for $5. This new Lake County Show is brought to you by the Tinley Park show ownership group. No word yet on how big it will be in terms of vendors and golf course turnout.
MORE NEXT WEEK on the inauguration of the president, our new president and golf course owner. Many in the industry wondering what his impact as president will have on the golf industry. The Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus has announced he will attend the inuaguration for President-Elect Donald Trump.
WEDDING’S in 2017 for Rory McIlroy to Erica Stoll coming up right after the Masters, and to Sergio Garcia and former Golf Channel reporter Angela Akins, date 2017 TBA.
Jim Furyk holds up his 59 scorecard at Conway Farms
JIM FURYK is expected to be named the captain of the 2018 Team USA Ryder Cup team.
Thomas Bjorn is expected to be named captain of the 2018 European Ryder Cup team.
The matches will be contested near Paris France at the Le Golf National golf links. The course has been designed with the Ryder Cup in mind and has been created with stadium like seating to hold the large crowds that area expected. The course is part of a resort and is open for public play. The 2020 Ryder Cup is at Whistling Straits in Haven/Kohler Wisconsin and the 2024 Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black on Long Island in New York, both of those courses are open for public play.
The barn on the range at Cog Hill.
THE ESKIMO OPEN was played at Cog Hill this past Sunday, on a sunny day with the temperatures in the mid-20’s.
92 players turned out in the cold to play in the 54th Eskimo Open. The Gross winner on Course #1 was Ajay Singh with a 75.
The Gross winner on Course #3 was Bob Doe with a 78 in a playoff. The Net Division with courses 1 & 3 combined was Bill Bush. Well done by all the golfers who turned out to play.
THE American Society Golf Course Architects will honor Alice Dye, wife of Pete Dye with the 2017 Donald Ross Award at it’s annual meetin in May, in Jupiter Florida.
ADIDAS has become the official supplier of shoe and apparel for the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), as Nike continues to fade from golf.
THE NEW PGA TOUR COMMISSIONER JAY MONAHAN held court with the media at Kapalua, discussing the PGA Tour as moves forward under Monahan. He brought up moving the Players Championship at TPC Sawgras back to March, and reducing the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs to three events, if so who loses out… Chicago. If so can we bring back the Western Open, and let’s play in July again.
The Gog Blog Returns tomorrow, RS.