CHICAGOLAND GOLF is the official program for the Chicago Golf Show in Rosemont, pick up the glossy style issue at the show, or at your favorite club or golf retail store if you don’t make it to Rosemont. MCQ’s Dome your place to see this years Superbowl, practice your golf, bet the ponies in the OTB, or enjoy the new menu in restaurant. You can grab a hotdog or drink from the new bar in the dome while hitting golf balls. All in one stop for fun, try MCQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook on Rt. 53. Visit Mcqsdome.com. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to Atlantic Dunes Golf Club at Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, and on Facebook, linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.
(Writing from Palmetto Dunes Resort on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina )
Last October Hurricane Mathew blew through Hilton Head Island and left behind a mess of downed trees, flooded homes, damaged roads, busted windows and more. The island which counts on golf in a big way as a major source of business, had a big clean up project on it’s hands.
It took about six weeks before most of the golf courses reopened, some are still not open yet. I have spent four days looking around the island, and found things slowly getting back towards normal, but it’s not quite there yet.
The entrance to Palmetto Dunes looks great as always.
Palmetto Dunes Resort that has three golf courses and plenty more to offer, seems to have taken a harder hit, then the Sea Pines Resort, home of the famed “lighthouse” that everyone see’s during the PGA Tour broadcasts from Harbour Town Golf Course.
Palmetto Dunes has two of it’s three golf courses back up and running, the most known Robert Trent Jones course called the Jones Course is back up and full of golfers. When I played it two days ago, I found things pretty much back in order, but there was a notable change. The famous Par 5, 10th hole, that has the ocean view from the green, now has a better ocean view from the green, and the 11th tee box.
The Par 5, 10th hole on the Jones Course, is now missing the trees that stood right of the flag, on the positive side, there is now a better view of the beach and the ocean from around the green. Crews have worked hard to repair damage to the golf courses, this cart path on the 11th hole of the Jones Course is about the last piece of major repair work needing to be done. But up-rooted trees caused damage like this all over the island.
THIS TREE (L) was one of the final remaining tree’s needing to be hauled away from the (Arthur) Hills course at Palmetto Dunes. The Hills Course is open for play and was in good shape during my round yesterday. (R) A debris pile sits alongside of one hole on the (George) Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes. The Fazio Course needed to have many of it’s bunkers redone, which they now are. The Fazio Course still has some clean up to do, and it’s expected to be open by Mid-February. ( I’ll post that information when I get it). I saw two greens and the putting green at the Fazio course and they looked in mint condition.
I’ll have a seperate story on Palmetto Dunes in the days ahead, stay clicked in. But there is no reason, not to plan a visit to Palmetto Dunes, call (888)-322-7032 or online see Palmettodunes.com.
The 14th hole at Harbour Town, home of the Heritage Classic on the PGA Tour.
At Sea Pines home of a famous ligthouse and a PGA Tour stop, just about everything looks good.
The Harbour Town Golf Course is in absolutely mint perfect condition. In fact it’s been a while since I have seen a course in this great condition. There will be no issues by the time the tour pro’s arrive after the Masters in April.
But after a drive around the property I was able to see that Sea Pines was not hit as hard as some other parts of the Island. The newly renovated course called Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III, was in great shape. I’ll have more on the new Atlantic Dunes in the days ahead. For more information see Seapines.com or call (800)-955-8337.
While golfing I came across one local superintendent who stayed on the island during Matthew a Level-2 Hurricane. Once the storm passed, he needed his chain saw to cut up downed trees just to get out of his neighborhood and over to the golf course he works at.
The good news is that the golf courses are mostly open and so are the businesses in the area. While the clean up will take a bit longer to complete, things here are getting better everyday.
If your thinking spring trip or summer trip, do consider Hilton Head Island, the Low-Country folks here would love to have your business, or your business back again. The PGA Tour week in April will be all the fun and enjoyment it normally is.