THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S 2017 NCAA Golf Championships are at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove from May 19-24 is women’s week, and May 26-31 is the men. Well priced tickets on sale at NCAA.com/Tickets, parking is FREE, support your school. The DONALD ROSS COURSE at the French Lick Resort is celebrating it’s 100th year, be part of the centennial, see Frenchlick.com. The RUST-OLEUM CHAMPIONSHIP is back for it’s second year at the Ivanhoe Golf Club from June 5-11. The championship is part of the Web.com Tour, tickets are now on sale at RustOleumChampionship.com. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. The KPMG/PGA Championship at Olympia Fields from June 26-July 2, the best of the LPGA will play. Tickets on sale now.
The golf season is here and so far Mother nature is not cooperating. The weather has been cloudy, rainy and cold, and in fact some golfers will say we had better weather the first three months of the year. I really hope things start to turn around tomorrow.
It’s that time of year where the golf media will start visiting the tournament sites, and there are plenty this year. The media day season is underway and it started last week at the River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst.
The Big 3, Len Ziehm, Tim Cronin and myself, joined RFCC head professional Chris Gumbach for a round on the home of this years Women’s Western Amateur Golf Championship (WWGA). The championship it’s 117th will be played from June 12-17 and the field of 144 players is full with a waiting list. See WWGA.org for more details. The River Forest Country Club that just underwent a bunker improvement program by architect Greg Martin, looks in great shape with the new white tour sand for the championship. One player who entered into the field that stems from Colorado, is sporting a +6.2 handicap.
The Ivanhoe Country Club clubhouse, home of the Rust Oleum Championship from June 5-11.
Earlier today the Rust Oleum Championship tee’d off year number two at the Ivanhoe Country Club in Mundelein.
This years championship will be played from June 5-11, the week before the U.S. Open. Tickets on sale now, and all the money is going to various area charities.
Defending champion Max Homa was expected at media day, but had a scheduling conflict with his U.S.Open qualifier and could not attend. Web.com players Vince India of Deerfield (University of Iowa) and Michael Schachner of Mundelein (Duke University) who grew up playing Ivanhoe filled in along with Taylor Pendrith of Canada, who played college golf at Kent State. Pendrith and Schachner along with Lake Forest native Brad Hopfinger received tournament exemptions.
Tournament Chairman Scott Cassion, and Ivanhoe Director of Golf Jim Sobb are encourage about the growth of the championship, and are looking forward to all the golf fans coming out to support this tournament in it’s second season. Tickets are now on sale at Rustoleumchampionship.com. A great field is expected including some players with local ties, and players who have spent time on the PGA Tour.
THE WOMEN’S NCAA REGIONAL’S are underway and things are off to good start for the Lady Wildcats of Northwestern who are in third place in Athens Georgia, top six teams advance to Rich Harvest Farms (RHF).
IN NEW MEXICO things not going so well for the University of Illinois who sit in 13th place out of 18 schools, only the top six move on to RHF. Coach Renee Sloan has recently gone to more of a younger lineup, with some upper classmen sitting out. Not sure that strategy is currently paying off. Illinois will have to rally to make the nationals. Tuesday’s round two needs to be moving day for the Illini.
AT KEMPER LAKES the Illinois PGA is holding it’s first major championship of the year the IPGA Match Play Championship. Past Champion Jim Billiter now head professional at Kemper Lakes is rolling after 6&5 win in his first match. Past champion Travis Johns a winner in his first match 3&2. Rich Dukelow of Medinah blasted current IPGA President Mark Labiak 8&7. Mr. President, less time on IPGA paperwork (LOL).
Green Street owners Mike Munro and Jim McWethy (Mistwood & McQ’s owner) welcome you to Green Street in Bensenville. 120 Green Street downtown Bensenville. M&M, Two Golf Dome owners now working on another project. Greenstreetgrille.com
The golf media gets a look at Mistwood on Wednesday. the home of the Phil Kosin Illinoi Women’s Open.
Mistwood one of Chicago’s top public courses, has now completed all three phases of it’s renovation plan, the golf course, the performance center and the clubhouse. The introduction of McWethy’s Tavern at Mistwood gives the club on of the best 19th holes in all off the Chicago area. IN FACT this just in, the Mothers Day brunch at McWethy’s Tavern has just sold out. McWethy’s welcomed over 800 people for Easter, and now Mother’s Day has pushed the envelope further. See MistwoodGC.com or call (815)-254-3333 for tee times and reservations.
Coming this summer, see DuPagegolf.com
ED STEVENSON Interim Ex-Director of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District was kind enough to show me around the new Preserve at Oak Meadows Golf Club. While I have seen other courses reopen for business with less grass in place after renovations, Stevenson is not ready to announce opening day quite yet and admits some warm weather over the next 50 days would really help the final stages of the grow-in process.
The good news is that this Greg Martin renovation is really taking shape, even if a little slower than hoped for. So when the Preserve does open, it will be really ready for play. The tree removal and new white tour sand really give the course a wow-factor.
In addition, the recent wet weather has tested the new drainage system, and the early reports show that system is working very well. Gone are days of heavy rains putting the course several feet underwater for days. Follow all the progress and news on opening day at DuPagegolf.com.
The Gog returns tomorrow… RS