THE NEW CALLAWAY GOLF SHOES, buy a pair before June 30 and get a free Callaway Golf Hat, see Callawaygolf.com for details. CHICAGOLAND GOLF Publisher Val Russel holds up a copy of Chicagoland Golf, pick up a copy of the new June issue this week, with our look at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island.   _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Linkedin and Facebook. On the 18th green on Heron Point Golf Club at Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island SC.

Happy Memorial Day, one of the busiest golf weekends of the year, and hopefully you are out playing golf at one of your favorite courses.

If you are enjoying some time on the links today or over this past weekend, do take time to thank the veterans you know or might see for their sacrifice and the fact you are enjoying golf.

The University of Illinois Men’s team is enjoying another day of golf, by barely making the 15 team third round cut at the NCAA nationals in Stillwater Oklahoma, home of the OSU-Cowboys. Illinois needs to make a move today to keep it’s streak alive of making it into the match play part of the championship. The news was not so good for the Northwestern University Wildcats who just missed advancing by a couple of shots. NU was the leader after the first round of the championship. Better luck today for U of I, especially seniors Nick Hardy and Dylan Meyer.

ON THE PGA TOUR Justin Rose wins at Colonial, as the Euro’s seems to be hitting stride in advance of the Ryder Cup in France. Steve Stricker decided to play Colonial instead of the Senior PGA at Harbor Shores won by Paul Broadhurst who putted lights out at the tough greens at Harbor Shores.

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS of the Sr. PGA Championship week wasn’t known until after it happened. Course designer and the greatest golfer of all-time Jack Nicklaus arrived on Friday to receive an award from sponsor Kitchen-Aid. It was too bad the PGA of America and it’s assisting PR firms didn’t tell the media about the Golden Bear’s arrival until when it was too late, said and over.

MORE MICHIGAN… the LPGA and the PGA of America weren’t talking, as both organizations did what multiple golf organizations did here in Chicago twice this summer, schedule on top of each other. A little over two hours part in Benton Harbor (PGA) and in Ann Arbor (LPGA) were both playing, forcing fans, volunteers and sponsors to make choices they should not have to make. Who run’s these organizations anyway.

MAYBE, JUST MAYBE one year the PGA Tour, Champions PGA Tour, the PGA of America, the LPGA, and the USGA can all sit down together and pull out calendars, it might just work.

The Links 9 runs up to the bay at Bay Harbor. BACK TO MICHIGAN..last year I went up to Boyne Mountain Resort and played several of the resorts great golf courses. So it’s nice to see this year that Boyne Golf has received, The Editors Choice Award from Golf Digest as one of the Best Resorts in America.

Boyne Resorts is one of the best resorts in America, and they deserve the Editors Choice Award from Golf Digest.

A full congratulations goes out to Bernie Freidrich the resorts Sr.VP of Golf Operations, and the Director of Sales Ken Griffin. the Boyne Resorts golf team runs a great operation that thousands of golfers enjoy every year. I fully recommend a visit there if you have never been there, of if you have been there it’s time to return.

The Nay Harbor golf course all 27 holes designed by Arthur Hills is one of the best courses not only in the Midwest, but around the country. For more information please visit BOYNEGolf.com.

BGT- Dallas based Breakthrough Golf Technology has introduced the Stability Shaft for putters. BGT points out that the same thought that is used on the other clubs in your bag, applies to your putter as well. These days as putter club heads get bigger, wider, deeper, the need for a shaft the is stable is important.

The company’s CEO Barney Adams calls the stability shaft a step forward in equipment technology. Adams says the pro’s are already great putters but inconsistent amateurs can use this type of technology. Testing of this shaft was done with a variety of high-speed cameras, robots, SAM Putt Lab, Quintic Ball Roll software and Trackman4. The end result was the reinventing of the putter shaft.

THE STABILITY SHAFT has a MAP of $199.99 an is available from golf retailers in the United States and Canada. BGT is a company that was launched in 2014, but has a team with over 100 years of experience. See more at Breakthroughgolftech.com.

FROM an amateur golfers standpoint, I have to send a top of the cap or golf visor to Barney Adams and his team, and wonder why this idea had been thought of before, well done Mr. Adams.

DENNIS WALTERS and his golf trick shot show will be visiting the area with several shows in the next month. Golf Lessons-Life Lessons all starts tomorrow night at the Renwood Golf Club in Round Lake Beach. On Thursday June 7th a special show starting at 5:30 PM on the range of the Glen Club. The show will have a golf demonstration prior to the Walters show, by 2017 IPGA teacher of the Year Louis Sauer and 2017 Illinois Amateur and Illinois Open Champion Patrick Flavin. Walters feats are more impressive since he is in part paralyzed, from a car accident.

I have seen part of his show before and it’s amazing what Dennis can do to begin with,not to mention his accomplishments with his handicap. Do register at the Glen Club and attend on the 7th.

ANOTHER TIP OF THE CAP OR GOLF VISOR to the Illinois PGA and the IPGA Foundation for it’s assistance to Claire Castetter of Cary. Castetter was working on her degree through Methodist University PGA Golf Management Program, and had just started an internship at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, when the extreme flood water hit the historic resort, leading to millions of dollars in destruction and the Greenbrier Classic having to get canceled.

Castetter went home to her parents house, but through her school and the IPGA was hooked up with Nick Papadakes at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest. through the Golfworks program Claire has moved forward earning her PGA membership last year and is now an assistant at Onwentsia Club.

GOOD WEATHER is ahead, go play, it’s about time. RS