THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB has reopened the Players Nine and the putting green as Phase 1 of the three year renovation is complete. The Baer Nine has shut down and should reopen around July 1st of 2019. New newly lengthened driving range is open as well. For more information see Schaumburggolf.com or call (847)-885-9000. Are you ready for more from your clubs, Go Rogue by Callaway, see Callawaygolf.com   _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and on Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram. In the pro shop at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, home of the 2018 Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open July 16-18.

Last week was a great week for golf in the Chicago area, except for the fact the heat level keep some folks off the golf course or from attending the different tournaments in town.

I’ll start by talking about the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship that was held at Kemper Lakes, that ended on the 16th green after a short delay in play because of a weather issue.

The two-hole playoff and drama down the stretch and into the playoff was great viewing, in the end  Sung Hyun Park edged out So Yeon Ryu in yet another Korean major championship victory. I did come away with a load of respect for Ryu. I covered the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run in Kohler when Ryu won her first major. Someone asked what she might do with the first place check. Ryu who was struggling with speaking English at the time said, she would hire a tutor and lean how to speak English. Well whoever she hired is one good teacher. Ryu is very fluent and polished in English, and a real tribute to female Korean golfers and a role model for what athlete’s coming to America to make millions here should do.

From a media standpoint, it’s hard to work with players or golfers when they need an interpreter, some media organizations don’t accept comments or audio from those who can’t speak the English language, which can cost reporters money while working major sports. Which is why Ryu is a real breath of fresh air and why I will be rooting for her when she is in contention. Ryu is one real classy lady, and sports professional. It was great to have her at the UL Crown media day yesterday in Northbrook.

As far as Kemper Lakes goes, there is no doubt that Kemper is back as a major championship venue. The question is what comes next. During championship week the PGA of America announced that in 2023 Baltusrol will host the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA and in 2029 the Men’s PGA Championship. Now it seems that every club that hosts the KPMG, gets a PGA Championship as well. It’s too bad the PGA wasn’t thinking that way when Olympia Fields and Kemper Lakes signed up for the KPMG.

BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm (visit lenziehmongolf.com) and I teamed up to interview Kemper Lakes Golf Club owner Steve Jouzapaitis on Sunday to ask him about the week that was, and what’s next for the club. Jouzapaitis felt his club delivered and it sure did this past week. Jouzapaitis says the club will continue to work through it’s master plan as it goes forward. Architect Rick Jacobson and his team did a bunker renovation project in recent years. While there are no plans and no need for any serious renovations going forward, there might be a hole (8th) that could see some minor changes. In 1989 some of the pro’s in the PGA took some cheap shots at the clubhouse which has been improved and is much nicer inside since the club went private. Jouzapaitis didn’t rule out making more improvements to the clubhouse down the road to benefit the clubs members and guests as part of the master plan.

Click here to hear the interview with Kemper Lakes owner Steve Jouzapaitis on the KPMG and what could be up for Kemper Lakes going forward.

The Gauntlet plaque by the 16th tee box at Kemper Lakes.

The Gauntlet Holes 16-17-18 as the club is calling them now, got some attention championship week and in a few ways did decide the outcome of the championship.

Ryu’s water ball on 17 lost her the championship, and Park’s par save from the water/mud on the side of the 16th green won it for her. With several tournament courses having catchy names for a stretch of holes, the addition of the Gauntlet adds something to the last three holes at Kemper Lakes. It got the players talking that’s for sure. But other talk included the use of the name “Gauntlet”, since its the same name used for the last three holes at TPC Sawgrass home of the Players Championship on the PGA Tour.

I have been to Sawgrass but did not play the golf course so I didn’t know about the Gauntlet being part of that course. I’ll say this, considering the amount of years that tournament has been on TV, it’s amazing it’s not promoted since very few people seemed to know about the Gauntlet name being used there.

wwga.org

ANOTHER GREAT CHAMPIONSHIP THIS PAST week was the Women’s Western Golf Associations National Championship that was played at Mistwood. It was won by medalist Emilee Hoffman from Folsom California, she defeated Tristyn Nowlin of Richmond Kentucky, who plays for the University of Illinois Golf Team by an 8&7 score.

Nowlin said that her swing and putter just weren’t working in the final match but was glad to make the championship’s in the match play. The WWGA that also runs a National Junior Championship (later this month in Cincinnati) is hinting that it might be back in town in 2019, maybe with both championships. The WWGA has not said where the championships might be next year, but I’m not ruling out White Eagle CC in Naperville, stay tuned. As for this year, kudo’s to Mistwood for a job well done.

SPEAKING OF MISTWOOD, tomorrow the Red White and Blue golf tournament tee’s off bright and early, and the club is going to try and retake a Guinness World Book of Records back that they once held. Get ready for some serious hot dogs everyone. For more details see Mistwoodgc.com or call (815)-254-3333.

ULCrown.com Korea October 4-10 2018

THE UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN if you missed our story from yesterday, the LPGA and UL based in Northbrook hosted the media to announce the 2018 UL Crown field of 8 countries and 32 players that will play in Korea come October. TEAM USA the #2 seed will be down two players from the 2016 Crown played at the Merit Club and won by the USA. Jessica Korda and Michelle Wie replace Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller who are (Lewis) or have recently been (Piller) pregnant. Korea is the #1 seed at the jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Inchon.

While there is no doubt that that Korea will be crazy for the Crown, the next question is where next in 2020. I spoke with LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan yesterday who says that the 2020 Crown site has not yet been determined. But he narrowed it down to five courses in America, or 4-5 courses in two other countries around the world.

Whan made it clear they want to play in a country that has a team competing in the matches, which makes sense. Whan told me the LPGA is not ruling out the Midwest in 2020, in spite of the Ryder Cup being played in Kohler that year. He also was not sure when in 2020 the Crown might be played, but with the Olympics in August, and the Ryder Cup in September, it’s likely if the Crown is played in the USA, July could be the month. But if a venue down south is picked, it could be October.

As far as US based sites go, with UL CEO Keith Williams a member at Conway Farms, I wouldn’t rule out CF being in the mix as a possible site for 2020.

THE GOG BLOG will be back this week, with more on the CDGA Amateur sites for the next four years being announced. RS