THE NEWLY NAMED MISTWOOD GOLF DOME (formerly McQ’s) in Bolingbrook is up and running with the Toptracer technology to enhance your golf experience, visit MGD and check out the OTB and the McWethy’s Sports Bar, see Mistwoodgolf.com #golf. IN SCHAUMBURG the Schaumburg Golf Club 401 N. Roselle Road has outdoor golf open weather permitting, but the simulator bays in the clubhouse are open for play on cold days. Several Top 100 courses have been added, along with Ryder Cup Venues from 2018 Le Golf National, and 2020 Whistling Straits located in Haven/Kohler Wisconsin. For details visit Schaumburggolf.com or call the club at (847)-885-9000. #Chandlers
SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB GM JON PARSON”S talks about indoor golf season at the Schaumburg Golf Club and what’s new in the popular downstairs simulator bays.
THE GOG BLOG BY RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram. The lights are on at the Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook, home of McWethy’s Sportsbar and Toptracer golf. PHOTO’S Above Top row Jerry Rich at Rich Harvest Farms, and Bottom Left Wilson Golf GM Tim Clarke with Driver vs Driver 2 judge former NHL star Jeremy Roenick at demo day in Orlando in January of this year.
WHAT A WEEKEND it was, plenty to do, and on the golf front during a cool November weekend. The big event was on Saturday night downtown, when Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich was stunned by a group of over 160 people, that shouted surprise at at his 80th birthday party downtown. The gathering put on by his son Keith and his friend Myrna Kulp, was something he was not expecting.
Jerry Rich with Myrna Kulp. Happy 80th Birthday.
Rich was presented the Illinois license plate JR 23 by Secretary of State Jesse White himself. Rich who made the #23 famous when he played basketball in high school, long before some guy named Jordan did on the west side. Now all he needs is plates for the other 80 cars in his famed car-collection and all will be well. The guests all signed a Rich Harvest Farms logo’d golf bag as one of the surprise gifts for Rich, who will put the bag on display at Rich Harvest Farms. Rich Harvest Farms will host the 2019 WGA Junior Championship, the 2020 Big Ten Golf Championships, and the 2021 Palmer Cup named for the late Arnold Palmer. The Palmer Cup was played at Rich Harvest Farms in 2015 and was won by the United States team. Happy 80th Birthday Jerry Rich, and here’s to many more.
Ground has been broken for the new Topgolf in Schaumburg, on the site of now being torn down Motorola campus
NO SOONER did the media visit the Mistwood Golf Some in Bolingbrook (McQ’s name is gone) and learn about the new Toptracer technology that is now in it’s first dome in America, we find out that another Topgolf is coming to the Chicago area.
Ground has been broken for the new Schaumburg Topgolf that is expected to open in late 2019, bringing what Topgolf says is another 500 full and part-time jobs to the area. Meanwhile Driveshack
a company that has spun-off from American Golf has hired Topgolf CEO Ken May away to be it’s new CEO. Driveshack is competing with Topgolf for a piece of the entertainment/golf entertainment market. While Driveshack is expanding in 2019, there are no plans as of now to open a Driveshack in the Chicago area. When the the Schaumburg Topgolf opens, it’s expected the neighboring Topgolf in Wood Dale/Itasca on Thorndale Road will close.
CONDOLENCES to WWGA PR Director Susan Wagner, Chip Wagner and the Wagner family on the unexpected passing Bob Wagner (Sue’s son-Chips brother) at the young age of 47 this past weekend from a heart attack. Bob served as webmaster for the Women’s Western Golf Association on their wwga.org website.
KUDO’s to the newly elected or promoted officers of the PGA of America. Suzy Whaley as president and a good friend of myself and GOG, VP Jim Richerson now with Troon Golf. IPGA teaching professional Terry Russell makes the District 6 board of Directors.
IF YOU HAVE NOT been to the Mistwood Golf Dome Rt.53 in Bolingbrook just north of Boughton Road, you need to. It’s a case of the best dome in town just got better. Toptracer will add an element to your indoor golf experience that you should enjoy with all the options it offers. McWethy’s Sports Bar has some nice upgrades to it. LPGA Veteran Nicole Jeray is a great addition to the professional teaching staff.
DRIVER VS DRIVER 2 the final episode air’s tomorrow night at 8 Pm on the The Golf Channel, I don’t know yet if I like the Cortex or the Rozwell better, so it will be interesting to see what Wilson GM Tim Clarke and the other judges with decide. They both look pretty neat, so I’m anxious to hit one. Both sides, the USGA and Wilson Golf tell me that there will NOT be another conforming issue like what the first winning driver had to go through, I hope that’s the case.
HERE’S HOPING that Chicago area native and Chicago Golf Club member Tony Anderson who is up for nomination to the USGA Executive Committee, gets the votes in February to join the committee. The voting will be held in Texas at the USGA annual meeting. More USGA events in the Chicago area. #VOTEYES.
SATURDAY WAS THE FINALS of the Golf Scene TV Show winners contest, and a competition was held for prizes at the Schaumburg PGA Tour store, the contest was filmed and one lucky winner walked away with a set of new Callaway Rogue Irons, watch the next issue of the Golf Scene hosted by Kashul and produced by Tom Miller to see who the top winners were.
I WAS SURPRISED when I got told that Jane Blaylock had stepped back from the Legends Tour as CEO, as a result there have been some changes there that have drawn several stories in the last few days. The first was by BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm who got a pretty good look at things from Blaylock herself. What’s up for the Legends Tour in 2019, tough to say, but the board needs to find some sponsors and create a few more events.
ARE YOU getting excited about the Phil vs Tiger PPV from Las Vegas yet? nope, me neither.
BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm has hit the road and will be writing more about travel golf in Louisana & Texas in the days ahead, stay clicked in here and to LenZiehmongolf.com.
I HAVE TO wonder how many clubs this company Honma expects to sell by signing Justin Rose to play their product, as Rose walks away from Taylor Made for the first time in his pro career. Word is that prices are over $1,000 per club, and you thought PXG is pricey.
CALLAWAY GOLF is coming out with new driver for 2019 that is creating a buzz already, even though almost nobody has one yet. Details as soon I get them.
FORMER MEDINAH Country Club Director of Golf Michael Scully starts his time as General Manager Reynolds-Lake Oconee, formerly Reynolds Plantation today in Georgia.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS native Doug Ghim the low-am at this years Masters Tournament, is saying on Twitter that Las Vegas is now his new home town. Ghim recently advanced to the third and final stage of the Web.com tour school.
I’ll have more Gog News Blog over the next few days and some holiday golf ideas starting next week in advance of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
I am still hopeful that Mother Nature will cut us a break and give us a day or two of warm weather yet, before the heavy snow falls. I would like to get in another round or two outdoors before taking it inside full time for the winter ahead. RS