THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB now has year round golf in it’s simulator area, in the lower level of the clubhouse. Why not play a round of golf this week, on this weeks PGA Tour venue, TPC Scottsdale (R) the home of the crazy par 3,16th hole. For more details please visit Schaumburggolf.com or call to reserve your tee time at (847)-885-9000.        ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. On the 17th hole of the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort.

THE DAYS STARTS with a Kudo’s to Doug Ghim on his Top 20 finish at the Farmers Insurance Classic on the PGA Tour this past week.

Ghim opened the week with a 63 and was T-4 heading into the final round, but backed up with a 75 on Sunday. Ghim made the most of his sponsors exemption, and hopefully he will get more shots at the PGA Tour when he’s not on the Web.com Tour this year.

Ghim has said he will play in the Web.com event at the Glen Club that will be run by the Western Golf Association, and benefit the Evan Scholars. Tickets for that event that will run into the Memorial Day weekend are not on sale. Visit WGAESF.org for details.

CONDOLENCES to everyone who knew former Cog Hill Superintendent Ken Lapp who passed away on Jan. 18th. Lapp (82), worked at St. Andrews in West Chicago for six years, before moving to Fresh Meadow in Hillside in 1955. In 1973 he went to Cog Hill Golf & Country Club where he stayed through 2012. When he retired in 2012, he was one of only 10 superintendents who had host 20 or more PGA Tour events, and three USGA Championships including the 1997 U.S. Amateur.

“Ken’s dedication, love and passion for agronomy is unmatched and his legacy will forever be intertwined with Cog Hill,” stated Frank Jemsek, Cog Hill owner. “He will be greatly missed.”

The Clubhouse at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor Michigan.

Joshua Doxator, PGA has been selected as the new General Manager of The Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Golf Course at the Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Doxator was selected as part of a national search to fill the position.

Doxator will start at the club on Feb. 18th and has a reputation for being an innovator in the golf industry for guest services, and food and beverage operations.

Doxator joins Harbor Shores after after previously serving as the PGA COO at Thornberry Creek, the official golf course of the Green Bay Packers.

“I am excited to join a team that has used golf as a redevelopment catalyst for it’s community and, as host to the most prestigious Championship in senior golf, and continues to be a centerpiece for growing the game,” said Doxator.  The Sr. PGA Championship will return to Harbor Shores in 2020.

The Medinah Country Club, clubhouse. Home of the 2019 BMW Championship.

The 2019 BMW Championship is still looking for volunteers. Response has been strong for the championship, as 1,500 of the 2,000 volunteer positions have been already filled.

The championship will be played from August 13-18 at the Medinah Country Club.

This will be the first time the championship will be held at Medinah since the 1966 Western Open. Volunteers work both inside and outside the ropes of the championship, and there are 22 volunteer committees. Shifts range from 4-6 hours and volunteers are asked to purchase a volunteer package at $129. The value of the package is $629. As a volunteer you receive Two Peter Millar shirts, one Peter Millar outerwear piece, one BMW hat or visor, and a BMW Championship Pin. register at BMWChampionship.com.

The 102nd WGA Junior Championship at Rich Harvest Farms

Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove will host it’s first WGA Championship since the Western Amateur in 2015, when it hosts the 102nd Western Junior Golf Championship.

The Western junior is the oldest junior championship in the United States. This years championship runs from June 17-20.

This years championship will have a field of the top junior players from over 40 states, and will have international players. The field is 156 players, and the top three finishers get exemptions into the Western Amateur. Past winners include Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan and Rickie Fowler. Admission is free, volunteers can sign up at WGAESF.com.

Crane Lakes in Daytona Beach is a course built for speed.

Speed is always a topic of conversation in the Daytona area in January and February.

With the Daytona 500 running along with other smaller races, Daytona is a place that has a need for speed.

Golfers who enjoy playing fast will enjoy Daytona area courses like Crane Lakes, that is only 5,200 yards from the back tees. The par 66 course has eight par 3’s. The Hidden Lake golf course is a par 69 that plays 5,424 from the back tees, and none of the par 4’s reach 400 yards. Riviera Country Club is only 6,250 all the way back, but is viewed as an old school golf course with pace-of-play in mind. Daytona Beach has some 30 golf courses, and you can learn more at DaytonaBeach.com/things-to-do/golf.

The Gog Blog returns late on Monday.