THE BAER NINE IS COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION seven holes open already, the last two holes 17-18 in the next couple of weeks. The final nine holes are now under construction, and should be ready for play in Mid-Summer of 2020. Call (847)-885-9000 ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears-Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy. For those who neeed some cooling off, with Pinehurst’s Putter Boy.

THE FOR SALE SIGNS ARE BEING TAKEN DOWN, and the Ridges have been sold.

In Galena 22 year homeowner in the Galena Territory Mark Klausner, bought the resort himself. Klausner plans to make across the board at the resort.

The best news is that since he is a golfer, he will revamp the golf operation. While Klausner is admittingly celebrating his first “par” as a golfer last year. He does undertstand what golf means to Eagle Ridge.

The Touchstone Golf Management firm is gone from the resort, and Director of Golf Reagan Davis left town with them, and is now working in Texas. So Ryan Brown takes over in the pro shop, after years at Boyne Highlands in Michigan. And a private club near Detroit. He is expected to start developing golf schools, and expand the teaching program.

Because the golf shops will be torn down, pro shops will change. The main restaurant at the General, and the remainder of the building could see changes as well. While the resort has made improvements on the courses in recent years, including better maintanence equipment. On the General course, the native grasseswere trimmed back, trees were cut back or removed. Tee boxes were fixed up. But there is still some work to be done. And don’t be surprised if all the courses, North, South, East and General get reviewed more in depth.

WEAVER RIDGE in Peoria has been sold to Jim and Carol Ring, who own nearby Metamora Fields. Because the Ring’s are not wasting time moving forward, D.A.Weibring has been hired to come in for course renovation work. Weibring will hold a town hall on Thursday night at the club, to get feedback on what the courses regular golfers like and don’t like. And adjoining homeowners can add some input as well.

Having the Ring’s as new owners is a “shot in the arm” for Weaver Ridge. Weibring told Golfers on Golf, that bunker work will be a priority in the renovation project. Matt Rogers who has been the general manager at Metamora Fields, is now serving as GM for both properties.

Rogers says the club will revisit the opportunity to build a hotel at Metamora Fields. Besides, there will be benefits with having two courses under one ownership. Therefore rates are changing, and new season passes will be available for purchase. Because they are good at both courses, golfers should enjoy the benefits.

More details to follow on this story.