THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy LinkedIn and Facebook. The Tinley Park Golf Show is back Feb. 7-8-9, doors open at Noon on the 7th, Friday admission is just $5, $10 on the weekend. Tickets can be purchased at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net.

BY:Rory Spears, writing from the home office for the last time, for a few weeks.

IT SHOULD BE an exciting time for golfers as the 2020 season has reached the first green.

The PGA Merchandise Show is next week and I will  turn it into the wind today, and head south towards Orlando Florida.

Yesterday didn’t start out so well. First in the world of golf, I got notified that my run of 10 years at Chicagoland Golf is over. Publisher Val Russell informed me that he is closing the doors on the publication he took over from the late Phil Kosin in 2010.

A lack of advertising and support from local courses, resorts, organizations and tournaments was the reason why. Nobody was ready to see Chicagoland Golf get shut down when Kosin passed away, I feel that’s still the case. But the dollars and cents have spoken. I appreciate Val’s efforts over the last decade, and the opportunity to write stories for the golfers of the area in Chicagoland Golf.

Then the news broke from the radio world. Apparently Ed Sherman and Steve Olken who have done the “Scorecard” on Saturday Mornings at my former station WSCR-Am 670, have pulled the plug on that show. I have not spoke to either Ed or Steve about the factors involved, but getting up at 3:30 Am every Saturday morning for the entire summer does get old. I remember recommending a golf show when I was at WSCR-AM 820 in the 1990’s, but then boss Ron Gleason didn’t  buy into the idea until after I left the station. Phil Kosin came over to the Score from AM-1000 WMVP after the format change, and the Score has had golf ever since.

SPEAKING OF SPORTS RADIO, I was sad to hear about the passing of Amy Williams a few days back. I’ve known Williams a sports producer for several years, but more recently she was known as the driver, of the car from the accident that killed broadcaster Chet Coppeck last year. How she died is still a bit of a question, but likely there was some sort of complications from the accident. RIP Amy.

I KNEW IT WAS COMING but it was still sad to hear about the passing of Pete Dye, who had been suffering from Alzheimer’s in recent years. The 94 year old architect was a staple in the industry, and always said what he thought, no matter who might not like it. He was always refreshing to speak with. I hope tournaments on Dye Courses this year take a moment to remember Pete, I sure will.

A BIG GOLF EVENT is coming to Chicago soon, the details are supposed to be coming out early next week. I’ll write more as soon as I can, but stay clicked in.

WITH THAT the January winter golf trip has started, I’m on my way. Stay with us for all the details. Off to Lexington Kentucky for day 1. RS