THE WHITE EAGLE GOLF CLUB in Naperville Illinois is home to the 71st Illinois Open. _____________________________________________________________________

Brandon Holtz is gunning for his first Illinois Open title. But after a course record in Round 1, he is chasing leader Bryce Emory by 4 shots.

TWO DAYS and two course records at the White Eagle Golf Club.

On a windy day in Naperville, Bryce Emory made the turn at 1 under par for the day, and then ended up 5 under par on the back-nine to take control of the Illinois Open heading in the final round on Wednesday.

Emory 29, who grew up in Aurora and playing the Aurora Country Club has reached a point where he is thinking about his career going forward. Playing some mini-tour events his game has evolved to a point, where he thought this might be his last year of Illinois Opens. Then Covid-19 has hit and now he thinking some more about, “what’s in store” long term while working at the Black Sheep Club in Sugar Grove. Black Sheep head professional Kevin Healy is Emory’s swing coach.

Bryce Emory leads the Illinois Open after tying the course record, with a second round 66.

“I have practiced a little bit less this year, and feel a little more fresher which is a good thing, ” said Emory. “But once I started playing this summer I was playing pretty good. But I come here and at 29 I feel like one of the old guys in the field.”

Three players are tied for 2nd place, all after carding 2-under par rounds of 70 in the second round. Charlie Netzel, Tee-k Kelly, and Ethan Brue all battled the afternoon winds and looked for most of the day they would join Patrick Flavin and first round leader Brandon Holtz in a final round battle for the trophy.

“Today was at least a club more wind and the guests were pretty nasty,” said Kelly. ” The pins are…set up like a championship. They are tough to get to and tough to putt to and greens have some big slopes on them. If you just park your approach shots in the middle of the green, you will have some crazy lag-putts to deal with.”

Then suddenly the news broke that Emory had a run of late birdies, that included an eagle and he had posted a 66.

Holtz has been close to winning an Illinois Open title in the past, this time he wants to finish the job. But with Emory matching Holtz’s Round 1 course record, that job just got a lot tougher.

“Today was rough,” said Holtz. “Yesterday I had a lot of control of the golf ball, I was able to put it where I wanted. But today that was not the case. I battled it around out there, and feel like I’m still in the mix. The key is playing out of the fairway, because the rough is ankle deep and it’s thick. The greens are firm and tough, but tournament greens should be tough. Holtz and wife are enjoying their new 5-month old baby boy, even though it has put a little damper on his playing. But Holtz is taking his son to the range, and cutting down some clubs to junior golf size could be an upcoming project for Holtz.

Holtz set a course record at the White Eagle during Round 1 with a 6 under par 66, however Tuesdays Round 2 saw some pin-placements that left some of the field groaning at Tournament Director Brad Slocum.

With temperatures in the morning in the low 60’s, but moving up to the mid-70’s by the afternoon, and a wind speed of 15, and gusting into the mid-20’s. It was easy to say that White Eagle had scores of the states best players soaring, as those near the clubhouse had to look no further than the flag on the island 18th green, to see it flapping so strong it appeared it might fly right off the flagstick.

2017 Illinois Amateur and Illinois Open Champion Flavin was in the first group out at 7:30, Flavin shot a 1 over par 73. When asked about his over par round, Flavin called it, “a good round of golf.” For much of the day it appeared that Flavin would be correct, in saying anything around par would be a good score.

FOUR-TIME Champion University of Illinois Golf Coach Mike Small rebounded with a 1-under par 71, Small sits at +2 and made the cut that fell at +6.

ROUND 2 saw a win for the senior golfer. After Zach Mulhearn beat his dad Danny Mulhearn by 4 shots in Round 1, Danny returned in Round 2 to beat Zach by 4 shots. Both Mulhearn’s missed the cut, but family bragging rights are still up for grabs.

16 YEAR OLD William Gneiser the youngest player in the field, rebounded from a 91 in Round 1, and was ten shots better at 81 in Round 2. Gneiser is the grandson of the late Blackhawks star Stan Mikita, who played in multiple Illinois Opens back in the 1970’s.

MEDINAH PROFESSIONAL Travis Johns who came in bidding for the career Grand Slam, made the cut on the number at +6. But is 13 shots off the lead, and a run at the slam will have to wait another year.

51 players made the cut, and tee times are expected to start with the early groups off the first tee at 9 Am.

THE WHITE EAGLE GOLF CLUB is host to this years 71st Illinois Open August 3-5.      _____________________________________________________________________

Brandon Holtz with a 6 under par 66, is the first round leader by three shots.

The 71st Illinois Open has a familiar name at the top of the leader board.

Football helmet salesman Brandon Holtz out in the first group of the day with White Eagle Golf Club Director of Golf Curtis Malm, carded a 6 under par 66, and holds a three shot lead.

The 66 is a course record, but some are calling it a new course record, since it’s come after architect Todd Quitno’s recent renovation. Apparently unwilling to take Tiger Woods name out of the record books, it’s now being said that Woods still owns the old course record. Go figure.

“Setting the new course record is pretty sweet,” said Holtz. “The course is phenomenal and the greens are great. I had a couple of bad hits off the tee that left me in tough spots, but overall it was a good day.”

Holtz says he only plays in three events a year, since he quit playing professionally. So he really gears up for those three. Holtz is no stranger to everyone who plays the Illinois Open.

In 2017 Holtz was second, in 2018 Holtz was second again. In 2019 a great third round at the Glen Club pulled him up into a T-7 finish. This year he seems like a man on  mission to finally get the job done.

Malm had a birds-eye seat to Holtz’s round.

“He hit it great, 66 was about as bad as Holtz could have shot,” said Malm, who finished with a 1-over par 73. Malm who upgraded his title in the off-season from head professional at White Eagle, to Director of Golf admitted he hasn’t been playing competitively this summer.

Malm told Golfers on Golf that the right decision was made in not cancelling this years Illinois Open, even though the second course Stonebridge had to be dropped, and the field was sliced down to it’s old size of 156 players.

Brian Bullington and 2017 Illinois Open Champion Patrick Flavin are tied for second place after carding 3-under par 69’s.

Patrick Flavin hits his drive on the par 4, second hole, his 11th of the day at White Eagle Golf Club

Flavin was the Best-Man in his brothers wedding on Sunday night, in the suburbs of Columbus Ohio. He stayed more-or-less on his best behavior Sunday night, and set his alarm at 4 Am EST, to get up to drive to White Eagle for his 12:30 tee time. He arrived just less than two hours before teeing off. Flavin did some yoga drills to get ready to play before hitting balls and working on the putting green.

Click here to hear interviews with Curtis Malm and Patrick Flavin

Three players are tied for fourth at 2 under par. Overall 16 players broke par, many of them at just 1 under par. Medinah Country Club professional Travis Johns who is bidding for the career grand slam, after winning the IPGA Section Championship last August at Ruth Lake shot a 75 (+3).

Amateur William Gneiser the youngest player in the field at only 16 years old, and is the grandson of former Blackhawks great the late Stan Mikita, struggled to a 91. Mikita an avid golfer, played in the Illinois Open on multiple occasions in the 1970’s.

The cut will come after Round 2 on Tuesday, the low-50 and ties or anyone within 10 shots of the lead, gets to play Round 3 on Wednesday.

THE 120th WESTERN AMATEUR at Crooked Stick Golf Club-BRICKYARD CROSSING is now open until 500 week approaches. Tee times going quickly Brickyardcrossing.com ______________________________________________________________________

Pierceson Coody with the George R. Thorne Trophy after winning the 120th Western Amateur Championship at Crooked Stick.

Pierceson Coody birdied the first hole and never trailed, defeating Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 2 & 1 in the championship match in the 120th Western Amateur Championship at Pete Dye’s Crooked Stick Golf Club.

Coody the #16 ranked amateur in the world, is the grandson of 1971 Masters Champion Charles Coody. Coody is a junior at the University of Texas, with Neergaard-Petersen a junior at Oklahoma State.

Coody holed a 20 foot par putt on 17 to put some pressure on Neergaard, who needed to hole a five foot putt to halve the hole and move the match to 18. We he missed the putt the match and a long week of golf at Crooked Stick was over. In the morning semi-finals, Neergaard had to go 21 holes to eliminate World Amateur #2 Ricky Castillo the top remaining seed (#5) in the championship. Coody called the win, the “biggest of his career.” The 2021 Western Amateur moves back to Illinois and the Glen View Club, where the Western Amateur was first played.

THE GEORGE HOLLIDAY Memorial Junior Tournament is now accepting entries. One of the biggest and most premier junior tournaments in the Carolina’s will be played November 26-28, on three top level Myrtle Beach golf courses, designed by Arnold Palmer, Kings North, Kings West and South Creek. Fee is $185.00 and the field is capped at 160 players. More details by calling Myrtle Beach National at (843)-448-2308.

THREE MORE TOP LEVEL Myrtle Beach Courses have been named in America’s Top 100 Courses You can Play. At #50 Dunes Golf and Beach Club, by RT Jones Sr., at #62 is Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, and #95 another Mike Strantz design the True Blue Golf Club. Tee times at PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com

Golf 360 on NBC Sports Chicago tonight at 6 PM

The Golf 360 show returns for another edition tonight at 6 PM on NBC Sports Chicago.

The show hosted by former Chicago Bear Patrick Mannelly, and produced by “Links” Dave Lockhart, takes golfers not only around the Chicago area, but beyond.

This weeks edition starts with a trip around Lake Michigan to the Jack Nicklaus designed Harbor Shores Golf Club. Follow the show on social media for news and a full schedule of episodes.

PINE MEADOW GOLF CLUB is hosting a “By Appointment Only” Taylor Made fitting day on Saturday August 22nd from 10 Am to 2 pm. To sign up call Pine Meadow at (847)-566-4653 (Golf).

SAND VALLEY DREAM GOLF-ready for a day trip of Dream Golf. Play at least 35 holes and enjoy lunch on the new food truck. Book your day at (888)-976-1435, and visit Sandvalley.com.

BLACKBERRY OAKS in Bristol is holding a 4-Person “Back to School” scramble on August 23rd. To sign up call Blackberry Oaks at (630)-553-7170, or visit BBO online at BlackberryOaks.com.

The Chicago District Golf Association-CDGA.org

Chadd Slutzky and partner John Ramsey won their second CDGA-Amateur Four Ball, in the event’s five year history.

“We’re glad to be back,” Slutzky said.

The championship was the first CDGA Championship of 2020, after several cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

To win the title Slutzky and Ramsey had to go 20 holes with Andrew Vitt and Nick Smith, who held a three-up lead after 14 holes.

With the Slutzky led comeback on, a lightning warning caused a 26 minute delay. Bur Ramsey turned things on during the extra holes, and won the match with a 2-putt on the par 3 second playoff hole at the historic Donald Ross designed Skokie Country Club. The Illinois State Mid-Amateur comes up on the CDGA shortened schedule August 24-25.

The Gog Blog returns on tomorrow. RS

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO (L-R) Rory Spears-Ed Stevenson-Bill Berger. With Len Ziehm our special guest host from PGA Village for Week 15.

Golfers on Golf Radio will be joined for the entire show by guest host and Illinois PGA Golf Hall of Fame inductee Len Ziehm, from LenZiehmongolf.com and the Daily Herald.

Golfers on Golf Radio is on WCPT Am 820, and WCPT820.com to listen live online. You can watch the show live on Facebook-WCPT page. Or use the Tune-In Radio App  Search Wcpt820. If you missed the show, you get a mulligan by visiting SoundCloud.com/Chicago’sprogressivetalk. Or watch the replay on WCPT facebook page.

Week 15 guests include Jon Parsons the GM of the Schaumburg Golf Club, that has just fully reopened from renovation. Curtis Malm the Director of Golf at the White Eagle Golf Club, home of this weeks Illinois Open Golf Championship.

We hear from World Amateur #2 Ricky Castillo at the Western Amateur, and Brickyard Crossing Director of Golf Jeff Williams, on the crazy year at the home of the Indianapolis 500.

Listen in, or listen back, it will be a great show. RS

THE 2020 WESTERN AMATEUR at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana. The course designed by Pete Dye, will host the semi-finals and championship match today.   _____________________________________________________________________

Ricky Castillo hits his drive on the 12th hole, in the Quarterfinals of the WGA Western Amateur. Andy Olgetree looks on.

Reporting from Carmel Indiana.

RICKY CASTILLO is moving on to the final four of the 118th Western Amateur.

Castillo at #5 is the highest seed remaining heading into the final day of play at Crooked Stick.

Medalist Angus Flanagan and runner-up Sam Bennett felt confident on Thursday night as the 1 and 2 seeds, that they had a great shot to win. By lunchtime on Friday they were on their way home, along with No. 3 seed Joseph Pagdin.

The Western Amateur flag on the 11th green.

The day belonged to Castillo the World rated No.2 Amateur. Both of his opponents made it tough on him.

First it was Harrison Ott who hails from Wisconsin, who make Castillo work all the way to the 17th green and 2 & 1 match in the morning.

In the quarterfinals Andy Olgetree from Mississippi, was done and beaten a few times and then he wasn’t.

Ogletree was 2 Down on the 11th hole when Castillo’s approach left just under 20 for birdie. With the heat on, Olgetree put his approach in the cup for an eagle two to bring the match within one hole.

With a birdie on 14, Castillo was again two up, but Ogletree’s birdie on 15 brought the match back to 1 Up for Castillo. Ogletree’s magic wasn’t done yet. On 17 hit tee shot found the green side pond. After a drop on the edge of the green, he rolled in a long 35 foot putt for par, Castillo matched it and the match went on to 18.

Ogletree’s drive on 18 was left of the fairway and down near the high grass, not far from Pete Dye’s back yard. But his approach shot found the left side of the green and funneled towards the hole. Castillo from the first cut of rough, airmailed the green from a flier lie. After Castillo chipped down to the 18th green, Ogletree rolled in his 15 foot birdie and the match went to the 19th hole.

Both players got up and down for par on 19, before Ogletree’s approach on 20 missed the green left. After a chip and two putts, his five was one shot worse than Castillo’s two putt par for the win. The last two holes brought out what fans there was for the biggest gallery of the day. 65 people not counting players and caddies saw the last two holes of this match of the day.

After his final match on Friday, Ricky Castillo spoke with Golfers on Golf.

Castillo plays Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen in Saturday mornings semi-finals. The other semi-final match is Pierceson Coody vs George Daungmanee who rallied from 5 down after six holes to win his quarterfinal match in 19 holes.

The 18 hole championship match is Saturday afternoon.

THE 2020 Western Amateur Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana, designed by World Golf Hall of Fame designer Pete Dye. The par 3, 6th hole.    ______________________________________________________________________

2020 Western Amateur Medalist Angus Flanagan of England (L), with WGA President Kevin Buggy at Crooked Stick.

Rounds 3 & 4 of the Western Amateur at Crooked Stick Golf Club, were played in conditions it’s designer Pete Dye would have loved.

It rained most of the day, and rained harder as the 6 for 1 playoff took place at dinner time.

But medalist Angus Flanagan who resides in England, when he is not playing on the University of Minnesota golf team, says the cooler rainy weather was right up his alley. “The other players in my group all started putting on the rain pants and shirts when the drops started falling. I just played in my golf shirt and kept my arms free to swing, and it paid off.”

With the help of a late bogey by Sam Bennett of Texas and Texas AM University, it was Flanagan who at 12 under par became the tournament medalist. But Bennett wasn’t too concerned adding,” the Western Amateur champion isn’t decided on Thursday.”

Flanagan warmed up for the Western Amateur by playing on the PGA Tour last week playing in the 3M Open, since he earned a sponsors exemption by winning the Minnesota State Open. Flanagan missed the cut by six shots with a pair of 73’s (+4). this week he has made two cuts and now has to win 4 matches.

Click here to hear Interviews with medalist Angus Flanagan and runner-up Sam Bennett.

The #2 rated amateur in the world Ricky Castillo from Yorba Linda California is the hunt after finishing at 7 under par, and he will be the #4 seed in the match play round of the Sweet Sixteen.

There was some excitement for Maxwell (Max) Moldovan of Uniontown Ohio, a member of the Ohio State golf team, and former AJGA player of the year. Moldovan made a Hole-In-One on the par 3 13th hole. Moldovan’s ace was from 198 yards with 6-Iron, but never saw the ball go in the hole. While walking up the cart path on the way to the green, he was approached by a rules official. The official asked Moldovan if he hit the second shot in his group, and Moldovan answered yes. Then the official told him he would not need his putter, his ball was in the cup.

Moldovan said,” then we all went crazy.”

What else was crazy was watching the final 16 players, try to assemble under Covid-19 social distancing guidelines for the sweet sixteen photo. At least the rain stopped for the picture. Match play will see the round of 16 in the morning, and the quarterfinals in the afternoon. Before four players advance to Saturday’s semi-finals and championship match.

LEN ZIEHM Illinois Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2019 (L)-and RORY SPEARS (R) host of Golfers on Golf Radio have teamed up in the newest version in their series of podcasts.   _____________________________________________________________________

Click here to hear the latest edition of Ziehm & Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 20

In this weeks edition, Len and Rory discuss the 2020 Western Amateur now underway at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana. The Illinois player presence at this weeks Wisconsin State Amateur, where you go when your own state cancels their edition.

The Illinois Open and what the defending champion and two-time winner David Cooke is doing now, besides playing golf.

The renovation scene, architect Greg Martin is keeping busy and is working through improvements on the fly at Park Ridge Country Club in advance of the 2021 Women’s Western Golf Association’s National Amateur.

Courses opening this Saturday, the final 9 holes at the Schaumburg Golf Club, and the new 10-hole par 3 course at Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon Michigan.

Len Ziehm joins Golfers on Golf Radio this weekend as a remote guest host from PGA Village in Port St. Lucie Florida. 10-11 Am on Am 820 WCPT and Wcpt820.com or watch the show on WCPT Facebook live page. Listen in on the Tune-In radio APP search WCPT820.

THE 2020 WESTERN AMATEUR IS UNDERWAY and down to 46 players for Rounds 3 & 4 tomorrow at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana. The title is up for grabs, and defending champion and NHL referee Garrett Rank has missed the cut by 3 shots. PARK RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB is getting ready for the Women’s Western Amateur in 2021, architect Greg Martin & team are hard at work getting it ready. More this week.      _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and Facebook, or LinkedIn. On the 1st at Schaumburg Golf Club, Championship 9 opening Saturday August 1st.

JACK IS BACK. Actually the #GOAT was never gone.

But what the 18-time major champion has done, is created a limited-edition set of irons as a joint-venture with the legendary Japanese Club makers at Miura Golf.

This series of irons are for serious collectors who enjoy beauty and function.

The set is a classic Miura blade, with the Nicklaus preferred specifications. The partnership on the this set of irons mixes 60 years of the Miura’s club making perfection, with the Nicklaus thoughts on design created over his 60 years on design thoughts.

Jack Nicklaus with the Miura Golf design team.

These clubs are the first in a decade to “Bear” the Nicklaus name.

Pre-Order is available now, by going to Miuragolf.com/Nicklaus. the first sets will arrive in early 2021.

Nicklaus first went to the Miura factory in 2014, and was only the second person to sit in the famed Miura grinding line first chair, where only Miura-san has ever sat.

“The day Jack visited the factory was the best day of my life,” Miura-san said. “My family is honored to produce this set of iron’s for golf’s greatest champion and see our families crest share a clubhead with his seal of approval.”

The Nicklaus Miura Blade Iron, Pre-order now.

“I’ve spent decades designing golf equipment, and I cherish  the painstaking craftsmanship that goes into enhancing the tools of my trade,” Nicklaus said. “The Miura family and I share this passion for doing everything the right way and leaving no detail overlooked, and we have worked closely in this collaboration to highlight the superior subtleties of Miura forged steel.”

The goal in this partnership was to create the Miura-san club, with a modern day version of the Nicklaus blade. What Nicklaus asked for, was a set of irons created with a standard offset, uniformed through the set. Miura clubs have been built since 1957, they are individually handcrafted and will never be mass-produced. For more see Miuragolf.com/Nicklaus.

  THE WESTERN AMATEUR IS UNDERWAY Round 2 tomorrow, leading to Saturday afternoons championship match, at the Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana.         ____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook or LinkedIn.

THE FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB in Roscommon Michigan. The new 10-hole par 3 short course will open this Saturday, adding another reason to go visit Forest Dunes.

THERE IS A NEW LOOP IN TOWN AND it’s not created by Tom Doak, but by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns. The new loop adds another dimension to the destination of Forest Dunes.

The original Forest Dunes course by Tom Weiskopf ranks 28th on the Golf Digest Top 100 you can play list. Doak’s Loop Courses sit 45 (Black) and 47 (Red) on the same list. Toss in the two-acres of the Hilltop Putting Course, a great clubhouse, lodge and villas, and now the addition of the Par 3, course makes this destination even more attractive to golfers of all skill levels.

Owner Lew Thompson wanted the course done this summer, so Rhebb and Johns got it done and grassed in 81 days.

“We essentially had Carte-Blanche from Lew, which was awesome, and really the only way could get the project completed in time,” says Rhebb. Thompson requested the course be playful, and that though was carried by Rhebb and Johns through out the building process.

The new par 3 course at Forest Dunes.

Playful and “aceful” was what Rhebb and Johns delivered.

The greens sloop towards certain pin locations, which could increase the odds for a golfer actually make a hole-in-one.

Holes one and ten are crossover holes with a tree adding protection from ball flight problems.

Holes 1 & 10 are both viewable from the pavilion, where the social scene at Forest Dunes takes place, so great shots there could get a great response from the gallery.

“When you come to Forest Dunes, we want you to have a good time,” says Thompson, who says music, bare feet and eightsomes are all fair game on the new par-three course if that’s what it takes to make the game more accessible and fun. “What Keith and Riley have built is bringing a new life and energy to the property. It’s going to bring people together and make their time here more enjoyable.”

Forest Dunes sits among 1,300 acres of woodlands that make up part of the Huron National Forest. There are new villas and cottages that have recently opened as part of a series of improvements. For more details see ForestDunesGolf.com

THE WESTERN AMATEUR at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana, on the tee starting tomorrow. Schaumburg Golf Club opens it’s final 9 holes from renovation this coming Saturday August 1st. For tee times and information visit Schaumburggolf.com.    _____________________________________________________________________

The 1st hole of the Tournament Nine at the Schaumburg Golf Club, that reopens on Saturday. THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and or Facebook and Linkedin.

AM week continues for the Western Golf Association, with the Western Amateur at Pete Dye’s Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana.

First up a job well done by everyone with the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) at Prestwick Country Club in Frankfort. During these times anyone who puts on a first class tournament, and makes it work has done an excellent job. It is too bad that the galleries were limited, but at least the championship did not have to be canceled. The board and the membership at Prestwick should be complimented as well.

The 2021 WWGA Amateur will be played at the Park Ridge Country Club, and architect Greg Martin is there now working on the renovations for next year’s event. I’ll be out there tomorrow checking out the improvements, before heading out to Crooked Stick later this week.

I HAVE TO THANK Susan Hess Owner & Designer of the Prospect Heights based Golftini for filling in on Golfers on Golf radio with Bill Berger and I, with Ed Stevenson still on the multi-show DL (shoulder). I’m wishing Ed a full and speedy recovery, and Bill and I hope he can rejoin us in the studio before long. Ladies for golf wear that looks great on and off the golf course, visit Golftiniwear.com.

The new Cog Hill Long Drive Pale Ale, available only at Cog Hill.

THE DRIVE IS ON, the long drive that is at Cog Hill. While the World Long Drive Championships are off for this year, the Cog Hill Long Drive Pale Ale is not, and it’s hot. As in selling, temperature, wise it’s right where you want it-come mid-summer. Good and Cold.

Cog Hill is among the clubs that are creating their own beer, and Cog Hill has teamed up with Pollyanna Brewing in Lemont to create the brew for Cog Hill.

I finally tried one at Cog Hill last week, since I was in need of a cold one to go along with my Dubs-burger, still one of the best burgers in town.

I did not try it on-tap but in the can since I wanted one to take home. The can is really well done with a course picture of Dubsbread (Cog 4) on one side and the famed photo of Joe Jemsek hitting his famous 501 yard drive off the tower at the Worlds Fair in Chicago.

If there is any bad news, it’s that Cog Hill is running out of LD Pale Ale, and might have a short gap where they have run out. Good news is that they are ordering more. Bad news is that they can’t sell it to go. I suggested a short-term license with the community for the annual holiday sale around December 1st in the 2-4 building. Cases to go, what a wonderful idea. Here’s hoping GM Troy Newport and the Jemseks can make that work. If your wondering, I’m not an expert on beer taste-testing, but I thought it tasted a bit like a Leinenkugel Summer-Shandy.

LEN ZIEHM and I will podcast this week on Wednesday, and Volume 20 for 2020 should post on Thursday. As usual, I’m sure Len will have a lot to say. His Daily Herald column this week, will preview next weeks Illinois Open at the White Eagle Golf Club.

SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB finally gets the last nine open from renovation this Saturday August 1st. A great job done by architect Todd Quitno, Schaumburg Golf Club GM Jon Parsons and everyone involved. I can’t wait to play all 27 of the renovated holes in the next week or so.

AT SETTLERS HILL in Geneva, golfers will soon see some work getting done on property for the upcoming renovation. It will not interfere with play, so enjoy “The Hill” for the rest of the 2020 golf season.

THE WISCONSIN State Amateur this week tee’s off at the historic Milwaukee Country Club, what’s got the locals north of the border concerned, is that there is a flood of players coming up this year from Illinois. At least 25 of them. But who can blame top amateur players from going there to play, good event, great golf course. I wish I could get in the field.

THE CHICAGO PUTTER is coming out. Sean Toulon, which is now Odyssey Toulon putters, has created a new line of putters named after cities. The Seattle, the Las Vegas, the Atlanta, the Austin, the Memphis, the San Diego and the Chicago. Go online and check them out.

The Gog Blog returns all week. RS