THE CROOKED STICK GOLF CLUB-in Carmel Indiana is home to the 118th Western Amateur from July 27-August 1. The championship will be played. WesternAmateur.com ______________________________________________________________________

BY-RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf Radio and GolfersonGolf.com Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or LinkedIn and Facebook.

2019 Western Amateur champion Garrett Rank is back to defend his title at Crooked Stick. Photo by WGA.

Defending Champion and current National Hockey League (NHL) referee Garret Rank heads up a powerful field at the 118th Western Amateur Championship.

Crooked Stick Golf Club will host the championship that will get played, from July 27 through the championship match on August 1.

Crooked Stick was one of the first and most revered designs, ever created by World Golf Hall of Fame inductee golf architect the late Pete Dye, who passed away earlier this year.

The Pete and Alice Dye statue has been moved to front circle by the clubhouse, from the golf course, to welcome everyone to Crooked Stick. Photo by Rory Spears.

After refereeing a Chicago Blackhawks game in early January, Rank told Golfers on Golf he was very much looking forward to defending his Western Amateur title at Crooked Stick. Rank called winning the 2019 Western Amateur at Point O’ Woods “a great day.”

The Western Amateur was first contested in 1899, at the Glen View Club in Golf Illinois, where the championship returns to in 2021. The championship is the third oldest amateur event, behind only the British Amateur (1855) and the U.S. Amateur (1895). Past champions include Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Ben Crenshaw and Chick Evans.

The last time the championship was cancelled, was from 1943-1945 for World War II. This years pandemic will not force a cancellation, says both WGA and club officials.

This year another solid field has come together for the championship, in addition to Rank there are six other players who advanced to the Sweet 16, Match Play part of the 2019 championship.

The Par 3, 6th hole at Crooked Stick.

World No.2 ranked amateur Ricky Castillo, and finalist for the Ben Hogan Award during his freshman year at the University of Florida is joined by Georgia Bulldog rival Davis Thompson World Amateur No.4.

Florida State Seminole junior John Pak, the No.5 ranked amateur in the world, Pak has advanced twice to the match play part of the Western Amateur, and 2018 Western Amateur Champion Texas sophomore Cole Hammer are four players to watch for championship week. Hammer had a T-9 finish at the Fighting Illini invite last September at Olympia Fields Country Club, and currently is the 7th ranked amateur player in the world.

“We strive each year to attract the best amateur players in the world, and we’re pleased that so many of them have chosen to play in this years Western Amateur,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments. “We’re excited to bring this years field to a venue as iconic as Crooked Stick.”

Click here to listen to the interview with Crooked Stick Director of Golf Operations Tony Pancake.

This years Western Amateur is the first one played in the state of Indiana since 1951, when Frank Stranahan won the championship at the South Bend Country Club. The Western Amateur has never been held in the Indianapolis area. The last golfer from the state of Indiana to win the Western Amateur Title, was Dylan Meyer who won at the Knollwood Club located in Lake Forest Illinois back in 2016.

Two BMW Championships have been played at Crooked Stick, first in 2012 when Rory McIlroy took the title, and then again in 2016 with Dustin Johnson hoisting the trophy.

Crooked Stick has produced 24 Evans Scholars caddies over the years, with one caddie Joe Conway currently attending Purdue University. For more information on the championship see Westernamateur.com.

THE CALLAWAY MAVERICK DRIVER-THE CALLAWAY JAWS WEDGES by Roger Cleveland. Both worth a look for those needing new sticks. Go Visit CallawayGolf.com  _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and on LinkedIn or Facebook. In the Mistwood Golf Course Performance Center in Romeoville.

THE TEST’S WERE POSITIVE, there is of course NO-Corona Virus, just golf clubs that add distance and accuracy.

Callaway Golf’s Maverick Line of clubs and the new Roger Cleveland designed Jaws Wedges, do just that.

I spent last Thursday morning in the Mistwood Golf Performance Center with fitting specialist Chris Ioriatti, both Chris and Eric Russell make a great team of fitters at the Mistwood Golf Club. Golf Digest named Mistwood one of the Top 100 fitting locations in the country.

I tried out the new Maverick Line of Clubs, and hit the Jaws Wedges both by Callaway. Thumbs-Up from me on both. I gained 17 yards on a Maverick 7-Iron over my current model, and some yardage and spin on the Jaws Wedges. If your in the market for new clubs, check out both products before you make a decision. More courses and companies are having demo days again, and you should attend one to learn more about what’s the best options available in equipment, and in golf balls.

Cog Hill Long Drive Ale-now available on tap or in cans at Cog Hill.

LONG DRIVE ALE-Now Available, but there are no long drives on the range to go along with it.

Over the winter Cog Hill was selected to have it’s biggest event since the 2011 BMW Championship was played on Course #4 and won by Justin Rose.

The World Long Drive Championship was coming to town, and more than once. In fact WLD was supposed to visit Cog Hill for the next five years in a row.

There was word a month or so ago, that the tour was for sale by the owners, The Golf Channel.

Now there seems to be no tour at all. Events are listed as cancelled, or in the case of the tour championship at Cog Hill in September. Suspended. I’m still waiting for more information from Cog Hill, but the WLD website says they are looking for new partner to take over the tour, who can operate it in a safe manner during these pandemic times. Stay tuned for more from this long drive as it tries to hit the fairway.,

The Illinois Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

SHOULD HE STAY OR SHOULD HE GO !

Former PGA of America President and the first and third winner of the Masters Tournament Horton Smith, was labeled as someone with racist views back in the 1950’s, when Smith served as the PGA of America President.

Smith tried to stop former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis from playing in the 1952 San Diego Open because Louis was black. But as an invited amateur, Louis did play in the SDO after-all. However black professional Bill Spiller was denied entrance into the 52-SDO. This was documented during an ESPN feature in 2008. The PGA of America has taken the Horton Smith Award and renamed it the PGA Player Development Award. That begs the question, what will the Illinois PGA Section do about it’s Horton Smith Award, last won in 2019 by teaching professional Todd Sones who works out of White Deer Run.

In 2017 after a push by Oak Park Country Club members, where Smith served as head golf professional for four years in the 1930’s, Smith was voted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. Now will the IL. Golf Hall of Fame committee let him stay. Smith is also in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, and in 1990 was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In Smith’s hometown of Springfield Missouri, there is a public course named after him.

Now that the PGA of America has opened this can of worms, that includes a statement from President Suzy Whaley that says “The PGA of America is taking ownership of a Failed Chapter in our history.” Where does it all stop. There is a lot more to the history of Horton Smith than just one national award, and some of it is found at the Glen Club in Glenview, where the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame resides.

MORE FROM THE PGA and the PGA Merchandise Show People. The news is all the safety precautions that will be in place for next January’s 2021 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando because of the pandemic. Wider isles, more hand sanitizers, different food options, and even a mask plan for all show-goers. But good news is that all of this could change and none of the above might be needed, so they say. Let’s hope the 2021 show plays out like the many shows before it and the major of golf business, is a major event that comes out a winner.

CONGRATULATIONS to 2015 U.S. Amateur Champion at Olympia Fields Bryson DeChambeau on his win yesterday at the Rocket Mortgage Championship in Detroit. Dechambeau should be returning to Olympia Fields late next month to play in the BMW Championship.

WHICH BEGS more questions….a planned BMW Championship media day was cancelled last week. Leaving some to speculate the tournament would be cancelled as well. That does NOT appear to be the case. What Western Golf Association (WGA) and PGA Tour officials would like to do, is get more information from health officials and the State of ILL. about the possibility of fan attendance and or how many before having the media event. So if someone tells you the BMW is cancelled, don’t believe them.

KUDO’s to Northbrook’s very own Nick Hardy on another Top 10 on the Korn Ferry Tour, with a 7th place finish in Colorado this past week, at the Art Schaupeter designed TPC Colorado. Schaupeter gets the credit for his design at Highlands of Elgin, plus an assist on the Greg Martin redesign at Oak Meadows, now known as “The Preserve”, part of DuPage Golf.

I’M LOOKING FORWARD to another tour around the final 9 holes coming in from renovation at the Schaumburg Golf Club. The Tournament Nine appears to be headed towards an August 1st opening, and finally after years of hard work. The facility improvements will be completed. Stay clicked in for more on the Schaumburg Golf Club.

THE GOG BLOG returns all week. RS

GOLF DIGEST has named Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville one of the Top 100 Club Fitting locations in America. See Specialists Chris Ioriatti (R) and Eric Russel to up your game to the next level, with today’s best equipment for your game see Mistwoodgc.com ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. At WCPT Am 820

THE WEEK AHEAD is expected to be hot and dry, take advantage of it, and go play some golf. Just stay hydrated.

Congratulations to Victoria (Vicky) McGowan on her promotion to Director of Golf at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. McGowan who has been at Rich Harvest Farms for ten years was promoted into the position by Jerry Rich on June 1st.

Rich Harvest Farms that was scheduled to host the Men’s Big Ten Conference Championship May 1-3 of this year, and had the championship cancelled by the Covid-19 Pandemic, will receive the championship again in a future year. Perhaps as early as 2023. Rich Harvest Farms will host the 2021 Palmer Cup, and the Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate hosted by Northern Illinois University (NIU) this September 25-28. Admission and parking are free.

Chad Johansen summer camps, indoors and out. ChadJohansen.com

INDOORS and OUTSIDE the Chad Johansen summer golf programs are underway.

Do you know the 4StepProcess and how to shoot your lowest golf scores ever.

Junior golf programs for the summer finally have the green light and have been reset for launch. Summer and fall golf leagues are getting ready to tee off.

These programs fill up quickly, so sign up your junior golf today. Call Blackberry Oaks Golf Club at (630)-553-7170 or see Chadjohansen.com.

The Cog Hill Long drive Ale is now available on tap or in the can at Cog Hill.

IT’S HERE on Tap or in the Can. The Cog Hill long drive ale.

It sounds great, especially on a hot day, after a round of golf at Cog Hill. Pollyanna brewing has created the new flavor at Cog Hill.

NOW THE OTHER QUESTION, it appears the World Long Drive (WLD) National Championships are not happening this year at Cog Hill.

In fact the entire tour seems to be shut down at least for now anyway.

But the good news at Cog Hill is the golf courses, all four of them are open, demo days by major equipment manufacturers are back. Need more, okay there is a major sale in the pro shop all weekend long, so get there today and save up to 25% on some items. To learn more visit Coghillgolf.com.

MORE FROM JEMSEK GOLF-Pine Meadow has a Titleist Fitting event coming up this Thursday from 12-to 4:45 PM, but no walk-ups. You must make an appointment by calling (847)-566-GOLF (4653).

Golf 360 with Patrick Mannelly and Links Dave Lockhart. Tonight at 6 PM

Golf 360 is back again for another season, starting tonight at 6 PM on NBC Sports Chicago.

Host and former Chicago Bear Patrick Mannelly, along with “Links” Dave Lockhart put together several features on area golf stories.

Heritage Bluffs Golf Course, interviews with Illinois PGA Award winning instructors, plus a tribute to Mistwood Golf and Mistwood Dome owner Jim McWethy who passed away last week. The Zero Friction new Captain America golf glove. Details at Linksvideo.net/360tv.

The Drumlin putting green at Erin Hills.

BOOK IT-Yes you can and right now.

Since 2020 travel plans have changed due to the Pandemic, you can now look forward to 2021 at Erin Hills.

This way you can arrive before the USGA does with another championship in 2022.

Call reservations now and plan your play and stay at (866)-590-9468. The new Drumlin putting has lights for night time putting under stars. Erinhills.com.

FIVE MEMBERS of the Illinois Women’s Golf Team have been named All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. Illinois Senior Tristyn Nowlin, Junior Reena Sulkar, Sophomore’s Crystal Wang and Kornkamol Sukaree, Freshman Siyan Chen. More information at FightingIllini.com.

GALVIN GREEN Celebrates 30 Years with launch of a new Gore-Tex Line, and Interface-1, see GalvinGreen.com.

(PRNewsfoto/Topgolf Entertainment Group)

TOPGOLF has opened in new style in the home of the Masters, Augusta GA.

Topgolf Augusta opened this past Friday July 3rd, and it’s a new style Topgolf, with a completely open air style, the first of it’s kind.

The new facility has 36 open-air hitting bays and will have the latest in Toptracer technology. Part of that new technology includes the hot new game Jewel Jam. Several Top 100 courses include St. Andrews in Scotland and Pebble Beach, Spyglass and Spanish Bay. Currently dividers have been added to for Covid safety precautions. Details at Topgolf.com/us/Augusta.

The Cleveland Golf RTX ZipCore wedges-coming August 14th.

CLEVELAND GOLF has announced the upcoming release of it’s new RTX ZipCore wedges on August 14th of next month.

Cleveland Golf says these new wedges push performance beyond the levels of anything Cleveland Golf has created in the past.

“Cleveland wedges are always just beautiful looking clubs, and this one is no different,” says 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowery. “”they’re very traditional and I just love them. You need to be able to trust what your wedges are going to do, and RTX ZipCore does everything I need it to do. I couldn’t ask for anything else in a wedge.”

The ZipCore comes with grooves that are 11% sharper, 7.3 deeper, and are 7.4%closer together to generate increased spin and consistent spin performance from any conditions that can be found on the golf course. “The new RTX ZipCore is a technological leap forward for Cleveland wedges,” said Jeff Brunski, Vice President of Research and Development. “The low-density core inside the clubhead design, allowed us to create a wedge with more consistency and exceptional feel.”

Currently the RTX wedge line comes in Tour Satin finish at MAP $149.99, with other finishes available later this year. Mid-Sole grind is now offered in 46-60 degree lofts. Low-Sole is 56-62 degrees. Full-Sole is 54-60 degree lofts. Shafts are the True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner Tour Issue shaft, and grips are the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360. More information can be found at ClevelandGolf.com.

The Gog Blog Speaks Out-Returns tomorrow. RS

  GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO TEE’S OFF in it’s 30th season. Saturday mornings at 10 AM on 820 Am WCPT, or listen live on WCPT820.com Watch us live or on social delay on Facebook. If your on the course or the range use the Tune In Radio APP Search WCPT, if you need a mulligan check out Soundcloud.com/Chicagosprogressivetalk.

Golfers on Golf Radio is L-R Rory Spears, Ed Stevenson IPGA, and BIll Berger PGA Life Member. 2019 Illinois Golf Hall of Fame inductee Len Ziehm is a weekly contributor to the show, both live and via Memorex.

This week VP of Sales for Volvik Golf Balls Wes Wittingham and Brendan Sweeney Golf marketing guru from the French Lick Resort join us live.

We will also hear from Len Ziehm and University of Illinois Men’s Golf Coach Mike Small, on the gift of golf received by the U of I this past week.

The tee time is 10 am, join Ed, Bill and I. WCPT Am 820 Chicago.

LEN ZIEHM in PGA Village of Port St. Lucie Florida, RORY SPEARS in the WCPT Am 820 Chicago studio’s, home of Golfers on Golf Radio in it’s 30th season. #Golfisback     _____________________________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to hear Ziehm & Spears Podcast series 2020-Volume 16

This week Len and Rory discuss the increase of play this year in the sport of golf. The Atkins family donating/gifting the Stone Creek Golf Club to the University of Illinois. The Women’s Western Amateur is being played at Prestwick Country Club in Frankfurt and so is the Western Amateur Championship at the Crooked Stick Golf Club.

Both tournaments will have a large contingent of the players from the University of Illinois. Demo days are back in force, happening at multiple locations around the area. Rich Harvest farms and Jerry Rich announce a major promotion and begin preparations for next years Palmer Cup.

The Schaumburg Golf Club is less than 30 days from opening it’s final 9 holes from renovations.

The Illinois PGA Section events return this week. The Ryder Cup might be pushed into 2021, all that and more with Ziehm & Spears Volume 16.

  THE WHITE EAGLE GOLF CLUB IN NAPERVILLE-will be host to the 71st Illinois Open ______________________________________________________________________

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

Former IPGA Section President Mark Labiak-hands the 2019 IPGA Section trophy to Travis Johns of Medinah Country Club.

With the Covid-19 pandemic creating havoc in society and the world of sports, the Illinois PGA Section has been forced into the scramble mode to create a schedule with tournaments for competition, for it’s section members, and the top amateur players who will enter the 71st Illinois Open at the White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville.

After months of hard work and having to reshuffle the deck, the revised schedule is in place for the months ahead in 2020.

The good news is that the four major championships will still be held, but with some changes.

The Illinois Open was cut down to it’s former field size of 156 players, and a two course system was reduced to one, with Stonebridge Country Club taking a mulligan to a later date in the years ahead. The PGA section championship is still on for Medinah Country Club from August 24-26.

The IPGA Match Play Championship was delayed from May at the Kemper Lakes Golf Club, to September 15-18 at the Elgin Country Club, with a new format of stroke play that determines the final 64 players that move into the match play brackets.

The seasons final major the IPGA Players Championship will be contested from October 5-6, and remain at Conway Farms. But will have a field of 35 players, by invitation only from the standings of the Bernardi Player of the Year points race.

“We worked diligently over the past few months with our Board, Officers and Tournament Committee to develop a tournament schedule that was both safe for participants while preserving the Major Championships and other key events,” said Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the Illinois PGA and Illinois PGA Foundation. “We’d like to thank all of the Illinois PGA Professionals and facilities for their dedication and flexibility to help us create our new 2020 tournament schedule.”

The Illinois PGA Assistant Professional Championship (Monday July 13 Cress Creek) and IPGA Senior Professional Championship (Merit Club August 10-11) will serve as national qualifiers.

Unfortunately the following events were cancelled for 2020. The Pro-Pro-Pro Scramble, the Spring-Fall Pro-Assistant IPGA Senior Stroke Plays 1-2-3-4. IPGA Assistant Stroke Play Events 1-2. The Radix Cup, Thompson Cup and Royal Cup Matches. IPGA 1-Day Pro-Am (both). IPGA Senior Masters IPGA Sroke Play 6.

In October three Pro-Am’s will take place. October 1st at Onwentsia the Ryne Sandberg IPGA Foundation Pro-Am. October 4-5 the IPGA Fall travel Pro-Am at Sand Valley Resort in Nekoosa Wisconsin. From October 19-21 in Pinehurst the Meyer-Brown-Miller Invitational. For further information please see IPGA.com.

                   THE 2020 U.S. OPEN coming this September on NBC-Yes that’s right NBC.

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

The USGA’s time in the Fox hole is over, effect yesterday, the United States Golf Association (USGA) is no longer TV partners with Fox Broadcasting and has returned to the NBC broadcasting network.

It appears that the USGA and Fox had different idea’s about what to show and when over the past few months, with the major conflict being the two U.S. Opens. Both the Men’s U.S. Open in September and the Women’s U.S. Open in December, cause scheduling conflicts for TV time. With Fox wanting to stay with NCAA and NFL football on the weekend, and the USGA expecting it’s U.S. Open’s to be televised on Fox, and not Fox Sports 1, as Fox had hoped to do.

                         USGA.org.

“We are thrilled to acquire the remainder of the Fox Sports’ USGA agreement, and will carry the designated USGA events, including the U.S. Open, through 2026,” said Pete Bevacqua,president of the NBC Sports Group. “Adding these prestigious USGA events to our incredibly deep golf business, led by our long-term deal PGA Tour partnership, as well as the Open Championship and the Ryder Cup, positions us as absolute leaders in the golf space. This deal is advantageous for all parties, including NBC Sports, Golf channel, Peacock and the USGA, but also Fox Sports, and we thank them for working with us to complete this transaction. It further solidifies our platforms as the destination for golf viewers and enthusiasts, with NBC, Golf Channel, GOLFNow and GOLFPASS.”

“Partnering with NBCUniversal, including Golf Channel, gives us an, unparalleled opportunity to connect and engage with the core audience more directly and routinely, and as a non-profit, to continue to have a significant and lasting impact on the game,” said Mike Davis CEO of the USGA.

In 2021 the USGA schedule will be played in full, and the new agreement with NBCU will allow for full uninterrupted coverage of eight USGA events because of the partnership with Rolex. The last hour of the final round will be uninterrupted, with out any interruptions.

“Fox Sports has cherished its time with the as home to the USGA Championships for the past six years. This is a relationship and partnership that has been second to none,” said Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive producer of Fox Sports. “Recent events calling for the shift for the U.S. Open created scheduling challenges that were difficult to overcome. While we are proud of the success we’ve built over the these years, this is a win for golf fans everywhere, a win for the USGA and a win for FOX and NBC Sports.”

“Fox brought significant innovation to golf broadcasting by elevating technology and enhancing fan experience,” said Davis. “We appreciate the partnership we have had with FOX Sports, and FOX Sports efforts over the last six years to produce world-class events.”

THE FORMER STONE CREEK GOLF CLUB is now the ATKINS GOLF CLUB at the University of Illinois (pending trustee’s approval). More information at Illinois.edu.           ____________________________________________________________________

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

The Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois

The University of Illinois has released the following statement.

The Atkins Group (TAG) has donated more than 300 acres of real estate in southeast Urbana, highlighted by the Stone Creek Golf Club and it’s associated buildings and equipment to the University of Illinois and the University of Illinois Foundation.

The Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) will operate the golf club. The club will remain closed for the remainder of 2020, while undergoing improvements on and off the golf course. The course will remain a public golf course while serving as home for the men’s and women’s golf teams for the University of Illinois-Fighting Illini. The total value of the gift exceeds 15 million dollars.

“We are so grateful to Susie, Spencer, Todd, Suzette and the entire Atkins family for their continued generosity to the University of Illinois and Fighting Illini Athletics,” said Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. “Working with them to develop the full breadth of this remarkable gift has been a true pleasure. We are excited about the future of the golf course and the benefits it will have for our varsity golf programs and, of equal importance, our entire community. We believe such a broad-based, visible presence from the University will help generate great value and stability to the homeowners and businesses in southeast Urbana. As part of the gift the university receives more than 100 residential lots, and over 70 undeveloped acres of land.

The golf club is an 18-hole public golf course located on nearly 190 acres. The course was closed in January of this year, as the Atkins family (TAG) and the University of Illinois worked towards this agreement. As part of the agreement the Illinois DIA will hire a golf course management firm to operate the golf course, the off course operation and will oversee meaningful improvements to the golf course, that will benefit both the men’s and women’s golf teams.

Click here to our the interview with University of Illinois Men’s golf coach Mike Small.

“We are excited for the opportunity to connect with the University of Illinois, again,” said Spencer Atkins. “As discussions progressed, it became clear to the family that a donation befitting our mission would be in line with the University’s vision and commitment to our community.”

Click here to hear the interview with Illinois Women’s golf coach Renee Slone.

The newly named Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois will reopen for public play in the spring of 2021. Both coaches spoke to looking forward to seeing improvements that will help the facility become among the best college golf courses in the nation, hosting future championship events.

The gift will count towards the $300 million dollar fundraising goal for the DIA. Which is part of the University-wide $2.25 billion dollar fundraising effort.

THE VOLVIK GOLF BALL HOLIDAY PACK-learn more about Volvik on this Saturdays Golfers on Golf Radio. CHAD JOHANSEN’s 4Step Process-with pro Chip Beck coming up this Tuesday at 8 PM. For more details please see 4StepProcess.com #Bettergolf      _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Facebook and LinkedIn. On the par 3, 17th hole at The Fort Golf Course in Indy.

ILLINOIS are you ready for a set of more relaxed golf restrictions that went into effect last Friday.

Lets hope they make a day at the golf course more relaxing and more enjoyable.

If you need a set of the new guidelines, see our story here from last Friday, or visit the CDGA.org website, or the Illinois PGA website Ipga.com.

There are some courses that will fully tee off all the guidelines in another week starting Monday July 6th after the 4th of July weekend.

AP REPORTING and thanks to an assist from the Illinois Golfer, NBC is back in the picture in handling the U.S. Open, and apparently that will start at Winged Foot this September. The AP story says that NBC will take the U.S. Open back for the last 7 years of what was the Fox contract, and that Fox is out after 5 years in what was a 12 year deal with the USGA effective immediately.

Wilson Golf staffer Kevin Streelman had a runner-up finish at Hartford in the Travelers Championship.

Wheaton’s Kevin Streelman had a great bounce-back weekend, after two straight missed cuts after the PGA Tour restart.

Streelman did miss the cut at Harbour Town, but he had a bounce-back round on Friday with a 67 before heading out of South Carolina.

Hartford is one of the wins that Streelman has had in his PGA Tour career.

Streelman finished at 18 under par just one shot back of winner Dustin Johnson. It was nice of Streelman to put in a plug during his post round interview for both of his childhood courses, Cantigny and Arrowhead golf club both in Wheaton. It was also nice to see Golfers on Golf Radio guest from June 20th, Wilson Golf’s Brendan Steele have a Top-10 finish with his T-6th.

THE KORN FERRY Tour is home to some of our local players this year. Vince India of Deerfield, Nick Hardy of Northbrook, Doug Ghim of Arlington Hts., and Brad Hopfinger of Naperville all made the cut this past week. With India’s 18th place finish leading the locals. Nice to see India bounce back from a rough final round a week ago, when he had the lead going into the last round.

Congratulations to Devin Johnson for winning the Blackberry Amateur with a 12 under par score of (132). Played at Blackberry Oaks, and run by Chad Johansen, sponsored by Wilson Golf and Michelob Ultra.

GREAT NEWS FROM PINEHURST-so many groups have returned that the historic Carolina Hotel was full and the remodeled Manor Inn was opened. Add a few more more guests, and the Holly Inn will have to be reopened as well. Details on rooms at Pinehurst, see Pinehurst.com. There are plenty of tee times still available, so bring the clubs when your travels take you to the Sandhill country. See Lenziehmongolf.com for his recent story on the Pinehurst area.

LOOKING AHEAD this week here, the Illinois PGA has announced it’s 2020 schedule, and what events will get played and which ones will get cancelled. Plus more features on my trip to Indiana, and Honma Golf has launched the TR 20 Irons that are getting good reviews. RS

  THE PRESERVE at Oak Meadows in Addison continues to move forward with it’s new clubhouse that should be finished this year. More on the Preserve at DuPagegolf.com.    _____________________________________________________________________

THE CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATION-CDGA.org

If you are not aware, the State of Illinois has lifted more of the restrictions that have been affecting golf in Illinois.

If you are not aware of the changes, you should visit the CDGA website, at CDGA.org.

Some golf courses are waiting until Monday July 6th, to fully implement all of the changes. Check in with the pro shop, before arriving at the golf course, to find out what changes have already taken place and which ones will begin in a few days.

The Illinois PGA website IPGA.com has also included an update on the current restrictions.

FROM MYRTLE BEACH-Lansdon Robbins of UNC Wilmington/Davidson NC, shot a final round 5 under par 67 to win the inaugural Golfweek Myrtle Beach Collegiate at the Barefoot Resorts-Dye Course. Taylor Roberts a freshman at Florida State, led wire-to-wire, and finished with a 4 under par, two shots better than Marissa Wenzler (Kentucky) to win the women’s tournament.

Overall 119 players-78 men, and 41 women played in the 54 hole event.

THE FOUNDERS GROUP that owns and operates 18 golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area, is now allowing walking year round. Details at Myrtlebeachgolftrips.com.

SENTRY WORLD in Stevens Point Wisconsin. Has issued a statement through general manager Mike James. James the says facility has made a difficult decision and will keep Sentry World closed through at least September 8th. At that time they are hoping to reopen for the remainder of the golf season. Details at Sentryworld.com. Home of the famed flower hole.

     PGA.com

THE 2020 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP will be played on August 3-9 at it’s original location Harding Park Golf Club, located in the city of San Francisco.

As of now the championship is playing played with no fan attendance.

As a result, the championship be held at Harding Park has the support of San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed.

The PGA looks forward to returning to the San Francisco area in 2028 with the PGA Championship and the 2032 Ryder Cup, both to be held at the Olympic Club. More details at PGA.com.

The Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena Illinois has announced the opening of it’s new Highlands Restaurant on July 3rd. For both lunch and dinner 7 days a week. For more details on the reopening of the restaurants and food operation at Eagle Ridge, please visit Eagleridge.com

THE GOG BLOG written by Rory Spears-returns tomorrow. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or Facebook and LinkedIn.