WCPT AM 820-HOME OF GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO in it’s 30th season. Golfers on Golf Radio (L-R) is Rory Spears, Ed Stevenson & Bill Berger. Every Saturday at 10 Am.  ______________________________________________________________________

Wilson Golf’s Tim Clarke stepped in as Guest-Host last weekend, and talks about the growing Wilson Golf Brand with Ed Stevenson (L). The late Jim McWethy who passed away this past week, and Rory Spears at the Grand Re-opening of Mistwood Golf Club.

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO on the tee at 10 AM on AM 820 WCPT. You can now listen live on line at 820wcpt.com, or watch us on Facebook. If your on the range or the golf course, download the Tune In APP and Search WCPT 820. If you missed the show visit the Cloud at SoundCloud.com/Chicagosprogressivetalk.

Today’s guests include Mistwood General Manager Dan Bradley and Golfers on Golf radio contributor Len Ziehm of the Daily Herald and LenZiehmOnGolf.com. Join us for a great show and tribute to a man who contributed so much to golf in the Chicago area.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and Facebook or Linkedin. With Mistwood owner Jim McWethy who passed away this week at age 76, from a lung condition.

THE Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) has posted the new Phase 4 for Illinois golf guidelines set down by the governor’s office.

These changes to operational restrictions went into effect this morning at 6 AM.

The CDGA along with the Illinois PGA, the Midwest Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Club Managers Association, and recently the Western Golf Association (WGA) have worked together to get the golf courses reopened in Illinois for 2020.

There have been changes on the course, and to cart rules, practice area’s and the clubhouse area, and inside of clubhouses. Individual caddies are now permitted, but there are restrictions. If you take a caddie you should try to not have them handle your clubs at all, or on limited occasions Beverage carts are now permissible. The locker rooms are open, along with halfway houses. Lessons can take place including group lessons of 50 people or less.

For more information visit CDGA.org.

In all cases, golfers should use smart judgement around ALL golf facilities. Wear a mask if you feel you need one, and do practice social distancing at all times. There is no need to crowd the beverage cart worker, or the halfway house or pro shop workers. Do not be mean or difficult to course workers who wear a mask.

While there is no evidence that handling a flag stick or reaching into a cup on the green could give you the Covid-19 virus, avoid doing so as much as possible.

IF YOU have symptoms of Covid-19, do not go to a golf facility. If someone in your household has Covid-19 or the symptoms of the virus, do not go to a golf facility. Be prepared to handle your own golf ball, and bring hand sanitizer if you have with you to the golf course, for use after your round.

Walkers do realize that bench’s will not be out on the golf course, and bringing your own water bottle ( with water or something else in it) is a good idea.

Leagues and shotgun start style golf outings are now welcomed back to the golf course.

Golfers on Golf Radio Am 820 10-11 on Saturday mornings will discuss the changes in restrictions tomorrow morning. Join us live or online Wcpt820.com or watch on Facebook to learn more.

  LEN ZIEHM (L) in Port St. Lucie Florida and RORY SPEARS (R) in WCPT Am 820 studio’s home of Golfers on Golf Radio in it’s 30th season. Saturdays at 10 AM-join in.    _____________________________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to hear Ziehm & Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 15.

This weeks topics include, Len’s travels to the Carolina’s and Rory’s trip to central Indiana, the Crooked Stick golf club, home of next month’s 2020 Western Amateur.

Len and Rory recap the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour and how our Illinois local players are faring on them. What about the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, will it get played.

Remembering Mistwood Golf owner Jim McWethy, the world of golf lost a friend in McWethy when he passed away this week at age 76. More changes in the Illinois restrictions coming tomorrow. Stay clicked in. RS

  THE MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB on Renwick Road in Romeoville, get your tee times by calling the pro shop at (815)-254-3333 or visit Mistwoodgc.com Red-White & Blue Scramble is coming up on the 4th of July, sign up now, this event normally does sell out. _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Facebook or LinkedIn. With the late Jim McWethy at Mistwood Golf Club.

IT FELT GOOD TO TRAVEL AGAIN, it also feels good to be back home again from Indiana.

The golf road trip was only three days and two nights, but it was great to get away. Somethings however were different, other things felt more like normal.

But Indiana seems to be ahead of the curve, while Illinois lags slightly behind.

Illinois will catch up a little more as things open up on the golf side starting tomorrow. July 6th seems to be a date when everyone will take another step forward in putting this crazy virus behind us. Let’s hope that is the case.

Indiana is off to a great start in putting things together. Gasoline is back down to $2.07 a gallon for starters. The golf courses are moving ahead. In some places it’s like June of 2019, and in others that status will be in place on July 6th. Golf actually seems pretty normal, it’s the rest of traveling that can still be an issue.

The Marriott Fairfield in Carmel is 4 miles from the 2020 Western Amateur venue, Crooked Stick Golf Club.

The Marriott Fairfield Carmel that is only two years old, is still doing all the safe things for it’s guests.

It might have large elevators, but only 3 people in them at a time. The housekeeping staff won’t visit everyday, unless you ask for them.

One great thing about Fairfield’s, is the breakfast downstairs in the morning. Currently that has changed, into a paper bag on the counter by the front desk. It contains a granola bar, a danish, and a carton full of orange juice. That’s it, but the coffee bar is open for those of you who need a cup of Joe to start your day. The health club did not look busy, but it seemed like every time I walked past, someone was in there sanitizing the facility.

As for the food side, my dinner the first night was at Five Guys. Nobody has masks but the employees, and only six tables were spread out in the restaurant. I took my food to go, and went back to the hotel. My second night was dinner at Chili’s, Terry the bartender where I sat alone, makes a great frozen margarita. The tables were not movable, but guests were spread out and not sitting near each other. Only the employees wore masks in the entire restaurant, with about 40 guests dining inside.

Welcome to the Pfau Course at Indiana University.

The new Pfau Course at Indiana University home of the Hoosiers golf teams has just opened in the last 12 days.

It was supposed to open maybe last fall, which turned into April 1st of this year. Thanks to Covid-19 that did not happen until June 15th.

In fact only GM Greg Bishop the course’s superintendent and one other staff worker were allowed on the grounds every day for almost two months. All they did was cut the fairways, the greens and tee’s everyday, sometimes for 12 hours a day to keep up and make sure the new course wasn’t overgrown before opening day even rolled around.

The clubhouse is still closed, and the open bathroom count is but only 1. A co-ed special in the cart barn. The food and beverage for now, is a couple boxes that have small bags of pretzels, granola bars, and a bin of ice that has nice cold bottles of water. The Styrofoam is still in the cups, and there are no rakes to be found on the golf course. I’ll have more on the golf course in the next few days.

The Brickyard Crossing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Of more concern is the famed Brickyard Crossing Golf Course located next to, and inside of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This really good Pete Dye designed golf course has four holes that run through the inside of the track itself.

It’s a great venue so I hear, and a popular bucket trip stop, for those enjoy both golf and car racing, and for those traveling the Pete Dye golf trail.

Problem for 2020 is that the course has not yet opened for the year, because it got classified as a sporting venue due to the holes in the race track. But it will on July 6th. Then it will be open for about 6 weeks before it closes for two weeks around the new dates for this years running of the Indy 500. Then it reopens until it closes for the season in the fall. Another issue that has come spinning out of Turn 2, is that the track could close for good. Rumors have been flying since new track owner Roger Penske bought the track last year. I’m told Penske likes golf, and even is a member at the home of the Masters Tournament, but might need space for a new Formula One track to host that type of racing. If that track gets built, Dye’s masterpiece will get the checked flag.

Welcome to Crooked Stick Golf Club, home of the 2020 Western Amateur. Yes it will get played.

Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana is home to this years 2020 Western Amateur.

NHL hockey referee Garrett Rank is the defending champion, and has told me that he will defend his title in late July.

The great news is that the Western Amateur will get played starting on July 28th, and running through August 1st.

During my visit this past Tuesday the club marked a return to pretty much the “old normal”. After much research and consulting with medical experts, and golf industry professionals, the club learned that touching the flag stick or a bunker rake will not make you sick from Covid-19. So the Styrofoam in the cups are gone, and the bunker rakes are back out on the golf course. I’ll have much more on Crooked Stick in my Western Amateur preview story, and the club remembering it’s architect the late Pete Dye.

Welcome to the Fort Golf Course at Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

The Fort Golf Course in Indianapolis is really good, and one of the best state park golf courses anywhere.

General Manager Bruce Rearick says operations at the golf course will change around July 6th. As for the next few days, the drinking fountains in the clubhouse are not running, and the water coolers are missing from the stands that still sit empty on the golf course.

The golf carts all have signs on them telling customers that their cart has been sanitized. The Styrofoam is in the cups and the employees all have masks. But I did not see any masks on the customers. More on the Fort as we get closer to the Western Amateur in late July.

If your looking to travel you can, it might and feel a little different at the hotel or in the restaurant, but within days most golf courses will be pretty much back to normal, whatever normal is these days.

Ziehm and Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 15 returns tomorrow.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB in Romeoville, get tee times by calling (815)-254-3333.  _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy With Jim McWethy at Mistwood Golf Club

It’s not a good day when you lose people like this far too early in life.

Jim McWethy a friend of many and of golf, passed away yesterday at 76, which is too soon. No he wasn’t victim of the Corona Virus, but it doesn’t matter.

McWethy had a condition called ILD, it’s a scarring of the lung tissue. He had been living with oxygen tanks by his side for months.

I’m glad he played one hole of golf with me last year at Mistwood. I never thought it would be the last one, but it was so I will remember it forever.

When Jim called me on June 12th to update me on his condition, I was surprised. Our 5 minute conversation took a lot out of him, it felt like he was calling to say good-bye. As it turned out, he was. I’ll miss our late night talks about golf, sports, politics and more.

Jim was a member at the famed Chicago Golf Club, and he could have just enjoyed the private club life at a Top 100 golf course. Instead he poured millions into the total redo of Mistwood and the Mistwood Golf Dome, and a few other business ventures. He made his mark on public golf.

He was proud at what Mistwood Golf and the food and beverage had become, and he should have been, he left a legacy on how to do things the right way. Jim McWethy had a commitment to excellence.

What’s really sad is that right now with the Corona virus out there, there won’t be a big wake and funeral service we could all attend. Everyone who knew Jim will have to say good-bye in their own way.

In our short conversation Jim promised me that Mistwood is in good hands and will be run by his two children, and current GM Dan Bradley. As usual Jim will be correct and things will move forward. In time I’m sure Mistwood will have an event to remember Jim, and that’s something all of us who knew him should do as well.

Golfers on Golf Radio will remember Jim McWethy on our show this weekend at 10 AM on Am 820 WCPT. RS

  THE WEST BADEN DOME at the French Lick Resort. The resort is almost fully reopened, so plan your visit at FrenchLick.com THE PETE DYE TRAIL is up and now running except for at the Brickyard Crossing course. Details at PeteDyeGolftrail.com.      ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and Facebook or Linkedin. With Wilson Golf President Tim Clarke at WCPT Am 820-Chicago.

LAST SATURDAY was a blast having Wilson Golf President Tim Clarke join us in studio for Golfers on Golf Radio Am 820 WCPT.

Wilson Golf and it’s long history is all about it’s roots here in Chicago. So a special thanks to Tim for giving up part of his Saturday to be in house for a live show.

It’s always great to hear what’s going on in the golf equipment world, and with Wilson, it’s happening right here.

Clarke did not rule out another Driver vs Driver type show at some point. But it could take a while with Golf Channel moving up from Florida to the great Northeast. We will see.

IT WAS GREAT on Fathers Day weekend to have live golf even if it wasn’t the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. The Harbor Town design at the Sea Pines Resort by Pete Dye with an assist from Jack Nicklaus is a good golf course. Maybe the best maintained course I’ve ever played. It’s always good to play a golf course that’s in great shape, and it doesn’t look like anyone has played it in two months. Congrats to Webb Simpson on the win, 22 under par is a pretty good score but not unheard of anymore at a tour event. Yes, there are plenty of good holes on that course other than the 18th.

IT WASN’T A GREAT FINISH for Deerfield’s very own Vince India, who had a four shot lead after three rounds heading into the Saturday finish at the World Golf Hall of Fame King and Bear golf course. Unfortunately India who was 25 under par after three rounds, ended up with a 4 over par 76 final round and a T-6 finish. India actually tied Northbrook’s Nick Hardy who started the final round 9 shots behind India. The good news is that both India and Hardy are playing well coming out of the break.

FOR THE FIRST TIME since the winter road trip, I’m hitting the road for a golf trip. It’s time. Jim Cornelison won’t be singing like he does at the Indianapolis 500, but I’ll be back home again in Indiana and without a stop at the French Lick Resort which is rare. The trip starts today and is only 3 days, but it’s time for some Western Amateur preview and a test drive or 18 at the new Indiana University golf course-The Pfau Course. I’ll take time to see a few Pete Dye designs along the way.

HERE IS HOPING the weather in Indiana holds up and it’s a great week here, our local courses deserve it, and your down to the final few hours to sign up for the Blackberry Amateur at Blackberry Oaks in Bristol. Call the club at (630)-553-7170 and play both days next weekend if your looking for a tournament to play in.

LEN ZIEHM of LenZiehmongolf.com, the Daily Herald and Golfers on Golf Radio contributor has been knocking out columns about his travels through the Carolina’s, check out his website for all the details.

The Gog Blog returns all week. RS, Go Play Everybody.

CHAD JOHANSEN and the Four-Step Process is taking shape at the Go For it Sports Dome in Yorkville-4StepProcess.com. MISTWOOD GOLF is back and rolling, with not only the golf course, but the performance center open. Mistwoodgc.com (815)-254-3333 ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter@GogBlogGuy and on Facebook or Linkedin. With Wilson Golf President Tim Clarke at WCPT.

THE ROTUNDA Room is now open at the Seven bridges Golf Club in Woodridge, as the club celebrates it’s 30th Anniversary in 2020.

The club has recently made several improvements inside the clubhouse, and now offers plenty of options for dinners and events.

For more details and information see SevenBridgesgolfclub.com.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the dads today, hope you enjoy a round out on the golf course of your choice. The Fathers Day Sale continues today at the Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena. Eagleridge.com

Illinois Golf Hall of Famer Len Ziehm is back on the road, visiting the travel destinations of the Southeast.

2019 Illinois Golf Hall of fame inductee Len Ziehm is back on the road again visiting travel destinations of the Southeast.

The first stop on his current trip was Santee South Carolina. A nice small town that is growing located towards central South Carolina, that has several good golf courses.

For more details and some good golf reading see Lenziehmongolf.com.

Ziehm has a Daily Herald piece on the unfortunate collapse of Deerfield’s Vince India, who had a four-shot lead headed into the final round of this weeks Korn-Ferry Tour event. India ended up T-6 along with Nick Hardy from Northbrook, who made up 9 shots on India, in Saturday’s final round in Florida, in the World Golf Hall of Fame Village.

The Wilson Golf demo day at Cog Hill is this week.

Wilson Golf and Cog Hill Golf have teamed up for a demo day this Thursday June 25th. From 12 Pm to 4 Pm on the driving range at Cog Hill in Lemont.

Covid-19 safety measures will be in place to help provide everyone that is attending a safe environment.

For more details visit Coghillgolf.com or contact Cog Hill at (866)-264-4455.

Welcome to Blackberry Oaks in Bristol.

Tim is running out to sign up for next weekends Blackberry Amateur, at Blackberry Oaks in Bristol (near Aurora).

The BB-Am a 36-hole two day event, is sponsored by Wilson Golf and by Michelob Ultra.

The Blackberry Amateur is next weekend June 27th and 28th. So call the pro shop at (630)-553-7170 and get registered now. Don’t forget the Blackberry Oak summer 4-man scramble in Sunday July 12th, you can now sign-up for the scramble. Blackberryoaks.com.

CHRIS CHARNAS and  Wilmette Illinois based Links Capital Advisors has been retained to handle the sale of Fire Ridge Golf Club in Grafton Wisconsin, just North of Milwaukee. To explore purchase options contact Chris at (312)-543-7192 and or see Linkscapitaladvisors.com.

WOULD YOU LIKE an upgrade to your yardage books. Well now there is more details than ever in the Golf Logix yardage books-Where Tradition meets Technology. For more information visit Golflogix.com.

The 4th hole at the Mistwood golf Club in Romeoville, (815)-254-3333.

The 4th hole at Mistwood Golf Club will be a great place to be, on the 4th, July 4th that is.

The annual multiple format scramble is on again this year at Mistwood.

The Red-White & Blue scramble is one of the most popular events of the year at Mistwood.

So if you would like to put a little pop and bang into your Fourth of July. Call the Mistwood Golf Club today and sign-up at (815)-254-3333.

The Gog Blog will return tomorrow. RS

THE GO FOR IT SPORTS DOME-home of the Chad Johansen Golf School, where you can learn the famed 4-Step Process, visit 4stepprocess.com or Blackberryoaks.com.      _____________________________________________________________________

   Golfers on Golf Radio (L-R) Rory Spears, Ed Stevenson and Bill Berger. (R) Len Ziehm checks in today with thoughts from the Southern Pines-Pinehurst on golf travel and the Korn Ferry Tour.

Wilson Golf President Tim Clarke joins us live in studio.

Golfers on Golf Radio today on AM 820 WCPT, tee time is 10 AM and in studio today is guest host Tim Clarke the President of Wilson Golf.

You can catch us live on the radio or on Wcpt820.com, watch us on Facebook live.

Or on your phone at the  Tune in Radio APP, search WCPT820.

If you miss the show and need a mulligan, check us out on the cloud at Soundcloud.com/Chicagosprogressivetalk.

We will also hear from Len Ziehm who checked in from Southern Pines NC. Join uss today at 10 AM. Maybe a surprise guest from Wilson golf.

ILLINOIS GOLF HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2019 INDUCTEE LEN ZIEHM (L) and Rory Spears host of Golfers on Golf Radio have recorded Ziehm & Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 14 covering a variety of topics, and unlike our golf games, spray it to all fairways, including the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour and the travels of Ziehm.       _____________________________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to hear the Len Ziehm and Rory Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 14.

This week Len checks in from the Southern Pines/Pinehurst area of North Carolina. Some topics include Rory’s upcoming travel to Indiana, Vince India of Deerfield leading after three rounds on the Korn Ferry Tour. Some history about Harbor Town this weeks PGA Tour venue and much more. Give it a listen-Len and Rory.

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO SATURDAY MORNINGS on AM 820 WCPT. (L-R) is Rory Spears, Ed Stevenson and Bill Berger. (R) Show contributor IL. Golf HOF’er Len Ziehm _____________________________________________________________________

*Golfers on Golf Radio this Saturday, guest-host Tim Clarke President of Wilson Golf.*    CHAD JOHANSEN is the process behind Blackberry Oaks Golf Course in Bristol and the nearby Go For It-Sports Dome in Yorkville. Chad’s new golf learning concept is taking the Chicago area by storm, and local golf professionals are buying in to the plan.

Chad Johansen is one of the hardest working golf professionals in the Illinois PGA Section and the game is better for it.

Have you ever used a Perfect Putting Aid, is your favorite junior golfer part of the CJGA #Kidsrule golf academy, and competing for the #KidsRule Trophy. Do you ever need video golf lessons or quick-hitters while your on a golf trip or stuck at the office before heading out to a charity golf event. ARE YOU READY for the FOUR STEP PROCESS.

All of the above are the brainchild ideas of Johansen, who has been nominated for the IPGA Section teacher of the year award. The only mystery is why he hasn’t won it.

The Perfect Putting Aid seen here is a big hit with PGA Touring professionals.

Johansen’s first improvement device is the Perfect Putting Aid. It’s in the homes of over 150 PGA Tour players, between them are winners of all four major championships and multiple Ryder Cups.

Form there Johansen moved on to create the Video Vault, over 100 lessons to pick from when their just ins’t time to head out to Blackberry Oaks and work with Johansen in person.

But the video vault has now evolved into something even better, it’s called the Four-Step Process and you can become a member at  a price that works for any budget.

THE BLACKBERRY OAKS CLUBHOUSE-THE GO FOR IT INDOOR SPORTS DOME.

Chad Johansen is every where, including two locations and he found year round at both Blackberry Oaks Golf Club and the Go For It Indoor Sports Dome.

There is nothing worse than in the middle of summer with a day off, it’s to hot to golf or it’s pouring rain outside. With the Johansen golf programs you can indoors in the summer if needed. But when the weather is nice, the tree lined fairways of Blackberry Oaks in Bristol welcome you for a day on the links.

THE BLACKBERRY AMATEUR is coming up on June 27-28 and it’s not too late to sign up, this fun event is sponsored by both Wilson Golf and Michelob Ultra.

The Par 3, 4th hole at Blackberry Oaks

The summers at Blackberry Oaks are piles of fun for the Kids, who rule and are learning the game of golf in a way that it can become a sport for them for life.

The Kids-Rule trophy is on display in the pro shop.

So is a great line of Wilson Golf products, and everything you need for your golf game.

What’s really exciting is how the new Chad Johansen system for learning golf and how to lower your golf scores, The4StepProcess can work for you.

Need lessons, need a golf improvement program, need a place for the kids to play. It’s all rolled into one at Blackberry Oaks GC, and the CJ-Center known as the Go For It Indoor Sports Dome. For details visit CJGA.com or 4stepprocess.com or Blackberry Oaks by calling (630)-553-7170 or visit Blackberryoaks.com. Sign-up for the BB-AM today, time is running out.