GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO contributor Len Ziehm joins Ed, Billy and Rory live this Saturday from PGA Village in Florida. GOG Radio 10 AM Saturday’s WCPT Am 820.      _____________________________________________________________________

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

FOR THOSE OF YOU who have Sirius XM in your car, or via your phone. You can’t help but being able to enjoy certain channels, that are one band all day long through the end of May.

Channel 27 that was Deep Tracks, is now the Led Zeppelin Channel. It’s heaven, and not just a stairway to, but something to enjoy and get you pumped up on the way to the golf course. That is if you can get a rare tee-time these days, with twosomes only, UGH !

What I did hear was a deep-track from the album Led Zeppelin II, called “What is, and What Should Never Be.”

Which seems to be what our Illinois golf industry is currently suffering with. Granted, I feel sorry for the business owners who can’t open at all. Especially hair salons, since sooo many people now need a haircut. Golfers, I think the visor era is about to return, since many golfers can no longer fit all their hair, under a baseball style cap.

OUR GOLF COURSES do deserve a better shake than they are currently getting from the State of Illinois. It’s my understanding that the Allied Golf Group that consists of the Illinois PGA, the Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA), the Club Managers Association, and the Midwest Golf Course Superintendents Association, are still working with the governor and his staff to make revisions to what the current rules are. Many of those rules are “What Should Never Be.” But for now, they are “What is”.

APPARENTLY the Western Golf Association (WGA) has now joined the effort and is working hard to get caddies back on the course in Illinois, at least by June 1st. The Spears Plan, that I suggested weeks ago, would be fore-caddies on each side of the par 4 and par 5 holes. Each caddie would have their own rake for the day to rake bunkers on that hole. One caddie on Par 3 holes, by the green, to spot incoming shots and rake greenside bunkers. It would be a start until full walking caddies return.

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW IS, will golf be stuck with these current terms until June 1st, or the day after Memorial Day, or even next Monday on May 18th. Will another week, this week, of good compliance earn Illinois golf a few more privilege’s by next Monday.

I’m not sure every golf course can hold out another 3 weeks under these current terms. In the meantime, thousands of Illinois golf dollars, keep going to Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri and other places, where foursome can play, and use golf carts or a caddie.

IT WAS TOUGH to hear that women’s golf is really taking a pounding in canceled tournaments for 2020. Mistwood announced that the Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open scheduled for mid-July was canceled. Both women’s event’s at the French Lick Resort, the Symetra Tournament on the Donald Ross Course, and the Senior LPGA Championship are off the schedule until 2021. Plus you can add the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, and a few Legends Tour events to the canceled list as well.

THE WGA and the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) have their national junior boys and girls championships coming up here in town, come late June. Are those championships going to be, the next to go. Stay tuned, an announcement is expected shortly.

KEMPERSPORTS Management CEO Steve Skinner confirmed with us this past weekend during his Golfers on Golf Radio interview. That the Glen Club is not available for the Evans Scholars Invitational for the second week of September, due to the club being booked for corporate golf and multiple weddings. So the WGA and the Korn Ferry Tour are looking for another site for the tournament. Anybody in Chicago want to host a professional tournament that week ?

THE CITY OF CHICAGO stepped in at the last minute and wiped out some 160+ rounds of golf that were scheduled for that beautiful day last Thursday. When they re-closed Harborside International. Club officials were emailing groups on Wednesday night telling them not to show up on Thursday. With bad weather for Friday, you mean the city could not have waited one more day, to work in contrast with Governor Pritzker’s reopening provision.

IF YOU MISSED IT..the DuPage County opened up their 9-hole course Green Meadows yesterday in Westmont. So there are now a few more tee times available for golfers who are in need of them. See Dupagegolf.com for details on booking and the Covid-19 rules for playing golf on the DuPage County golf courses.

EAGLE RIDGE RESORT in Galena has been nominated in the Stella Awards for having the Best Midwest Resort Spa. Voting is now underway.

LANDSCAPES GOLF MANAGEMENT, a division of Landscapes Unlimited, LLC, has announced four new Midwest based clients, including Crystal Woods Golf Course in Woodstock Illinois. The course was originally designed by William Langford in 1950’s as a 9-hole par 37 golf course. In 1967 the course increased to 18 holes and a par of 72, under architect Charles Wagstaff, and reopened for play in 1969.

THE WEATHER wasn’t supposed to be great this week, but maybe that is changing a little bit for the better. So don’t give up on golf for this week just yet, get out and play. If you can actually get a tee time this week. The current restrictions did not even allow for courses to offer mom’s some free golf yesterday, as part of a promotion. That’s sad.

The Gog Blog returns all week long. RS

WCPT AM 820 the home of Golfers on Golf Radio for 2020, in it’s 30th season. Listen live 10 Am every Saturday morning on the air, on line, on our APP, watch on Facebook.  (L-R) Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and Rory Spears-with contributor Len Ziehm this year. ______________________________________________________________________

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

ED STEVENSON Ex. Director of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District and member of the Illinois PGA, along with the DuPage Country FPD board and the golf staff of DuPage Golf, welcome golfers back now to all three of the DuPage County golf courses, with the reopening today of Green Meadows Golf Course in Westmont.

Green Meadows is a 9-hole golf course, that has three par 4 holes, and six holes that are par 3’s, for a total par of 30.

The Preserve at Oak Meadows, Maple Meadows, and Green Meadows, that consist of all 45 holes that are part of the DCFPD, are open for play. But they are still operating under the rules for golf courses in Illinois, set down by the State of Illinois and the governor.

For more details on golf and all the happenings at all three golf courses, visit Dupagegolf.com

   WCPT AM 820 is the new home for Golfers on Golf Radio in 2020. (R) RORY SPEARS and BILL BERGER are your hosts along with Ed Stevenson for this season. Illinois Golf 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee has joined the show as a contributor this season.

Our show included live guests Gary D’Amato from Wisconsin.Golf and Steve Skinner CEO of KemperSports management and KemperLesnik PR-Communications.

We heard some drop-in sound bites from Len Ziehm from Ziehm and Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 8, and Mistwood Golf Club Director of Golf Andy Mickelson, on working through the limitations of golf in Illinois, and having to cancel the 2020 Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open for this year.

NEXT WEEK-we hear from Kohler Director of Golf Dirk Willis and our Florida (for now) contributor, the Daily Herald’s Len Ziehm.

A reminder on how to hear Golfers on Golf Radio in 2020.                                                * Listen live during 10-11 Am on AM 820 WCPT every Saturday morning.                        * Listen live online at Wcpt820.com                                                                                    * Watch us on Facebook-Live. We are told You-Tube is coming soon.                              * Download the Tune in Radio APP Search WCPT820                                                      * About 90 minutes after the show is over, you can hear a replay at Soundcloud.com/Chicagosprogressivetalk and scroll down to the link of the show.

THE GOG BLOG RETURNS TOMORROW………RS

  THE MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB is on Renwick Road in Romeoville. For information on tee times call (815)-254-3333 or visit Mistwoodgc.com. Golfers on Golf Radio is back tomorrow at 10 Am on WCPT Am 820. Listen live Wcpt820.com watch on Facebook.     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy for the golf news the Chicago area needs.

*2020 Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open at Mistwood Golf Club July 13-15 is canceled.

Golfers on Golf caught up with Mistwood GC Director of Golf Andy Mickelson on what’s happening at, trying to work through Governor J.D. Pritzker’s tough Covid-19 virus restrictions on golf. Plus the tough decision to cancel the 2020 Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open.

Click here to hear the interview with Andy Mickelson from the Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville.

Golfers on Golf Radio Week three is back tomorrow on WCPT AM 820 at 10 AM.

LEN ZIEHM (L) & RORY SPEARS (R) WORKING WITHIN SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES ONLY 1250 MILES APART, between Port. St Lucie Florida and PGA Village-to Arlington Hts. IL. LenZiehmongolf.com & Golfersongolf.com for all the news.    ______________________________________________________________________

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

Illinois Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2019 Inductee Len Ziehm, and veteran golf reporter, writer and show host Rory Spears have combined to do podcasts on a weekly basis during the Covid-19 pandemic. Below is Podcast Series 2020, Volume 8.

Click here to hear the Ziehm and Spears Podcast Series Volume 8.

Topic include, golfing through the restrictions, and alumni golf college event. French Lick Resort loses both of this summers women’s professional golf events. The Evans Scholars Invitational moves to September, but now needs a golf course.

Quite a story of the husband and wife team from Wisconsin, that made back-to-back aces, on the same hole, from the same tee, each using a 7-Iron.

All this and more, take a listen and enjoy the game of golf. Len & Rory.

THE DONALD ROSS COURSE at the French Lick Resort in French Lick Indiana. See Frenchlick.com . The 2020 Senior LPGA Championship in late July has been canceled.  ______________________________________________________________________

RORY SPEARS (L) of Golfers on Golf, and LEN ZIEHM (R) of Len Ziehm on Golf and the Daily Herald. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogBlog and Rory and Len on Twitter, and LinkedIn or Facebook. Preparing to tee off at the Donald Ross Course in French Lick.

FIRST IT WAS THE 2020 Senior Women’s LPGA Championship, and now it’s the 2020 Donald Ross Classic at the French Lick Resort being canceled due to the spread of the Covid-19 Virus.

As a result, the French Lick Resort has had to cancel both tournaments that were to be played at the resort this July.

The 2020 Donald Ross Classic is part of the Women’s Symetra Tour. The tournament will return as part of the tour’s schedule, in the 2021 season.

“We continue working toward our primary goal of providing as many safe playing conditions for all Symetra Tour professionals when the time comes,” Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour. “French Lick Resort is a tremendous supporter of the LPGA legends and future stars. We are disappointed that the Donald Ross Classic won’t be taking place this year, but are looking forward to returning in 2021. The team at French Lick Resort cares a great deal about the event and hosting it at it’s highest potential. For players, sponsors and volunteers, it will be back even stronger.

The Donald Ross Classic is a 144 player field and Patty Tavatanakit is the defending champion. The purse is $225,000 with $33,750 to the winner.

“We are disappointed that the Symetra Tour won’t be swinging through French Lick this year, but the celebration for this event will be even bigger next year,” said Dave Harner Director of Golf for the French Lick Resort and tournament director.

More details can be found at Frenchlick.com

ERIN HILLS with special rates through the end of May, please visit Erinhills.com. Illinois Golf Hall of Fame Inductee Len Ziehm is now a contributor to Golfers on Golf Radio that can be heard Saturday mornings at 10 Am, on our new home WCPT-AM 820 Chicago.  _____________________________________________________________________

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

AND NOW WE HAVE THEM, the dates are out for the rescheduling of the Evans Scholars Invitational (ESI) on the Korn Ferry Tour.

The (ESI) is a fund raiser for the Western Golf Association (WGA) and Evans Scholars Foundation.

Originally the ESI was supposed to be contested from June 20-24 at the Glen Club in Glenview Illinois.

But due to schedule changes because of the Covid-19 Virus, the Korn Ferry Tour has moved the ESI back to September 9-13, opposite the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

What is still unknown is where the tournament will be played. The Evans Scholars Invitational was supposed to return to the Glen Club, but a scheduling conflict with the new dates, is likely to force the tournament to need a new home for 2020.

WGAESF.com EvansScholarsInvitational.com

“We are excited to announce this new date for the Evans Scholars Invitational as we look to bring the Korn Ferry Tour golf back to Chicago in 2020,” said Vince Pellegrino, senior vice president of tournaments for the Western Golf Association. “We appreciate the ongoing support of our partners and volunteers  as we work towards tournament week, knowing we will only contest this event if deemed safe to do so under the guidance of leading public health officials.”

The Korn Ferry tour has changed it’s schedule and created new events to restart the season. The first tournament expected to be played is the Korn Ferry Challenge at TPC Sawgrass on the Dye’s Valley Course June 11-14, before moving down the street the following week to play the King and Bear Course at the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Six events were played before the season was halted due to the spread of the Covid-19 Virus. If the season can continue on June 11th, this years schedule will be 23 events. Follow PGAtour.com for information on the merger of the season and the new format for Korn Ferry players to earn PGA Tour cards for the 2020-2021 season.

Pellegrino added that the Western Golf Association feels “fortunate that the Tour agreed to move forward and play the Evans Scholars Invitational in 2020.”

The WGA and the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) are still deciding if the Western Junior Boys championship and the Women’s Western Junior Girls Championship both scheduled for late June in the Chicago area, can be played in June, postponed, or need to be cancelled for this year.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB ON Renwick Road in Romeoville is open for golf, and McWethy’s Tavern in the clubhouse has food and drink to go. For more information on Mistwood Golf and McWethy’s visit Mistwoodgc.com or call the club at (815)-254-3333.  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or LinkedIn and Facebook. At the WCPT AM 820 Studio’s in Chicago.

WITH ALL OF THE states surrounding Illinois having their golf courses open for play. It was time for Illinois to get on the ball and catch-up, before the Land-of-Lincoln got penalized for slow play.

Yes Illinois golf is open, barely. And after three days of playing under terrible restrictions, it’s time to take another step forward in bringing golf in Illinois up to par.

My thanks go out to the Allied Golf Association in getting the dimples rolling, or in the air again. But as the term goes, “Opening in Phases”, it’s time for Illinois by May 11th to take the next step into Phase 2.

FIRST UP-the return of foursomes. But I’d take threesomes for the next two weeks with 12 minute intervals, if that’s the best Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) can offer. It’s would be an improvement.

SECOND-carts. The cart issue is a big problem. One rider per cart, unless both golfers in the cart shelter under the same roof. But let’s get the carts rolling.

SECOND* if your playing with a non-family member at least let the second member of the group, put his or her bag on the cart while they walk, and let courses charge a small fee for this.

THIRD-The ranges must be open. Use every other hitting bay, and wash the balls in the normal cleaner, and add bleach to the water. As a veteran range washer, trust me range balls will be safe for use again the same day.

FOURTH-putting greens and short game area’s must be opened. There must be a limit on how many people can use these area’s at once. If golfers have to wait to use these area’s until someone else is done, so be it.

FIFTH-Allow lesson’s and club fittings to resume. Social distancing must be practiced, and both pro’s and students or fitting customer’s should wear mask’s. New York is doing this, why can’t Illinois.

SIXTH-Caddies, for this month Fore-caddies only. I propose one caddie with their own rake on each side of all par 4 and par 5 holes. To find balls, and rake bunkers when needed. It would help pace of play, fore-caddies would be at least 175 yards off the tee boxes. One fore-caddie could be used on par 3 holes, and would have to be stationed by the green, to find balls, and rake greenside bunkers. The kids are not in school, so let’s get them working in a safe environment.

Wisconsin already has individual caddies out at places like Sand Valley and Whistling Straits, and Erin Hills before long. So it should not be too big an issue to do it here.

SEVENTH-pro shop access can be done, but limited to 4 or less golfers at a time. With many courses not set up to take online payments, walking into a pro shop is not a big deal. If Jewel Food stores and gas stations can hang-up some glass shields at the counter. Pro shops can as well. It’s hard to sell pro shop items when golfers can’t come inside to buy anything.

EIGHTH- Food and beverage. No the beverage carts should not be out, and grills should not be going outside near the clubhouse. But the kitchen should be able to cook hot dogs, burgers or brats to go, before and after a round. No alcohol for the road.

        WHITE EAGLE COUNTRY CLUB member and 2020 Illinois Open White Eagle member chairman Chip Wagner, with hair and then losing his hair (R) as part of the clubs fundraiser to support Edward Hospital in Naperville.

With all the charity golf outings being sacrificed this year because of the Covid-19 Virus, it’s nice to see the golf connections at White Eagle Country Club, creating their own charity event to raise money.

It started with WECC member Dr. Scott Yilk shaving his head for safety reasons with his work in emergency room at Edward Hospital. Add fellow member John Keeley to the plan, and coming up with an idea to raise money for Edward Hospital.

Before long board member Chip Wagner was getting his head shaved, along with Director of Golf Curtis Malm, his son Jack, and club president John Quirk. So far over $21,000 dollars has been raised for Edward Hospital helping the hospital during the Covid-19 outbreak. Great job WECC and Dr. Yilk.

BIG QUESTION-who was flying the red and black helicopter dangerously low over several North Shore golf courses and pro shops on Friday. If you are media, fine. If you aren’t media, and your there spying for someone, do not return.

FINALLY-Len Ziehm will join me for the Ziehm and Spears Podcast 2020-Volume 8 this week. Sorry for the delay on my CBD and CB5 product review. I found one more box of products to try from another company, and want to test them before posting the story.

The Gog Blog returns this week. RS

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, LinkedIn or Facebook. In the studio at WCPT AM 820, home to Golfers on Golf Radio.

GOLF IS BACK in Illinois, barely but it’s back.

Golfers are thrilled to be back out on the golf courses. But there is a long way to go.

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has been tough on the golf scene, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D), still hasn’t opened City of Chicago Golf Courses yet.

What else is missing are-no carts, no caddies, no open driving ranges or putting greens. No lessons or club fittings, no foursomes (just 2-some’s for now), food and beverage is almost non-existent, and the clubhouses are mostly not open. One local pro told me, most courses are not sent up to take payment online, another big hassle to do, and maybe in a few weeks online payments, will go off-line.

Sonny Park of Elk Grove Village, hit one of the first tee shot’s on May 1st right at 6 AM, at the Schaumburg Golf Club.

Friday May 1st was opening day for golf in the State of Illinois, even though some courses were open a few days in March, before Governor Pritzker closed them down.

Most of the local courses had 6 Am as the first tee time. But a cold night, led to frost delay’s that help up golfers anywhere from 1 to 2 1/2 hours in some places.

The heavy rains of the midweek, flooded a few courses by Friday, including Blackberry Oaks in Bristol that could not open until mid-morning on Saturday.

Matt Knott (pictured) and his son Jack, were first out at Mt. Prospect GC on Friday, after a 1 hour delay.

With the golf season on delay, the main complaint about our current golf season is that golfers really need the ranges open.

While Matt Knott of Mt. Prospect and his son Jack, said they set up a net in their basement and were hitting and chipping plastic golf balls. While getting some putting work in as well.

With no practice area’s open, golfers were standing near the first tee boxes, swinging as hard as they could to get loose, while trying to build their swing speed back to what it was in 2019.

Golf is open in Illinois, but barely for now. Hopefully some restrictions can come off by this next weekend. It would sure help.

The Gog Blog returns tomorrow, with The Gog Blog Speaks Out. RS

  WCPT AM 820 HOME OF GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO-our tee time is 10 AM. Bill Berger, Ed Stevenson and Rory Spears are your hosts.

Today’s show includes live guests, Tim Orbon Director of Caddie Programs for the Western Golf Association (WGA). Then at 10:30 Tim Schneider owner of The Golf Club of Illinois in Algonquin joins us.

During the show today, we will also hear from several local golfers who got the first tee times yesterday at a couple of local clubs. Ed Stevenson will have updates on DuPage Golf, that includes The Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison, and Maple Meadows in Wood Dale, and Green Meadows in Darien.

Len Ziehm of Len ZiehmonGolf.com and the Daily Herald a new contributor to the show this year, will be heard from today during the show.

It’s Week 2 of Golfers on Golf Radio, 10 AM WCPT and WCPT820.com, watch us on Facebook live. If you miss the show, visit the stations website to hear it later today or during the weeks ahead.