MISTWOOD GOLF one of Chicago’s year-round golf options is getting ready to make the transition into the dome for the winter golf season. But in the meantime do take advantage of the remaining outdoor days at Mistwood Golf Club-(815)-254-3333 or visit Mistwoodgc.com The Makers Mark Barrel event is coming up soon-don’t miss out.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter-X @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Facebook or Instagram. On Course #3 at Medinah Country Club.

YOU START TO WONDER IF!

A comeback is possible. But if you don’t doubt yourself and you believe in your doctors, you can return to doing the things you enjoy most in life.

Which in my case is playing golf. I moved up from miniature golf to the real thing at age 13. That was over 50 years ago, so time flies when your having fun.

But this summer golf and life came to crashing halt, when my right foot did swell up. I wasn’t sure why at first, but a visit to the Emergency Room cleared that up quick enough. My diabetic condition I didn’t know I had, had infected my foot from some bug bites and created a Diabetic Ulcer. Because the infection spread, the result became 18 days in the hospital and a surgery to have a toe removed. 70 days total after having plenty of hospital clinic visits after discharge

Fortunately I have spent time around people our service veterans who still play golf, minus a foot, a leg or an arm. They are an inspiration to me, as I write this on Veterans Day. Thank You for your Service is nice but doesn’t seem to be enough. Some of the vets I have met were not only brave on the battlefield, but in life or on the golf course as  well.

The Year End Sale at Twin Orchard CC is back. great deals to be found again this year, get your golf holiday shopping done early.

So when my foot surgeon Dr. Michael Ferrari told me I would be on the golf course this year after my June surgery. I took him at his word, which was good as gold. Because he told me I would be back on the course by September. But his work was so good, I made it back by August 30th. The week before I was back at Mistwood Golf Club hitting balls on the range, and on the Heritage Oaks GC range in Northbrook.

So after 15 rounds this fall. Sadly it’s become time shut down the 2024 golf season and let my feet rest up for a better 2025 golf season. There is an old saying that goes, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. So getting back on the course this fall for 15 rounds was really well needed. I’m not sure when I was this happy to play golf to get back on a golf course, any golf course and hit the little round white ball.

What I suggest. Is if you still have time to get another round of golf in before the courses close in the next week or so. Do it, you will be glad you did.

COURSE CLOSURES-Preserve at Oak Meadows, already closed. Anetsberger GC in Northbrook is closed, Heritage Oaks GC in Northbrook closing Wednesday November 20th. Schaumburg Golf Club-closes this Sunday November 17th. Mistwood GC in Romeoville is closing this Sunday.

PERMANENT CLOSING-The Fresh Meadow GC in Hillside has been closed for good by the Chicago Catholic Archdiocese. The facility most recently operated by Arcis Golf, was closed on October 14th. The course, currently a par-70, 6,76 yard layout, first opened in April of 1924 as the Fair Lawn Golf Club a private club. But later in 1924 became a public venue. Joe Jemsek and Jemsek Golf bought in during the 1950’s, but later sold out their interest in the property.

While the golf course was a good place for beginners, juniors and seniors in recent years. The driving range with nearly 100 hitting bays was usually very crowded on most days. I took golf lessons there for the first time back in the 1990’s from professional the late Bob Held. The next hitting bay normally had Marty “Longball” Joyce teaching as well. But while the future plans for the property are still not announced, one thing is certain. Golf at Fresh Meadow after a 101 year run, is now over.

LIV GOLF-could it be returning to Bolingbrook GC in 2025. Stay tuned because an announcement could come as early as tomorrow. RS

  MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB in Romeoville on Renwick Road, is still open for outdoor golf through this Sunday November 17th. So then the action heads over to Bolingbrook and the Mistwood Golf Dome. But get final outdoor tee times for 2024 at (815)-254-3333.

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

Pine Meadow professional Dennis Johnsen is retiring December 8th, after 50 years in golf.

50 YEARS WENT BY FAST…

So after 50 years in the golf business, Dennis Johnsen is putting out at the age of 72.

Which is par for the course at the Pine Meadow Golf Club in Mundelein.

Johnsen a past Illinois PGA Senior Masters Award winner, is ready to head off to Springfield MO., not far from Payne Stewart Boulevard. Where he will enjoy some summer three day weekends off, for the first time in many years.

Prior to 20 years at Pine Meadow Johnsen had a long run at Pheasant Run Resort in West Chicago. But since Johnsen was so good at booking golf outings, Frank Jemsek had to get the guy who was taking his business away from the Jemsek Golf Team. So Jemsek hired Johnsen away from the resort and moved him to Pine Meadow.

The Year End Golf Sale at Twin Orchard Country Club is back for another year.

Johnsen says he would have stayed at Pine Meadow longer if he could just be a Walmart type greeter, and talk to he customers. Pine Meadow customers are the friends and people he will miss the most. But Johnsen is ready to be done with the day-to-day operations of running Pine Meadow.

Those operations have been challenging at times. Because several years back “The Pine” cleaned out over a dozen dumpsters full of brush and branches to get some air flow into areas where the turf was repeatedly having trouble growing.

Then there was an issue with salt getting into the clubs watering system. But since the problem was solved, the turf under the watchful eye of superintendent Scott Denil has been excellent. So now golfers who play at Pine Meadow would never know that years back the turf had growing pains.

The par-3 12th hole at Pine Meadow.

Pine Meadow still has some classic golf architect William Flynn holes on the property, along with one of the great driving ranges in the area.

Because there is a large natural grass area to hit from, that golfers love to hit from.

But off the course is one of the great little grills you will find at any golf club in the Chicago area.

CLICK HERE to hear the interview with Dennis Johnsen of the Pine Meadow Golf Club.

Pine Meadow was voted a multiple time winner of the “Best Hot Dog” at any Chicago area golf course, by Chicagoland Golf.

The last day for Johnsen will be Sunday December 8th. There will be a party in Johnsen’s honor from 1-4 Pm on that day. Public invited. Pine Meadow will remain open for golf this year, as long as weather permits. In 2023 golfers enjoyed playing golf on Christmas Day at Pine Meadow.

See more information at Pinemeadowgc.com.

  THE TWIN ORCHARD YEAR END GOLF SALE is coming up soon from November 21 to 23. This is your best chance to get great golf deals and start your holiday shopping in advance of Black Friday. The Mistwood Golf Club on Renwick Road is still open for outdoor play, but soon the transition to the Mistwood Golf Dome will be happening. So come out and enjoy Mistwood before it’s too late- Mistwoodgc.com or (815)-254-3333.

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

Rory Spears alongside the 18th hole of Medinah #3, which reopened for play this past July.

CHICAGO’S FLAGSHIP GOLF PROPERTY is fully back up and running with a new look to it’s famed Course #3.

Golfers on Golf has monitored the progress since the Medinah club members first voted to make the upgrades and the improvements to it’s Top 100 ranked #3 golf course.

What they received is a new fun but challenging in a championship manner golf design. The Australian design firm of OCM (Geoff Ogilvy-2006 U.S. Open champion, Michael Cocking and Ashley Mead) did the redesign after working through the challenges of taking on this project during the height of Covid-19.

The tee shot on 18 requires a water carry, on a hole that runs to the location of the clubs famed flag pole. The flag pole was not moved from it’s site during the renovation.

Golfers are still asking-why the redo.

But the funny thing is that before the 2019 BMW Championship was even in the history books, the low scores of the week had both patrons and media types thinking there would be changes made to the golf course.

All were correct.

The clubs board assembled shortly after the BMW Championship was concluded (won by Justin Thomas at 25 under par-with the help of Lift-Clean and Place), and started asking the question what can we do to make Course #3 better. What was viewed from outside the club, was that Course #3 had become too easy for the games best players. So if another top golf championship was to return to Medinah, Course #3 would have to be made tougher.

Which in part was true-but there was more to the big picture.

Medinah 3’s former hole 10, is still a par-5, but now it’s hole seven.

Course #3 was due for a major infrastructure upgrade. Drainage, bunkers, irrigation and more. So the feeling was, if the club was going to tear up the golf course anyway. Why not complete a renovation at the same time.

Which made sense, or dollars and cents. The cost to renovate and upgrade Course #3 was north of $20 million dollars, and it’s believed to be the most expensive renovation in the history of Chicago area golf. Thomas when informed by Golfers on Golf at the 2022 BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club that a renovation was coming immediately said, “I hope Medinah is not blowing up the golf course because of what I shot.” Thomas was the first PGA Tour player to play Course #3 this past summer after it opened.

So in a casual round of golf, rumor has it Thomas birdied holes 1,2 and 3. Then he mixed some pars, birdies and bogeys for a score of 67. Thomas played from the back tees at 7,564 yards, with a par of 70. But for members and guest play, par is normally 72 from the back tees. Other tees are measured at 7,081, 6,570 and 5,400 yards.

The new par-3 17th hole, runs away from the clubhouse, not towards it as in the past design.

The changes to course #3 are as follows.

New holes are holes 13-18, but while some holes have the same routing corridors, they are now in a different order.

Because the former hole 7 is now hole 10, and the former hole 10 that ran along Lake Street is now hole 7. Holes 8 and 11 have flip-flopped. If Medinah #3 had a previous flaw, it was said that the par-3 holes all looked the same. They don’t anymore, only the par-3 second hole still has it’s old look.

But even the holes that are still the same, are really not the same once you look a little more closely. Because tee boxes have moved, or lengthened. Bunkers have been added or removed, to add strategic shot values. Green complexes have been reshaped with chipping area’s added, and walking paths to the next hole.

Three bunkers guard the new 15th green, that requires an uphill second shot approach.

The fully new-look holes start at 13. But while there is no water carry, there is water right of the hole. New tees do allow the hole to play as short as 118 yards, or blind over a mound from the back tees.

14-15 and 16 are all par-4 holes, and the 16th hole that requires a water carry from the three back sets of tees. Sixteen plays the shortest at 402 yards. The par-3 17th hole has a water carry, but now plays away from the clubhouse and not towards it. It’s also located more towards the center of the golf course, and not right alongside Medinah Road.

OCM’s Michael Cockling stands in a fairway bunker on the 18th hole during the construction phase-summer of 2023.

A short par-5 for members that plays 487 yards is the new 18th hole. It runs west on the property and not towards the famed Medinah Clubhouse.

The tee shot must carry the water and avoid the deep fairway bunkers that border the left side of the fairway.

For the 2026 Presidents Cup the 18th hole will likely be the 15th hole, where many matches in match play conclude. Television will have plenty of say on which holes set up for the best finish.

This year the course (now closed for the year) opened in July, it saw member-only limited walking play. But over the last few weeks, grow-in advanced to a level where carts were allowed out. National golf publications sent raters who had praise for the new design. Their overall opinion has been a positive one. Next year the clubs members will start bringing their guests and the word will spread about how good the new #3 looks.

Next year in 2025-the club will celebrate it’s Centennial, before the President’s Cup arrives the following year. While the current focus is on the Presidents Cup, the next open Ryder Cup date in the USA is 2037. 25 years after the last Ryder Cup at Medinah in 2012. The new Course #3 would make a great site for team golf in both 2026 and 2037.

ARLINGTON LAKES GOLF CLUB 1211 South Wilke Road (847)-577-3030 or over in Northbrook the Heritage Oaks Golf Club 3535 Dundee Road (847)-291-2351. Both golf courses are still open for outdoor play, but time is running out. Book your tee time now.

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

The Cog Hill Course #4 bunker project in December of 2023.

COURSE #4 Dubsdread is back in form, and the sand might never have better.

The pride of public golf in the Chicago Cog #4 is back with a sparkle in it’s eye. How about that white sand.

What started with a bunch of digging at the end of 2023, finished up this spring with golfers anxiously awaiting “Dubs” to reopen. So what they found at the end of May, is that Cog #4 was back. Even though it never really left. The former home of both the Western Open and the BMW Championship had it’s major renovation done by Rees Jones in 2008.

Architects will tell you that every 10+ years sand should be redone. So it was time for Cog Hill to upgrade the teeth of the golf course, it’s bunkers.

The right fairway bunkers of the 13th hole on Cog #4.

The project included some tree work and some work around the greens. Because when golfers reach the third green, they find a new chipping area that presents new challenges for those just off the putting surface.

Greg Muirhead part of Rees Jones team from the 2008 renovation worked with Joe Jemsek in putting everything back together once the digging-up part of the job was complete.

The par-3 14th hole on Course #4.

Director of Grounds Reed Anderson and his team have packed the sand and rolled it into place. So it already plays well for the golfers who find the “white stuff” during their round.

During the week of October 21 to 25, Cog Hill did it’s fall aeration. So by now the holes are coming back together, the greens and the tee boxes have been sanded. So in the remaining days left in the outdoor golf season, there are still a few chances to head out and play “Dubsdread” Course #4 at Cog Hill.

Course #4 is a 1964 classic, by architects Dick Wilson and Joe Lee. But there is more, because when your done with your round. There is nothing better than a Cog Hill beer and the famed Dubsburger, smothered in mushrooms and grilled onions.

Golfers can warm up for their round on the range that is complete with Top Tracer. Courses 1 & 3 remain open all year round. So visit Coghillgolf.com for upcoming events including the holiday sale in the 2-4 building. Call (866)-264-4455 (Cog-Hill). But if you missed out on playing course #4 this year, put it on your hit list for 2025.

  HERITAGE OAKS GOLF CLUB at 3535 Dundee Road in Northbrook is still open for outdoor play. But simulator season is coming soon. See what’s happening at the Oaks by visiting Heritageoaksgc.com or call the pro shop at (847)-291-2351 #acorngrillopen

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory @GogBlogGuy or on Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram. On the 18th hole of Medinah Course #3.

THREE & FOUR are back for more.

WHEN THE 2024 golf season opened for play this past spring, two of the Chicago’s top golf courses were on the sidelines needing more time to open.

The top private in town Medinah #3, we still growing-in from the OCM redesign and upgrades to the golf course.

But in the Southwest Burbs, it was the #1 public course in town Cog Hill #4. Because “Dubsdread” was still in a bunker upgrade project, with a few new touches around the greens.

So there is great news to report. Because both courses reopened, Cog #4 was first in May, with Medinah #3 opening in July. But maybe the best news of all, is that both courses turned out great, and were worth the wait.

I did play both courses last week and enjoyed two great rounds of fall golf, even though it got windy at Medinah, and was a little cool at Cog Hill. So in the days ahead, I will have reviews on both courses. Since I was on-the-mend this summer, I didn’t get time to acknowledge Superintendents Day. I will take this moment to tip the cap or golf visor to to Director of Grounds at Medinah Ben McGargill, and Reed Anderson at Cog Hill. Both McGargill and Anderson and their teams, have all seven courses at the two clubs in great shape.

Great sale prices-get a jump on holiday golf shopping.

THE PGA TOUR appears headed for some changes in the soon future.

Because field sizes are going to shrink, too many events had rounds ending the next day because of darkness. This would be a good idea.

So much for the Top 125 being exempt, seems like that number will be 100. Speaking of exemptions, how a tournament awards exemptions, and how many they get to hand out. Could soon be different as well. Stay tuned.

PGA TOUR-LIV talks might finally be seeing some progress. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia leader Yasir Al-Rumayyan were together again in Saudi Arabia. So some tabloid papers have suggested a deal is done or close to being done. So for the sake of golf, let’s hope so. Because there is plenty to be gained if both sides do come to an agreement.

DREAM GOLF and the Keiser family of Mike Keiser, and sons Michael and Chris have found 1400+ acres in the Florida panhandle that will be home to the next Dream Course. The architect will be Tom Doak, who has walked the land several times with the Keiser’s already. Old Shores will be the name of the new course. Right now only one course is planned, but there is room for one or two more courses. More Dream Golf or Keiser Golf is always a good thing for the game.

Mistwood Golf Club on Renwick Road in Romeoville is still open for outdoor play. But the transition to the golf dome in Bolingbrook is coming soon. Stay tuned for details at Mistwoodgc.com or Mistwoodgolfdome.com.

OUR GOLFERS on GOLF radio partner Len Ziehm has just posted his latest column-that includes news of WNBA Hoops star Caitlin Clark playing some pro-am golf in Florida.

Clark an avid golfer, played in the John Deere Classic’s pro-am with Zach Johnson in 2023. Clark plays some of her off-time golf at Iowa’s #1 golf course The Harvester, in Rhodes Iowa, designed architect by Keith Foster.

So read more about Clark and her golf game at LenZiehmongolf.com.

BREAKING NEWS-SwingbySwing.com and the Sports Business Journal are reporting the 2031 Ryder Cup is headed to Spain at the Camiral Golf and Wellness Course. Part of a resort owned by Irish Billionaire Denis O’Brien. So the next open Ryder Cup date is 2035 in Europe and 2037 in the United States.

COULD FORMER SEVEN BRIDGES Director of Golf Roger Warren be headed to a bigger job with the PGA of America-stand by.

AFTER TWO GREAT ILLINOIS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS in the south suburbs at the Flossmoor Golf Club in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 edition might be finding it’s way to a great championship course in the Northwest Suburbs. Stay tuned.

CONGRATULATIONS IS IN ORDER to Christie Paich who has ended a great 12 year run as GM at the Glen Club in Glenview. Paich is the new GM and COO of Sunset Ridge CC in Northfield.

The Gog Blog returns this week. RS

           THE YEAR END TWIN ORCHARD CC Golf Sale returns from Thursday November 21st to Saturday November 23rd.

Numerous North Suburban and Northwest Suburban Clubs will participate in this years sale that runs three days at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove.

So golfers come find deals on apparel-men’s and women’s, clubs, golf balls, golf shoes, golf gloves, hats, all weather gear, range finders, GPS items and more.

A perfect event to help you get holiday shopping done early for your favorite golfer. OR just load up on golf product for the 2025 winter golf trip or 2025 golf season.

Questions or comments-visit the Twin Orchard Country Club website or call the club.

  ARLINGTON LAKES GOLF CLUB 1211 South Wilke Road Arlington Heights. Book your tee times at (847)-577-3030. The Nickol Knoll par-3 course is still open on Payton’s Hill.

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

Rory Spears at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville Florida. More golf has opened at CCF. Come play the Roost.

SO ARE YOU PLAYING SOME SPOOKY GOLF THIS WEEK?

Because some courses are offering a Halloween golf experience in the next few days. But if not, just get out and play, because northern golf will be closing up in a couple of weeks.

There might not be much more golf where the temperatures are over 60 degrees. But tomorrow it’s supposed to reach 80, so if you can, get out and play.

THE NGF-The National Golf Foundation which over the years hasn’t always provided the most promising data, is sharing some good news. Golf is getting younger, or so says the data.

Because a sport that has had hole-in-ones from kids under 10 years old hitting driver from less than a hundred yards. OR a 103 year-old hitting driver from 125 yards for his ace. The average age now for an on-course golfer is 43.5. Rounds of golf in the post pandemic era show that 71% of them come from golfers under 50 years old. The average age in 2019 was 44.6. So a drop in age of this size is a large needle mover. Especially since the game now has over 26 million on-course participants.

The largest age group now playing golf is ages 18-34, with a number of some 6.3 million. Social media has helped, as players seeing more of the latest new apparel and equipment. Because it’s now said that those stories of Millennials “giving up the game”, are no longer carrying any weight.

Locations of golf courses seem to help draw interest. Because golfers are enjoying traveling to places like Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley, the Middle of Nebraska, or remote places in Florida (aka Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms).

NEW COURSE BUILDING continues to rebound. The great Northwest or more remote area’s of states like South Carolina, are seeing new courses spring-up. Colorado, Texas and Wyoming are other states seeing new clubs pop-up.

I REMEMBER when some experts thought the golf-boom caused by the pandemic would be over by 2022. But obviously that has not been the case. So how long can it go. It should continue if the game doesn’t out price it self.

There are more and more cases of widespread complaints about everything from Ryder Cup ticket prices, to equipment, golf balls and rounds of golf setting people off. $600 dollar drivers, $500 dollar putters, a dozen balls costing nearly sixty dollars. Some top Top 100 courses asking $500 to $1,000 to play.

Granted some courses are just worth more than others, but lets not get stupid. So what makes a course great. Plenty of reasons, but one of them is that a dream-bucket list course can be played by as many golfers as possible. Sure some courses are private and access will always be limited. But it would be nice to see some of the top public venues not cost somebody’s entire trip budget for one round of golf.

LIV GOLF-plenty of talk that Greg Norman is out. But not so fast. Norman’s headed for a new role within LIV. But he is not getting tossed out. Norman will remain on the board, like serve as commissioner but not CEO. He will continue to scout courses for future LIV Golf sites.

THE PGA TOUR is losing yet another sponsor. From Las Vegas comes word that the Shriner Children’s Hospital is leaving after 17 years. So who steps in? Well with all the hotels and casino’s in the Vegas area, one of them will likely jump-in and carry the load.

SO AS THE SEASON closes down, now is a great time to take stock in your game. Is it time to get new clubs, some new clubs, a new bag, new shoes or apparel. It’s amazing how many people have name brand range balls in their bag. Sure they might says Titleist or Callaway on them, but if the other side says practice on them. Lose them now.

The Gog Blog Returns this week. RS

Arlington Lakes Golf Club 1211 South Wilke Road in Arlington Hts. is a fun golf course with options for 3-6-9 and 18 hole rounds. Book a tee time today at (847)-577-3030.

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

Always nice to get a visit from Artoo-the pride of Heritage Oaks Golf Club in Northbrook. #Nomoregeese.

THE 2025 RYDER CUP at Bethpage Black on Long Island in New York.

PRICEY… is what some people are calling it, others say the ticket prices are outrageous.

$750 for a daily ticket on any of the three days of play. $400+ for a Thursday practice round and the opening ceremonies.

OVER $200 for Tuesday and Wednesday practice rounds. Which is more that a Friday Saturday or Sunday ticket in 2021 at Whistling Straits.

So it’s believed that even corporate types will feel the pinch, when you include all the add-ons. But New York has it’s share of big corporations and big spenders. But because of the high prices, the fear is that the average fan, the noise makers at team golf events will be left out in the cold. So perhaps a home course advantage will be lost, to those dreaded Euro’s looking for their first win on American soil since the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012.

ONE STATISTIC claims that viewership of PGA of America events is down some 18% in recent years. But is it. I’m sure that number could be disputed. Because some golfers say they got an entire weekly ticket at Pinehurst this past June for $850.00 (and they probably did). So it remains to be seen what the response will be as tickets go on sale. So just in comparison-word is that you can get a ticket for Wednesday’s NLCS Game 3 in New York between the LA Dodgers and the New York Mets for $225.00.

ON THE BEVERLY CC SCENE-one of Chicago’s most historic clubs on the Southside is making some news. First off sadly was the passing of member Rick Ten Broeck who won a couple of major titles in the Illinois PGA Section, and the Beverly Club Championship 18 times. Rick’s brother Lance passed away in April of 2023. Rick also caddied in the professional ranks, including the bag of Jasper Parnevik when he was on the Champions tour.

The clubs old red brick clubhouse is getting a major redo-reports Tim Cronin of the Illinois Golfer. Because members of the club and the classic Donald Ross golf course voted to approve the $17 million dollar renovation by a vote of 185 to 25. So among the major changes include a new two story men’s locker room, and a expanded ladies locker room. Congrats to Beverly CC on these major upgrades.

MORE UPGRADES-credit to KemperSports Management and the folks at the Glen Club on pulling off a major bunker renovation on the fly this summer. Because during our visit and round of golf last week, several bunkers on a few holes were still a ” work in progress”. So it was a “free drop” if you landed in one of them. The new, I’ll call it off-white sand that has replaced the old brownish-orangish sand looks great.

RECENTLY I HAD A CHANCE TO PLAY THE EVANS-at Canal Shores. So in spite of only 12 holes being open at this time, it’s well worth the walk to jump out and play before the season ends. Tom Grey the Director of Golf says the “remaining six holes will open about May 1st of next year. But credit architect Todd Quitno with a job well done here, the putting hole that front’s the Baha’i Temple is plenty of fun. It plays about 65 yards downhill from the tee, and is an interesting and challenging hole to make a par (3) on. So I’m looking forward to playing the other six holes in the spring.

WINNETKA GOLF CLUB has reopened following the architect Rick Jacobson renovation. The new white sand there really stands out. While I had never played there before the renovation, and can’t compare the old with the new. But golfers who have a history there say the bunkers are the best they have ever seen them. So while they need some time to settle in, the course part of a storm water project has moved forward. But for Jacobson, it was his last project before heading off to Florida to retire. Congrats Rick on retirement after many years in the golf business.

KEMPERSPORTS Management has taken control of Winnetka, and says there are still more improvements coming. So stay tuned. In addition the par-3 course is really fun. So if you head to Winnetka GC, plan on playing 27 holes that day, it’s well worth it.

MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB held a tee-off for the 2026 Presidents Cup. In attendance was Paul Azinger, architect of Course #3 from OCM Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Gore from the PGA Tour. I will have more on the this event coming soon.

LAST WEEK ON THE PGA TOUR-was a great week for our local players. Wheaton’s Kevin Streelman made a nice jump in the Fed Ex Cup point standings with a T-3. Streelman’s week included two rounds inn the low 60’s. Northbrook’s Nick Hardy and Arlington Heights native Doug Ghim also had solid showings. RS

   ARLINGTON LAKES GOLF CLUB 1211 South Wilke Road in Arlington Hts. call for tee times at (847)-577-3030 and visit AHPD.org. The 9-hole par-3 course Nickol Knoll is still open for golf but will be closing soon. Located in North Arlington Hts. #PaytonsHill34

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

Dottie Pepper holds the WWGA Woman of Distinction Trophy at Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe. Photo courtesy of the WWGA.

Dottie Pepper a 17 time winner on the LPGA Tour, was the Women’s Western Golf Associations 2024, Woman of Distinction.

Pepper was honored at the Lake Shore Country Club, by the WWGA at it’s annual meeting.

Pepper won two major championships, and was a winner on the JLPGA Tour. She competed for Team USA in the Solheim Cup six times, compiling a 13-5-2 record. But was an even better 5-1 in singles competition.

Pepper’s LPGA career ran from 1988 until 2004, when she started working in television. But her television work is just as impressive. Because it includes all the men’s majors and most of the women’s major championships. Pepper’s work includes all of the major international amateur championships as well. She was the first woman to do live announcing at the Masters in 2016. Then in 2020 she became the first female walking reporter to cover the tournament.

Pepper served three years on the PGA of America Board of Directors, and has won multiple awards from various golf media associations. She is the current  winner of the old Tom Morris Award from the GCSAA.

In addition to being a walking reporter at the Masters and the PGA Championship, she has authored the self-published book and audio book. “Letters to a Future Champion: My Time with Mr. Pulver.”

The 2025 WWGA Amateur is July 14-19 at the Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak Michigan. The 2025 WWGA Junior Girls Championship is June 9-13 at the Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati Ohio. But for more information please visit WWGA.org.

COURSE #3 AT MEDINAH COUNTRY CLUB has reopened for play following a major renovation by the Australian design firm of OCM. Photo’s by Rory Spears.

BACK IN THE SADDLE AT MCC-nice to return to Medinah Country Club today for the 1-2-3 outing.

EASY AS 1-2-3

It was great to finally return to my job at Medinah Country Club today for the 1-2-3 outing.

1-2-3 means the outing is played over all three of the clubs courses.

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!-Finally, but better late than never.

This week parts of the clubs team will head to Royal Montreal for the 2024 Presidents Cup. The Presidents Cup will visit Medinah in fall of 2026, and it will be the first big test for Course #3, that just reopened a little over 60 days ago from renovation.

So far the early reviews are good from those members who have played the golf course, and the raters from a few national golf publications that have been out to play.

2019 BMW Championship champion Justin Thomas snuck out for a round. The word is that Thomas had a normal round of golf, even for a PGA Touring professional. A few birdies, pars and bogeys in a casual round. As for a score, word is that Thomas did break 70.

Course #3 does look really good as it continues to grow in, it should be in really good shape by the time the Presidents Cup rolls around. Next year the club will celebrate it’s centennial, it should be a great year to be a member or a guest at the club. The new short hole course and very large putting green, look pretty sharp too. It makes for a great view. When one drives up the main drive towards the historic and famed Medinah clubhouse.

LAST WEEK I did my first media golf coverage of the year. As I went to the LIV Golf Chicago tournament at Bolingbrook GC. I will write more about the tournament, but now with sometime to think about things even further. I have come away with some real good impressions of the week that was. Kudo’s to Jon Rahm who won the season long LIV Golf individual championship.

TIGER WOODS has announced that he has undergone yet another back surgery, the number of surgeries Woods has been through has become a very big number. So a result, it is time for Woods to retire. But would he could do is sit out a few years. Then go give it a shot on the champions tour.

THIS PAST WEEK I did go play the recently renovated Winnetka Golf Club, the final project by architect Rick Jacobson. Jacobson has decided to retire after a long run in the world of golf course design. I will be writing more about Winnetka GC and the par-3 course in the near future. The par-3 course is really fun, and the course is now under the watchful eye of Northbrook based KemperSports management.

CONGRATULATIONS to now former Callaway sales guy Billy Trimble, as he heads west to Colorado. Trimble will join Titleist Golf out in the Rocky Mountain State.

IT WAS NICE TO SEE the PGA of America clarify a few things in regards as to who is eligible to play in the Ryder Cup, and or the PGA Championship going forward. The recent decision by the PGA, clears the path for LIV golfers to be participants in the Ryder Cup. 2025 Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley made it clear that Team USA will have the best 12 American golfers on the team. No matter which tour they are playing on. Good for Bradley to standing up to some of the politics that have been a thorn in the side of golf the last few years.

I WAS SURPRISED to see the recent story by a Tampa area paper, about LPGA Hall of Fame inductee Jan Stephenson’s Tarpon Woods Golf Course. A town hall type meeting was held at the club, and Stephenson and her manager took some abuse by those in the crowd. It will be interesting to see what ca be done to put the course and clubhouse back on track.

So in closing, it’s good to be back on the Gog Blog. But I do have plenty of catching up to do. Because there has been plenty of good stories that have happened. While I have been on the mend from foot surgery.

But it’s also time to be back on the golf course. Golf season here up north is starting to fade. But I am playing again, and that’s the best feeling of all. RS