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

  THE ARLINGTON LAKES GOLF CLUB at 1211 South Wilke Road, 18 holes of fun golf. Rounds of 3-hole, 6-hole, 9-hole and 18-hole are available. Call the club at (847)-577-3030 to book your tee time. Arlington Heights offers the Sunset Meadows practice range and the Nickol Knoll 9-hole par-3 golf course on Payton’s Hill in North Arlington.

THE GOG BLOG is written by RORY SPEARS, the Director of Content and Creation Golf on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter-X and LinkedIn/Facebook and Instagram.

Jon Rahm holds the LIV Bolingbrook Trophy and won the season long Individual LIV championship for 2024. Photo courtesy of LIV Golf.

JON RAHM is a winner again.

Because closed the individual championship, with a 4 under par 66. Rahm defeated runner-up Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia by three strokes.

Rahm won for the second time in three weeks. So it wasn’t a bad way to finish up his first season the LIV Golf tour.

Top 10’s were the norm for Rahm this season, when he completed all three days of the tournament. Rahm had to WD from the Houston tournament, with a cut on his foot. That was the injury that kept Rahm out of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst a week later.

But what led Rahm to a solid finished was his bogey free weekend in Rounds 2 and 3. Because the only bogey Rahm made all week came on Friday during Round 1. So there was a chance for Rahm to win yet another tournament. But he lost in a playoff to Brooks Koepka in August at the Greenbrier.

Gallery size ran from 15,000 to 16,000 on both weekend days. The largest galleries at LIV tournaments in America for the 2024 season.

Rahm could have lost on Sunday to Niemann without some steady play over the first 10 holes.

Because Niemann came roaring out of the blocks with birdies on two of the first three holes. So the pressure was on Rahm early on the front nine.

But Rahm spread out three birdies over the first holes, that were followed by two clutch par saving putts on holes 11 and 12.

Rahm got home in two shots on the par-5 14th hole, but promptly proceeded to three putt for par. But Rahm made up for that with a birdie on 17 to close out the tournament with a fist-pump and some emotion.

CLICK HERE to hear champion Jon Rahm’s press conference after winning LIV Golf Chicago at Bolingbrook GC.

Niemann admitted he knew he would have to do something special if he was going to beat Rahm this week. While he felt like he did play great, it wasn’t good enough to take down Rahm. But Niemann did hit the longest drive of the day, 379.1 yards on the 14th hole.

But for Rahm what made the win so special was that, “I knew I had to win to win the season long championship. So then I went out and did it, which is something to really be proud of.”

Rahm said it was great to have another good week in Chicago. Because Rahm had previously won on the PGA Tour at Olympia Fields, in a playoff over LIV golfer Dustin Johnson. Rahm mentioned his good Top-5 play in 2019 at Medinah during the BMW championship. But Rahm said he would enjoy LIV Golf coming back to the windy city in 2025.

Team Crushers GC won the team championship in Bolingbrook, wrapping up the No.1 seed for the Team finals in Dallas next week. L-R Charles Howell, Paul Casey, Bryson DeChambeau and Anirban Lahiri.

TEAM CRUSHERS GC

The Team Crushers GC led by Captain Bryson Dechambeau, defeated Rahm’s Legion XIII team by 1 shot to win the team championship in Bolingbrook.

Anirban Lahari led the way on Sunday for Crushers GC with a 3 under par-67. DeChambeau carded a 68, with Casey in at 70 and Howell at 71. Fireballs GC was third two shots back of the Crushers.

Crushers GC had not won a tournament since their win in Hong Kong back in March. But Crushers GC did go back-to-back in Chicago. Because in 2023 DeChambeau won both the individual title and the team title at Rich Harvest Farms.

“It was time to prove a point,” said DeChambeau. “We wanted to prove that we are back, and we wanted momentum heading into next week”. So now we feel like we have put ourselves in a good place. Finishing Bolingbrook at 14 under par, was the second best team score of the year on the LIV Tour.

CLICK HERE to hear the press conference of the Team Championship winners at LIV Golf Chicago, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. The Crushers are Charles Howell III, Paul Casey, Bryson DeChambeau and Anirban Lahiri.

2025 in CHICAGO. Maybe not, while the LIV Golf players have enjoyed three years in the Chicago market. Two years at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, and one year at Bolingbrook. Next years LIV golf schedule seems to have Indianapolis as the fall Midwest stop on the schedule. There is some speculation that Speedway Golf Course located both next to, and with three holes in the middle of the Indy 500 speedway. Is the front runner to host the LIV tournament next September.

But for more information please visit LIVGolf.com.

Arlington Lakes Golf Club at 1211 South Wilke Wilke Road in Arlington Heights is 18 holes of fun golf, that can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels. So call for tee times today at (847)-577-3030 or enjoy the Sunset Meadows practice range & Nickol Knoll Par-3. But don’t forget the Arlington Amateur next month is coming up soon. AHPD.org.

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

Golfers on Golf Radio is hosted by Ed Stevenson IPGA (L) and veteran journalist Rory Spears (R). IPGA HOF writer Len Ziehm is our third.

Golfers on Golf Radio Week 14 hits the airwaves today on Am 750 WNDZ-Chicago.

Ed Stevenson and Rory Spears host, Len Ziehm has the week off.

Be ready early today, because tee time is 10am.

This weeks program includes talk about the “late” golf showman Chi Chi Rodriguez.

Guests include Chris Charnas of Links Capital Partners, who has been doing PR work for the former Canal Shores Golf Club in Evanston. The has brought together several golf companies and organizations, to bring a renovation to the property, and a rebranding of the club.

FORMER WILSON GOLF PRESIDENT Tim Clarke joins Tour Edge Golf in the same role, he joins us today. Canal Shores Golf Club has a new name, so we learn more from Chris Charnas.

Golfers on Golf Radio Week 14-with guests Chris Charnas and Tim Clarke.

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO-Chicago’s longest running golf program in history, 34 years. Concludes for the season next week, with guests Casey Brozek of Medinah Country Club, and IL PGA Executive Director Carrie Williams.

So thanks for listening-Ed, Rory and Len.

  Mistwood Golf Dome Season will be here before you know it. So come out and grab a cold one with the award winning wings. Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook Mistwoodgolfdome.com.

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

The wall of champions at the first tee on the Olympia Fields North Course.

Olympia Fields Country Club that is coming off a successful hosting of the 2023 BMW Championship on it’s North Golf Course, will now put the course through a renovation by Andrew Green.

But it was architect Andy Staples who recently completed the renovation of the clubs South Golf Course.

Green has been involved in several profile projects of late. They included Oak Hill that hosted the 2023 PGA Championship. East Lake Golf Club the year end host of the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship was another recent Green project. Green helped ready the Wilmington Country Club in Delaware, for the 2022 BMW Championship. But two Ohio projects saw Green restore both the Inverness Club and Scioto.

Olympia Fields is known for it’s clock tower landmark above it’s clubhouse.

“We are delighted to have Andrew Green spearheading the restoration of our North Course,” said Bill McErlean, President of Olympia Fields Country Club. “Because his vision and dedication to honoring the original design while incorporating modern advancements align perfectly with our goal of maintaining the course’s historical integrity and elevating the playing experience for our members and guests.”

The North Course, designed by Willie Park Jr., opened in 1923. Most recently it hosted the 2022 BMW Championship won by Victor Hovland. But the club also hosted the fan-less 2020 BMW Championship (Covid-19) won in a playoff by Jon Rahm. Current U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Amateur on the North Course in 2015. Jim Furyk was the winner of the 2003 U.S. Open. Graham Marsh the 1997 U.S. Senior Open.

The restorations master plan is coming together, but throughout the process the club will deliver updates to members and the golfing community.

” I am honored to work with Olympia Fields Country Club on this significant project,” said Andrew Green. “The North Course is a true gem in the world of golf. So I am committed to preserving it’s rich heritage while making thoughtful enhancements that will ensure its place among the top courses in the country for years to come.”

Olympia Fields Country Club was founded in 1915. So for more information see OFCC.org.

  THE SPECS AND NUMBERS ARE IN. So inside and out the distance and numbers do add up. A better fit, a better feel & more distance. Add a pair of Sqairz. See Sqairz.com.

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

Rory Spears on Pinehurst #2 the 18th green, where Payne Stewart made his historical U.S. Open Winning Putt.

THE 124th U.S. Open

HOSTED BY THE PINEHURST RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB.

The 124th U.S. Open is the fourth open hosted by Pinehurst in 25 years. But if you add the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open, it would be the fifth open.

Pinehurst #2 is the classic Donald Ross design, that stands above his work at some other 400+ courses Ross designed. The elevated green on #2 will challenge the worlds best players. The usual question remains, will the approach shots hold. Will the putts stay on the green. Can putting from off the green help (yes it does) and how much will we see players do that.

THE WASTE BUNKERS have been enhanced to make those area’s even tougher to play. Because the fairways have been shrunk down to size, how often will they be hit. U.S. Open championships are won by the players who hit the most fairways.

WHEN BILL COORE and BEN CRENSHAW came in to work the redesign, they restored #2 to what they found in aerial photo’s on Christmas Day in the early 1940’s.

PINEHURST was restored with more waste area’s on all the holes, the shorter par-5 fourth hole, became a par-4. The shorter par-4 fifth, was lengthened and changed into a par-5. But the fact is, it’s still a hard hole to play. So after the 5th, it’s two of the most demanding holes on the course have been played, but tough holes are not finished by any means. Because even the par-3’s have plenty of bunkers to navigate around the greens.

FROM PLAYING the 18th hole in January, and seeing the hole now. Par will be a great score. So you want a high pressure hole, it will be 18 on Friday if your struggling to make the cut. But even better, will be how the players attack it on Sunday, should they need a par or better to win, or be in a playoff.

BUT SPEAKING OF PLAYOFF’S the U.S. Open playoff has now shrunk to two holes on Sunday night. But if there is still no winner, it becomes a sudden death format on the third playoff hole. The par-3 17th hole and the 18th hole are the playoff holes.

The 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst on Pinehurst #2. This week on NBC.

SO WHAT YOU SEE this weekend may not always be what you see going forward, such as in 2029. Because since Pinehurst is now a USGA anchor site, numerous USGA championships will be headed to Pinehurst over the next 25 years. IN 2029 when the U.S. Open is a double with men’s and women’s opens going back to back. The entire hospitality look could be different by then. Because much of what you see in 5 years, will depend on what works or didn’t work this week.

THE OPENING TWO HOLES should not be real tough ones for the players. But if someone hooks the ball through the trees on to Midlane Road, then there is a real issue. The trees right, are an issue, but not as bad as what could be, should the drive go left.

WHILE 4 & 5 will be tricky, lets not rule out the par-3’s. The 6th and 17th will be the toughest. Because they play longer and the greens have more slope, and more bunkers defending them. Par-3 holes 9 and 15 won’t play as long or as tough. So this is where you could see some birdies.

SINCE 16 is not playing as a par-5, like it does for members and resort guests. The 16th with it’s small pond and all, will play a little different. But it’s not likely to be a birdie hole. So the winner of the 124th U.S. Open might be the player that makes par on 16-17-18.

THE TWO PAR-5’s are holes 5 and 10. So if you are starting out back-nine first. A birdie right out of the blocks is a must to help post a solid round. But 10 will be the longest hole on the golf course, while the green might be one of the easier ones.

THERE HAVE BEEN different ways to win the U.S. Open. The strategy changes from venue to venue, and what the weather conditions turn out to be. But serious grind along golf, where par is always a good score. Is a strategy that could play out well this week in Pinehurst.

SINCE PINEHURST #2 sits right in the USGA’s back yard, or across the street from their new offices. The USGA and it’s championship team has had plenty of time to study the golf course and how it can or will play this week.

BEN CRENSHAW AND BILL COORE brought Pinehurst back to it’s roots 13 years ago. That style and look has help up well. So there is no reason to doubt that it won’t hold up this week.

IT WON’T TAKE LONG for members and resort guests to be back out on #2, testing it out in U.S. Open like conditions. But if your ready for a test, you can try booking a time for #2 in the weeks and months ahead. There won’t be many times available for a while. But if you book the right golf package, and pick some good dates. The old saying of playing where the pro’s play (or in this case some top amateurs as well), could come true for you.

BUT FOR THIS WEEK, if you do not have tickets for the championship. Do sit back and enjoy the coverage on television, it should be pretty good. But if you have not been to Pinehurst before, or have played Course #2, watch closely this week.

But for information on the Pinehurst Resort and all of it’s golf courses, historic hotels and more. See Pinehurst.com the Home or Cradle of American Golf.