THE MARCH GOG NEWS COLUMN IS HERE...

THE CHICAGO GOLF SHOW HELD THE LAST THREE DAYS IN ROSEMONT IS IN
THE BOOKS. HAVING ATTENDED ALL THREE DAYS I WOULD CALL THE SHOW
A SUCCESS.

FROM THE MOMENT..the doors opened at noon on Friday the crowd was pouring
in. The show stayed very busy on opening day until almost 6 PM, when things started
to quiet down. The morning rush was right back on Saturday when things stayed
crowded up until late afternoon. Sunday saw another great turnout with people
hanging around until mid-afternoon (leaving just in time to go see the USA-Canada
hockey game).

What I did see was the Chicagoland golf community tell the golf industry, it's ready
for winter to leave and the golf season to start. Between the enthusiasm of this past
weekend, and what I saw at the Schaumburg show the golfers are ready to tee it up.
Buy some new equipment, and travel to the countries best golf resorts and properties.

The next time somebody tells you golf is dead because of the economy or the Tiger
Woods fiasco, don't buy it. The industry like most others might be down, but it's far
from being out.

I think the free golf offered by Golfvisions at 10 area courses, and a free subscription
to either Golf Digest or Golf World didn't hurt. There were lines of people waiting to sign
up for all of the above. Credit goes to golf show owner Tom Corcoran and the Miles
family at Golfvisions and the Golf Digest folks for making these promotions happen.

Speaking of the economy, the show opened on Friday for the media types by attending
the media luncheon. One of the presentations was made by Illinois Junior Golf Executive
Director Carrie Williams,. The IJGA did a survey of it's members on what they expect to
spend on golf this year.

Between tournament fees, green fees, lessons, equipment etc., Illinois junior golfers
will invest between 13-14 million dollars this year in Illinois alone. Memo to folks in the
golf business here in the Land of Lincoln, open your doors to the kids. They are probably
spending their parents money now, but they will be spending their own someday when
they are your customers of the future.

MISSING FROM THE SHOW this year was Cog Hill Owner Frank Jemsek. According to
Franks son Joe, his dad had some knee surgery on Friday and doctors told Frank to stay
off his feet this weekend. Joe Jemsek is working these days a golf course architect, for
information on his firm see his website at www.jemsekgolfdesigns.com or contact him
at his office in Chicago at (773)-687-9860.  All of us here at GOG wish Frank a speedy
recovery.

FRANK JEMSEK ALSO TELLS GOG, that he is more optimistic about landing a future
US Open at Cog Hill, after returning from the annual USGA meetings in Pinehurst last
month. More on this story coming soon.

ALSO MISSING..was more of our local courses at both golf shows. It would be nice if
more of our local courses came out and supported the local shows. Granted everyone
is tightening the belt a bit, but this is a great way to stay in touch with your customers
and to reel in some new ones too.

IT WAS GOOD to see booths from the courses of Buffalo Grove Park District, Glenwoodie,
Broken Arrow, The Traditions at Chevy Chase, Cantigny, Indian Lakes Resort, White Pines
golf dome at the White Pines golf club, Silver Lake and Makray Memorial. But many others
were missing. A few more equipment companies would be wise to be on hand.

THE ILLINOIS PGA professionals were giving out free golf lessons at the indoor range and
on the puttng green. It was good to see many people taking advantage of this, taking lessons
from PGA professionals is still the best way to improve your game and get fitted for the
right equipment.

In attendance was David Mortell from Balmoral Woods G.C. down in Crete. The southwest
suburban course is NOT for sale, as widely rumored and previously reported on this site.
Sorry David I regret the error.

TWO OF THE hardest working folks in the golf resort business were on hand this weekend.
From Michigan Kevin O'brien the General Manager of St.Ives-Tullymore in Stanwood, who
brought his staff and many goods from their pro shops at great show discounts. Back on his 
Illinois home turf was Brendan Sweeney from The French Lick Resort, who seemed to be
everywhere promoting the midwest's hottest new golf destination in southern Indiana. Which
has just received Golf Magazine's Silver Medal Golf Resort Award. 

For golfers wanting to travel this summer around the midwest for great golf destinations,
both St. Ives-Tullymore and French Lick should be on everyones must stay and play list.

ONE THING that might make things easier for golfers wanting to hit certain travel destinations
would be if the golf shows went back to putting them together in isles by state or geographic
region.

THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP was on hand along with the J.K. Wadley Trophy, which is awarded
to the tournaments winner. The BMW Championship will played September 6-12 this year at
Cog Hill in Lemont. Early during tournament week will be a Pro-Am at Cog Hill, that will include
members of the Blackhawks and Blackhawks Alumni being in the role of celebs. Stay tuned
for more details.

MAKRAY MEMORIAL Golf Club in Barrington has finally settled the lawsuit with a neighbor, that
forced the temporary altering of one of it's par 4 holes on the back nine. The hole will be re-done
and will set up as a challenging short par 4.

THE GOLF COURSE FORMERLY KNOWN AS The KINGS CHALLENGE (Arnold Palmer design)
in Glen Arbor MI. 20 minutes NW of Traverse City is now called the Manitou Passage Golf Club.
Some tee and tree movement allows golfers great views of the area called Manitou Passage.
The course now plays 6,734 from the tips. For more information on this course now open after
last years renovations call, (231)-228-6000 or visit the website at manitoupassagegolfclub.com.

THE INN AT BAY HARBOR, has received the prestigious resort Golf Medal Award from Golf
Magazine, the state of Michigan's first gold medal award in the 22 years they have awarded this
honor. Bay Harbor joins this years winners the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in Maui Hawaii, The
Homestead Resort in Hot Springs Virginia, and the Four Seasons at Troon North in Scottsdale
Arizona. To stay at the Bay Harbor Inn, call (231)-439-4000 or visit the Bay Harbor website
at www.innatbayharbor.com.

THE SYDNEY MAROVITZ COURSE (Formerly known as Waveland) at Irving Park Rd. and
located on Lake Michigan, run for the Chicago Park District by the Vienna Virginia based Billy 
Casper Golf. Has been rated as the 18th Best 9-hole course in the USA by Golf World Magazine
which listed the Top 25 courses. There are 4,430 nine hole courses in America. The list was
headed up by the Dunes Club in New Buffalo MI., Marovitz plays to a distance of 3,240 yards.
Travis Kane the Regional Manager for the Chicago Park District Golf Courses said, "we are
honored to be named to this exclusive list."

DAVID IMPASTATO TAYLORVILLE ILLINOIS NATIVE,  and owner of the Piper Glen G.C. in 
Springfield Illinois is running an indoor facility in Springfield called the Studio 59 indoor practice
facility. The facility allows Impastato to do what he loves to do best all year round, and that is
teach golf.

SHEPHERD'S CROOK GOLF IN ZION, is now allowing members of it's players club to sign
up for the 2010 season. New members can sign up starting March 8th. For information call 
(847)-872-2080 or visit the website www.shepherdscrook.org.

STAY TUNED TO THE GOG BLOG FOR MORE NEWS AS THE 2010 GOLF SEASON IN
CHICAGO APPROACHES.