TIME HAD COME FOR CHANGE AT "THE BRIDGES OF POPLAR CREEK" IN HOFFMAN ESTATES
                (HOLE 2)                              PUTTING GREEN CLOCK               BOBBY JONES BRIDGE

WELCOME BACK TO THE GOG NEWS BLOG...JULY EDITION...Renovations are
in the news. The biggest one in the area for the end of 2010 and the start of 2011,
is the Bridges of Poplar Creek. If you haven't played this course in a while it's time
to return.

The GOG Blog did after a 12 year absence as was very pleased with what it found.
GM-Head Professional Brian Bechtold and staff, have landed on their feet after a
late start as the changes settled in.

"We are fortunate that we have a commissioner like Scott Tripon," Bechtold said.
"He was the driving force behind this project, and he realized that there is a need
to keep our facilities here in Hoffman Estates in good shape and in first class
condition."

The Gog Blog played the course only 12 hours after a 2 inch rain had fallen, and
the course played great without standing water lingering around.

"Water retention and drainage were an important part the renovations," Bechtold
said. " Previously when it rained we flooded and we were the last place you
would call to play, now we will be the first. We will dry out very quickly now."

Some 200 trees were taken out, and almost that many more were added. The
driving range has seen improvements, along with the inside of the clubhouse
and the grill area. The "Bridges" have been named for famous people in golf
history, so that the curious and the junior players can learn a piece of the
games history. One bridge will named yearly in honor of the club champion.

Honor yourself with a round golf at, The Bridges at Poplar Creek this summer 
or fall before golf season ends. (847)-781-3681 or please visit on the web
bridgesofpoplarcreek.com.

TO HEAR RORYS INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN BECHTOLD CLICK HERE:

Download | Duration: 00:08:59

THE FIRST PHASE OF RENOVATIONS..are about complete at Arrowhead GC
in Wheaton. The final touches on a replaced green about complete. 2010 was
the first of a three plan to redo the bunkers on all three nines.

"We started with the East-Nine last fall, "said Arrowhead Director of Golf Bruce
Stoller. "This fall the South Nine and in fall of 2012 the West nine will get done."

The project is being done by Aurora based architect Greg Martin, whose stellar
work at Phillips Park in Aurora was the key to him being brought in to Arrowhead.

"The current bunkers are less in number and bigger in size," says Stoller. " What
will happen is we will take the big ones and make smaller bunkers out of them.
There will be more bunkers in the end, but the overall size will be smaller. Some
will be dug down a little deeper to be more challenging, and some moved to
be brought into play because of technology advances and to challenge longer
hitters.The bunkers will all have better drainage as part of the project."

A few trees will be removed just to help with areas to get more sun or air, some
of the less than 50 removed trees have been damaged or weakened by storms.
Some fairways will be expanded to reward good drives, which golfers should
enjoy.

To enjoy all 27 holes, the driving range or grill area. Call (630)-653-5800 or
visit www.arrowheadgolfclub.com. A facility of the Wheaton Park District.


THE GOG BLOG GUY FOUND ERIN HILLS AGAIN..the entrance sign as you
see is bigger than the old one. The US-Amateur is coming on August 22nd, 
FREE is the cost to park and get in.

Much has changed since our last visit in Mid-September of 2010, a clubhouse
has risen, overnight cottages are open. The driving range is open, a grill room
with new flatscreen TV's. A full pictorial is headed here in the short future, along
with an audio tour from COO/GM Rich Tock who we asked if Erin Hills is still a
work in progress.

"I don't ever think we will ever stop improving this piece of property," Tock said.
"We have three cottages ( all named after famous Irish courses) and it wouldn't
surprise me to add a few more this fall. We might add 3 or 4 holes, maybe 6
holes, maybe a dynamic putting course, we are not sure if that will happen this
year or next year. We have the property to continue to look at our options. The
natural transition would be to put in another 18 hole golf course. But I would
think that won't happen, we have a championship course. We could add a nine
hole par three, or a few holes you could play before dinner."

With the patio's by the grill room or behind the cottages over looking the course
and the putting green, Erin Hills has become a relaxing pure golf facility. There
are no airplanes over head, or constant sirens driving by. Golfers that visited
the property in 2006 when it opened and never came back. Well it's time you do.

The US Open is coming in 2017, you should visit and play long before then. A
few more volunteers are needed for the US-AM. www.2011USAmateur.com and
click on the volunteer tab. Erin Hills 7169 County Rd. "O" Erin WI. (262)-670-8600
or visit www.erinhills.com.

THE GOG BLOG WILL CHECK OUT..the new Titleist Irons at the John Deere
Classic where the Titleist PGA Tour pros are getting them. A new line of AP1,
AP2, CB and MB Irons (712 series are coming out). For more info. visit the
Team Titleist page on Facebook, or teamtitleist.com.

BY THE TIME THE 2014 WGA-AMATEUR...gets to Beverly CC in Chicago, the
bunkers could look a little different than they did for last weeks WGA Junior
Championship won by 15 year old Connor Black. New sand and better
drainage are expected to be added, but no renovations or relocation of the
bunkers is expected. Members currently have practice bunkers with the
different types of sand the club is considering purchasing.

COG HILL IS RUNNING SEVERAL PARENT/JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMS...in July.
Family Golf on Sunday evenings every Sunday night at 6 PM through August 29,
play is on course #1. Bring your kids to the driving range month is July, an adult
purchase of balls, junior gets a small bucket FREE. Take your child to the course
week starts tomorrow July 2 through the 10th. Juniors play courses 1 or 3 FREE,
with paid adult. (866)-264-4455 or visit www.coghillgolf.com.


CHRIS SPALLA (LEFT) HAS OPENED HIS OWN GOLF ACADEMY AT TPC CHICAGO
IN JUSTICE, The Orland Park native has brought his teaching skills back from the
David Leadbetter Academy in Orlando. Spalla is seen here with Ian Readman
Chairman of Intercept IT LTD. of London. TPC CHICAGO..(708)-924-9889 and
www.tpcchicago.com. Watch for the full Gog Blog feature coming up on Spalla.

CONGRATS TO ILLINI COACH MIKE SMALL..who did not defend his PPNC
title at Hershey PA., but finished sixth and therefore will appear in his 7th
PGA Championship in August at the Atlanta Athletic Club. It will be Smalls
10th trip to a major championship.

""It's fun to play in a major championship," Small said. "It shows my players
I'm still a competitor. I want them to follow in those steps." Small finished at
six under par, five shots out of the playoff won by David Hutsell.

KYLE SANDERS an assistant pro at the Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, did
make the cut but did not qualify for the PGA Championship. The other IPGA
pros in the field did not make the cut. Travis Johns the IPGA section player
of the year for 2010, had to WD before the tournament started.

MORE ILLINI CONGRATS TO LUKE GUTHRIE..who made the Jack Nicklaus
team that consists of the 24 best golfers in college golf.

TREETOPS RESORT..IN GAYLORD MI...sold out the RT Jones Masterpiece
course on June 25th. It's the 25th year of the course, and golfers can play
for $25 dollars on the 25th of each month. That special will run in July,
August, and September. (888)-873-3867 www.treetops.com.



RYDERCUP.COM..you can register  for the blind draw for tickets to the
2012 Ryder Cup, to be held September of 2012 at Medinah.

ONLY 6 DAYS LEFT.. The Medinah Patriot Day Golf Outing.
www.medinahpatriotday.com.

THE GOG BLOG..WILL cover the 36 hole match play final, of the
CDGA-AM this morning at Medinah...Details and comments from the
winner in the Sunday Morning Short Game, right here at the Gog Blog.

THE JULY ISSUE OF "CHICAGO AREA GOLFER" Is out...in pro shops
everywhere. Check column #2, by Rory Spears on the Illinois Golf Hall
of Fame. www.chicagogolfonline.com.

CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER TV..CDGA TV is back for July..hosted by
Jill Carlson, (below with CDGA contributing writer Rory Spears at Oak
Park CC).


CDGA-TV IN JULY INCLUDES...an interview with Steve Stricker. Golf in the
Quad Cities besides the John Deere Classic. A review of the 50th Radix
Cup at Oak Park CC. A preview of the USGA Junior Girls Championship
at Olympia Fields. Show times this week on Comcast Sportsnet are July 3,
at 5:30 PM, July 5 at 2 PM and Saturday July 9 at 1:30 PM.

WILSON GOLF ANNOUNCES FG TOUR BALL POOL FOR PROS IN THE
ILLINOIS OPEN...pros using the ball can win cash incentives provided by
Illinois Open sponsor Wilson Golf. Wilson is making the ball available to
amateurs for FREE in the tournament, but Amateurs can not collect cash
prizes due to USGA rules. The top pro finisher in the pool wins $2,000.
The 62nd Illinois Open is July 25-27 at Hawthorne Woods CC. More info
www.wilsonstaff.com or call (773)-714-6400.

FRENCH LICK RESORT OFFERS SUMMER GOLF PACKAGES...The Hall
of Fame Challenge, 2 days/3 nights starting at $899.00. Ladies it's the
Girls of Summer package starting at $749.00 per person. The Whole in
One Package starting at $469.00 per person. More info call (888)-936-9360
or visit www.frenchlick.com.

THINK YOUR GAME IS HOT...try it out at the Furnace Creek Resort in
Death Valley National Park, where temps are over 100 each day in the
summer. The Heatstroke Open is over, but it's not to late to enjoy real
warm weather golf. furnacecreekresort.com or call (800)-236-7916. It's
smoking hot.

THATS ALL FOR THIS MONTH..join us all weekend..and all next week, the
golf news is pouring in..in the meantime...GO PLAY..The Gog News Blog
returns Aug.1st, at the WGA Western-Amateur at Northshore, in Glenview.