GOG BLOG GUY RORY SPEARS WITH MAJOR ED PULIDO USA (RET.) FOLDS OF
HONOR FOUNDATION NATIONAL SPEAKER.

Happy 4th of July, I hope after the parades and before the BBQ's get going you get
out and play 18 holes. There are plenty of great local courses that are offering deals
today, you should go take advantage of them.

Before you tee off, take a moment to think of all of our men and women in the armed
forces on a day like this. Those who have also made the sacrifice of serving and or
given their name in honor of our country. It's still a great country but we need a little
more effort in keeping it that way. Supporting Folds of Honor and groups like that
is one way to do it. www.foldsofhonor.com. Some courses are raising money this
weekend for the foundation even though the big push starts around Patriot Golf
Weekend or AKA Labor Day weekend.

LOCALLY..THIS IS THE BIG WEEK...Thursday July 7th is Medinah Patriot Day at
Medinah Country Club. Medinah member Mark Slaby and his group of volunteers
have been hard at work putting this event together for months. Go support them
and the Illinois military families in need. They deserve it. Please take the time to
visit www.medinahpatriotday.com and make the donation that you can. You'll
be glad you did. If you can golf that day, it's a treat to be at Medinah and even
better to go play golf there.


THE MEDINAH CLUBHOUSE IS ONE OF THE BEST ANYWHERE, PARTICIPANTS 
AT THE MEDINAH PATRIOT DAY CAN TOUR THE INSIDE.

As I said last week. I'm still not sure about the TEE IT FORWARD PROGRAM..that tee's
off tomorrow. Anyone wishing to send feedback I'd love to hear it, through this website
or at my Twitter account @GogBlogGuy. For more information on this please visit
PGA.com.

A TIP OF THE GOLF CAP OR VISOR TO..Medinah Country Club for allowing the option
of the finalists in the CDGA-AM to have the option of playing the 36 hole final match
on course #3. As a result the finalists got to play all three Medinah Courses over
the course of competition.

Congrats to Kyle English who defeated Andy Mickelson (no relation) to you know who,
and he pronounces it Michael-son anyway. English was 2 down with 4 holes to play
and rallied to win on the 37th hole. Mickelson plays college golf at Florida Gulf Coast
University, while Mickelson is a member at Joliet CC.

English was one down on the 36th hole, but got up and down from 80 yards out
while Mickelson in the same situation could not. What killed Mickelson was the
front bunker on the 1st hole. Mickelson found it all three times, and failed to get
up and down from it on the 37th hole, when English made par.

Both players had played against each other in another event only two weeks earlier
with Mickelson winning out.

English (20) will play in the Illinois Open, and if he misses the cut will go try and qualify
for the US-AM at Erin Hills. He will also play in the State-Am at Glen Oak.

Mickelson is on the waiting list for the Western-AM and after watching him play Medinah
3, he deserves to get in. He will also attempt to qualify for the US-AM. "I played in it
in 2007 at the Olympic Club," Mickelson said."Once you get a taste of that event you
always want to go back."

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE..is more fans get a taste of amateur golf at it's best.
The top 2 amateur events in the country are offering FREE admission and FREE
parking this year. The US-AM at Erin Hills August 22-28, and the Western AM at
Northshore CC August 1-6.

That's a deal you wont get at many great sporting events. Walk with the players and
there are no ropes, get up close and see the stars of the future.

CONGRATS TO BARB BRENNAN..of Wilton Iowa for winning a spot in the John
Deere Classic Pro-Am this Wednesday. Brennan was the winner in the "Split
the Middle Contest" yesterday on the 10th Fairway at TPC Deere Run. Her dirve
went just over 170 yards and was closest to the center line out of the 20 contestants.
A great contest by the John Deere Classic people, Clair Peterson and Kristy Ketcham. 

HAVE A GREAT 4TH EVERYONE...The GOG Blog speaks out are the opinions of
Rory Spears and not my partners on Golfers on Golf Radio, even though at times
they might be be...Your comments and questions are always welcome.
Remember..NO show tonight..GOG Radio returns next Monday July 11th.