STEVE STRICKER & FRANK JEMSEK TALK COG HILL, REES, PLAYOFFS
TOP RATED AMERICAN STEVE STRICKER SPOKE UP COG HILL, THE WORK OF
GOLF ARCHITECT REES JONES, AND FRANK JEMSEK RESPONDED.
In one-on-one interviews with Golfers on Golf Radio and the Gog Blog, Steve
Stricker was candid enough to say what he and other PGA Tour players are
thinking about Cog Hill, and the renovations done to Cog Hill's number four
Dubsdread course.
After Stricker spoke, Jemsek was allowed to hear the comments and have
a chance to respond. He did.
To explain up front, this is not a war of the words. Just two people with nothing
but a ton of respect for one another. There is no trash talking here, and there
never will be, both parties are nothing but class acts on and off the golf course.
In Strickers case, there is probably not many players on the PGA Tour that
feel worse for Frank Jemsek than Stricker. Stricker as a former champion at
Cog Hill during the Western Open days ( I think everyone misses them), was
hoping that the Rees Jones renovations would bring a great test of golf for PGA
Tour events and the Jemsek family a long overdue US Open.
So far that hasn't happened. Last year poor conditions brought on by a tough
summer left dubsdread in a mess. As of a couple weeks back, that's not the
case this year. This year if the players a re complaining, it's most likely at the
design Jones left the Jemseks with. It's not the condition of the course that new
greens superintendent Scott Pavalko and crew have presented to the players.
In a quick review of four holes last week, Cog Hill looks to be in outstanding
condition. That quick review did not include holes like # 4 and #13 that seemed
to take the brunt of the heat last summer, from Mother Nature and tour players
alike. Another review of course conditions should happen today. That review
will be posted here ASAP.
Stricker is a big fan of the Jemseks and what the family does for the sport of
golf, one could tell it was very difficult for him to make the comments he did.
I 'm sure that if the players are more positve about Cog Hill this year, Stricker
will be among the players championing the cause. Let's hope that is the case.
THE PAR 3 SIXTH HOLE ON COURSE #4 (L) AND THE CLOSING PAR 4 18TH HOLE (R)
As for Jemsek, he admits Strickers comments were not exactly what he was
looking for. But no hard feelings, he knows the respect is there and Stricker
means well. Jemsek still feels that Jones did exactly what he was supposed
to do.
Which was put the "Dread" back in Dubs, and make the course tougher for
the best players in the world on weeks that they are in town. While providing
a little more challenge for the customers of Cog Hill, who had seen new golf
technology make their course not be the test of golf it once was.
The question now is, what is the future for Cog Hill #4 Dubsdread. The PGA
Tour might stay in the future, or it might not. The loss of the PGA Tour might
also not be the worst thing for Cog Hill either, because it might make the
course more attractive to the USGA and help land that elusive mens US Open.
Jemsek will re-enter the US Open derby in 2022, the USGA says it already
has the invitation they need from the Jemsek family to consider Cog Hill for
an open. If a few less BMW's is all it takes to get the open, it will be interesting
to see what Jemsek will do.
One thing Jemsek will do this next week is one thing he always does, and that
is leave his door open for any PGA Tour player that wants to talk to him about
the golf course. If there are complaints, concerns, ideas Jemsek hopes the
players will come to him with their thoughts, he really would love to hear them.
In the meantime the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs are here, let's enjoy them. Forty
players will get sent home after next Sunday, thirty go to Atlanta. Shall we
find out just who that is.
TO HEAR STEVE STRICKERS INTERVIEW ON COG HILL, AND THE FED
EX CUP PLAYOFFS, AND FRANK JEMSEKS RESPONSE.CLICK HERE.
Download | Duration: 00:06:54
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