RORY SPEARS
  (THE GOG BLOG GUY)
THE 18TH GREEN AT COG HILL
  COURSE #4 DUBSDREAD

WHAT YOUR SEEING HERE...(photo above) is what turned out to be the pin
placement of the final hole of the 2011 BMW Championship. Could it be the
final hole that was played in PGA Tour history at Cog Hill.

NOT LIKELY...I wouldn't rule out Cog Hill making a comeback at some point,
maybe not 2013 but I wouldn't ever say never. Times change, people do and
just because a few players don't like the course doesn't mean they all do.

IN FACT..Justin Rose winner of the BMW (yeah okay he won but) didn't really
understand all the criticism the course was getting. Other players like Pekin
Illinois native DA Points, suggested a few "tweaks" on bunkers but didn't have
an overall problem with the golf course.

I BELIEVE..that even the players who complained the loudest, Phil Mickelson,
Steve Stricker and Luke Donald wish something better for people they like the
Jemsek family. All of them really wish the Jemseks better, and maybe for all
involved some tweaks to course could happen. Frank Jemsek and family have
to decide if thats what's called for.

SINCE I WAS THE ONE WHO ASKED PHIL MICKELSON TO PLAY ARCHITECT
LAST WEDNESDAY..that set off the response where the left handed one
suggested the Jemseks bring in "somebody who knows what he is doing",
and then he proceeded to suggest a list of changes and architects. Since
then I have been asked is Cog Hill really that bad.

THAT ANSWER IS NO...but for those who have put the same question to me
that I did to Mickelson. I will take my turn as amateur architect later this week
in a feature called, "How Do You Fix Cog Hill, or do you."

OTHER TOPICS UPCOMING THIS WEEK...A REPLAY of my interview with
USGA's Executive Director Mike Davis for those who might have seen it, will be
brought back front and center here on the site. The Gog Blog also had a 1 on1
interview with Conway Farms GM Todd Marsh, a possible site for the 2013
BMW Championship, but definitely the site for the 2012 USGA Mid-Amateur
with Co-Host Knollwood. The Gog Blog also caught up with Crooked Stick
Director of Golf Tony Pancake for an advance look at the host club for the
2012 BMW.

THE FINAL GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO SHOW IS TONIGHT AT 6 PM
ON WJJG-AM1530 and on line at www.wjjgam1530.com. Guests include
Val Russell publisher of Chicago Area Golf, and Adam Shupak author of
a new book on former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman. Golf's
Driving Force, and a lot of Cog Hill and BMW talk too.


A RAVE GOES OUT TO OLYMPIA FIELDS CC..for the great job done again
this year in hosting the Fighting Illini (Polo) golf challenge this past weekend.
Congrats to Stanford that won the championship, over Oklahoma state. The
13th ranked Illini finished in eighth place. In the field that includes about 15
of the country's top golf programs. 

       JIM SOBB 2011
WINNER ILLINOIS SR. OPEN
(Seen here with Senior Match Play Trophy)

A TIP OF THE CAP OR GOLF VISOR TO...Ivanhoe Head Professional Jim Sobb
who walked away with check/trophy for his fine efforts in winning the Illinois Senior
Open Championship this past week at McHenry Country Club. Sobb defeated
a full field that included many top Illinois Senior Players and defending champion
Kevin Marion from Old Elm GC.


   MIKE SMALL

A RAVE GOES OUT TO MIKE SMALL..and team USA on winning the PGA Cup
this past weekend at the Cordevalle GC in California. Team USA kept alive the
perfect streak of never losing on home soil. Defeating the team from GB & I by
a score of 17 1/2 to 8 1/2. Small scored 2.5 out of a possible 4 points for team
USA.

WHAT'S GOING ON AT MEDINAH...THE HOME OF THE 2012 RYDER CUP,
more on that later this week.



THE WOMENS WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION HOLDS, it's annual meeting
and luncheon on Thursday of this week at Lake Shore Country Club. The
annual meeting is at 11:30 the luncheon at 12:30. Guest speaker from the WGA
is President and CEO John Kaczkowski. For more information (847)-256-0481.

A RANT TO NBC SPORTS..for ruining another Saturday at the BMW Championship
by forcing an early finish due to Notre Dame Football. The next time you pull this
stunt here's to your Leprechaun catching a Titleist off the face of a driver in the
head.

SHOW TIME FOLKS..JOIN IN THEN GO PLAY...........the Gog Blog is back all
week..