THE NOVEMBER GOG NEWS BLOG IS HERE
SOUTHERN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB IN TULSA OKLAHOMA, MIGHT BE IN THE RUNNING
FOR ANOTHER MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP.
Welcome to the November edition of the Golfers on Golf (GOG) News Blog. Boy
did November pop up quick, and our golf season fades away. But here our golf
season never stops at www.golfersongolf.com. Chicago's only all year round golf
news source.
THE GOG BLOG RECENTLY WENT ON A MIDWEST GOLF TRIP...see story
below. One stop was Tulsa Oklahoma, where highly rated Southern Hills CC
is located. Southern Hills has hosted several major championships, including
most recently the 2007 PGA Championship.
IN THE CURRENT EDITION OF CHICAGO AREA GOLF..I wrote about the USGA
Executive Director Mike Davis, where we talked about the Chicago market and
the USGA leaving the midwest for 14 years when it comes to the US Open. Davis
was open about wanting to get the USGA back in the midwest for a US Open.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE USGA..might have found a club to their liking in the
midwest, in Tulsa it appears. While nothing is official, Southern Hills MIGHT be
emerging as a front runner for the 2020 US Open. One thing is certain. The 2007
PGA Championship and the PGA of America seems to have left a bad taste in
the clubs mouth, and it doesn't seem like they will be returning anytime soon.
FACT..from a weather standpoint. Much cooler in Tulsa come Mid-June than
Mid-August.
REGARDLESS..of where the 2020 US Open is played. If it indeed is back in
the midwest only three years after Erin Hills in 2017. That's great news, but
then if the USGA goes east and west in 2021-2022. Then the 2022 open that
was believed to be headed to our area might get pushed back one more year.
Stay Tuned.
WHATS UP WGA...It seems like all the clubs that are expected to be in derby
for the 2013 BMW Championship are on a holding pattern, in fact all is quiet.
To quiet if you ask us. In the meantime September 6-9 2012, The BMW
Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club Carmel IN. (near Indy). The BMW
is one of the four course changes for the PGA Tour in 2012.
SEPTEMBER 10-16..great golf returns to the Chicago area. No not the Ryder
Cup just yet, but the USGA Mid-Amateur Championship. 312 players will battle
for the title, at two Lake Forest courses that include Conway Farms and The
Knollwood Club. Conway Farms has the lead as main host, with Knollwood
assisting on days 1-2 for the stroke play part of the championship.
CONWAY FARMS architect Tom Fazio has been involved with some tweaking
for the Mid-Am on the course, while Keith Foster has been doing the same at
Knollwood. The Gog Blog has played both in recent weeks and hopefully both
courses will look as stellar one year from now as they currently do. The Gog
Blog will have more news on the Mid-Am as it becomes available.
THE OAK MEADOWS PROJECT...Oak Meadows has started the process
of seeking an architect to renovate the classic course that has had problems
with flooding in recent years. How the course will be redone is still up in the
air, but the flooding issue will be tackled, and yes a clubhouse will be rebuilt
to replace the one that burned down as well.
DUPAGE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF GOLF OPERATIONS ED STEVENSON,
has been receiving many interested inquiries from architects around the country.
So there will be no shortage for Stevenson and other folks at Dupage County
to select from.
THIS PROJECT IS BEING REALIZED ..as a special opportunity to work on
a classic golf design, and make this property once home to a private country
club (Elmhurst). A fantastic public facility for all golfers to enjoy. While the
club has been public for years, county officials and golfers alike have seen the
property suffer through a variety of issues.
AS A RESULT..some big names in the golf architect world have been showing
up to see the site and look at it's potential. On a recent tour of the property the
Gog Blog chatted with Batavia based architect Greg Martin (Phillips Park GC
Aurora and the renovations at Arrowhead GC Wheaton), and his partner for this
project St. Louis based Art Schaupeter (Highlands of Elgin, and assistant to
Keith Foster at Shepherds Crook GC in Zion).
IN ADDITION...Holland Michigan based architect Ray Hearn (Island Hills,
Mistwood GC in Romeoville and Flossmoor CC renovations) also dropped
by for a look. Other names said to be interested, include Joe Jemsek, DA
Weibring and partner Steve Wolfard, Keith Foster, Black Sheep GC designer
David Esler and a cast of others.
THE GOG BLOG RECENTLY TOURED and played a few weeks back the
Arrowhead GC in Wheaton. The nine hole East Course is done and work
on the South Nine is ongoing. Golfers make plans now for 2012 when the
South nine reopens. Greg Martins work is nothing short of outstanding, and
the completed 18 holes will be great golf at it's best. Everything Martin and
the Wadsworth construction team has done, is really good. You will want
to put Arrowhead on your must play list for 2012. The final nine the West
Nine, will get renovated after Labor Day of 2012. The traditional squared off
tee boxes, along with white sand bunkers, give Arrowhead a country club
feel. Plus there will be a few less trees to hit as well, for those of you who
spray a shot or two.
MARTIN GOLF DESIGN..has also finished a routing plan for the Wilmette
GC, and is working on projects locally that include Fox Run in Elk Grove,
Prairie Bluff in Lockport and Settler's Hill in Batavia. For more information
on Martin golf design visit www.mdpltd.com.
ARCHITECT RAY HEARN..is knee deep in the mud and reconstruction
at Mistwood GC in Romeoville. What started out as a driving range learning
center plan, soon included a clubhouse and then golf course changes too.
A look at theconstruction currently underway at Mistwood GC in Romeoville. The home
of the Phil Kosin Illinois Womens Open.
MISTWOOD OWNER..Jim McWhethy recently hosted a ground breaking
ceremony with Hearn and village and county officials, to thank everyone for
their cooperation in getting the project rolling. McWhethy allowed the course
to close on August 22nd, and is expecting a May of 2012 reopening. Yardage
will increase from 6,727 to 7,020 on the back tees. With Mistwood's lakes
being expanded, water will play a bigger role during a round of golf at the club.
MIKE MUNRO'S WHITE PINES GOLF DOME IS OPEN..which means our
outdoor golf season is almost over. White Pines Golf Dome is located on
the range at White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville. The dome is open everyday
and demo days and other events are coming in December. For more info. on
the White Pines Golf Dome visit www.whitepinesgolfdome.com.
CONGRATS TO ROLEX JUNIOR ALL-AMERICANS...WGA Junior Champion
Connor Black heads up the first team. Doug Ghim of Arlington Hts. makes
the second team, and Kyle Kochevar of Glen Ellyn was Honorable Mention.
KOCHEVARS...twin sister Brooke Kochevar has committed to play college
golf for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Coach and former LPGA
Player Michele Redman. Good Luck in Minnesota Brooke.
ON THE COLLEGE FRONT...The Windon Memorial Golf Classic hosted by
Northwestern University and Evanston GC, was recently won by the University
of Arkansas. 2011 WGA-AM Champion Ethan Tracy was third to lead Arkansas.
Northwestern led by Sr. Eric Chun was fifth in the team competition, with Chun
finishing alone in second place. Alex Forss from Pepperdine made the shot of
the championship, a hole-in-one on the Par 3 196 yard, 12th hole.
FORMER NU GOLFER..WORLD #1 LUKE DONALD..backed out on being
honorary captain for the NU homecoming football game and his 10th reunion,
to play in the Childrens Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World. Donald
ran off six straight birdies on the back nine on Sunday, to win the PGA Tour
money title over Webb Simpson. Donald has been named the PGA of America
Player of the year, and is expected to win the same award from the PGA Tour.
THE ILLINI LADIES GOLF TEAM..closed out their fall schedule with a second
place finish at the Fighting Camel Classic, won by host school Campbell College.
Samantha Sloan led the Illini, that finished 21 shots behind Campbell College.
THE ELK GROVE BASED REVELATIONGOLF.. will holds it's second dinner
this coming Thursday night November 10th at the Wellington in Arlington Hts.
This years Humanitarian Award will be presented to past USGA President Judy
Bell. Last years winner was Tammy Duckworth who was injured in a helicopter
crash in Iraq, and is working with veterans affairs in Washington DC. Revelation
Golf is active at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Bell a member of the
World Golf Hall of Fame, helped take golf programs to the youth, disabled and
minorities while in office at the USGA.
BELL..the first ever women to be president of the USGA, has fought cancer
since leaving office. RevelationGolf a not for profit organization works with
people including veterans on the comeback trail from cancer and other
health problems. RevelationGolf uses golf as therapy to get people back
active in society. Over 1,100 people will be helped by Revelation in 2011.
For more information on the dinner which will follow a 6:30 reception please
call (630)-253-7703, or visit their website www.revelationgolf.org.
AT COG HILL...Congrats to Kevin Weeks who joins Dr.Jim Suttie on the
America's Top 50 Instructor list by Golf Digest Magazine. Weeks joins the
list at #44 and follows Suttie #16.Todd Sones is the other Illinois instructor
on the list at #40. Weeks is a three-time IPGA teacher of the year award
winner. Joining only Suttie to win the honor three times. Cog Hill is of two
golf facilities in America to have two instructors on the list.
"Being ranked on the Golf Digest top 50 list is a tremendous honor," said
Weeks. "It's rewarding to be voted that way by my peers, and very gratifying."
Over 200 golf professionals have used his indoor putting lab in the barn on the
back of the range at Cog Hill. For info.or instruction www.kevinweeksgolf.com.
Or call (630)-301-9357.
ON THE COG...Thanksgiving dinner reservations are now being taken. Dinner
is from 11 AM-3PM. Cog Hill winter golf rates are now in effect. You can now
book your Cog Hill golf outing for 2012. The new range hours are in effect, from
November. to February hours are 8 AM to 5 PM. There are 25 heated bays.
THE COG HILL TURKEY SHOOT..is Nov.12 course #3 and 13th Course #1.
9 AM shotgun scrambles, For more info. (866)-COGHILL-ext 318. Or visit
for all Cog Hill needs www.coghillgolf.com.
KOHLER COMPANY.. is still leaving it's Meadow Valley and Irish courses
open weather permitting in November. The golf shops at Whistling Straits
and Blackwolf Run are open 8 AM-7PM for the remainder of golf season.
Green fees are $60 per person +Tax, carts $15. More info. www.kohler.com.
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ARE ALMOST FULL..for the 2012 US Womens
Open July 2-8 at Blackwolf Run in Kohler. For more information please
visit www.2012USWomensOpen.com. Or call (920)-453-2889.
WILSON GOLF..has reached an agreement with Padraig Harrington to extend
their current endorsement deal. Harrington said, " Wilson has been with me
since day one when I turned professional, Wilson is a brand I can trust."
"Wilson Golf is excited to continue its relationship with Padraig Harrington,"
said Tim Clarke GM of Wilson Golf.
MICHAEL VRSKA...rejoins Wilson golf as Global Director of Research and
Developement. Vrska was a project engineer at Wilson from 1999-2002.
EMIL ESPOSITO..& ANDY PEREZ..are offering another one of their great
Las Vegas golf trips from March 18-22 in 2012. Courses to be played include
Red Rock, the Arroyo Golf Club, and Southern Highlands GC. Accomendations
at the Monte Carlo Resort on the strip. 50% deposit due by December 1st.
For more information Emil@EmilEspositoGolf.com (847)-764-4653 or
Perezam@pga.com. (702)-481-4134.
THE CANTIGNY BALVENIE WHISKEY DINNER..is Friday Nov. 4 at 7 PM,
(630)-668-8194. Seating is limited.
TO REGISTER FOR TICKETS for the 2012 Senior PGA Championship at
Harbor Shores Golf Club visit SPGA2012.com. Only a limited number of
tickets will be sold. The Championship is May 22-27 of 2012 in Benton
Harbor Michigan. Ticket sales begin Nov. 11, for those registered on line
by November 10th.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH..THE GOG NEWS BLOG RETURNS AROUND
MONDAY DECEMBER 5TH.
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