Len Ziehm On Golf

                SARASOTA, FL. – The Champions Course at Palm Aire Country Club was one of the more difficult courses in Florida, and it may still be. It will, however, have a much different look when it re-opens following an extensive $2 million  renovation on December 1. The original version, created by architect Dick Wilson, opened in 1957 ...

SILVIS, IL. – Lucas Glover isn’t supposed to be the type of guy who wins the John Deere Classic. That event has been one for young players – like Payne Stewart, Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau — to kick-start their careers.  They were among the 23 first-time PGA Tour winners among the JDC’s 50 champions. Glover ...

SILVIS, IL. – Did Steve Stricker make a bad decision in helping the John Deere Classic celebrate its 50th anniversary, albeit a year late? Stricker is a legend in the PGA Tour stop played three hours from his Wisconsin home.  He won the John Deere Classic three straight times, from 2009 to 2011. He’s won more ...

SILVIS, IL. – What a difference a year makes. The John Deere Classic had been announced as the first PGA Tour event in 2020 to welcome spectators after play was shut down by pandemic concerns on March 12.  The JDC had July 6-12 dates for what was to be its 50th anniversary staging. Unfortunately, the announcement was ...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida – PGA National, long one of the world’s top golf resorts, is about to undergo a major change – one that will broaden the golf options for visitors to the long-time home of this week’s. Honda Classic. That PGA Tour stop has been a fixture on The Champion course since 2007. Jack ...

Golf is back to being played in all 50 states again. That’s a good thing. Progress in the battle against the pandemic, it would seem, is being made. Unfortunately there’s one segment of the golf industry that hasn’t benefitted yet. Caddies – particularly the youth variety – have been included in the restrictions that ...

PALM CITY, Florida – With many restrictions lifted on Florida’s golf courses this week, some encouraging developments in one south Florida community came into focus. Palm City, a town of about 25,000 located off Interstate 95 between the PGA Golf Club – the “winter home of the PGA of America’’ – to the north and PGA ...

England’s Tommy Fleetwood will win on the PGA Tour eventually. The 29-year old Englishman is too good a player to stay winless for long. Still, after a final round collapse on Sunday in the Honda Classic, Fleetwood remains the only non-winner on the PGA Tour listed in the top 20 of the Official World Golf ...

Golf gloves don’t produce much excitement when new equipment hits the marketplace. Rarely is there much to talk about when it comes to new gloves, plus lots of players (me included) don’t even wear one. In recent years Chicago-based Zero Friction introduced a one-glove-fits-all model and produced it in 13 colors. Pocketec Inc., in Stuart, ...

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Florida – Mission Inn Resort & Club, on the outskirts of Orlando, has two golf courses. In most such multi-course facilities the feeling is `new newer, the better.’ That’s not the case here. Mission Inn’s older course is El Campeon, built in 1917. Its new one, Las Colinas, isn’t all that new. ...

Hilton Head bills itself as “The Golf Island,’’ and – given all the great golf that can be played there — it’s hard to argue with that. There are some areas for concern, however. Barry Fleming, executive director of the South Carolina Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association, believes Hilton Head still has one troublesome issue. “One of ...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL. — Already the youngest player to earn her place in the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, Korea’s Inbee Park – now 31 — hasn’t been anxious to get her seasons started. That changed this year, and for a good reason. “I always started a little bit late, probably the end of ...

Golf travel has been our way of life for the last 10 years, a slow transition for me from being a newspaper beat writer for over 40 years to becoming a golfer in retirement. Turns out that – for better or worse — I’m a lousy retiree. Consider our life from last June 8 until ...

FRENCH LICK, Indiana – The third playing of the Senior LPGA Championship was a weird one, and that was even before eventual champion Helen Alfredsson teed off in Wednesday’s final round. Alfreddson eventually won the senior Grand Slam, which amounts to winning just two tournaments – the U.S. Senior Women’s Open and Senior LPGA Championship. ...

FRENCH LICK, Indiana – This may surprise you. One of America’s professional tours still has one of its major championships remaining in 2019. The climax to The Legends Tour season is the third annual Senior LPGA Championship, to be played on the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort from Oct. 14-16. It tends ...

(Published in wheretogolfnext.com) Location: Pottstown, Pa. Architect: Ed Shearon. Opened: 2005. Par: 71 Yards/Rating/Slope: Black tees 6,73961,9/131; Blue 6,386/69.6/128; White 5,995/67.7/124; Yellow 5,357/63.7/116; Red 4,824/67.0/111. Saturday morning green fee: $69 Caddie Service: No. Walker friendly: Yes. Fairways: Bent Greens: Bent THE REVIEW For starters: It’s the home course for the Symetra Tour’s Valley Forge Invitational and will also host both of the outings held during the ...

JEKYLL ISLAND, Georgia – Jekyll Island has been a golf destination for over a century, but things have changed a lot since golf was first played there in 1898. It thrived when the rich and famous hung out there. That ended in 1942. Now it’s a state park. Georgia is a state rich in golf resorts ...

(Published in wheretogolfnext.com) Location: Walworth, N.Y. Architect: Craig Schreiner. Opened: 1995 Par: 72. Yards/Rating/Slope: Championship tees 7,215/74.3/130; Blue 6,594/71.6/127; White 6,033/69.8/125; Gold 5,277/65.7/109. Women: White 6,110/74.8/134; Gold 5,277/70.8/116. Saturday morning green fee: $67 (includes cart. Carts are required before noon). Caddie Service: No. Walker friendly: Yes. Fairways: Bent Greens: Bent THE REVIEW For starters: The Odenbach family, which built three courses as a sidelight venture to ...

Location: Fort Myers, Florida. Architect: Donald Ross, with renovation by Steve Smyers in 2014. Opened: 1917 Par: 70 for men, 71 for women. Yards/Rating/Slope: Black tees, 6,675 yards, 72.9, 131; Blue, 6,245, 70.5, 126; White 5,815, 68.9, 124; Golf, 5,460, 67.0, 117; Red, 4,905, 69.0, 114; Green, 4,360, 62.9, 101. Saturday morning green fee: $50 (does not include cart, which ...

The best senior women golfers, the ones who did so much to make the Ladies PGA Tour into what it is today, haven’t gotten the respect they deserve. Their own tour barely recognized them, leaving it to Jane Blalock and The Legends Tour to provide a circuit for players after they turned 45. Thanks to major ...

Location: Palm City, Florida. Architect: Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II Opened: 1995 Par: 72. Yards/Rating/Slope: Tips (Black) tees 7,131 yards/ 74.6/143; Gold 6,770/73.2/140; Blue 6,360/70.9/135; White 5,922/68.7/124 (men), 74.1/133 (women); Red 5,045/64.3/114 (men), 68.6/118 (women). Saturday morning green fee: $59 (but varies with the season). Caddie Service: No. Walker friendly: Yes. Fairways: Bermuda. Greens: Bermuda. THE REVIEW For starters: The is the first course ...

Location: Jasper, Indiana Architect: Tim Liddy, a Pete Dye disciple. Opened: 1992. Par: 72 Yards/Rating/Slope: Black tees – 6,859, 73.5, 143; Gold – 6,429, 71.5, 138; Silver – 5,762, 68.8. 129; Green – 4,911, 69.1, 129. Saturday morning green fee: $69. (The course is closed for the season but may re-open when weather permits. It’s scheduled to open ...

Location: Bark River, Michigan. Course architect: Paul Albanese. Opened: July, 2018. Par 72 From the tips: 7,375 yards. There are five sets of tees, beginning at 5,231 yards. Rating: TBD. (STUART, Raters have been out but not provided info yet). Slope: TBD. Saturday morning green fee: Basic rate is $85 but there are a variety of options, based on groups and hotel ...

Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Architect: Jim Fazio Opened: 1988 Par: 72. Yards/Rating/Slope: 6,901/73.4/142 from the tips; Tournament 6.470/71.0/139; Standard 5,946/69.8/126; Combo 5,778/69.1/124; Middle 5,608/68.2/120; Forward 5,012/65.4/115 Saturday morning green fee: $49 is top fee in December (Rates will increase for winter of 2019). Caddie Service: No Walker friendly: No, but GolfBoards are available. Fairways: Bermuda. Greens: Bermuda. THE REVIEW For starters: This ...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida – The stage was set for the biggest historically significant accomplishment of the 2019 PGA Tour season on Sunday. Vijay Singh, in the final pairing of the Honda Classic, was ideally positioned to become the oldest winner of a PGA Tour event and erase one of the longest-standing records in ...

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida – The field for today’s start of the Honda Classic isn’t very good, no doubt about it. Only three of the top 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings are here. Clearly this $6.8 million event that has roots on the PGA Tour going back to 1972, when it was known ...

ORLANDO, FL. – Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses are generally show pieces – the focal points for golf communities world-wide. That wasn’t the case at one of Florida’s biggest resorts, however. Reunion Resort started with an 18-holer designed by Tom Watson, then added one designed by Arnold Palmer. The Nicklaus Course there opened eight years ...

There isn’t much more Bernhard Langer can accomplish as a golfer. Last week he became the career money leader on PGA Tour Champions, surpassing Hale Irwin. Thanks to his $255,000 payday for winning the Oasis Championship on the Old Course at Broken Sound, Langer has $27,120,554 in career earnings on PGA Tour Champions. He ...

BOCA RATON, FL. – Fred Couples, eight months away from his 60th birthday, returns to the PGA Tour this week. He wangled a spot in the Genesis Open thanks to a sponsor’s exemption, but he’s going with some reservations. “I probably should go to Naples (the Chubb Classic in Naples, FL., on PGA Tour Champions),’’ ...

BOCA RATON, Florida — This should be Mark Calcavecchia’s time. His troublesome back problems are under control and another PGA Tour Champions season starts this week in Hawaii with the Jan. 17-19 Mitsubishi Electric Championship for last year’s tournament winners. Then Calcavecchia returns to one of his favorite courses to make the first title ...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – If you’re ready, willing and able to travel to satisfy your golf appetite you should meet Bill Hogan. Having been hired in October, Hogan is early into his first year with Garmany Golf, which also made its first appearance at the biggest show in golf. Garmany — with offices in ...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL. – The LPGA opened its season with what its organizers billed as “the most unique event in golf.’’ Well, it might well have been that. The field for the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions did have 26 players who had won tournaments on the LPGA circuit in either 2017 or 2018. ...

You’ve got to give LPGA commissioner Mike Whan credit for at least one thing: he’s not afraid to take chances. And, he has been quick to admit, “When you’re innovative you’ve got to be willing to strike out some times.’’ The LPGA begins its 69th season this week with a new, innovative event – the ...

Golf is a little different in the Texas Lake & Hill Country — especially at Horseshoe Bay — a resort where big things are happening. Horseshoe Bay has operated since 1971 with a relatively low profile. It has three courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. He’s the late father of today’s prominent architects ...

PALM HARBOR, Florida – Jan Stephenson is about to go into the World Golf Hall of Fame. That’s not surprising given that she won 16 LPGA tournaments including three majors, among them the 1982 LPGA Championship and 1983 U.S. Women’s Open. She also has 41 world-wide wins including 10 titles on the LPGA’s Legends circuit. ...

Paul Albanese is a Michigan golf course architect who burst into prominence when one of his designs, Tatanka in Niobrara, Neb., was named Golf Magazine’s Best New Resort Course of 2015. In July a similar Albanese creation, Sage Run, opened in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Both projects were done while working with Indian tribes ...

Location: Hollister, Mo. Course architect: Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw. Opened: Nov. 1, 2018. Par 71 Tee – Yard/rating/slope Men: Tips 7,036/73.9/131; Gold 6,510/71.3/126; White 5,903/68.6/118; Red 5,025/64.6/112. Women: Gold 6,510;77.4/132; White 5,903/74.0/128; Red 5,025/69.2/117. Green fee: Preview play in November is $150 with a replay rate of $100. In December the prices drop to $125 for preview play and $85 for a ...

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – This is no secret. Michigan has been a golf hot spot for, well – almost forever. The state has over 850 public courses, more than any other state in the nation. Grand Rapids is part of the state’s golf mix. The city in the western part of the state has a population ...

After years of campaigning the former stars of the LPGA finally had two major championships to play in this year. The USGA staged its inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Chicago Golf Club in July and the Senior LPGA Championship was played for the second time at Indiana’s French Lick Resort in October. All is ...

FRENCH LICK, Indiana – This was a big year for the older women golfers who labored on the LPGA tour. After years of campaigning they had two major championships to compete in during the 2018 season and there was no doubt who the best player was. England’s Laura Davies dominated. On Wednesday she was ...

FRENCH LICK, Indiana – This is progress, no doubt about it. Barely a year ago there was one glaring void in the golf tournament schedule. Senior women professionals were being ignored, by both the LPGA and USGA. Now, thankfully, that’s no longer the case. That group of players, most of whom contributed so much to ...

Fun Meter score: 8.5 Location: Galena, Ill. Course architect: Roger B. Packard with Andy North Opened: 1997. Par: 72 Yardage/Rating/Slope: Black 6,726/72.8/141; Gold 6,280/70.7/136; White 5,917/69.1/132; Jade 5,240/66.0/125. Saturday morning green fee: $$135 May though September, $115 October to winter closing. Caddie service: No. Walker friendly: No. Fairways: Pennlinks Bentgrass. Greens: Pennlinks Bentgrass. THE REVIEW Starter: The General is the premier course at the Eagle Ridge ...

Location: Niles, Illinois. Architect: Charles Wagstaff, 1925. Restoration: Bob Lohman, Doug Myslinski and Todd Quitno, 2018. Par: 33 Yardage| Rating/Slope: 2,475 (for nine holes) |63.2/110 (when played as 18-holes). Saturday morning green fee: $21. Caddie service: No. (Gas carts and pull carts available). Walker friendly: Absolutely. Fairways: bentgrass. Greens: bentgrass. Phone: 847-965-2344 Website: WWW.GOLFTAM.COM Facebook: @Tam O Shanter Golf Course & Learning Center Instagram: N/A. Twitter: N/A. THE ...

HIGHLAND PARK, IL. – PGA Tour Champions is a funny circuit, especially when it comes to scheduling its major championships. While the other pro tours spread their majors throughout the schedule, the 50-and over men bunch theirs up. That’s not all bad, just weird compared to the other pro tours. There are five majors for PGA ...

WHEATON, IL. –The inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open, which teed off on Thursday in the Chicago suburb of Wheaton, has been a celebration of women’s golf. It resembled a high school reunion, too, with the best pros and amateurs of the past re-connecting during three days of practice rounds and pre-tournament activities. More than anything, ...

Golf-wise, this little community on the outskirts of the Mississippi River towns of Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa is a phenomenon. A PGA Tour event has been played here every year since 2000, and the entire area known as the Quad Cities has commanded a tournament for 47 ...