The previous six 18-hole qualifying sessions to determine who plays in next week’s 77th Illinois Open brought out the best from the amateur entrants. Bloomington’s T.J. Barger, coming off a record-setting senior season at Illinois State, was the best. He shot a 10-under-par 62 at the Atkins Golf Club in Urbana in a round…
Author: lenz
Something old, something new — and all good
Our golf/travel writing trips were rarely like our latest one. This basically swing through the Midwest took us to a variety of courses in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. We didn’t play every one that we visited. Some we just toured, but we finished off the journey playing for five straight days. That’s rare for…
Want more than golf? Door County is overwhelming
SISTER BAY, WI. – Since creating a website focusing on golf travel in 2009 most of the destinations we visited focused on, well….golf. In more recent years we decided that wasn’t enough. So did the our followers, be they travelers or the folks who wanted to get those travelers to their destinations. We mixed in…
Two great performances highlighted Korn Ferry stop at The Glen
By Len Ziehm A big golf story could be in the works – and this one isn’t on the PGA Tour. It exploded on that circuit’s alternate circuit – the Korn Ferry Tour – at last week’s Evans Scholars Invitational at The Glen Club, in Glenview. Tommy Morrison came out the winner, and – standing…
Golf needs more facilities like Michigan’s Wee Course
BENTON HARBOR, MI. – There’s been no shortage of projects, equipment or promotional efforts designed to create more golfers, but I’ve seen none better than the Wee Course — a facility built beside the Harbor Shores Resort in the Southwestern Michigan community. In this case Wee means a short course, but one that encourages play…
Ownership changes are no problem at Illinois’ Eagle Ridge
GALENA, IL. – Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa has been on an upswing since Mark Klausner bought the resort in 2019. He was a hands-on owner and improved all phases of the operation, though the moving of the original spa and creation of the spectacular new Stonedrift Spa was clearly his pet project. Klausner…
Presidents Cup preparations heat up at Medinah
The last of the year’s four major golf championships are over, following Sunday’s conclusion of the British Open. Next big series of events is the three-tournament FedEx Cup Playoffs, which begin Aug. 13 with the St. Jude Championship in Tennessee. That series of tournaments will have an added appeal because that’s when the teams…
Illinois State Amateur won’t have a defending champion
The biggest Illinois golf tournaments will be coming fast and furious now with the 95th Illinois State Amateur leading the way. It reaches a climax on Thursday (JULY 16) with the low 35 players and ties after 18-hole rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday going 36 more holes to decide the champion at Crestwicke Country…
Women’s Western Amateur brings the best to River Forest
This week’s 126th Women’s Western Amateur is not just one of the oldest tournaments in the Chicago area. It is by far the most prestigious women’s event on the 2026 calendar with Maelynn Kim, of Katy, TX, the defending champion. The Women’s Western Am, held without interruption since 1901, completes its 36-hole stroke play qualifying…
Impressive JDC win has Gotterup ready to repeat in the Irish Open
SILVIS, IL. – No question Chris Gotterup is ready to defend his title in the Scottish Open this week. Last year Gotterup was the surprise winner in a duel with Rory McIlroy in that event but – after his impressive victory in the John Deere Classic on Sunday – Gotterup’s game is ready for…