Author: lenz

Another Illini alum wins on the PGA Tour

The University of Illinois has been a men’s golf powerhouse under coach Mike Small, who is now in his 25th season. His teams have won 13 of the last 15 Big Ten titles including eight straight from 2015-2023.

This season’s Illini have won only one tournament, and that was back in October, but Small still has plenty to celebrate.

One of his former players, Brian Campbell, became the second Illini alum to win on the PGA Tour this season when he took the Mexico Open on Sunday.   Thomas Detry, another Illinois alum, captured the Waste Management Phoenix Open earlier in February.

Detry dominated at Phoenix, but Campbell was in a nail-biter with Andrich Potgieter, at 20 the youngest player on the PGA Tour and also the circuit’s longest hitter.  The former British Amateur champion is averaging 328.7 yards off the tee.

Campbell, not a particularly long hitter, hit a tee shot on the second playoff hole that was headed out of bounds.  Fortunately for him, the ball caromed off a tree and bounded back into play.  His second shot on the 540-yard par-5 was still 311 yards from the hole, but he played a safe layup for his second shot, then chipped to four feet to set up  the winning birdie putt.

“It’s so awesome to have two PGA Tour winners in three weeks,’’ said Small, “but when they’re former teammates it makes it extra cool.’’

“Grit.  That’s the only word I can think of,’’ said the 31-year old Campbell, who admitted he was “freaking out on the inside’’ after getting the win.

“Sometimes you’ve got to get those breaks.  I was just so happy I could stay in it to the end. To be in this position is so unreal,’’  It certainly was that.

Campbell had gone 186 professional tournaments without a win and most of those appearances were not on the PGA Tour.  He had only 27 starts on the PGA Tour before his victory.

Once the low amateur in the U.S. Open, Campbell had a season on the PGA Tour in 2016-17 but lost his playing privileges and had been competing on the Korn Ferry Tour before regaining his playing card for this season.

Campbell, who shot 65-65-64-70, a 20-under-par performances for the regulation 72 holes, earned $1,487,830  for the victory.  His career winnings prior to that had been $1,260,000. Now he’s eligible for The Players Championship, Masters and PGA Championship for the first time as well as the remaining $20 million Signature Events of 2025.

His win should be a good topic of discussion this week with the 40th Chicago Golf Show beginning its three-day run at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont on Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicago Golf Show is ready for its 40th anniversary

The Chicago Golf Show, the unofficial start to the Chicago golf season, kicks off its 40th anniversary season on Friday (FEB 28) at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Hank Haney, long-time swing coach for Tiger Woods, will appear on the Daily Herald Main Stage on the last two days (MARCH 1-2) of the show.  This year’s show will have a notable new feature – free club fitting courtesy of Aurora-based Matt Pekarek.  He’s among the Top 100 Club Fitters selected by Golf Digest and is Nippon Shaft’s Aftermath Director for North and South America.

The show, presented by the Chicago District Golf Association, will also feature a 10,000 square foot Town Square that includes a long-putt competition  and a model train display. The Illinois PGA/First Tee-Greater Chicago Village will offer an array of activities for young golfers.

Show hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Friday (FEB 28), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday (MARCH 1) and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday (MARCH 2).  Adult admission is $8 on Friday and  $13 on the weekend days.  Youth 12-15 will be admitted for $4 and youngsters 11 and under are free.

FAST STARTER: Mike Small, the University of Illinois men’s coach, has four of his former players on the PGA Tour this season and one has been making lots of noise.  Thomas Detry won the Waste Management Phoenix Open, his first PGA Tour win.

Detry has been on the circuit since 2017 and this could be his breakthrough year.  He’s made the cut in all six of his starts and also had a top-10 finish with a tie for fifth in The Sentry – the first full-field event of the season.

Detry became the first player from Belgium to win on the PGA Tour with his victory at Phoenix. He also played for Belgium in two Olympics.  Another Illini alum from Belgium, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, spent most of  last season as a rookie on the PGA circuit after winning his first start on the Korn Ferry Tour.  He hasn’t played in an event this year, but remains a PGA Tour member.

Two other ex-Illini have struggled.  Brian Campbell made one cut in three starts and Northbrook’s Nick Hardy is 0-for-4 going into this week’s Mexico Open.

IN THE HUNT: Two other Chicago area players have been consistent in their early season starts.  Wheaton veteran Kevin Streelman made three of four cuts with his best finish a tie for 15th in the Farmer’s Insurance Open.

Arlington Heights’ Doug Ghim made four of five cuts with a best finish a tie for 21st in the American Express Championship. Neither is competing in Mexico.

HERE AND THERE: The Grammy-winning Zac Brown band will be the Concert on the Course act to conclude the John Deere Classic, Illinois’ only annual PGA Tour event.  It runs July 3-6 at TPC Deere Run in downstate Silvis.  Another concert will be announced to follow the tourney’s third round on July 5. Tickets go on sale April 1.

Elizabeth Szokol, Illinois’ only LPGA Tour player (Winnetka), now lives in Florida and cashed in the circuit’s first two events this year.  Both were in the Sunshine State.  Szokol tied for 14th in the season-opening Tournament of Champions and tied for 45th in the Founders Cup.

Mark Hensby, a champion in both the Illinois State Amateur and Illinois Open three decades ago, is the only Illinois-connected player competing on PGA Tour Champions. He’s played in all three events on the 50-and-over circuit with his best finish coming in the first one – a tie for 19th in Hawaii.

The Chicago District Golf Show opens its fourth season on ESPN 1000 on Saturday (FEB 22).  The shows run from 9-11 a.m. with Mike Gilligan and Tyler Aki the co-hosts.

 

 

Kentucky becomes the latest state to a offer a golf trail

Add Kentucky to the states that now have a golf trail.

Bob Baldassari ended a long run in Florida golf to join The Woodford Club, which is near Lexington, Ky. That led to his joining forces with Randy Clay, a co-owner of the Woodford Club, in establishing the Kentucky Golf Trail. Baldassari’s wife Pam is also part of the trail’s ownership team.

“We moved (to Kentucky) and saw an opportunity,’’ said Baldassari.  “We came  to re-imagine golf there.’’

The Trail is up and running with six courses in the Lexington-Lousville area. The Woodford Club, in Versailles, will celebrate its 60th anniversary in April and will host a Legends Tour June 7-8.

Other courses on the trail website are Greenbrier, in Lexington; Bardstown, in Bardstrown; Gibson Bay, in Richmond; Cherry Blossom, in Georgetown; and GlenOaks, in Prospect. Clay expects the number of courses to grow to 10-12 before this golf season is in full swing.

“We want to showcase the best in Kentucky golf,’’ said Clay.

The Kentucky Golf Tour will be unique, in that the packages offered include bourbon tastings; distillery, winery, brewery and horse farm tours; and stops at Churchill Downs and Keeneland race tracks.

To learn more check out info@kygolftrail.com or call Pam Baldassari at 859-682-6001.

Reports of the Kentucky Golf Trail’s creation surfaced at January’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL. As massive as the PGA Merchandise Show is, the annual  extravaganza hasn’t always been a bevy of information when it comes to travel destinations.  That changed at this year’s 72nd annual staging.

Here’s a smattering of the news coming out of other American destinations:

FOREST DUNES, Roscommon, MI. – Long one of Michigan’s best destinations, Forest Dunes already has three layouts open to the public – the initial namesake layout designed by Tom Weiskopf in 2002 and the cutting-edge Loop, a Tom Doak creation that is a reversible course.  In other words, The Loop functions as two distinct courses.

The northern Michigan facility then underwent an ownership change.  Now Rich Mack, who owns the resort with business partner Tom Sunnarborg, has announced that Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner will creating SkyFall – a new private club that will also allow limited resort guest play.

With elevation changes of up to 70 feet, SkyFall will weave through 300 acres of forest land adjacent to the current Forest Dunes public play courses.

Hanse says SkyFall will have some connection to Ohoopee Match Club in Georgia and Castle Stuart in Scotland and Les Bordes in France – two of the noted designer’s latest creations.

SkyFall is in the early construction phases and could open in late 2025 or early 2026.

A golf course on a ski hill? Michigan’s Boyne Golf will unveil one, called Doon Brae at The Highlands resort.

THE HIGHLANDS, Boyne, MI. – The opening of a new par-3 short course, Doon Brae, has been long awaited.  Finally its opening is planned for this summer along with the Back Yaird, a Himalayan-style putting course.  Both are to open this summer.

Bernie Friedrich, director of golf course renovations and development at Boyne Resorts, says Doon Brae will be unique – though it was built on the site of the former Cuff Links nine-holer.

“As far as I know, this is the first modern golf course ever built on a ski hill,’’ said Friedrich.  “The combination of small greens inspired by some of the great green templates from overseas with sod-faced bunkers and tight mowing patterns will be a fun perfect add-on to the daily golf itinerary.’’

Ray Hearn, the veteran Michigan-based architect, did the design work.  He’s minimized the uphill walking needed on the new course.   It’ll measure between 678 and 993 yards with holes ranging from 57 to 134 yards.

STREAMSONG, Florida – David McLay Kidd will create a fifth course at the unique Florida destination.  He’s already designed courses at Bandon Dunes, in Oregon, and Sand Valley, in Wisconsin.  The new course, which will go under construction in early 2025, will be set between the Streamsong Red and Streamsong Black courses.

Hanse and Wagner designed the Black course and Bill Coore and Ben Crensshaw did the Red.  Chicago-based KemperSports has ushered in a new era at  Streamsong with the addition of The Chain, a 19-hole short course that features a six-hole, 13-hole or 19-hole routing as well as The Bucket, a 2.5-acre putting course designed by Coore and Crenshaw that opened last year.

PEBBLE BEACH, California – It won’t open in 2025, but a timeline has been set for the renovation of The Links at Spanish Bay.  Hanse is doing this one, too.

Spanish Bay will close on March 18, 2026 and reopen in the spring of 2027, a few months before the U.S. Open is contested at Pebble Beach.

HARBOR SHORES, Benton Harbor, MI. – This facility has a Jack Nicklaus design that has hosted several Senior PGA Championships in recent years.  Now it is unveiling its Wee Course.  It’s a layout where kids will play for free.  All the holes will be 60 yards or less.

Colin Montgomerie will design the five-acre pitch and put course adjacent to the cottages along the first hole.

 

 

PGA Show proved there’s no shortage of innovative gear for putting

This adjustable putter is designed for kids but it could be the golf gift for a lifetime.

 

I don’t know what it is, but I’m fascinated by putters and their wide range of creators.  I have a Scotty Cameron that’s been in my bag for over 10 years.  I’m comfortable with it, though it doesn’t always work. What putter does?

I’m not one to experiment with putters, either,  but I do  like to look at what’s out there, and this year’s PGA Merchandise Show provided some interesting things to ponder. I’ve picked three pieces of putting gear that stood out.

One was a training tool that could be taken on the course.  It was created by a guy who came to the show to visit, not exhibit. He’d done that before.  But he found a good ear for listening – mine!

Another was a small rangefinder – for putting. Who needs a range-finder for that?  Certainly not me, but I could be wrong.  We’ll see

And then there was the putter that got the most attention at the show, which drew somewhere between 35,000 and 43,000 industry members depending on who was making the estimations. That putter is adjustable, and it got a lot of eyeballs.  The International Network of Golf conducted a pre-show vote of over 30 new products and the top five were invited to a new special event – the ING Showcase of New Products. This adjustable putter was in the thick of it.

NOW FOR the specifics:

Jack Paster has spent “years” getting his Perfect Putt 2 ready for consumers.

The putter from the guy off the street was the most visual. New Jersey resident Jack Paster has spent  “years’’  designing the Perfect Putt 2.  The Perfect Putt I was just “the conception.’’

“Primarily it’s a training tool,’’ said Paster.  “The USGA allows nothing, but this could be used on the course.  Anyway, it makes you change your setup and then you can take that to the course.’’

Perfect Putt 2 consists of a small box with optics  that snaps on to the putter.

“It’s not a mirrored device, but you capture your target.  You know just where you’re aiming,’’ said Paster.  “But it’s up to you to read the right line.  You’re assured the face of your putter is aligned to the target. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback.’’

Perfect Putt 2 is priced at $59.99.  It might work,  who knows? Might be worth a try.

The Mileseey rangfinder on the left is a pocket size version for help on the greens.

NEXT UP is the Mileseey IONME2, a pocket-sized rangefinder designed for putting accuracy.  It was created in China but produced in City of Industry, CA., by Mileseey Technology (US) Inc.

Who needs a range-finder on the green?  I asked Noah Harrington, a veteran caddie about that. Like me, he feels putting is more of a “feel’’ thing.

“But a lot of golfers want the numbers,’’ said Harrington.

Well, what about the old theory about visualizing that circle around the cup?

Harrington didn’t think that approach would go away any time soon  but believes this unique rangefinder, priced at $399, would catch the fancy of enough golfers to make it a worthwhile investment. Mileseey also has a full-course rangefinder on the market for $599.

FINALLY, there’s the RightSize Putter, created by  Joel Farmer of Go for it Golf of Palmyra, PA. This putter, which caught the attention of International Network of Golf panelists,  is adjustable – actually VERY adjustable.  It can range in length from 17 to 35 inches, comes in three colors and is available for both right- and left-handed players.

The company calls it “a gift to last a lifetime’’ but it is targeted for players between the ages of 2 and 12. Length can be altered by two retractable shafts and the longest version includes an extension piece.  Introductory price is $40.

OTHER products in the ING Showcase were lowercase golf bag, by lowercase golf; Stix Jack Nicklaus Brand, Stix Golf; Swing Suit, LitFit Golf; and Uforia, AVGAR Sport. The Showcase was well-received by both media members and presenting companies.

“Members of the media gained early access to innovative products launched at this year’s show,’’ said ING founder Mike Jamison, “and the presenting companies were able to showcase their products to multiple members of the media simultaneously.  It was a win-win for all who attended.’’

 

 

 

 

 

Concert offers private golf clubs a formula for success

No. 12 at Heathrow may be one of the most attractive island green holes in golf. (Joy Sarver Photos)

HEATHROW, Florida – Concert Golf Partners describes itself as “a boutique club hospitality company. ‘’

It builds its own capital to fund new projects and add amenities. Also, pointed out vice president  of public relations Michael Abramowitz, “we never give an assessment.’’

That formula has worked since Peter Nanula and Susan Dunnavant left Arnold Palmer Golf to start their own company. Nanula remains the chief executive officer and Dunnavant the chief operations officer.  They wanted to acquire 10 private courses at first.  Now they have 37 with No. 38 soon to be announced.

This is the story of their first one, near the company headquarters in Lake Mary, FL.  It actually started as two clubs in 2011.  Heathrow Country Club and The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes are just a mile apart.  Now they are one – Heathrow Legacy Country Club.

Heathrow has an 18-hole course designed by veteran Florida architect Ron Garl. Legacy has a tricky layout designed by Tom Fazio. In between is a tennis center that once was a stop on the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour. Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Billie Jean King all competed there.

A new logo, made with golf tees, was a necessity after Heathrow and Legacy were merged into one club.

The two clubs were purchased in 2011 and were operated separately for 10 years. Now they are one. Legacy may be the more challenging course but the late Payne Stewart was one of the first touring pros affiliated with with Heathrow and Jim Thorpe, a long-time PGA Tour regular, has been a member for nearly 20 years.  Annika Sorenstam’s junior invitational has also been played there.

Legacy had the most memorable golf event there, however.  Tiger Woods was just a budding star in 2001 when he was recruited to do a commercial for Buick there.  Woods, along with camera crews, hid in the woods behind the par-3 12th hole.  When a foursome came to the tee Woods walked out and challenged them to a hole-in-one contest.  No surprise, he was the closest to the hole, hitting a lefthanded 7-iron  to 10 feet.  The commercial became famous and Woods’ path through to the tee has been dubbed the “Tiger Trail.’’

Shawn McGuigan was the Legacy’s head professional then.  Now he is the assistant general manager and director of golf for both facilities.  He’s especially proud of the Top Tracer range that has become a special attraction and the first in Central Florida.

A state of the art Top Tracer Range has become a popular attraction at Heathrow Legacy.

Concert is growing fast.  It added six new clubs in just over a year and brought in four in 2024 alone.

Those six were The Club at Pasadera in Monterey, Calif.; TPC Jasna Polana, in Princeton, N.J.; Golf Club of the Everglades, in Naples, FL.; The Georgia Club, near Athens, Ga.; and Walden on Lake Conroe and Northgate, both near Houston.

“We’re not going out and saying we want to buy 100 clubs,’’ said Abramowitz.  “We have a criteria, but we certainly want to grow.’’

Heathrow Legacy has 2,100 members, but size isn’t the only criteria to determine acquisition.

Shawn McGuigan, the assistant general manager at Legacy, was there before the clubs were merged.

“Every acquisition we poll members and see what their biggest desires are, ‘’ said McGuigan.  “In every acquisition we send our professionals there to make sure the transition is perfect.  Lately we’ve been trying to pair clubs together.’’

When a club faces a crisis it’s Concert that takes care of it, not the club members via what can be annoying assessments.  West Lake, in Augusta, Ga., for instance, endured the brunt of Hurricane Helene.  The storm knocked down over, 1,100 trees, but nine holes reopened in just two weeks and all 18 a few weeks later.

All the clubs in the Concert portfolio are private. They’re sprinkled across the country. Eighteen states have Concert clubs with Florida leading the way with nine.

Dunnavant describes “The Concert Way’’  as an innovative, multi-step program that facilitates smooth transitions for both club members and the previous ownership.

“Concert makes annual capital investments in our clubs aimed at elevating the amenities, service levels and overall member experience while building and maintaining a thriving club environment,’’ she said.

The tennis courts at Heathrow Legacy have been used by some of the greats of that game.

LIV changes set the stage for an eventful PGA Merchandise Show

ORLANDO, FL. – The PGA Merchandise Show , which takes over the Orange County Convention Center this week, is the annual kickoff to the golf season.  All phases of the industry are represented at this mass gathering that spotlights all that’s new in the sport.

The industry-only show, awaiting its 72nd staging, draws nearly 40,000 visitors.  It begins with a Demo Day at Orange County National on Tuesday, then three days of exhibits, presentations and special events at the Orange County Convention Center.

This year’s most significant new developments came a few days early, however, with the LIV Golf League making the biggest splash. In the last days before the big show LIV announced that Scott O’Neil will replace Greg Norman as its new chief executive officer and that Fox Sports will broadcast all 54 holes of the LIV’s 14 tournaments in its fourth season.  The CW Network handled TV coverage for LIV’s first three seasons. Fox will give the fledgling circuit a big profile boost.

The Saudi-backed circuit has been Chicago’s lone tournament organizer consistently bringing big-time golf to the area in recent years.  Chicago’s been a tournament site the first three years of LIV’s existence and Bolingbrook Golf Club will return as the site of its 12th tournament this year, on Aug. 8-10.

The season climax will have a Midwest flavor with the Bolingbrook stop starting it off. New sites will then take over the last two weeks of the season – the Individual Championship at The Club at Chatham Hills in Indianapolis Aug. 15-17 and the Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, MI., Aug. 22-24.  The Cardinal is a Ray Hearn design that opened for play in 2024.

MEANWHILE  Chicago golfers have other good things ahead:

The Chicago District Golf Association has announced the largest competition slate in its 112-year history with more that 100 events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.  Two of the oldest events have new twists.  The 94th Illinois State Amateur will be played at Stonebridge, in Aurora, July 15-17 and the 92nd Illinois State Women’s Amateur will be under CDGA guidance for the first time June 16-18 at The Grove in Long Grove. The CDGA will also move its second Chicago Adaptive Open to  Fox Bend, in Oswego.

Batavia-based club manufacturer Tour Edge has extended its partnership with Bernhard Langer, the winningest player in PGA Tour Champions history.  He’s won six times since first signing with Tour Edge in 2021.

The John Deere Classic, Illinois’ only annual PGA Tour event, will put tickets for the July 2-6 event at TPC Deere Run on sale in early April. The JDC was the PGA Tour’s Most Engaged Community and Best Title Sponsor Integration award winner for 2024.

The Illinois PGA has announced its award winners for the 2024 season. Heading the list is Beverly’s John Varner, as Professional of the Year; Christopher Oehlerking, The Golf Practice, Teacher of the year: Ed Stevenson, The Preserve at Oak Meadows, PGA Executive of the Year; Connor Burke, Butterfield, Assistant Professional of the Year;  Kevin Weeks, Cog Hill, Youth Player Development Award; and Eva Rogers, Medinah, Player Development Award.

Winnetka Golf Club has been designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, joining an elite group of courses worldwide to be recognized for environmental stewardship.

 

Golf Travel Writers group is looking for new adventures

Broader travel might be possible thanks to new GWTA members Stephan Guertler (left, from Austria) and Grant Fraser, from Canada.

My biggest focus at this 72nd PGA Merchandise Show was getting the word out on my latest project.  I’d been coaxed into being the new president (or, I think the title should be executive director) of the Golf Travel Writers of America. It’s a 20-year  old organization that has been led by Bruce Vittner, a very nice guy from Rhode Island who befriended Joy and I in our early years attending the show and got us involved in the GTWA.

Bruce didn’t want to keep up the grind of leading the group and wanted me to do it.  I was reluctant at first, but decided that reorganizing the group would be a worthwhile project as well as potentially being fun.  That led to me being in charge of the annual meeting, held at the PGA Merchandise Show, and I was delighted by the turnout.

Joy is now the GWTA treasurer and two other friends, Tom Gorman and Dan Vukelich, had joined me in getting the reorganization going.  We had 22 enthusiastic travelers attend the annual meeting, some returning members and some new ones.  When it was over we had an international membership, with Stephan Guertler (Austria) and Grant Fraser (Canada) on the greatly revised roster.

We hope to revive a past GTWA feature, a golf outing held around the show dates. We have one scheduled on Friday at Heathrow Legacy, the first course in the Concert Golf Partners string of 36 private clubs.  Weather might hamper this one, since it’s been cold and raining most of our time here in Orlando but Concert’s Michael Abramovitz – a long-time GTWA member – is optimistic we can get the event in before everyone leaves town.

The search for new golf destinations brought this group together at the PGA Merchandise Show.

Nick Price has designed a special layout at Florida’s Soleta course

 

Soleto partners David Turner (left) and Charles Duff (second from right) join course designer Nick Price (second from left)  and David Leadbetter, who designed by practice area, at the club’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Joy Sarver Photos)

MYAKKA CITY, Florida – Not all great golfers have evolved into great golf course designers.  Nick Price is one who did, as underscored by his just unveiled Soleta course, located a few miles east of Sarasota, FL.

As a golfer Price, now 67, was one of the great ones.  No doubt about that.

He was the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Rankings for 43 weeks in the 1990s, a decade in which he topped the PGA Tour money list twice, won the PGA Championship twice and the British Open once and took back-to-back Western Open titles in 1993 and 1994.

Oh, yes.  The South African-born Price was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003. Enough said about his playing ability, though his heyday was three decades ago.

Price found his way into course design, but it took a while.

“I started with architecture toward the end of my career but didn’t want to do anything,’’ he said.  “You don’t want to when you’re playing well.’’

Four years into his career on PGA Tour Champions that changed.

“I developed a serious elbow injury and had surgery,’’ he said.  “When I came back after a year I couldn’t play, so I retired.’’

And a career in course design kicked in.  He did 11 co-designs with established architects like Tom Fazio and Steve Smyers before creating his own course.  He started his own design firm in 2001 and has has his name on 27 courses (as either designer or consultant)  in the Dominican Republic, Ireland, South Africa, Mexico and China in addition to Florida. He lives in Hobe Sound, which is also the site of McArthur Golf Club – a layout he co-designed with Fazio.

Soleta is basically a golf course now, but here’s an artist’s rendering of the projected finished project.

Soleto is something different. The name is from the Native American word for sandhill crane.  It’ll eventually be a full-fledged family-oriented private club with about 275 local members and another 100 national ones.  At least that’s the plan. On the December day when Soleto officially opened Soleto already  had 170 members. Initiation fee is $115,000.

What makes the course special are its meandering (Price calls it “free-standing”) tee areas.  They’re as long as 120 yards with eight sets of color-coded markers on each tee.  (Only three were designated for play on opening day).

The tee areas aren’t of the runway style at more courses.  The Soleto tees are spread around; some even have doglegs.

“I want the members to understand the versatility of the course and enjoy its variety,’’ said Price. “I’ve played on all four corners of the world and have gotten to see a lot of different types of golf.  This one is more links-style but I want them to keep in mind that they don’t have to play from a certain spot.’’

The par-3 seventh hole shows how versatile Soleta can play. At left is a tee shot from a front tee, with no water involved. At top/right is a tee further back with water into play and bottom right shows tee placement possibilities on a dogleg, the end result being a challenging long carry over much more water.

Soleto was built on what had been a cow pasture. About 2,000 trees were moved in the construction process.  Water comes into play on only two holes (Nos. 11 and 16) and the scorecard says the layout can be played as short as 5,145 yards or as long at 7,411 yards – with plenty of options in between. The No. 8 green is 65 yards long.

Also most noteworthy is the liberal use of sugar sand, a white variety indigenous to the area. It’s all over the layout and creates all sorts of challenges.  In short, you have to make contact with the ball first. If your clubs hit the sugar sand first no telling where the ball might go.

The course is a par-72 with the 598-yard fifth the longest par-5.  The par-3 seventh is the most picturesque hole and seems the most fitting as the signature hole. The Fish Camp behind the fifth green and sixth tee box is located near the Myakka River and will be used for special events.  No. 17 provides the always popular driveable par-4, measuring between 236 and 333 yards.

Sugar sand, a fine sand indigenous to this Florida area, gives Soleta a special touch.

 

Price made 22 trips to Soleto from the start to the completion of construction about a year later.

“There were times you had to be here a lot,’’ he said. “That what makes a golf course playable.’’

Soleto is going to be much more than a special golf course.  It’ll have a new clubhouse, 93 homesites (but in view from only two holes) and racquet sports facilities.

Price isn’t the only popular  golf personality involved in the project.  David Leadbetter, the famed instructor, designed the 30-acre practice facility that will open soon.  It has the latest in TopTracer technology, with four cameras covering all 16 hitting bays on the range.  There’ll also be a chipping green, a putting course and a par-3 course to be called the Colt (the name for a small crane).  The short course will have six greens and nine tee boxes.

The highly upscale TopTracer technology  gives Soleta one of the best practice areas in the country.

 

Illinois PGA shortens its section championship tourney

 

Golf schedules at the local level aren’t usually announced until late winter or early spring but the Illinois PGA revealed two major developments in its 2025 schedule.

The Illinois PGA Championship – officially the Illinois Professional Championship now – will be reduced from 54 to 36 holes next year. The tournament, scheduled for Aug. 25-26, has traditionally been contested as a three-day, 54-hole event.

“More (PGA) sections are doing that,’’ said Andy Mickelson, director of golf at Mistwood in Romeoville and tournament committee veteran.  “It opens the opportunity to use more sites.’’

Mickelson was the tourney champion in 2021, tied for section in 2023 and tied for third this year when Brian Carroll took the title. Mike Small, the University of Illinois men’s coach, won the tournament a record 14 times.

The IPGA’s biggest event, the Illinois Open on Aug. 4-6, will also  have a notable new site in 2025.  It’ll be played at Kemper Lakes.  The Kildeer site hosted two major championships on the pro tours – the 1989 PGA Championship and the KPMG’s PGA Championship in 2018 on the Ladies PGA circuit.  Kemper also hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1992.

While Kemper was a long-tie site for the IPGA Match Play tournament it has never hosted an Illinois Open. Sites are still not determined for the IPGA’s other two major events, the Match Play and the the IPGA Players Championship.

PGA TOUR WRAPUP: Sunday’s wrapup to the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Ga., concluded the 2024 PGA Tour season – a campaign that suggests its Illinois-connected players may have trouble making as many tournament appearances when the 2025 campaign begins in January.

The top 125 in this year’s FedEx Cup standings earned PGA Tour cards for next season.  Arlington Heights’ Doug Ghim, at No. 71, survived but Northwestern alum Dylan Wu (132), University of Illinois alum Adrien Dumont de Chassart (139),  Wheaton’s Kevin Streelman (142) and Northbrook’s Nick Hardy (147) didn’t.  Streelman and Hardy are past champions and that may help them get into some events.

Players in the top 150 did earn conditional status for 2025, but the PGA Tour – citing slow play concerns –has announced a reduction in field size at some events.

HERE AND THERE:  This IPGA named its new officers. Mike Picciano, of Bull Valley in Woodstrock, is the new president with Mickelson the vice president and Jamie Nieto of Royal Fox, in St. Charles, the secretary.  Cog Hill’s Kevin Weeks and Mistwood’s Dan Bradley are newcomers to the board of directors.

Tyler Wolllberg, assistant at The Grove in Long Grove, has been named the director of golf at Pine Meadow, in Mundelein. He replaces the retired Dennis Johnsen.

Terry Hanley, general manager at Cantigny in Wheaton, has announced his retirement effective at the end of this year.

 

 

LIV Tour will return to Bolingbrook in 2025

The PGA Tour made its last Chicago area visit in 2019 and the other national golf organizing groups have been absent longer than that.  Not the upstart LIV Golf League, though.

LIV, the Saudi-backed circuit that is waging a well-publicized battle with the PGA Tour, announced Tuesday that it will be playing for a fourth straight year in the Chicago area. Rich Harvest Farms, in Sugar Grove, was the tournament site In LIV’s first two seasons.  Last year the tourney moved to Bolingbrook Golf Club, and Bolingbrook will also host the next visit, on Aug. 8-10, 2025.

The Chicago stop will also kick off the first-ever Midwest swing for LIV.  The following week the circuit will play at The Club at  Catham Hills in Westfield, Ind., near Indianapolis. That stop will be LIV’s first visit to Indiana.

Bolingbrook’s tournament will be a bit different than last year’s.  Last year’s was announced well into the season and was played as the circuit’s season Individual Championship.  Spain’s Jon Rahm was the big winner, taking both that tournament and the season-long titles.  Next year’s tournament will be a standards regular season stop, just like the two played at Rich Harvest.

Rahm was a three-shot winner with an 11-under-par 199 total for 54 holes this year on a layout designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest.

Bolingbrook mayor Mary Alexander-Basta was delighted by Tuesday’s announcement.

“We’re excited to welcome the eyes of the golf world and LIV Golf Tour back,’’ she said. “The 2024 event was a tremendous success, and we look forward to building  on that momentum to bring another world-class event to tour community.’’

LIV is far ahead of previous years in setting up its 2025 schedule.  The return to Bolingbrook and first-ever visit to Indianapolis were part of an announcement that also included the circuit’s first tournament at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Korea and the return to Dallas, Spain and the United Kingdom for tournaments.

“LIV is growing across the globe in new and returning markets,’’ said LIV commissioner and chief executive officer Greg Norman.  “We’re excited to build on the tremendous success we had last year at new venues in Chicago, Dallas and the UK, where we set new league attendance records.’’

The next season begins Feb. 6-8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  The Indianapolis stop Aug. 15-17 will be the season’s final regular season event. Chatham Hilla was the last design by the late architect Pete Dye. It’ll lead into the season-ending Individual and Team championships.  Dates and sites for those events haven’t been announced.

LIV plans another 14-tournament schedule and has set dates and sites for 10 events.

HERE AND THERE:  Dennis Johnsen, one of the area’s longest-standing club professionals, has announced his retirement.  Johnsen spent 50 years in the golf business. The last 20 seasons were as director of golf at Pine Meadow in Mundelein, which followed a long stint at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. Johnsen was a leader in the creation of the PGA Junior League and the Illinois Super Senior Open.

Fresh Meadow, a Hillside course that opened in 1924, has closed for good.  Owned by the Archdiocese of Chicago, the public course was known as Fair Lawn when it opened. Future use of the property has not been announced.

Mike Small, head coach of the University of Illinois men’s team,  has signed a special recruit in Dujuan Snyman. Originally from South Africa, Snyman finished in the top four on the Australian Boys Order of Merit in each of the last four years.

 

 

 

 

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