I’m excited, and most appreciative. Last night three of my pieces from 2017 were cited in the 24th annual International Network of Golf Media Awards presentation, which climaxed the first day of the 65th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center. My Daily Herald piece, “Koepka wins first major,’’ was the winner in…
Author: lenz
GOLF TRAVEL NOTEBOOK: PGA National Resort is up for sale
PGA National Resort & Spa, home of the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic, is up for sale. The resort, which includes five courses in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., fetched $170 million when it was acquired by Walton Street Capital of Chicago in 2006 from a Florida investor, according to a report in the Palm Beach Post….
Biancalana’s return to golf centers on Illinois Senior Open
This is somewhat of a tradeoff. The Chicago area golf community will regain one popular name from the past but will lose another once the snow melts. The returnee is Roy Biancalana. He’s decided to return to the Chicago area and make a run at one of the few state titles he didn’t win in…
Dick Nugent was one of Chicago’s most prolific — and best — golf course designers
I was just sad to learn of the passing of Dick Nugent, the long-time Chicago golf course architect, on New Year’s Day. I don’t know more details, but Nugent was 87 — a very nice man and and one of the most prolific architects in the Chicago area. A University of Illinois graduate — he…
Name change won’t detract from PGA Champions’ first main event
BOCA RATON, Florida – PGA Tour Champions had a popular kickoff to its season with the Allianz Championship on the North Course at Broken Sound Golf Club. That sponsorship ended after the 12th playing of the event last year, but – other than a name change to the Boca Raton Championship – the event will…
IT ZIEHMS TO ME: Ibis’ Legend proves that Nicklaus courses are becoming more fun
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – This is what I was told. Jack Nicklaus designed the Legend Course at The Club at Ibis for an opening in 1991. More than 20 years passed, and club members asked Nicklaus to come back and check it out again. He did, and his immediate comment was `What was I…
Carol McCue will be remembered as the First Lady of Chicago Golf
A memorial service has been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 29 at Donnellan Funeral Home in Skokie to honor the memory of Carol McCue, a long-time leader in the Chicago golf community. She died on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the age of 94. Long known as the First Lady of Chicago Golf, Miss…
My favorite golfer? Why, it’s Ralph Kennedy — by a mile
I have a new favorite golf hero, and his name isn’t Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth or even Tiger Woods. Did you ever hear of Ralph Kennedy? Not many have. Kennedy died in 1961 at the age of 79. His claim to golfing fame didn’t come in winning big tournaments. It came from just…
Ryder re-opening is a milestone well worth celebrating at PGA Golf Club
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida – December’s re-opening of the Ryder Course merited a celebration at PGA Golf Club – the winter home of the PGA of America’s 29,000 members. The first course to open at the premier resort on Florida’s east coast was the last of its three 18-holers to get a facelift during a…
Q-Schools provide a boost for Hopfinger, Troyanovich
The lengthy, very demanding qualifying sessions to determine next year’s players on the PGA Tour, Ladies PGA Tour and PGA Champions circuit came to an end over the weekend with two Chicago hopefuls — Brad Hopfinger and Samantha Troyanovich — putting themselves in position to further their golfing careers in 2018. Lake Forest’s Hopfinger, one…