Lake Forest-based Brunswick Corporation has had a rich history in producing sports equipment, starting with billiards tables back in 1845. Prominent in the bowling industry from 1890 until its exit last year, the company remains a leader in boating and fitness equipment as well as billiards and table tennis.

Brunswick’s latest venture is into golf, with an indoor putting green that was introduced to the Chicago market last week at The Glen Club in Glenview.

Indoor putting greens aren’t unusual, but the version that Brunswick is marketing as “The ONLY Green’’ has more features than its predecessors. It also has the backing of noted short game teaching guru Stan Utley, who has long worked with touring players Jay Haas and Sergio Garcia.

Utley says the green’s “surface and adjustability will flat out make you a better putter’’ and the company says that PGA Tour players Kevin Streelman, Matt Jones and Graham DeLaet have worked with it.

The green comes as a handcrafted piece of furniture that is available in six hardwood finishes. While there are six standard sizes, the smallest being two feet by eight feet, greens can customized to fit specific spatial needs. The largest custom-built version is now in Portland, Ore. – 12 feet by 24 feet. Prices range from $3,400 to $11,000.

Iowa resident Rockland Duffy developed the original version of the green in 1992. Utley purchased one from Duffy in 1998 and Tim Ummel of Scottsdale, Ariz., purchased the company in 2012 and hooked up exclusively with Brunwick for product development world-wide.

“I saw it. I played on it, and I had to have it,’’ said Chris Clawson, president of Life Fitness and Brunswick Billiards. “It’s not just a great way to improve your game. It’s also a great, fun way to unwind with your family and friends.’’

Green speeds can be adjusted from 12.5 on the stimp meter down to 10. Contours can be adjusted as well, making a variety of uphill, downhill and breaking putts part of the experience. A putting course is marked on the surface to facilitate competitive as training efforts and a putter rack and scorecards are also available.

IJGA drops Chicago Open

The Illinois Junior Golf Assn. started its season in the usual manner, drawing 105 players last week at Sanctuary in New Lenox. The IJGA will conduct over 100 more events and expect over 2,000 boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18 to compete this season, but the campaign will have a different ending.

Two years ago the IJGA revived the Chicago Open as a season-ending October fundraiser after its youth competitions were over. The 54-hole event, which included a pro-am, was played at Cantigny, in Wheaton, as a way to help young pros prepare for the Web.com Tour qualifying school. The event, however, didn’t generate sufficient charitable donations and the IJGA board dropped it from the schedule.

The Chicago Open, once part of a more informal PGA Tour, has had a rocky history. Last year marked the 25th staging, the first of which was in 1914. Its winners include Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Ken Venturi and Luke Donald. Elgin’s Carlos Sainz Jr., now in his rookie season on the PGA Tour, and Michigan mini-tour player Andy Ruthkoski were the champions at Cantigny.

Detry, Hossler in Palmer Cup

Illinois’ Thomas Detry and Beau Hossler, who won last year’s Western Amateur at Chicago’s Beverly Country Club, were among the selections for the Palmer Cup, a team event pitting the best collegiate players from the U.S. and Europe. The 19th version of the competition will be played at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove from June 12-14.

Hossler heads the U.S. team that includes Lee McCoy of Georgia, Ollie Schniederjans and Ander Albertson of Georgia Tech, Kyle Jones of Baylor, Maverick McNealy of Stanford, Hunter Stewart of Vanderbilt, Robbie Shelton of Alabama, Jack Maguire of Florida State and Carr Vernon of California State-Monterey Bay.

Detry, from Belgium, will make his second Palmer Cup appearance for the European side. Europe won last year’s competition but the U.S. holes a 9-8-1 edge in the series.

Here and there

The American Junior Golf Assn. Preaseason Junior will be played at Cantigny Friday through Sunday. It’ll involve 84 of the top junior players in the nation.

Northwestern has signed its third men’s recruit, Luke Miller of Venetia, Pa. He was a qualifier for last year’s U.S. Amateur.

The 39th annual Pine Hollow Open is on tap for Saturday at Downers Grove and Bloomington Country Club will be the site of the Illinois PGA’s first stroke play event of the season on Monday.

Consider the Chicago golf season in full swing – almost.

Of the area’s primary tournament venues only Conway Farms, the private facility in Lake Forest that will host the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship in September, isn’t taking golfers yet. It’s not expected to open until mid-May

The finishing touches are being put on a major facelift at Conway with the tournament’s return after a year’s absence presenting a cause for caption.

“They’re taking steps every year to make it better for the players as well as the spectators,’’ said Vince Pellegrino, tournament director for the Western Golf Assn.

The practice range has been expanded by 60 percent, all the greens have been re-grassed, and the cart paths widened, the parking lot has been expanded and the pro shop and caddie facilities upgraded as well. A second ticket gate has also been added at the No. 9 tee, all designed to make the site better when the PGA Tour returns.

Apparently the word is out. BMW ticket sales were up significantly even before Jordan Spieth’s dramatic victory in the Masters tournament on Sunday. Early ticket sales for the BMW Championship, which brings together the top 70 players for the third event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, are up 47 percent from the same time in 2013 – the last time the PGA Tour visited Chicago – and the sale of weekly badges to the Trophy Club hospitality tent have more than doubled.

Spieth is expected to compete in both of the PGA Tour’s Illinois stops this season. The other is July’s John Deere Classic in downstate Silvis. Spieth won his first PGA tournament at the JDC in 2013.

The BMW’s previous home base, Cog Hill’s Dubsdread course in Lemont, welcomed players for the first time last weekend. There’s a new look on the staff side at Cog, as David Impastato is now director of golf, Randy Heinrich is manager of the Learning Center and Jim Hartnett is on board as Master Clubfitter. A new team event, the Dubsdread Spring Classic, has also been scheduled for May 16.

Mistwood, the Romeoville layout that annually hosts the Illinois Women’s Open, had its spiffy Performance Center open last week. The course is to open on Thursday but the new clubhouse, under construction since last August, isn’t expected to be ready for another four months.

Wisconsin’s two major tournament courses, Whistling Straits (this August’s PGA Championship site) and Erin Hills (2017 U.S. Open) aren’t open yet. Whistling opens April 24 and Erin Hills on May 11.

Illini expand facilities

The University of Illinois dedicated its Lauritzen/Wohlers Outdoor Practice Facility, which is adjacent to the J.G. Demirjian Indoor facility in Urbana. The combination of the two provides the men’s and women’s teams at the school with a model for collegiate programs nation-wide.

The outdoor version, inspired by the practice range at Augusta National, was a $6 million project — over $2 million going toward facilities plus a $3.5 million endowment to support the annual operations.

Here and there

Chicago’s longest-standing golf radio show, Golfers on Golf, will make its season debut at 9 a.m. on Sunday (APRIL 19) over WSBC (1240-AM) and WCFJ (1470-AM). The show, featuring Rory Spears, Mike Munro, Ed Stevenson and Bill Berger, is entering its 20th season.

Mistwood’s Andy Mickelson and Chris Ioriatti carded a 7-under-par 65 to win the Illinois PGA’s season opening Pro-Assistant Championship on Monday at Naperville Country Club. The IPGA will hold another team event next Monday, the Pro-Pro Scramble at Chicago’s Harborside International.

Pheasant Run Resort, in St. Charles, will host its Spring Scramble on Saturday and will also host a qualifier for the World Golf Scramble on May 30. Meanwhile, Cog Hill will hold its Tee It Forward Scramble on Course 3 on Sunday.

The Chicago District Golf Assn. will open its tournament season with three April qualifiers for its Mid-Amateur Championship. They’ll be held April 23 at Coyote Creek in Bartonville, April 27 at Village Greens of Woodridge and April 30 at Bridges of Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates.

The golf season must really be upon us now. The Masters tournament – a sure sign of spring – is just a week away and two of Illinois’ PGA Tour players are assured spots in the field.

Kevin Streelman got in by virtue of his dramatic win – a record seven straight birdies to finish his final round — at the Travelers Championship in Hartford, Ct., last June. Luke Donald is in because he was in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings at the end of 2014. The world’s No. 1 player for 56 weeks in 2011 and 2012, however, has some work ahead if he’s to remain among the invitees for 2016.

Donald finished 2014 as No. 34 in the rankings and has steadily dropped. Augusta National’s membership also extends invitations to players who are in the top 50 a week before that year’s Masters and – after four players were added to the field on Monday – Donald’s ranking was down to No. 50. The former Northwestern star tied for third in the 2005 Masters but was one shot off the cut line after 36 holes last year.

Streelman, who made the cut last year but settled for a tie for 42nd place after struggling in with a 79 in the final round, is in the field for this week’s Shell Houston Open – the last event to determine Masters qualifiers. It tees off on Thursday with Donald sitting out.

Other local Masters hopefuls D.A. Points and Mark Wilson will also be competing. Both former Masters contestants need to win to get into this year’s field, and Points proved it could be done. He got into the 2013 Masters by winning at Houston.

Assuming Tiger Woods enters and the Houston winner isn’t already among the qualifiers this Masters could have 101 players – the biggest field since 1966. That isn’t likely, though.

The qualifiers include four injured players – Kevin Stadler (wrist), Graham McDowell (ankle), Brooks Koepka (ribs) and Steve Stricker (back). Stricker underwent back surgery after his last tournament appearance in December. Stadler has been idle since January and McDowell and Koepka withdrew from the last two tournaments because of their injuries. They could bypass the Masters as well.

Woods is still trying to regain form after recovering from back problems. He won’t play at Houston but could join the Masters field as late as his April 9 tee time. The Masters has no entry deadline for its qualifiers.

Miller leaving Illinois PGA

The Illinois PGA is looking for a new executive director. Michael Miller, who has held that post the past 20 years, will leave on May 1 to become executive director of the PGA of America’s Southwest Section. New IPGA president Jim Opp said the section is in no hurry to find a replacement for Miller.

Miller, 52, is only the third executive director in Illinois PGA history. The first, Ken Boyce, served from 1976-88. Vance Redfern took over until 1995 when Miller, his assistant, replaced him. Miller, who started with the IPGA as tournament director, has been with the section for 27 years.

“Leaving was a difficult decision because this has pretty much been my whole career,’’ said Miller. “But this will be the next stage of my career – a bigger section with a little different culture. And the climate change doesn’t hurt, either.’’

The Southwest Section, which encompasses all of Arizona and part of Nevada including Las Vegas, has more members and covers a bigger geographical area than the Illinois Section. Its membership is much heavier on the resort side than Illinois and junior golf is a huge priority. The Southwest conducts over 60 youth events.

They’re Augusta-bound

Masters week officially starts on Monday with practice rounds, but the club will again host the finals of the Drive, Putt and Chip competition on Sunday. The nation-wide competition for youngsters in the 7-15 age category was a big hit in its debut last year, and this year’s 80 finalists include three from the Chicago area.

Effie Perakis of Glenview is among the 10 finalists in the Girls 7-9 division. Inverness’ Caroline Smith made it in the Girls 12-13 division and Sugar Grove’s Jimmy Morton will compete in the Boys 14-15 competition.

Masters week also triggers golf promotions at Chicago locations. One of the biggest will be at Libertyville Sports Complex, which will hold its fourth annual Green Jacket Week of special offers and events beginning on Monday.

The Masters tournament always offers a variety of pre-tournament story lines, but the 79th version of the year’s first major championship that tees off on Thursday has more than usual.

For one, Tiger Woods is playing again. Beset by back problems, he received a warm welcome when he arrived at Augusta National this week to prepare for his 20th Masters. Whether he’s able to contend for his fifth title is another matter. Woods’ last tournament round was on Feb. 7. He missed last year’s Masters because of his health issues, has played just one full tournament in his last six starts and has played only 47 holes of tournament golf in 2015. A strong showing this week seems unlikely.

There are more appropriate focal points than Woods at this Masters. Bubba Watson is hoping to win his third Masters in four years. Jordan Spieth, just 21 years old, tied for second in last year’s Masters and has a win and two second-place finishes in his last three tournaments. He’s poised to win his first major title.

For nostalgia, there’s two-time champion Ben Crenshaw making his 44th – and he says final – Masters appearance. And there’s Steve Stricker, playing his first tournament of the year after focusing on Wisconsin’s NCAA basketball run the last few weeks. He was on hand for the Badgers’ upset of Kentucky on Saturday in Indianapolis and — somewhat reluctantly — checked in at Augusta National rather than attend Monday’s championship game loss to Duke.

The best story line of the week, though, isn’t any of those. It’s Rory McIlroy, in his bid to complete the career Grand Slam. The 25-year old from Northern Ireland won the U.S. Open in 2011 and the British Open and the PGA Championship last year. All that remains is the Masters.

Only five players have competed the career Grand Slam. Gene Sarazen nabbed his wins in the four majors between 1922 and 1935. Ben Hogan did it between 1946-53, Gary Player from 1959-65, Jack Nicklaus from 1962-66 and Woods from 1997-2000.

McIlroy would be the second-youngest (behind Woods) to complete the career slam if he wins on Sunday. He’d also have won three straight majors. McIlroy, who has competed in the Masters every year since 2009, had a great chance to win in 2011 when he held a four-stroke lead after 54 holes before an 80 in the final round dropped him into a tie for 15th. Last year McIlroy had his best Masters finish so far, a tie for eighth.

Glenview girl wins at Augusta

Effie Perakis, of Glenview, helped get Masters festivities off to a great start when she won the 7-9 year old age division in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition. She was among 10 finalists in her age group that were determined at nation-wide qualifying rounds last year.

The nationally-televised finals were conducted at Augusta National last Sunday. Effie had a drive of 156 yards, put both of her chip shots inside eight feet and holed the first of her two putts.

A joint effort by Augusta National, the PGA of America and the U.S. Golf Assn., the Drive, Chip & Putt event started last year and drew rave reviews. This year Chicago hosts one of the regionals which will send winners to next year’s Masters. Medinah will host it on Sept. 19.

Hall of Fame finalists set

The selection committee for the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame has narrowed the 25 nominees to 10 finalists. They include Jerry Rich, creator of popular tournament site Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove; club professionals Emil Esposito, Leon McNair and Jim Sobb; and long-time tour player Gary Hallberg.

Also in the running are the late Phil Kosin, creator of Chicagoland Golf newspaper, and four who made a variety of contributions in the earlier decades of Chicago golf – H. Chandler Egan, William Langford, Francis Peabody and Harry Radix. The 18-member committee will determine the 2015 inductees in a second voting session on May 13.

Golf Channel picks two IPGA teachers

Todd Sones, of White Deer Run in Vernon Hills, and Kevin Weeks, of Cog Hill in Lemont, are among the first 45 instructors nation-wide named to the Golf Channel Academy. They’re the only two from Illinois in the newly-formed network of instruction facilities.

This weekend’s 32nd annual Chicago Golf Show will be highlighted by Lee Trevino’s two appearances on Saturday, but much more will be going on than that during the event’s three-day run at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Winner of six major championships and 29 tournaments on the PGA Tour, Trevino will be joined by Australian David Graham on the main stage at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Graham, winner of the 1979 PGA Championship and 1981 U.S. Open, will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame this summer.

Their appearances will be sandwiched in between an array of teaching seminars and booths manned by resorts, courses and golf organizations from around the country. Even with snow on the ground, the Chicago Golf Show has become the unofficial start to the Chicago season, and the first 1,000 attendees each day will receive ticket vouchers for July’s Encompass Championship — the annual Champions Tour event at North Shore Country Club in Glenview.

The Illinois PGA has always played a major role in the Show, and this year its role has expanded with the creation of the IPGA Village where instruction will be the focus.

For Michael Miller, the IPGA executive director, it’ll also be the time to announce major changes for this summer’s Illinois Open. The IPGA has long been looking for ways to expand the premier tournament for Illinois residents, and Miller will remain mum on the subject until Friday’s show-starting luncheon.

Miller had a busy few months since most of the courses called it a season in November. He had to hire a new tournament director after Jared Nowak opted to leave the golf industry following a five-year stint on the job. His replacement will be Robert Duke, who had been running the junior programs for the Northern California Golf Assn.

Though the site of the Illinois Open remains a mystery, the IPGA did announce the move of one of its other four major tournaments. October’s IPGA Players Championship will return to Eagle Ridge, in Galena. It had been held the last two years at Metamora Fields.

In addition, three of the best-established area club professionals — Jim Holmes at Ravinia Green in Riverwoods, Bruce Carson of Onwentsia in Lake Forest and Paul Colton at Chicago’s Ridgemoor – announced their retirements. Holmes was the IPGA’s Professional of the Year in 2014.

Their departures triggered an unusually large transition within the IPGA ranks, with at least 12 new head professionals taking over pro shops in 2015. Nick Papadakes moved from Old Elm in Highland Park to replace Carson and John Warkentien, who had been an assistant at Crooked Stick, replaced Holmes. Among the other newly-named head pros were David Fazio, at Eaglewood in Itasca; Phillip Lenz, at Bartlett Hills; Jason Mannina, at Deerfield; and Joshua Weaver, at Deerpath in Lake Forest.

Additionally, two of the top players in the IPGA ranks, Frank Hohenadel and Rich Dukelow, changed jobs as assistant pros. Hohenadel left Midlothian for Westmoreland, in Wilmette, and Dukelow shifted from Cantigny, in Wheaton, to Medinah.

The Chicago District Golf Assn. will also have a significant presence at the Show. The CDGA will hold a putting contest in conjunction with its membership drive and will announce its Member Days schedule on Sunday. It’ll include new stops at Lost Dunes in Michigan and Flossmoor Country Club.

Show hours are noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The U.S. Golf Assn. has finally committed to holding a national championship for senior women players, though the first such tournament won’t be held until 2018.

While the USGA conducts 13 national championships, the first U.S. Senior Women’s Open was long overdue. The only other major event for senior women is put on by the LPGA Legends Tour, and it’s limited to professionals only. There will be plenty of differences between that one and the first U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

The Legends Championship has been played the last two years at the Pete Dye Course in French Lick, Ind., which is also the site of the Legends Hall of Fame. The Legends event is over 54 holes; the first U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be over 72 holes.

Players can ride in the Legends event, won the first two years by Lorie Kane and Laurie Rinker. As per USGA tradition in open championships, the Senior Women’s Open will be walking-only. And, of course, the Legends is for former LPGA players while both amateurs and professionals can compete in the Senior Women’s Open.

Age requirements could be the most significant difference, however. The Legends Tour is for players 45 and over. The Women’s Senior Open is for players 50 and over.

Those differences will be the subject of discussion leading into the first Senior Women’s Open but, in the end, they may not matter all that much. The big thing is, senior women finally have their own open championship and another designated “major.’’ That figures to be a big boost for the serious players in that segment of golfers.

USGA president Tom O’Toole made the long-awaited announcement at the USGA’s annual meeting in New York.

“We have studied and discussed the need for this championship for many years, and now we can celebrate its introduction,’’ said O’Toole.

The field size and prize breakdown for the first Senior Women’s Open haven’t been set. No dates or sites have been determined, either.

For comparison purposes, the LPGA Legends Tour will start its 15th season in March. It’ll have nine tournaments, but only the LPGA Legends Championship will be as long as 54 holes. It offered $500,000 in prize money the last two years and its third staging will be Aug. 28-30, also at French Lick.

The Senior Women’s Open will become the 14th national championship conducted by the USGA.

“We feel strongly that factors such as the international strength of the LPGA and the increasing number of age eligible quality competitors from around the world, as well as the growth of women’s golf, are key to reaching this historical announcement,’’ said Mike Davis, the USGA executive director. “We hope this new championship will inspire both amateurs and professionals.’’

The recently-concluded PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL., (SHOW WAS JAN. 20-23) with Chicago’s two major club manufacturers playing lead roles.

Batavia-based Tour Edge got its usual jump on the competition by formally introducing its line of new irons and putters a day ahead of the 62-year old main event, which drew 40,000 attendees and had over 1,000 exhibitors at its four-day run at the Orange County Convention Center.

David Glod, who founded Tour Edge out of his own garage in 1986, has held his season preview a day ahead of the show the last 10 years. This time he admitted “there’s so many new products it’s almost daunting.’’

The key to Tour Edge’s new club offerings is “robotic laser beam bonding.’’ You’ll be hearing more about that as the season progresses.

Wilson celebrated its centennial in 2014 but Tim Clarke, head of the company’s golf division, thought the milestone year would be just a springboard for things to come.

“Our first century had an exciting finish with (Kevin) Streelman getting a birdie win (a record seven straight birds to finish off a victory at Hartford), Marcel Siem won in Europe and Padraig Harrington won in Asia,’’ said Clarke. “But 2015 will be our best yet. Our product line is as good as we’ve ever had.’’

In addition to unveiling its new clubs and golf balls, Wilson announced the additions of Troy Merritt and Brendan Steele to its staff of touring pros and introduced the latest in its popular four-year TV ad campaign, “Seriously!’’ that features Guy Johnson.

According to PGA of America estimates, if you walked through every mile of the Orlando show to check out all the offerings relative to instruction, fashion, equipment, accessories and technology you would have covered about 10 miles. The two Chicago shows coming up in February won’t be nearly that big, of course.

The Tinley Park Golf Expo runs Feb. 6-8 and the Chicago Golf Show, bolstered by new presenting sponsor Encompass Insurance, will be staged Feb. 27-March 1. By the time they’re over there might well be enough snow off the ground to allow for play on at least some of the Chicago courses. At least one can only hope.

At any rate, this is my opportunity to reveal the products I found the most interesting in Orlando. They underscore how inventive and innovative the people in the golf industry really are.

My favorite was GolfBoard, which brings the concept of surfing to golf. You ride an electric board and it feels similar to snowboarding, surfing or skateboarding. The GolfBoard carries one golfer, who is standing, and his bag. This device speeds up play and makes the player more active than he would be sitting in the traditional cart. Dave Weretka, long-time publisher of GolfChicago magazine is GolfBoard’s representative in the Chicago area.

Swing trainers are frequently innovative, and DST Golf introduced one that is literally and figuratively “Ahead of the Curve.’’ PGA Master Professional Nigel Blenkarne demonstrated how to use what looks like a pitching wedge with a bent shaft. The bent shaft would make the club illegal, according to the Rules of Golf. For practice and warmup, though, it’s fine and Blenkarne said “some PGA guys are practicing with it.’’

In addition to the bent shaft, the club has a white line on the clubhead and a wide, flat sole angle that encourages the proper swing for chip shots. It forces you to be in the optimal impact position.

Ray Rapcavage, a New Jersey resident who considers himself “a good amateur player,’’ brought along the Golf Swing Shirt – a striking orange pullover endorsed by Harrington, a three-time major champion, and teaching guru Jimmy Ballard. You put the Swing Shirt on over your own shirt, insert one arm at a time into the center sleeve and then head for the range.

You may look and feel funny, but those who tried Swing Shirt felt they were striking the ball with body turn rather than the flipping of the hands, and the hands were always slightly ahead of the ball at impact. That resulted in a more reliable motion through the ball.

Putting also traditionally inspires new products. Ed Klein, of Aberdeen, Wash., didn’t come with a new putter. He came with a new grip that could catch on as the USGA’s ban on anchored putting closes in for 2016. Klein’s Arm-Lock Converter Putter Grip. You simply have a new (bigger) grip installed on your present putter. It comes in two models – round and flat – and fits any putter. Klein says either model will make you an arm-lock putter and eliminate the issues presented by anchored putting.

Ball technology may be more ongoing than any area in golf, and OnCore Golf has come out with “the world’s only hollow metal core golf ball.’’ It just gained USGA approval last May.

Staying in one place for very long isn’t easy for a golf touring pro. Carlos Sainz Jr. was able to do it from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, when he spent most of the holiday season with family and friends in Elgin. Now, however, the PGA Tour rookie is on the road again and looking forward to the opportunities immediately ahead.

Though he’s calling Ponte Vedra, FL., his home base now – it’s where the PGA Tour headquarters are located – Sainz made a stopover to visit his brother Michael in Phoenix this week before heading to what he expects will be his first tournament of 2015, the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Michael, at 25 four years younger than Carlos, also has tour aspirations. He’s playing on the Arizona mini-tours now. Carlos knows all about that. The Larkin High School graduate succeeded in the small pro tournaments after finishing college at Mississippi State, then moved through the smaller tours to make it to golf’s big time. But he still isn’t able to play every week.

“For me it’s all about being ready to play whenever I get in a tournament so that I can establish a schedule for the rest of year,’’ said Sainz. “I’m trying to do my job, like everyone else. I’m young, working hard, looking forward to what I do and cherishing it.’’

Sainz has a history of playing good at the right times. He finished out 2013 with a win in on the Canadian PGA Tour, a runner-up finish in the Illinois Open and a victory in the Chicago Open. Those events led to him earning playing privileges on the PGA’s Web.com Tour.

In 2014 he had just one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour’s satellite circuit, but finished strong in the Web.com Playoffs to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2014-15 season.

Under its new split-season schedule the PGA circuit started with six events prior to the New Year. With limited playing status Sainz got into only three of them and missed the cut in two. But he had one strong showing, a tie for ninth in the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi, that earned him $100,000 – more than he had earned in the entire Web.com season. That one good tournament boosted his playing position from No. 49 at the start of the PGA Tour season to No. 35 on the PGA Tour’s eligibility list.

New players are subject to re-shuffling of their tournament eligibility based on their immediate play, and the big jump in status means Sainz can get his PGA Tour career off to a fast start.. He will be in the field at the Sony Open in Hawaii, which tees off on Thursday, and will get into the first three events of the circuit’s California swing – the Humana Challenge, Farmers Insurance Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

He’s also pushing to get into the fourth and final stop in California, the Northern Trust Open, via a sponsor’s exemption. He hopes that the Chicago-based tourney sponsor will look kindly on a Chicago player when invitations are handed out. The second re-shuffle of new players will be made after the Northern Trust Open.

The PGA’s top players usually fill the field at Phoenix (Waste Management Open in February) and then turn out in big numbers for the Florida tournaments in March. Sainz may find it difficult to get into those events.

“I’m not sure which tournaments I’ll get into by then,’’ said Sainz. But he knows he’ll get into plenty of them if he plays well the next two months, and there’s another, more long-range incentive to consider. It’s not unrealistic to think he could compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil when golf returns to the Games.

Sainz’ parents are from the Philippines and Bolivia. As “a token of respect’’ he acquired dual citizenship in the Philippines when he played in a tournament there and he plans to apply for similar status in Bolivia. That would make Sainz eligible to play for those countries, neither of which is rich in golf touring pros.

Chicago’s golf season may be in its final days as far as 2014 goes, but you wouldn’t know it by developments over the last few days.

On the PGA Tour Wheaton’s Kevin Streelman made a final-round charge in the Shriners Hospital for Children’s Open in Las Vegas on Sunday. Making five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine, Streelman took over the lead before third round leader Ben Martin rallied to overtake him.

Streelman shot 65 in the final round but wound up as the runnerup, two strokes behind Martin, who posted a 20-under-par 266 to claim his first PGA Tour victory.

Before Streelman made his charge the PGA’s Champions Tour announced a change in leadership. Greg McLaughlin took over as president of the 50-and-over circuit, replacing Mike Stevens. McLaughlin was the long-time tournament director of the Western Open before directing the Tiger Woods Foundation for 14 years.

The biggest news, though, was made on Sunday in Korea when the Ladies PGA Tour announced that Underwriters Laboratories will be the sponsor for its International Crown event.

UL, a premier global independent safety science company with a headquarters location in Northbrook, has been in operation since 1894 and has more than 11,000 employees world-wide. UL was an ambassador sponsor when the LPGA introduced its International Crown at Caves Valley in Owings Springs, Md., this season.

Jerry Rich, owner of Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, was a leader in the creation of the global team competition that was won by Spain in its first staging. The second staging will be at Rich Harvest, with the dates of July 18-24, 2016, revealed when UL’s involvement was announced.

Rich had hoped the International Crown would be based at his course, but LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said the third playing in 2018 would be in Korea – a country that has produced a number of top players on the LPGA circuit in recent years.

In making the announcement Whan declared that “Big is coming to Chicago,’’ but said a staging in Korea was appropriate as well.

“The Republic of Korea has clearly demonstrated their support for the LPGA by hosting 18 different tournaments over the years with tremendous fan support,’’ Whan said. “It made perfect sense that the first time we take the International Crown out of the U.S. was to a country with so many dedicated fans who support women’s golf.’’

Rich’s private layout has become Chicago’s best tournament venue in recent years. The biggest event there so far was the 2009 Solheim Cup matches between the LPGA stars of the U.S. and Europe. The Western Amateur and Palmer Cup, a prestigious team competition for collegiate players, will be played at Rich Harvest in 2015 before the International Crown makes its appearance.

In addition to Chicago’s influences on the international golf scene, the Illinois PGA made its awards announcements for 2014. Heading the list was Medinah teaching professional Travis Johns, who was named the section’s player-of-the-year.

Johns earned the honor, based on season-long point standings, for the second time. He took it for the first time in 2010. In winning this season Johns snapped the two-year reign of Curtis Malm, who is completing his first season as head professional at White Eagle in Naperville.

This week the world golf spotlight in on Gleneagles in Scotland, where the 40th Ryder Cup matches begin on Friday. Don Larson, who was chairman of the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah, headed overseas to witness how things unfold this time, but he’ll never forget that epic week at Medinah in September of 2012.

“Now it’s like going to someone else’s wedding,’’ said Larson, who was also the chairman of the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah and a leader in that tournament’s staging there in 2006.

All those big events were exciting, but none more so than the Ryder Cup.

“I can’t believe ours was two years ago,’’ said Larson. “It was a lifetime event for a lot of people. One thing is for certain: that tournament will be remembered for a long time.’’

Medinah has changed a bit since the European team’s gigantic rally in the singles matches on the final day deflated a U.S. team in dramatic fashion. Renovation work began on Medinah’s No. 1 course 13 hours after the last putt dropped on the No. 3 layout to conclude the Ryder Cup.

The next day director of golf Mike Scully resigned from Medinah to take a similar job at Desert Mountain in Arizona. Medinah’s membership has undergone minimal changes since the Ryder Cup, and the club has a few openings for new ones. Since the Ryder Cup is the biggest event in golf, it’s highly unlikely Medinah will ever host a bigger event and it figures to be quite awhile before any major event comes there.

“We’ve talked with both the USGA (U.S. Golf Assn.) and PGA (of America),’’ said Larson, “but they’re locked up way in advance now. A lot of clubs want to host tournaments, and the USGA and PGA can have their pick of locations now. We’ll have to see what’s offered us.’’

Medinah is one of only five clubs that have hosted a U.S. Open, a PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. The U.S. Open came three times (1949, 1975, 1990) and the PGA twice (1999, 2006). The club is still attractive for select events and would probably be willing.

“They’re a big undertaking,’’ said Larson. “What sets us apart is our championship golf course, our location, a willing membership and our facility.’’

Not many clubs anywhere have the space and clubhouse that Medinah has, and those are necessities for golf’s biggest events. So, Medinah could well host a big one again.

“We’re definitely not an every year place (which would rule out a PGA Tour stop),’’ said Larson, “but an event every six-eight years years would work out.’’

In the meantime, the club members and their guests aren’t playing their famed No. 3 course as much as they once did. Tee times were hard to come by leading up to the Ryder Cup. To correct that the club hired Michigan architect Tom Doak to elevate the stature of its No. 1 layout, and he did a good job.

“People can walk out to play No. 3 now,’’ said Larson, “and the demand to play No. 1 is extreme. The newness will come off eventually, but its fun to play. It’s a great golf course, and people are really excited about it.’’

IPGA showdown

The Illinois PGA Player of the Year will likely be decided at the last of the second’s four major championships. The IPGA Players Championship will run Monday and Tuesday (SEPT 29-30) at Metamora Fields.

Curtis Malm, head professional at White Eagle in Naperville, owns a 14-point lead on Medinah assistant Travis Johns going in the Players event. Malm is seeking his third straight Player of the Year award.

Here and there

Matt Swan, formerly an assistant t Westmoreland in Wilmette, has been named the new head professional at Kemper Lakes in Long Grove.

The Illinois Super Senior Open concludes its two-day run on Wednesday at Pine Meadow in Mundelein.

Ed Whitaker, of downstate Tremont, won the Illinois State Senior Amateur last week at Royal Country Club of Long Grove. He had a four-stroke edge on Skoie’s Paul Hindsley.