The golf lessons that Richard Franklin offers aren’t for everybody. “Some people look at what we do and say it’s not even golf,’’ admitted Franklin, but he can live with that. Franklin, 38, calls himself “a game designer.’’ That’s what his group lessons are – a series of games for youngsters as young as 4…
Features
This Nicklaus did indeed enjoy having the `Best Seat in the House’
Book reviews were once a regular thing for me, until I realized I hadn’t done one in quite awhile. It’s not because I haven’t kept up a steady diet of reading on a fairly wide variety of topics. I continued to have a book going at all times, virtually all of the non-fiction variety, but…
Florida’s Palm-Aire course gets a `refreshing’ from a Midwest perspective
SARASOTA, FL. – Mike Benkusky had worked basically in the Midwest throughout his career as a golf course architect. That’s not surprising, given that he grew up in Iowa, did his college work at Iowa State and then entered the architectural world under the tutelage of long-time Chicago-based architect Bob Lohman. In 2005 Benkusky opened…
My reflections on the career of architect Arthur Hills
I wish I could say that I knew Arthur Hills better than I really did. Our only in-depth meeting came in 1993, when – as a Chicago golf columnist – I was invited to the Grand Opening of one of his designs, called The Thoroughbred in Rothbury, Mich. I do know Hills’ work quite…
Frank Jemsek: A giant in the history of Chicago golf
Being the son of a famous father isn’t always easy. Frank Jemsek, however, had a famous father, Joe. He did many great things in golf, as both a player and course operator, and Frank has followed in his footsteps. Frank, who turned 80 in December, followed his father into the family business at the tender…
ING Media Awards honor four from LZOG partner sites
Friday was a big day for Len Ziehm on Golf and its partner websites. Four of us won Outstanding Achiever designations at the 23rd annual International Network of Golf Media Awards, which is part of the 68th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. I was especially happy for my broadcast partner Rory Spears, who was honored…
There’s nothing miniature about Tiger’s newest venture
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida — Tiger Woods has a new golf venture. Woods and PopStroke, a company based in his hometown of Jupiter, FL., announced a partnership agreement 13 months ago, and it seems a fine fit after making a visit to its first facility. There is a tendency to think of PopStroke as a…
It’s all in the family: Coral Ridge redesign is Rees Jones’ `lifetime dream’
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — Robert Trent Jones Sr. was the premier golf course architect of his generation, having designed about 450 courses around the world. Both of his sons – Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Rees – became prominent – and prolific – architects as well. Rees, for instance, has worked on a…
Rees Jones’ latest course design is a `lifetime dream’
Rees Jones has worked on a ton of golf courses — about 230 world-wide, according to the best estimates. He’s well known as “The Open Doctor’’ because he’s been brought in to get fine existing courses in shape for big championships. That number includes seven courses used for U.S. Opens, nine for PGA Championships and…
Western Golf Association braces for its amateur doubleheader
This has indeed been a strange year for the Western Golf Association. The organization’s two national junior tournaments had to be canceled due to pandemic concerns and its two professional events were rescheduled for the same reason. The WGA’s two history-rich amateur championships, however, are going on as scheduled. The 120th playing of the Women’s…