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…
Author: lenz
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. …
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…
PGA Show proved there’s no shortage of innovative gear for putting
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 …
Concert offers private golf clubs a formula for success
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…
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…
Golf Travel Writers group is looking for new adventures
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…
Nick Price has designed a special layout at Florida’s Soleta course
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…
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….
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…