GALENA, IL. – I’ve always had a warm spot in my heart for the Eagle Ridge Resort. Not only has it been a favorite get-away retreat for about 40 years, it’s also a place where I’ve been on hand for some special events. In 1984 I played in the grand opening outing for Eagle Ridge’s…
Author: lenz
Haney’s “Big Miss” is well worth reading
Please forgive me, but I must vent. I’ve been a member of the national golf media for over 40 years, and I’m proud of it. There are times, though, when I don’t agree with the majority of my brethren and this is definitely one of those times. It seems to me that most media members…
Affrunti’s return to PGA Tour will take awhile
Last Sunday’s conclusion of the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open created a time of reflection for Crystal Lake’s Joe Affrunti, whose last appearance on golf’s premier circuit was at that tournament in 2011. For Affrunti, a former Illinois Open champion and University of Illinois graduate, the last year has been difficult – and that’s putting…
No BMW here, but this summer will be extraordinary
Maybe — MAYBE — this will be a quiet summer for golf in Chicago. At least there won’t be a PGA Tour stop. The BMW Championship will be played at Crooked Stick in Indianapolis this year, but the absence might not be long. While nothing’s official as of this printing, the Western Golf Association is…
Only minor changes coming at Cog Hill
Cog Hill is off the PGA Tour calendar for only the second time since 1991 this year, but that won’t keep owner Frank Jemsek from tweaking his Dubsdread layout that hosted both the Western Open and BMW Championship. Jemsek opened the premier course on his 72-hole Lemont complex last week with some minor changes. The…
Batavia’s Martin is one busy course architect
Batavia-based Greg Martin has been one busy golf course architect within the Chicago area of late. Three of his public course projects are about to open for the season, and at least three others are in the works. Martin handled two renovation projects last fall — the front nine at Fox Run in Elk Grove…
Another partner joins LZOG: Hacker’s Central
Len Ziehm on Golf is today announcing a fourth partnership agreement, this one with the website Hacker’s Central. Based in Minneapolis, this site provides information and rates courses in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Nevada and Illinois. For starters, LZOG will contribute Travel Destination blog-type pieces as well as occasional news items…
Can Wilson, Donald tame Augusta National?
When the first major championship of the PGA Tour season tees off Thursday there’ll be two players with Chicago roots in the field. Luke Donald, the Northwestern alum and the world’s No. 1-ranked player will try to make the Masters his first major title. So will Mark Wilson, who has made Elmhurst home in recent…
FarmLinks finds it’s time for a change
SYLACAUGA, AL. — The FarmLinks course in this little town about 45 miles from Birmingham already has a big reputation. Golf Digest, Golfweek and the National Golf Foundation have recognized it for one good thing or another. Soon, though, things will be changing. Honours Golf, which managed the facility for 10 years, will be leaving…
Alabama’s an underrated state for golfers
GULF SHORES, AL. — There is, I believe, a misconception about golf in Alabama. Sure, the creation of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail 20 years ago was a big boost for golf in the state. In fact, it was a marketing breakthrough for the entire golf industry. The Trail has 11 courses covering 468…