GALENA, Illinois – Mark Klausner changed most everything since taking over ownership of the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa four years ago – with one notable exception. We’ll get to that one later. Klausner hosted the grand opening of his pride and joy, the Stonedrift Spa, earlier this year and it is something to…
Author: lenz
New nine-hole short course will be Boyne’s next new attraction
HARBOR SPRINGS, Michigan – Boyne Golf has a lot to celebrate these days. Boyne Mountain, the first of the group’s three Michigan destinations to open, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Highlands, a few miles down the road, is celebrating its 60th and long-time senior vice president of golf operations Bernie Friedrich has been named…
Illini star, in Korn Ferry stop at the Glen Club, is ready for PGA
The Korn Ferry Tour, which visits the Chicago area for the fifth straight year this week, provides a path for young golf stars to get to the PGA Tour. Chicago’s stop on the circuit, the NV5 Invitational, has one player – and one with Illinois connections to boot – who has, for all intents, earned…
JDC win started Harman on his way to capturing the British Open
The John Deere Classic, Illinois’ only annual PGA Tour event, is known for its first-time winners. It’s had 23 of those in its 52-year history, and Brian Harman was one of them. Harman, who won the British Open by a whopping six-stroke margin on Sunday, made the JDC his first victory in 2014 at TPC…
This amateur golf doubleheader is not one to miss
Rarely has Illinois been treated to a golf tournament doubleheader as attractive as the one on tap for this week – and it’s all about the amateurs. The Women’s Western Amateur has been played without interruption since 1901, and the 123rd staging begins on Tuesday at White Eagle, in Naperville. The always popular Illinois…
These non-golf Wisconsin attractions can be overwhelming
SPRING GREEN, Wisconsin – This was one of those odd stops where we stayed at a golf resort — and it looked like a pretty good one — but didn’t hit a shot. House on the Rock has 27 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., but we were there to see a couple of…
Changes have boosted Nick Hardy’s golf game
Beset by wrist problems, Nick Hardy’s rookie season on the PGA Tour didn’t go too well. To retain his playing privileges for this season he had to perform well in the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Finals – and he did that. Since then things have changed a lot for the University of Illinois alum who…
No 59, but Straka still wins at the John Deere Classic
SILVIS, IL. – Low numbers are nothing new at the John Deere Classic, and Sunday was no exception. Sepp Straka, far down the leaderboard at the start of the final round, shot 28 on the front nine at TPC Deere Run and strung four birdies on holes 11-14. With four holes left Straka needed…
Another first-time winner in the JDC? Smalley could be the man
SILVIS, IL. – Every year a prominent story line at the John Deere Classic is who will be the next first-time winner on the PGA Tour and this year is no exception. The JDC has had 23 champions who won for the first time in its 51-year history. That’s an extraordinarily high number, and they…
Streelman posts his best round ever in the John Deere Classic
SILVIS, IL. – Wheaton’s Kevin Streelman has been Chicago’s best PGA Tour player for years, but this season hasn’t been one of his best. Qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs was even in serious doubt when the John Deere Classic teed off this week. Only players ranked in the top 70 in the FedEx…