This year has been filled with changes for everyone, but some things never change. The University of men’s golf team, for one thing. The Illini had their season halted in March by pandemic concerns, then came the cold weather in the Midwest. Eleven months after their last competition, however, the Illini didn’t miss a beat….
Author: lenz
Mission Inn is making good use of both of its courses
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Florida – Bud Beucher, president of the history-rich Mission Inn Resort & Club, has never been reluctant to host tournaments. Most all were high school, junior or college events. Until now. It’s doubtful that any golf facility in the country can match the schedule of professional tour events and U.S. Golf Association qualifiers…
Bernhard Langer signing is a big deal for Tour Edge
Tour Edge, the Batavia-based golf club manufacturer, has thrived in recent years by signing top players on PGA Tour Champions. On Monday Tour Edge president David Glod landed the biggest star on the 50-and-over circuit. Bernhard Langer, still the Champions’ dominant player at 63 years old, has 41 wins on the circuit and that is…
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…
Tennis, hockey players have supplemented the golfers at Saddlebrook
WESLEY CHAPEL, Florida – For 40 years now, the Saddlebrook Resort has been well-equipped for golfers. For most of that time it had two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses. Enough said. There’s more to the Saddlebrook story than that, however. Owner Tom Dempsey, who made his mark in the publishing industry in Cleveland, was a member…
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…
Trip to Hawaii pays off big-time for Nick Hardy
Northbrook’s Nick Hardy and Arlington Heights’ Doug Ghim are among the very best young golfers ever produced in the Chicago area. Ghim is a rookie on the PGA Tour and Hardy in his first season on the PGA’s development circuit – the Korn Ferry Tour. Still, what were the chances that they’d be paired together…
Golf developments in 2020 were shocking, unprecedented
I’ve been reporting on golf for 52 years and never encountered a year like this one. The dreaded pandemic certainly made 2020 infamous in many ways, and that included the golf world. What I’ll remember the most happened on March 12, when PGA commissioner Jay Monahan called a press conference during the first round…
Big things are happening on the Citrus Golf Trail
SEBRING, Florida — The Citrus Golf Trail has – most justifiably — promoted itself as “The Value Golf Capital of America.’’ Joe Staffieri, the manager at Pinecrest on Loleta in Avon Park, created the Trail in 2012 and it’s flourishing like never before now. “Golf can be expensive, but if you want to make a…
GOLF TRAVEL NOTES: Two long-time favorites are changing course
First of all, HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all of our traveling golfers from our place in Florida’s PGA Village. We are now in the heart of the holiday season and we hope that all our friends will enjoy these days to the fullest. Golf travel wasn’t so easy in this pandemic year, but we’re…