The Illinois PGA had planned to open its tournament season in March, but it still has yet to hold a competitive event. Twelve have been canceled and another nine postponed, and the state’s club professionals won’t have a competitive event until July 6. Give the IPGA credit, though. The Section has – barring sudden changes…
Author: lenz
Palmetto Traverse isn’t your usual putting green
Putting courses aren’t exactly new. Many golf facilities – even storied St. Andrews in Scotland – are adding them as a extra amenity at their facilities. The one that we played Monday in Santee, S.C., is one of the better ones. It’s called Palmetto Traverse. Santee is a town of barely 1,000 residents but its…
PGA, Korn Ferry tours re-open; WGA names Chicago Highlands for ESI tourney
The men’s pro golf tours resume tournament play on Thursday (JUNE 11), ending three months of inactivity because of Covid-19 pandemic concerns. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and the next four players in the world rankings will be in the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Texas. The strong 148-player field…
Jensen Beach Golf Club: How Sweet-ish will this course get?
JENSEN BEACH, FL. – Eagle Marsh Golf Club, a Tommy Fazio design, was well-received on Florida’s Treasure Coast when it opened in 1997. Now Eagle Marsh is no more – but its future is by no means a sad one. JENSEN BEACH, Florida — Two entrepreneurs from Sweden, Johan Tumba and Joakim Sabel, purchased the…
Illinois Open is downsized after major restructuring
Though some restrictions were lifted for Illinois golfers on Friday, the season remains a trying one for the state’s golf organizers. Tournament scheduling remains a fluid thing due to concerns over the COVID-19 Pandemic. First it was the Chicago District Golf Association canceling the Illinois State Amateur and the CDGA Amateur – its two oldest…
John Deere Classic is canceled; its 50th anniversary is moved to 2021
John Deere Classic canceled; its 50th anniversary is moved to 2021 Illinois won’t have its longest-standing PGA Tour stop this year. The John Deere Classic was cancelled on Thursday. The JDC, the only PGA Tour event held annually in the state, was to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a July 6-12 playing of the $6.2…
Youth caddies face an uphill climb amid coronavirus
Golf is back to being played in all 50 states again. That’s a good thing. Progress in the battle against the pandemic, it would seem, is being made. Unfortunately there’s one segment of the golf industry that hasn’t benefitted yet. Caddies – particularly the youth variety – have been included in the restrictions that various…
USGA should award Pope a spot in this year’s U.S. Open
Glen Ellyn’s Andy Pope has played his way into four of the last five U.S. Opens. That’s an extraordinary feat, given that around 10,000 golfers file entries each year and only 156 make it to the 72-hole finals. This year, though, Pope can’t play his way in. Instead he’s relegated to campaigning for a spot…
Woods notches another big win — but this one was different
Tiger Woods was a winner in his first televised golf appearance in 98 days on Sunday. No, it wasn’t his 83rd tournament title that would have broken a tie with Sam Snead for most wins on the PGA Tour but this was a big win nonetheless. It came in an event called The Match: Champions…
WHERE ARE YOU PLAYING?/ All around Florida
ONE IN A SERIES Once again Rory Spears and Len Ziehm are combining efforts on our experiences from various golf destinations. This one is on Florida courses. Living in the Sunshine State now, I’ve always felt that Florida golf is most enjoyable in those months after the snowbirds leave for the season. In normal times…