The Illinois State Amateur doesn’t have a home course. It moves around the state annually, but in the last two decades one location has become a favorite. Cantigny, in Wheaton, has hosted four times in the last 22 years and will be the site for the tourney’s 89th staging from July 16-18. “For us amateur…
Author: lenz
Nicklaus (Gary, not Jack) spices up the field in U.S. Senior Open
The U.S. Golf Association doesn’t bring nearly as many of its championships to the Chicago area as it once did. That’s why this week’s U.S. Senior Open is worth savoring. It’ll begin its four-day run on Thursday at Notre Dame’s Warren course in South Bend. Jeff Sluman, the only Chicago regular on PGA Tour Champions,…
Raven’s Claw offers a weird touch of history on its very first hole
POTTSTOWN, Pa. – Can’t say I ever started a round of golf like a recent one at Raven’s Claw, a public course near historic Valley Forge. You line up your tee shot and the most noticeable obstacle in an old brick house – or at least part of one. It doesn’t really come into play…
Woodland is just the latest Wilson staff player to win a major title
The 119th U.S. Open ended on Sunday, but it won’t be forgotten – certainly not at Chicago’s biggest golf equipment company. Tim Clarke, who heads Wilson’s golf division, added Gary Woodland to the company’s player ambassador staff last winter and Woodland delivered big time. Woodland won the title at Pebble Beach, and that should pay…
Williamsburg golf is on the upswing — and that’s putting it mildly
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Like so many other communities, Williamsburg was hit hard by the recession a few years back and that negatively impacted its golf business. The difference is, Williamsburg got back in revival mode and is showing off now at several facilities. For instance, Royal New Kent was a smash hit when it opened….
Grandover doesn’t exactly host a PGA Tour event, but still….
GREENSBORO, N.C. – There’s a lot more good golf to be played in North Carolina than what’s offered in the Pinehurst area. For instance, consider the unique situation in this burgeoning community that is the state’s third-largest metropolitan area. Greensboro may offer the feel of a small town, but it hosts the third-oldest PGA Tour…
Donald, Pope, four Illini alums qualify for U.S. Open at Pebble Beach
The Monday of U.S. Open sectional qualifiers has been billed “golf’s longest day,’’ and for good reason. This week the final nine of twelve 36-hole qualifiers started with 927 players. Late Monday night the final 68 players were determined for the U.S. Open proper, coming up June 13-16 in Pebble Beach, Calif. The list of…
Tiger’s proposed Chicago course might be built in phases
Mike Keiser, the Chicago golf visionary whose projects have included the well-received Bandon Dunes in Oregon and Sand Valley in Wisconsin, is also involved in a much-discussed Chicago course that involves Tiger Woods. That project would require the combining of the existing Jackson Park and South Shore courses operated by the Chicago Park District. So…
PGA’s date change also impacted Chicago area club professionals
One the biggest offseason developments in golf this year was the shifting of the 101st playing of the PGA Championship to May from its usual August dates. This week we’ll see how that works out. It tees off on Thursday at New York’s Bethpage Black course. Previously the PGA had been “Glory’s last shot,’’ the…
Fort Myers Country Club
Location: Fort Myers, Florida. Architect: Donald Ross, with renovation by Steve Smyers in 2014. Opened: 1917 Par: 70 for men, 71 for women. Yards/Rating/Slope: Black tees, 6,675 yards, 72.9, 131; Blue, 6,245, 70.5, 126; White 5,815, 68.9, 124; Golf, 5,460, 67.0, 117; Red, 4,905, 69.0, 114; Green, 4,360, 62.9, 101. Saturday morning green fee: $50…