Jeff Sluman has been Chicago’s lone representative on PGA Tour Champions for the last 10 years but things are different going into the circuit’s first full-field event this week. “I’m a resident of Florida now,’’ said Sluman. “We live eight months here and summer up in Chicago. We love that city but I got tired…
Author: lenz
Tour Edge, Wilson, WGA make an impact at PGA Merchandise Show
ORLANDO, Florida – The PGA Merchandise Show is – as far as the golf industry is concerned – the major annual event for the sport, and last week’s 65th staging of the show at the Orange County Convention Center underscored that. The Show, which draws about 40,000 visitors annually, featured more than 7,500 PGA professionals…
Revelation Golf: A success story that’s ongoing
RevelationGolf has done lots of good things since Elk Grove resident Donna Strum created the program in 2005. Strum, a therapeutic recreation specialist, quit a job at a hospital to work with children and adults with physical disabilities, breast cancer survivors and at-risk youth. It wasn’t until two years later, Strum and her assistant, Kathy…
My big night at the ING Media Awards
I’m excited, and most appreciative. Last night three of my pieces from 2017 were cited in the 24th annual International Network of Golf Media Awards presentation, which climaxed the first day of the 65th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center. My Daily Herald piece, “Koepka wins first major,’’ was the winner in…
GOLF TRAVEL NOTEBOOK: PGA National Resort is up for sale
PGA National Resort & Spa, home of the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic, is up for sale. The resort, which includes five courses in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., fetched $170 million when it was acquired by Walton Street Capital of Chicago in 2006 from a Florida investor, according to a report in the Palm Beach Post….
Biancalana’s return to golf centers on Illinois Senior Open
This is somewhat of a tradeoff. The Chicago area golf community will regain one popular name from the past but will lose another once the snow melts. The returnee is Roy Biancalana. He’s decided to return to the Chicago area and make a run at one of the few state titles he didn’t win in…
Dick Nugent was one of Chicago’s most prolific — and best — golf course designers
I was just sad to learn of the passing of Dick Nugent, the long-time Chicago golf course architect, on New Year’s Day. I don’t know more details, but Nugent was 87 — a very nice man and and one of the most prolific architects in the Chicago area. A University of Illinois graduate — he…
Name change won’t detract from PGA Champions’ first main event
BOCA RATON, Florida – PGA Tour Champions had a popular kickoff to its season with the Allianz Championship on the North Course at Broken Sound Golf Club. That sponsorship ended after the 12th playing of the event last year, but – other than a name change to the Boca Raton Championship – the event will…
IT ZIEHMS TO ME: Ibis’ Legend proves that Nicklaus courses are becoming more fun
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – This is what I was told. Jack Nicklaus designed the Legend Course at The Club at Ibis for an opening in 1991. More than 20 years passed, and club members asked Nicklaus to come back and check it out again. He did, and his immediate comment was `What was I…
Carol McCue will be remembered as the First Lady of Chicago Golf
A memorial service has been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 29 at Donnellan Funeral Home in Skokie to honor the memory of Carol McCue, a long-time leader in the Chicago golf community. She died on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the age of 94. Long known as the First Lady of Chicago Golf, Miss…