ORLANDO, FL. - It's become a tradition now. For the ninth straight year David Glod, president of Batavia-based Tour Edge, has gotten a jump on his club manufacturing rivals at the massive PGA Merchandise Show.
The biggest show in golf begins a three-day run at the Orange County Convention Center on Wednesday with over 1,000 golf companies and brands and over 40,000 industry professionals from around the world displaying their wares. Over 20 Chicago area companies will have a big presence. (more…)
VALDOSTA, Ga. - Bob Spence is about to hit the 60-year mark as a golf professional. Now his focus is on Kinderlou Forest, a stunning 18-holer just 16 miles from the Florida state line, but Chicago golfers should remember him well.
Spence, who turned pro in 1954 - a few months after graduating from high school, was the first director of golf at Kemper Lakes. The late Jim Kemper hired him in 1978 to direct the opening of the Long Grove course designed by Dick Nugent and Ken Killian. Kemper Lakes was an instant hit. It was the first public course to host a PGA Championship in 1989, a year in which Payne Stewart was crowned the champion. (more…)
Jerry Rich's dream took its first big step towards reality immediately after the 2013 LPGA season concluded Sunday with Shanshan Feng's victory in the CME Group Titleholders tourney at Tiburon in Naples, FL.
That was the last event in which countries could earn points for participation in next year's inaugural International Crown event. Rich was a primary force behind the International Crown's creation, and his Rich Harvest Farms facility in Sugar Grove, IL., will host the second staging of the innovative biannual team competition in 2016.
Rich hopes the International Crown will be played at Rich Harvest many times after that, but first things first. (more…)
Jack Nicklaus was the featured guest at the Western Golf Association’s third annual Green Coat Gala at the Peninsula Chicago Hotel. The sold-out black tie event raised over $900,00 for the Evans Scholars Foundation[/caption]
Jack Nicklaus was the featured guest at the Western Golf Association’s third annual Green Coat Gala at the Peninsula Chicago Hotel. The sold-out black tie event raised over $900,00 for the Evans Scholars Foundation.
Kuchar got Streelman as his partner after higher-ranked Americans Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk, Kevin Bradley, Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Nick Watney, Bill Haas and Rickie Fowler didn't want to play. Woodland's ranking has slipped to 81st, so he wasn't a viable partner this time. (more…)
Smith remains the owner and architect for three courses - Tradition, Signature and Threetops - at Treetops North. Threetops is widely regarded as America's best par-3 course.
Inevitably, Smith's success in teaching and course architecture led to his spending more time away from Michigan - he's even designing a course in China now -- and that led to a revamping and renaming on the teaching side. It's now the Rick Smith and Jason Guss Golf Academy. (more…)
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This year, though, the story at Island Hills isn't about what Hearn has done to what is already a quality layout playable by all levels of golfers. This spring Griffioen and Andy Mears, who moved over from Indiana's Swan Lake to become Island Hills' president and chief operating officer, unveiled much-needed lodging at the facility.
Island Hills has in effect entered the resort business with the opening of the first three Signature Point Cottages overlooking the par-3 17th hole. Each has four and five-bedroom units with meeting/recreation rooms on the lower levels. (more…)
Officially known now as Rock River Golf & Pool, the facility is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013.
Several clubs in the Chicago suburbs have long past year No. 100. The Downers Grove golf course was America's first 18-hole course when it opened in 1892. It was reduced to a nine-holer long ago and is now owned by the Downers Grove Park District. (more…)
