Guest Blog Posts

Arlington Lakes has upped its game to improve yours

Arlington Lakes Golf Club carts Anita M. Pacheco, Superintendent of Marketing and Communications Arlington Heights Park District Located in the heart of the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, Arlington Lakes Golf Club boasts a rich tradition of being the kind of golf course people love to call home. The Arlington Lakes Golf Club has undergone an extensive renovation and its new features and trends have re-awakened the 36-year old municipal golf course, which once served as a Nike Missile Base. The NEW Arlington Lakes Golf Club's, 90-acres course offers something for every golfer. The course features strategically placed, fescue edged bunkers that bring a natural look to the course. Living up to its name, water comes into play on nine of the holes. You will find its design will truly test your skills as a golfer. (more…)

Life. Liberty. And the pursuit of great golf.

GolfVisions 4th of July July 4th falls on a Monday this year, which means a bona fide 3-day weekend to celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of great golf! Throughout the GolfVisions Chicagoland family of courses, we are offering plenty of (Yankee Doodle) Dandy specials to enhance your celebration. Please click on course name below to view offers for that course and book online through the facility website. Or call the course to reserve your tee time! ** NORTH/NORTHWEST ** Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, IL 18 distinctly spectacular holes amidst an atmosphere that evokes Carolina resort golf, close to home in the NW suburbs. 847-639-0400. (more…)

A new look for golf instruction at Grand Traverse

[caption id="attachment_1275" align="alignnone" width="584"]Mark Hill Grand Traverse Golf Academy Mark Hill believes the most effective golf instruction is done on the course.[/caption] Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm ACME, Michigan – The structural changes at Grand Traverse were made last year when owners of the 30-year old resort spent $7 million to renovate the tower that is the facility’s centerpiece. Grand Traverse has three courses on its 1,400 acres and the resort features 660 rooms, diverse restaurants and lounges and 49,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space, unique shops, health club and spa, children’s center and beach club. Last year’s upgrades were – most understandingly – very well received and they’ll keep Grand Traverse in the forefront of U.S. golf destinations for many years to come. That was last year, this is now. (more…)

A big change is coming at Michigan’s Inn at Bay Harbor

[caption id="attachment_1267" align="alignnone" width="584"]The Inn at Bay Harbor is undergoing a three-stage renovation that will make it even more upscale. The Inn at Bay Harbor is undergoing a three-stage renovation that will make it even more upscale.[/caption] Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm BAY HARBOR, Michigan – This is anniversary time for Boyne Golf, the biggest golf course conglomerate in the Midwest. It has 10 courses among its three northern Michigan resorts and two are celebrating milestones in 2016. The Heather course at Boyne Highlands – the Robert Trent Jones Sr. design that got the golf boom started in the area – is marking its 50th season and the most upscale of the Boyne layouts – Bay Harbor – is marking its 20th season. (more…)

Your PGA Club Pro: Facts, Fallacies, Function and Family

[caption id="attachment_1253" align="alignnone" width="584"]Steve Dell, PGA and Family Left to Right: PGA Class-A Professional Steve Dell, his wife, Shellie, and their dog, Gracie.[/caption] Contributed by Michelle Zaberdac, freelance correspondent As the PGA of America turns 100 years old, avid golfers have likely seen many changes in the game, at their home course, within its staff and in the industry as a whole. Have you ever thought about what goes into running a club? Have you ever envisioned being a club pro as a “dream job?” I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with 25-year veteran, PGA Class-A Professional Steve Dell, about his career and how it all came together for him. (more…)

Two months away from the first year of the Web.com Tour’s Rust-Oleum Championship

Rust-Oleum Championship By Andrew Lamie, Tournament Coordinator, Rust-Oleum Championship We are just two months away from the first year of the Web.com Tour’s Rust-Oleum Championship to be held at the Ivanhoe Club. What exactly is the Web.com Tour? Many casual golf fans probably do not know that much about the Web.com Tour. First off, alumni of the tour include PGA Tour superstars Jim Furyk, Zack Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker and current world #1 and Masters favorite, Jason Day. Right now much of Chicago has Cubs fever. To put in terms relative to baseball, the Web.com Tour is the AAA league of professional golf.   (more…)

EWGA – THE Golf Community for Women

By Julie Suh, President, EWGA Chicago Metro Chapter Attention Women Golfers! Are you looking to play more golf?  Join a golf league?  Improve your game?  Play competitive golf?  Meet other golfers?  Expand your business and social network?  EWGA is the answer! EWGA is an international women’s golf association, with chapters in more than 100 major cities in the U.S. plus international locations.  EWGA is comprised of a broad range of golfers from beginners to experienced players, including accomplished, interesting professional women from a collection of diverse backgrounds.  (more…)

Could Thistle be the best of Myrtle Beach’s gems?

[caption id="attachment_1216" align="alignnone" width="584"]The ninth hole of the Stewart nine was our most memorable hole at Thistle. The ninth hole of the Stewart nine was our most memorable hole at Thistle.[/caption] Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm SUNSET BEACH, North Carolina – I’m frequently being tipped off about “hidden gem’’ golf courses. They’re in all parts of the country and are said to be great courses that are off the beaten path enough so that many golfers don’t know about them. The last such course brought to my attention was Thistle Golf Club, a 27-hole facility that opened in 1999. Whether it fits the “hidden gem’’ category is a matter of opinion. Without doubt it is a gem. We will get to that later. (more…)

The First Tee: My grandson’s introduction to golf was much different than mine

[caption id="attachment_1210" align="alignnone" width="584"]Putting wasn’t part of the first session at First Tee but there was still time to use the practice green. Putting wasn’t part of the first session at First Tee but there was still time to use the practice green.[/caption] Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm DURHAM, North Carolina — Everything that I had heard suggested The First Tee program was a most worthwhile thing, but I’d never seen the program in action until my grandson, Sterling Stewart, joined The First Tee of the Triangle for youngsters between the ages of 7-10. Sterling, 7, had a better introduction to golf than I did. After hitting balls on a driving range with his father a few times he had tried The First Tee program at Hillandale golf course last year, but many of the sessions were rained out. Hopefully this spring’s sessions won’t be, but the first session seemed well worthwhile. (more…)

UL International Crown — July 19-24

UL-International-Crown
By Drew Blass, LPGA Tournament Director
The most exciting women’s team golf event on the LPGA’s 2016 schedule is coming to Chicagoland!
The UL International Crown will be played at the Merit Club in Gurnee, Illinois the week of July 19-24. The UL International Crown is a match play competition between the top 4 players from the top 8 nations by the Rolex Rankings. The inaugural event took place in 2014 at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland where Spain was crowned champion over the likes of the USA, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Sweden.
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