Chicago District Golfer -- June 2010 by CDGA

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Tungsten Nickel Sole

Cog Hill Golf & Country Club September 6-12, 2010

The top players will be there. Will you?

Get your tickets to the 2010 BMW Championship today. The PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup return to Cog Hill Golf & Country Club September 6-12. This exciting playoff event will feature the top 70 players from around the world. To order tickets and for hospitality information, visit BMWChampionshipUSA.com or call 847-724-4600.

GUEST ESSAY By Matt Pekarek

President’s message It’s become an ever-evolving game we enjoy (Editor’s note: Matt Pekarek is the 50th president of the CDGA and the first to represent a public golf course.) n spite of its reputation as a tradition-laden sport, golf thrives on innovation and dynamic change. Think of all the things that have come or gone away during the last generation of golfers: wound balls, wooden club heads, metal spikes, stymies, croquet-style putters, over-theshoulder ball drops, hybrid clubs, GPS yardage systems, composite shafts, limits on club length, tee height, the size of club heads and the spring-like effect of club faces. In recent years, golfers have seen revolutionary changes on three fronts. Innovations in golf equipment have changed our game and our courses. Advancements in communication have changed our expectations about access to information on everything from score posting to course yardages. And a changing golf economy has altered the way every course operates. The changes are most visible with equipment. Woods made from exotic, super-light metals allow us to hit shots farther and more consistently than ever. Shafts with space-age properties help get the most out of our swings. Golf balls fly farther, feel softer and last longer. The CDGA has played a pivotal role in the course remodeling boom. The CDGA turfgrass program works cooperatively with the United States Golf Association, the University of Illinois and others to expand the knowledge of course architects, contractors, green committees and superintendents. This happens through a weekly scouting report on regional turf issues, turf evaluation trials, demonstration plots at Midwest Golf House in Lemont, education programs through professional associations and consultations with

individual clubs. Through these efforts, the turfgrass staff has benefited every course remodeling and has helped elevate the playing conditions on every course in the district. The CDGA course rating teams have been busy updating the USGA Course Rating and Slope Ratings of these remodeled courses. We are fortunate to have multiple highly experienced rating teams working hard to keep our system fair and accurate. Communication options and access to information have exploded in golf. The CDGA is at the forefront of golf information sharing. The CDGA has built a real-time, Web-based computer network connecting all 390 member clubs, providing unprecedented access to handicap and course rating information. CDGA members can access and update their information at the club handicap computer or on-line via My CDGA Caddie. As one of the 52 golf associations participating in the International Golf Network (IGN), the CDGA is improving the national exchange of handicap scores among those golf associations. The combination of the CDGA computer network and our participation in the IGN gives CDGA members the most effective golf handicap service available anywhere. The CDGA also keeps member clubs up to date on changes to the USGA Handicap System and Rules of Golf. As you may have already noticed, the USGA is transitioning to a national handicap revision schedule, with revisions occurring on the first and 15th days of each month. The CDGA has adopted this new revision schedule in 2010. Improved handicap reporting will help our clubs deal with the new schedule.

Matt Pekarek

There also are changes to the Rules of Golf. We are still adjusting to a liberalization of the Local Rule on distance measuring devices that stops short of allowing multi-function devices like cell phones and their rich menu of available apps in tournament play. Less pressing is the new rule governing clubface grooves that will impact some players this year and will eventually apply to all golfers in the coming years. Every course, whether private or public, is affected by the downturn in golf. The most effective role of the CDGA in helping member clubs through this difficult period is not always obvious. Surely our surveys and workshops can help clubs address some issues. Our turfgrass program can help courses save money on course maintenance. Clubs also can help their bottom line by using the CDGA club insurance program, telecommunications program and our online staff training program. Our greatest strength, and the greatest value the CDGA brings to golf in our region, is the dependable handicap and course rating systems. Providing a reputable way for players of varying abilities to compete equally builds interest and enthusiasm for golf. That enthusiasm for casual competition has fueled golf for decades, increasing patronage at public courses and membership at private clubs.

Comments are solely the opinion of the author and not neccessarily those of the CDGA. Letters and opinions are welcome at info@cdga.org. JUNE 2010

CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER | 5

OFFICERS PRESIDENT Matthew L. Pekarek, Village Links of Glen Ellyn

VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGE James B. Madison, M.D., Illini CC

TREASURER Michael J. Grandinetti, Calumet CC

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Keith Frankland, Village Greens of Woodridge

VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGE Christine L. Stevens, Cress Creek CC

GENERAL COUNSEL Sheldon Solow, Briarwood CC

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT David Haverick, Glen Flora CC

SECRETARY Alan J. Hunken, Bob O’Link GC

EX-OFFICIO Jerry Williams, Olympia Fields CC

GOVERNORS Thomas Allison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Beverly CC

Thomas H. Roth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inverness GC

Steven S. Birky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harrison Park GC

Don Schwarz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Prestwick CC

William R. Buecking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .At Large

Lawrence W. Schweik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bartlett Hills GC

C. Daniel Cochran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Biltmore CC

Lorraine Scodro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Midlothian CC

Frank D’Ambra, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Biltmore CC

Philip Shannabarger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Den at Fox Creek

David A. Esler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Black Sheep GC

Gerald Skoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cog Hill G & CC

Charles E. Hodgson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arrowhead CC

Rebecca A. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chalet Hills GC

Gerald R. Hodgson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pekin CC

A. Glenn Stith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arrowhead GC

Nick Mokelke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cog Hill G & CC

Robert J. Stracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Northmoor CC

Mike Nass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cantigny Golf

Marianne Zito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stonebridge CC

Dennis A. Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pekin CC

VO L U M E 21, N U M B E R 2

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Matt Baylor DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

Andrew Louthain MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS

Alli Ferguson EDITOR

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DIRECTORS Robert E. Allgyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shoreacres

Jack Kieckhefer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mauh-Nah-Tee-See CC

Richard Andre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ridge CC

William Kingore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Beverly CC

Thomas R. Artz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sportsman’s CC

Gary B. Koch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .At Large

Guy Arvia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Exmoor CC

Bill Koeneman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .At Large

Randy Becker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Winnetka CC

Daniel R. Krpan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Boulder Ridge CC

Daniel M. Blouin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Village Greens of Woodridge

Laurence J. LaBoda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kemper Lakes CC

Andrew Boling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chicago GC

Josh Lesnik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Glen Club

Mary Burgland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Soangetaha CC

Gregory Liebovich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Foot CC

Michael Camino, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Conway Farms GC

R. Scott Malmgren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Glen Oak CC

Gordon L. Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ruth Lake CC

Christopher R. McClear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .At Large

Frank Charhut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wilmette GC

Richard McCombs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oak Park CC

Steven L. Cherveny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Foxford Hills GC

Elston Mitchell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pontiac Elks CC

John A. Childers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elgin CC

David Mortell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Balmoral Woods CC

Michael J. Choate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Shore CC

Thomas E. Mott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rockford CC

ADVERTISING SALES

Michael E. Clark, D.P.M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CC of Decatur

Edward Mulcahy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Midlothian CC

Edward Clissold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Westmoreland CC

Rudolph E. Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Schaumburg GC

Henry Close . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aldeen GC

H. Steven Nichols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Champaign CC

David Crockett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .At Large

Clay Nicolsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mistwood GC

Guy Crucil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Medinah CC

Lawrence Oakford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Woodstock CC

Robert J. Cunningham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Indian Hill Club

James J. O’Hagan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Park Ridge CC

Ronald Davidson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Makray Memorial GC

John Ozag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rolling Green CC

Anthony DeMarco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Olympia Fields CC

John Paladino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forest Hills CC

Michael J. Dickman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Flossmoor CC

Arthur W. Peters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ruth Lake CC

Robert Dutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Timber Creek CC

Roger L. Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lincolnshire Fields CC

Jeffrey D. Echt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lake Shore CC

Ronald Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .White Eagle GC

Richard Estlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Terrace Hill GC

D. William Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PrairieView GC

Chicago • Robert A. Rose & Associates 312-755-1133 Travel and Real Estate • Jereme Day 913-499-7310 Florida/Caribbean • Mary Dees 407-515-2601 Western • Jason Redditt 619-546-8721 Hawaii • Loren Malenchek 808-283-7112 Southwest • Rachel Patel 480-614-5230 Southeast/Midwest • Katie Jordan 404-869-8107 Detroit • Flavin Associates Inc. 248-524-9000 East Coast Sales Manager • Henry Robinson 843-261-9008

William Finn, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Riverside GC

John Rolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Northmoor CC

Michael Forde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Butler National GC

Michael Rooney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Butler National GC

Larry Fulgenzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Old Wayne GC

James F. Rudwall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ivanhoe Club

Mary Garrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Winnetka GC

Samuel M.Sallerson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bryn Mawr CC

Thomas A. Gilley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Flossmoor CC

Michael J. Scheer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LaGrange CC

Kevin Gratkowski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lost Dunes

Richard J. Skrodzki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LaGrange CC

Roger D. Greer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Skokie CC

Laura Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. Charles CC

Michael Griem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Exmoor CC

Darryl Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Red Tail Run GC

Howard Haberkorn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Boulder Ridge CC

C. Nelson Strom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stonewall Orchard GC

James J. Hager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lake Barrington Shores GC

Mike Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bloomington CC

Thomas J. Haggerty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Butterfield CC

Nancy L. Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Westmoreland CC

J. Loren Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Blackstone GC

James Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crystal Tree G & CC

Eugene N. Halladay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hinsdale GC

Kenneth Urbaszewski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deerfield GC

John L. Hammond, II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Evanston GC

David A. Usiak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crestwicke CC

John Henderson, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CC of Peoria

Anthony M. Viola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Old Orchard CC

Robert Hinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Panther Creek CC

Timothy Vola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harborside International

Edward J. Hockfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hillcrest CC

Ben Waldie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. Charles CC

John C. Hoelscher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WeaverRidge GC

David A. Walters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crystal Lake CC

Betty Kaufmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Knollwood Club

Joe Williamson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Briar Ridge CC

Peter Keffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aldeen GC

James E. Winslow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inverness GC

Chairman: Rance Crain Vice President: Merrilee Crain Publisher, President, Golfweek: Clayton Morris Vice President: Patti Green Art Director: Alison Fox Assistant Editor: Amy Parker Production Manager: Anna Murray Information Systems Manager: Tom Miller Production Coordinator: Laura Salinas Advertising Coordinator: Deborah Hesselbart

CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER (ISSN: #10876502) is published six times annually by the Chicago District Golf Association, Midwest Golf House, 11855 Archer Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439. Periodical postage paid at Lemont, IL 60439 and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices are located at Midwest Golf House, 11855 Archer Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chicago District Golfer, Midwest Golf House, 11855 Archer Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439. One-year subscription is $15. Copyright by Chicago District Golf Association. All rights reserved. The advertising space provided in Chicago District Golfer is purchased and paid for by the advertiser. None of the products or services are necessarily endorsed by Turnstile Publishing, the CDGA or its affiliates.

J.C. Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Plum Tree National GC Karl Keller, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kankakee Elks GC The listing of the CDGA professional staff is available at www.cdga.org.

6 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER

W W W. C D G A . O R G

June 2010 | Vol. 21 No. 2

28 34 FIELD TRIP

Features 16 COURSE FOR THE CUP With two years to go before the Ryder Cup, Medinahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No. 3 Course unveils a new 15th hole and other design changes.

By Rich Skyzinski

Looking to see how his game compared with the best in the world, Brad Benjamin received a valuable tutorial at the Masters.

24 SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

36 TEEING OFF WITH PAT FOLEY

By Jim Owczarski

By Len Ziehm

When Knollwood Country Club wanted to regain some historical elements of its golf course, it went to an expert.

While many Chicago golfers have their clubs put away for the winter, not Pat Foley.

36 Departments GUEST ESSAY

38 FEELS LIKE HOME A Q&A with LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan, who boasts Chicago roots after spending part of his youth in Naperville.

FOUNDATION FOCUS

Matt Pekarek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Sunshine Through Golf Foundation 2010 Camp Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

AROUND THE CDGA

FACILITY FOCUS

Fit for Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Village Greens of Woodridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Aces in the Crowd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

DESTINATION

Club Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Ask the Docs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Tournament Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Frankenmuth, Mich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

GEMS OF THE CDGA The eighth at Mistwood Golf Club . . . . . . . . . . . 42

RULES

What to know about amateur status . . . . . . . . . 44

COVER: Knollwood Country Club; photo by Frank Polich. CONTENTS: (from top): Eagle Eye Golf Club (photo courtesy Eagle Eye Golf Club); Pat Foley (photo by Buzz Orr/CDGA); and Brad Benjamin (The Associated Press photo).

JUNE 2010

CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER | 7

Around the CDGA CLUB CORNER

IN THE NEWS

ASK THE DOCS

FIT FOR GOLF

T O U R N A M E N T U P D AT E

NAMES IN THE NEWS

CDGA ONLINE

» IN THE NEWS Azinger hopes Medinah provides a super advantage IN PROFESSIONAL TEAM SPORTS, SUCCESS IN

PHOTO BY NICK NOVELLI

the regular season often leads to a deserved edge in the postseason: home field advantage. Golfers have such an advantage at their individual “home” tracks, but once a year, at the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, golf becomes a team sport. And leading into the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, U.S. captain Paul Azinger decided to “control the controllable” by working with superintendent Mark Wilson in an attempt to give his players an advantage. “It didn’t seem necessary,” Azinger said, “but coming into this Ryder Cup in ’08 we had lost 2008 U.S. captain Paul Azinger (center) shows off the Ryder Cup to members of five of the previous six and we had only won Medinah Country Club’s 2010 Ryder Cup Executive Committee (from left): Mike three times in the previous 25 years, so it Lombardo, chairman Don Larson, Jason Kinander and Robert Moore. became pretty obvious that something had to be fixed.” The “Azinger cut” was introduced at Valhalla—a wider Tyrell is looking forward to the opportunity to work closely intermediate cut off the fairway—to benefit longer-hitting with him. Americans and what Azinger believed were the superior iron “We’re there to present the best conditions for both sides, players on his squad. but we’re there as the host, the United States of America, so While the changes in the U.S. team’s selection process we’re there to do what our team captain wants us to do,” Tyrell were perhaps the biggest key in a five-point victory, Azinger said. “If we have the opportunity to work closely with him like felt he should give his team every advantage he could. that, that would certainly be something we’d be very excited Azinger imparted these thoughts to Medinah Country about and embrace 100 percent.” Club superintendent Curtis Tyrell during a visit to the There are some logistical issues involved with that, venerable club in mid-March, when he was on hand to help however. Because a golf course is a living entity, it can’t just be kick off corporate hospitality sales for the Ryder Cup that changed over a matter of days or weeks. comes to Medinah in September 2012. “(In) planning for these types of potential requests, the “I don’t know who the captain is going to be here, he may sooner the better,” Tyrell said. “We’re going to have this tournot want control of the golf course; he may not care. But I nament as healthy and as ready to go as we possibly can. did,” Azinger said. “I felt like if there was some advantage to We’re going to try to be right there in that zone where we’ve be gained, I wanted to try to exploit it.” got some flexibility one way or the other.” Although the 2012 captain won’t be named for some time, — Jim Owczarski

» FIT FOR GOLF The new season is upon us your offseason goals, are still putting the finishing touches on your swing changes or are scrambling to get in some sort of golf shape, the flagsticks are in and the season is under way. But no matter which group you fit into, the following exercises will get you off to a great start for the season. These exercises work on a variety of important components of a safe, efficient golf swing. The components include

WHETHER YOU HAVE ACHIEVED

8 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER

balance, thoracic mobility, hip mobility, upper body flexibility, lower body flexibility, upper and lower body separation, and core stability. Any player can use these exercises to reacclimate the body to the demands of golf and to jump start a regular golf-fitness routine. These also can be used as a quick warm-up before a player’s next practice session or round. (To view illustrations for the exercises, visit www.athletico.com/golfexercises.)

• Backward lunge with twist: Holding a golf club at the hosel and handle out in front at shoulder height, take a large step backward and bend knees to lower the body into a lunge position. Keeping the front leg parallel to the ground, back knee up, and torso upright, rotate the body toward the leg in front. Return to start position and repeat on other side. Do 6-10 repetitions on each side. • Side lunge: Standing with feet well outside of shoulder width apart and hands on top of handle of golf club, gently shift weight side to side in a

W W W. C D G A . O R G

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» ACES IN THE CROWD

Illinois Women’s Open renamed to honor Kosin

Ashley Armstrong

survive, but will have a new title and new trophy for its 16th staging this summer. Last year’s death of founder Phil Kosin left the event’s future in doubt, but Jim McWethy, owner of Mistwood Golf Course in Romeoville, led efforts to keep the state’s premier women’s event alive. It will be known as the Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open and the winner’s trophy will be named in Kosin’s honor. Kosin had been presenting the winner with the Elaine Rosenthal Trophy, in honor of one of Chicago’s first great female players. “We’ve been proud to host the tournament for such a long time and want to continue it in Phil’s memory,” said Dan Phillips, Mistwood’s director of golf. “Without the hours, dollars and heart put into this event by Phil, the event wouldn’t be where it is today.”

Armstrong, 17, won the MidAmerican Junior Golf Tour’s Southern Illinois Shoot-Out at Hickory Ridge Public Golf Center in Carbondale. In the first round, Armstrong made six birdies en route to a 70 and a nine-stroke lead. Despite a 79 in the second round, her 149 total was five strokes clear of her nearest competitor. Armstrong, who will graduate high school in 2011, already has made a verbal commitment to play college golf at the University of Notre Dame.

THE ILLINOIS WOMEN’S OPEN WILL

Flossmoor

Blake Biddle St. Charles

Sponsor exemption for Benjamin AFTER MAKING HIS FIRST

MASTERS

appearance this spring, Brad Benjamin was awarded a sponsor exemption to play in July’s John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. “I’ve gone to the tournament quite a few times,” Benjamin said. “To be able to play in the tournament means a lot. The John Deere is going to be the highlight of my summer.” “The John Deere Classic is thrilled

that Brad Benjamin will be playing in the tournament this year,” said tournament director Brad Benjamin Clair Peterson. Along with the John Deere Classic, Benjamin will be playing in major amateur events this summer with hopes of making the U.S. Walker Cup team before he eventually turns professional.

» FOR CDGA MEMBERS Million Dollar Quartet ticket offer THE CDGA IS OFFERING MEMBERS

an opportunity to see Chicago’s rock ‘n’ roll musical, Million Dollar Quartet, for only $45 through Sept. 1. See the musical inspired by the famed 1956 Sun Records’ recording session that brought together legends Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley.

smooth, controlled motion. Keep the torso tall and feet pointing straight ahead. Hold each stretch for 1-2 seconds and do 6-10 toward each direction. • Drop lunge: Stand with feet together and hands on top of golf club, take one leg and cross it behind the other. Keeping the torso tall, gently bend knees and lower body toward the floor. Hold 12 seconds, return to start position and repeat on other side. Do 6-10 repititions toward each direction. • Split-stance torso rotation: Standing in an address posture with one leg in front

JUNE 2010

The offer is valid on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances, subject to availability and excluding May 30 and June 20. Call 773-935-6100 or visit ticketmaster.com and use the code GOLF when ordering. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers and normal ticketing and service fees may apply.

of the other and 60-90 percent of your weight on the front leg, hold a club lightly across your shoulders. Maintaining your posture, rotate shoulders toward the direction of the leg that is in front, keeping knee and hips relatively still. Repeat 10-15 times toward one direction, then switch foot positions and repeat on other side. Remember to consult your physician before starting an exercise program. For more information on AthletiCo’s Golf Performance Center, call 630-572-9700 or visit www.athleticogolfcenter.com. —Tom Asuma

Biddle, a high school senior at Wheaton Academy, signed a national letter of intent to play at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Biddle has won more than 20 Illinois high school tournaments and finished fifth and 10th, respectively, in the 2008 and 2009 Illinois Opens. This past fall he won five individual titles out of nine events with his high school team and, with a 63, broke a course record at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club that had stood for more than 60 years. He also has 10 top-15 finishes in AJGA events.

Scott Langley University of Illinois Langley, a junior on the men’s golf team at the University of Illinois, was one of 25 players on the Ben Hogan Award “watch list.” He was the lone nominee from Illinois and did not make it through the semifinalist round. The Ben Hogan Award is given annually to a top men’s college golfer, taking into consideration collegiate and amateur competitions during the past 12-month period. Langley has been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week numerous times, was named Second Team All-American and has won three tournaments in his college career.

Grant Whybark Morris, Ill. Whybark, a sophomore at St. Francis University in Joliet, tied for medalist honors to help his squad win the team title at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship. With Whybark’s place in the NAIA Championship secure—places go to members of the winning team and the low individual—he purposely hit his tee shot out of bounds on the first hole of a playoff and made a double bogey, thereby awarding the spot to Seth Doran of Olivet Nazarene. “We all know Seth very well,” Whybark said, “and he not only is a very good player, but a great person as well. He’s a senior and had never been to nationals. Somehow, it just wasn’t in my heart to try to knock him out.” Aces In The Crowd recognizes noteworthy accomplishments by people in the CDGA coverage area. Candidates for Aces In The Crowd may be submitted via e-mail to info@cdga.org or aparker@golfweek.com.

CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER | 9

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In the groove: New rules are being put into place concerning new club designs THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF RECENT

talk about the new groove rule and many golfers are asking what it all means. Here are the basics. The reason stated by the United States Golf Association for introducing new rules was to reduce the amount of spin generated from shots made from the rough in order to increase the importance of driving accuracy. Keep in mind, however, that much of the testing at this stage involves PGA Tour players and those playing at the highest level, whose superior athletic abilities allow them to take advantage of technology in far greater capacities. The new rule adopted as a ‘condition of competition’ states in great detail that groove widths are to be reduced and groove edge sharpness is to be lessened for clubs with 25 degrees of loft or more. Therefore, the rule generally applies to the 5-iron down through the wedges. However, and this is an important thing to remember, for the overwhelming majority of golfers, there’s no need to do anything anytime soon. • The new rule already is in effect for players competing in the U.S. Open, Women’s Open and Senior Open. • No later than 2014, it will apply to all the other events conducted by the USGA.

» CDGA ONLINE An easy way to stay up to date THE CDGA BEGAN UTILIZING THE

social media tools Twitter and Facebook earlier this year as another way to connect and interact with its members. Both sites will be utilized to foster discussion on the game’s hot topics, convey breaking news and present special offers to our followers. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cdgagolf, or sign up to follow the CDGA at www.twitter.com/cdgagolf to follow the association via Twitter.

10 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

2014 also is the latest year for state and regional associations and clubs to comply. Put another way, unless a golfer plays in a USGA championship or an event conducted by a state or regional golf association, there’s no need to do anything until 2024, when it becomes effective at all levels of the game. Club manufacturers have been mandated that all ‘new’ club designs submitted must comply with the new

groove rule as of January 2010, although the USGA states that manufacturers are allowed to continue to produce ‘existing’ models and exhaust their inventories until the end of 2010. This might all seem fairly dry and rather grim, but it is not all bad news. For instance, multiple manufacturers have noted that players are noticing an offsetting side effect of the new grooves. Because the grooves lost some grab, the ball actually slides up the face and launches higher, counteracting some loss of spin. Secondly, it is likely manufacturers will exploit the limits of the roughness of the face allowed by the USGA, which also should help create a bit more bite. To see the latest irons and wedges from all major manufacturers or to get properly fitted for your swing, call Club Champion at 630-654-8887 or visit online at www.clubchampiongolf.com.

» ASK THE DOCS Golfer’s elbow: Is there such a thing? QUESTION: I play quite a bit of golf, and lately my left elbow has been killing me. I’ve heard of tennis elbow, but is there such thing as golfer’s elbow? ANSWER FROM DR. GREGORY NICHOLSON: Yes,

golfer’s elbow is a common overuse injury of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, leading to inflammation and pain around the elbow joint. Unlike tennis elbow, the pain emanates from the elbow joint on the inside of the arm instead of the outside. Symptoms include a stiff feeling in your elbow, possible weakness in your forearm and wrist, and pain running from the inside of the elbow down your forearm while gripping. The best way to treat golfer’s elbow is through behavior modification (i.e., playing less golf). A conservative treatment regimen includes ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons around the elbow joint. Also, you may benefit

from a visit with your golf instructor. A modification of your swing mechanics, enlarging your club grips, or switching to cavity-backed clubs with graphite shafts, can lessen the stress on your elbow. For more painful cases, an orthopaedic physician may prescribe an elbow sleeve or strap as well as a cortisone injection. In more than 90 percent of cases, the condition is self-limiting and improves on its own over time.

Editor’s note: This information is intended only for general public education and is not intended to serve as a substitute for direct medical advice. It should not replace necessary medical consultations with a qualified orthopaedic physician. For more information about Dr. Nicholson and the sports medicine physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, call 877-632-6637 or go online at www.rushortho.com.

W W W. C D G A . O R G

©Evan Schiller

PLAY THE HOST COURSE OF THE 2010 U.S. OPEN

IT’S NEARLY U.S. OPEN SEASON AT PEBBLE BEACH RESORTS. We are honored to welcome back the U.S. Open for the ﬁfth time this June. Everything is in place to host a phenomenal National Championship featuring the game’s ﬁnest players. Now and throughout the summer, we are pleased to offer you the unique opportunity to play Pebble Beach and create some historic moments of your own.

JUNE 14-20, 2010

PEBBLE BEACH GOLFER’S PACKAGE FOR CDGA MEMBERS: • Stay two nights at The Inn at Spanish Bay • Play one round on Pebble Beach Golf Links, host site of the 2010 U.S. Open

CA LL TO D AY (866) 993-6949

• Play one round on The Links at Spanish Bay or Spyglass Hill Golf Course • Receive a $200 Resort Credit

Ask for the CDGA Member Golfer’s Package and mention promo code CDGA2

This is the year to experience

Pebble Beach.

©Joann Dost

• Package valid for stays now through August 31, 2010

The Pebble Beach Golfer’s Package is valid now through August 31, 2010. All golf must be secured at time of booking. Offer is subject to availability. Some blackout dates and restrictions apply. Valid for new bookings only and parties of 8 or fewer rooms. Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach Resorts,The Lone Cypress, The Heritage Logo, and their respective underlying distinctive images are trademarks, service marks,and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved. www.pebblebeach.com. 2010 U.S. Open, is a trademark of the United States Golf Association. Used by permission.

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FEATURED COURSE:

Playoff win gives Mitchell another title

St. Charles Country Club

TODD MITCHELL STARTED A THREE-HOLE

playoff with a birdie and an eagle en route to winning his second Illinois State MidAmateur Championship at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville. Mitchell, in the final group of the day, carded a 1-over 73 in the final round. Tim Sheppard equaled the tournament low, a 4-under 68, to force a playoff. On the first playoff hole, Mitchell sank a 25-foot birdie putt while Sheppard made par. Mitchell then reached the green in two at the par-5, 500-yard second hole, and made a 20-foot eagle putt to gain a three-stroke advantage. Despite dropping the playoff, Sheppard, who carded five birdies, including the final two holes, was happy with his effort. “I didn’t have any hiccups today; I was hitting the ball great,” Sheppard said. Mitchell became the fifth player to win the Mid-Am twice in its 18-year history, joining multiple winners Rich Dukelow (1996, ’98), Michael Stone (1997, 2000),

architect Tom Bendelow, St. Charles Country Club opened in 1926. Since its inception, St. Charles Country Club has a rich history of serving as a host to some of the finest Chicago-area amateur golf events, including multiple USGA championship qualifiers. St. Charles Country Club was the site of the CDGA Better Ball of Pairs #3 this year and will host a U.S. Open sectional qualifier in 2011. The dogleg-right, par-4 first hole at St. Charles is an inviting hole that allows those who play it smart to get their round off to a great start. Measuring 368 yards from the championship tees, driver is not a necessity off the tee. There are two bunkers that guard the right side of the fairway, but a tee shot down the left side of the fairway will funnel to the middle of the fairway, leaving a short iron into the green. The green might be the most challenging aspect of this opening hole. A ridge cuts across the middle of the green, thereby keeping wayward approach shots from reaching the intended hole location. It’s preferable to keep any approach shots as close to the middle of the green as possible to have a chance for a birdie or an easy two-putt par.

Todd Mitchell

Mark Esposito (1999, 2006) and John Ehrgott (2007, ’09). “To win any state championship, you’re beating the best Illinois has to offer in that division,” Mitchell said. Tim Hamm finished third while the 36-hole co-leaders, Ehrgott and Cody Sundberg, were tied for fourth. The top 20 become exempt from qualifying into the 2011 Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship at Flossmoor Country Club.

ILLINOIS STATE PUBLIC LINKS

Ehrgott wins at final hole the 36th and final hole to break a tie with co-firstround leader Dave Ryan and win the Illinois State Public Links Championship at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. Ehrgott finished with a 2-under-par 142, besting Ryan by one stroke. John Wright, who carded the tournament’s best round—a 4-under 68 in round two—finished third, two shots back. Tim Sheppard and Zane Belden rounded out the top five in the state championship for players who do not hold playing privileges at a private golf club.

JOHN EHRGOTT BIRDIED

FEATURED PLAYER

Tim Sheppard, East Peoria • Started playing: Recreationally, when I was 13 years old, but I didn't really begin to play competively until 1996, when I tried to qualify for the State Amateur. I failed that year, but I qualified in 1997 and have every year since. • Favorite moment: A hole-in-one in 1985 on a 285-yard par 4 at Pine Lakes in Washington, Ill. • Players to fill out your dream foursome: Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Fred Couples. • Favorite tournament memory: 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur. It was just a great week. St. Charles Country ClubI played well, made match play and really had a chance to beat Danny Green.

12 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

Tim Sheppard

W W W. C D G A . O R G

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» NEW PRODUCTS What’s new in golf gear

Club Glove. Club Glove, creator of one of the industry’s most popular travel bags for players who care about how their clubs are protected, now has made it a snap to traverse any crowded airport. Its Train Reaction set connects its golf travel bag with up to three pieces of luggage. Its unique weight balancing system allows users to wheel the set with a bare minimum amount of effort, and tight turns are a breeze. The fourpiece set (a travel bag, shoulder bag, carry-on and a rolling duffle) can be ordered in any combination.

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PEOPLE & PLACES

Wilson. Weighing in at just 76

TourEdge. A few years ago, the com-

grams, the half-and-half shaft design fuses the exceptionally low torque and response of steel with the light weight and vibration-dampening effects of graphite. The steel tip section provides bending stability and low torque at the hosel. More than 30 grams are removed from the steel shaft and replaced by a high modulus graphite shaft. Wilson is using the shaft in its DFY iron combo set, a technology-driven iron and hybrid combination option for low- to mid-swing speed players and made available late in 2009. www.wilsongolf.com

pany based in Batavia, Ill., unveiled its fairway woods and a guarantee of “15 yards longer.” Now the XCG-3 fairway wood comes with a claim of an additional five yards. Tour Edge says it is the first fairway wood to incorporate a tungsten sole and titanium body. With more weight below the ball’s center of gravity, the club promotes a quicker launch with less spin. MSRP: $299 with a Fujikura graphite shaft. www.touredge.com

Heavy Wedge. Stephen Boccieri, who created the popular Heavy Putter line, is at it again, this time with the pitching wedge. He has crafted a line of pitching wedges that use similar philosophies of unique weight distribution. Four models are available: 52 degrees, 56 and two with a 60-degree loft. www.boccierigolf.com

www.clubglove.com/User/Train-Reaction.asp

» NEWS & NOTES Weekly Challenge Tour ready for its 20th year CHICAGO-BASED WEEKLY Challenge Golf

Tour is celebrating its 20th season in 2010 with 26 events at courses throughout the area. Founded in 1989, the tour conducts 18-hole net events for both men and women with handicap indexes between 0 and 30. In 2010, the tour will conduct four major events at Balmoral Woods, Kemper Lakes, Prairie Landing and Village Links of Glen Ellyn. Other sites include Dubsdread at Cog Hill, Ravisloe Country Club and Makray Memorial. For more information, visit www.wcgt.com . . . Golf Range Magazine, a publication of the Golf Range Association of America, named the top 100 golf ranges in America for 2010 and the state of Illinois claimed eight of them: All Seasons Golf Learning Center, Normal, Ill.; Cog Hill Learning Center, Lemont, Ill.; Golf Center Des Plaines, Des Plaines, Ill.; Golf Nation, Palatine, Ill.; Links & Tees Golf Facility, Addison, Ill.; The Links at Ireland Grove, Bloomington, Ill.; Skokie Sports Park, Skokie, Ill.; Zigfield Troy Golf, Woodridge, Ill.

JUNE 2010

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 13

Sunshine Through Golf 2010 Camp Calendar The Sunshine Through Golf Foundation camp program brings joy through golf to individuals with special needs. The camps are made possible through partnerships between PGA professionals, clubs, special recreation associations (SRAs), private agencies, park districts and the Sunshine Through Golf Foundation. Listings include the SRA or other sponsoring organization, club, golf professional, dates, times and comment (where applicable). All times are p.m. unless otherwise indicated. For updated camp schedules, visit www.sunshinethroughgolf.org. Aspire Oak Brook Golf Club Trey Van Dyke Wednesdays, May 19-June 16, 4:00-5:00

Champaign-Urbana SRA Stone Creek Golf Club Mickey Finn

Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep. Special Education

Misericordia North Shore Country Club Tim O'Neal and staff

Tuesdays, June 15-July 13, 4:00-5:00

Gwendolyn Brooks School Ronnie Martin

Chicago Special Olympics

TBD

Tuesdays, May 25-June 29 (skip June 1), 4:00-5:00

Diversey Driving Range First Tee of Chicago staff

Heart of Illinois SRA

Misericordia

Kellogg Golf Course Kyle Meger

Bryn Mawr Country Club Terry Russell and staff

Wednesdays, May 26-July 7, 5:00-7:30

Wednesdays, July 7-Aug. 4, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Hope D. Wall School

Northern Illinois SRA

Phillips Park Golf Course First Tee of Aurora staff

Bowes Creek Country Club Mike Lehman

Mondays, April 12-May 17, 2:15-3:15

Thursdays, May 6-June 3, 5:00-6:00 Thursdays, May 6-June 3, 6:00-7:00

Tuesdays, June 29-Aug. 3, 10-11:00 a.m. Tuesdays, June 29-Aug. 3, 11 a.m.-noon

Chicago Special Olympics South Shore Golf Course First Tee of Chicago staff Tuesdays, June 29-Aug. 3, 3:00-4:00

Clearbrook Mt. Prospect Golf Club Brett Barcel and staff

Indiana Special Olympics Creekside Golf Course Nancy Bender

Northern Illinois SRA

Wednesdays, June 9-July 14, 6:00-7:30

Makray Memorial Golf Club Don Habjan and staff

Illinois Valley Industries

Thursdays, July 8-Aug. 12, 4:30-5:30 Thursdays, July 8-Aug. 12, 5:30-6:30

Nettle Creek Country Club Kurt Nolan

Northern Illinois SRA

Thursdays, June 10-July 8, 4:30-5:30 Thursdays, June 10-July 8, 5:30-6:30

Mondays and Tuesdays May 3-June 1, 5:30-6:30 Mondays and Tuesdays May 3-June 1, 6:30-7:30

Randall Oaks Golf Club Steve Gillie and staff

Fox Valley SRA

Little City Foundation

Mondays, June 21-Aug. 2 (skip July 5), 5:00-6:00 Mondays, June 21-Aug. 2 (skip July 5), 6:00-7:00

Inverness Golf Club Scottie Nield

North East DuPage SRA

Tuesdays, Aug. 24-Sept. 21, 5:00-6:00 Thursdays, Aug. 26-Sept. 23, 5:00-6:00

Fox Valley SRA Phillips Park Golf Course Jeff Schmidt and staff

Fox Bend Golf Course Kyle Rich Thursdays, June 10-July 8, 4:30-5:30

Tuesdays, April 27-June 1, 4:00-5:00

Medinah Country Club Mike Scully and staff

Gateway SRA

Lincoln-Way SRA

Mondays, April 19-June 7 (skip May 31), 6:30-7:30

Flagg Creek Golf Course Ronnie Martin

Prestwick Country Club Brandon Adair and staff

Wednesdays, June 30-Aug. 4, 6:00-7:30

Thursdays, Aug. 26-Sept. 23, 5:00-6:00

Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association

Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation

Foss Park Golf Course Patrick Byrne Thursdays, July 6-Aug. 10, 6:30-7:30

14 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

Golf Center of Des Plaines Tom Portera and staff Mondays, Jan. 18-Feb. 22, 6:00-7:00 Mondays, April 5-May 10, 6:00-7:00 Mondays, June 21-Aug. 2 (skip July 5), 6:00-7:00 Mondays, Sept. 27-Nov. 1, 6:00-7:00

North Suburban SRA Winnetka Golf Club Cortney Miller and staff Thursdays, Aug. 12-Sept 9, 4:00-5:00

North Suburban SRA Wilmette Golf Club Dennis Callaghan and staff Thursdays, July 15-Aug. 12, 4:00-5:00

W W W. C D G A . O R G

North West Suburban SRA

River Valley SRA

South Suburban SRA

Twin Lakes Golf Course Twin Lakes golf staff

Alpine Hills Golf Course Dieter Jaehn, Jr.

Coyote Run Golf Course Brian Smith and staff

Tuesdays, June 15-July 13, 4:00-5:00 Fridays, June 18-July 16, 3:30-4:30

Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 10-July 12, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Tuesdays, May 4-June 1, 5:00-6:00 Tuesdays, June 15-Aug. 3, 5:00-6:00

North West Suburban SRA

Rockford Park District

South West Suburban SRA

Palatine Hills Golf Course Dan Hotchkin

Ingersoll Golf Course Lloyd McWilliams

Midlothian Country Club Michael Knights and staff

Wednesdays, June 16-July 14, 5:00-6:00

Tuesdays, April 20-May 18, 6:00-7:00 Mondays, June 14-Aug. 2, 11:00 a.m.-noon

Tuesdays, April 13-May 25, 5:00-6:00

Oak Lawn SRA Stony Creek Golf Course Carol Rhoades Tuesdays, May 4-June 1, 5:00-6:00

School District 54

Special Opportunities Available in Recreation

Fox Run Golf Club John O'Brien

The Links at Ireland Grove Jeff Hunt and staff

Tuesdays, June 8-July 27, 6:00-7:00

Silver Lake Country Club Gregg Tengerstrom

South East Association for Special Parks & Recreation

Thursdays, May 13-June 17, 5:15-6:15 Thursdays, May 13-June 17, 6:30-7:30 Thursdays, Aug. 19-Sept. 23, 5:15-6:15 Thursdays, Aug. 19-Sept. 23, 6:30-7:30

Thursdays, Aug. 26-Sept. 30, 5:30-6:45

Village Greens of Woodridge Brandon Evans and Prince Winbush

SRA of Central Lake County

Thursdays, May 6-June 10, 4:30-5:30 Thursdays, Aug. 12-Sept. 16, 4:30-5:30

Libertyville Golf Complex Jeff Mory

Orland Park SRA

Thursdays, June 24-July 29, 6:00-7:00

Southwest Community Services

Sunshine Series

Odyssey Country Club Marty Schiene

The Sunshine Series, initiated in 2008 with funds by the United States Golf Association and Fortune Brands, provides individuals with special needs with the opportunity to take their golf game to a more advanced level. The program is designed for golfers who have already participated in a Sunshine Through Golf camp. The Sunshine Series provides a forum to better prepare the athlete for the Special Olympics of Illinois state golf competitions by offering more one-on-one training as well as the occasions to play on the golf course. Chicago Special Olympics Marquette Park Golf Course Juan Espejo Mondays, June 28-Aug. 2, 5:00-7:00 Mondays, Aug. 9-Sept. 6, 5:00-7:00 Chicago Special Olympics Robert A. Black Golf Course First Tee of Chicago and staff Tuesdays, June 29-Aug. 3, 4:30-5:30 Kishwaukee SRA Buena Vista Golf Club Tom Zeeh Mondays and Wednesdays, May 12-Sept. 12, 4:30-6:00 Fox Valley SRA St. Charles Country Club James Sutherland and staff Wednesdays, May 19-June 16, 4:00-5:00 Heart of Illinois SRA Kellogg Golf Course Kyle Meger Wednesdays, July 14-Sept. 1, 5:00-7:30 Indiana Special Olympics Creekside Golf Course Nancy Bender Wednesdays, July 21-Aug. 25, 6:00-7:30 Lincoln-Way SRA Sanctuary Golf Course Bob Schulz and Kyle Morris Sundays, May 30-June 27, 5:30-7:00

JUNE 2010

Northern Illinois SRA Randall Oaks Golf Club Steve Gillie and staff Tuesdays, June 22-July 27, 5:00-6:00 Oak Lawn SRA Stony Creek Golf Course Carol Rhoades Tuesdays, July 27-Sept. 7, 5:00-6:00 River Valley SRA Alpine Hills Golf Course Dieter Jaehn, Jr. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Aug. 10-Sept. 11, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Joliet Bolingbrook SRA Mistwood Golf Club Dan Phillips TBA Doyens' and Friends Barlett Hills Golf Course Bob Gavelek TBA Orland Park SRA Silver Lake Country Club Gregg Tengerstrom and staff Thursdays, Aug.26-Sept. 30, 5:30-6:45 Western DuPage SRA Arrowhead Golf Club Bruce Stoller and staff TBA

TBD

Tri-County SRA Cog Hill Golf & Country Club Jeff Rimsnider Saturdays, June 19-July 31 (skip July 3), 3:30-4:30

Warren SRA Libertyville Golf Complex Ron Klein Wednesdays, April 7-June 2, 4:00-5:00 Wednesdays, June 16-Aug. 4, 4:00-5:00

Western DuPage SRA White Eagle Golf Club Brian Soczka and staff Wednesdays, May 5-June 2, 4:00-5:00

Western DuPage SRA Glen Oak Country Club Danny Mulhearn and staff Wednesdays, May 5-June 2, 5:00-6:00

Western DuPage SRA Cantigny Golf Emily Barkoozis Wednesdays, May 5-June 2, 5:30-6:30

Western Suburban SRA Oak Park Country Club Frank Bruno Thursdays, May 13-June 10, 6:00-7:00

Western Suburban SRA White Pines Golf Course Chuck Lynch Thursdays, June 24-Aug. 29, 7:00-8:00

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 15

PHOTOS COURTESY MEDINAH C.C./NICK NOVELLI

The new 15th at Medinah has been created to present great risk and reward.

With two years to go before the Ryder Cup, Medinah’s No. 3 Course unveils a new 15th hole and other design changes

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t’s a common practice that tour professionals keep and reuse their well-marked yardage books. But for those two dozen players who are selected to either of the 2012 Ryder Cup teams, their old reference guides from Medinah Country Club’s No. 3 Course will have a somewhat limited value. Over the course of the offseason and last autumn, changes were made to Medinah’s famed No. 3 Course,

W W W. C D G A . O R G

The former version of the 15th

previously the site of three U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships. Changes were made to all 18 greens — they were either rebuilt or regrassed — but the most noticeable alteration took place at the 15th hole. The hole is now about 100 yards shorter, introducing the prospect of making it a driveable par 4, and a two-acre lake on the right side of the fairway and green has been added. The new hole was designed by acclaimed golf course architect Rees Jones. The redesign at the 15th took place concurrently with a major greens renovation project in which 11 of Course No. 3’s original 18 greens and its main putting green were rebuilt to United States Golf Association specifications. The other seven greens, which had been rebuilt to USGA standards in 2002, were regrassed. “We are thrilled with the changes to the 15th hole and with the completion of the greens renovation project,” said Medinah club president Joe Ebner. “The membership has embraced and supported these course improvements in order to keep Medinah among the world’s elite championship golf courses. The feedback we have received from our members has been extremely positive. Everyone is eager to get out and play the course.” Jones, who has overseen all architectural design aspects of Medinah’s three golf courses since 2000, said he long had envisioned the change to No. 15. “I felt the 15th was a hole where the risk-reward challenge could be strengthened,” Jones said. “I felt a pond adjacent to the 15th green would give it plenty [of the risk-reward element], in a fashion similar to the 12th hole. It’s now an important part of the round and extends one of the great finishing tests in golf.” The new forward tee at the 15th allows the hole to be set 18 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

up as short as 280 yards. The original tee area, which measures 392 yards from the championship markers and 367 from the regular men’s tees, will be preserved to provide the club with flexibility in course setup. By moving the 15th green to the left, Jones also made way for the creation of a new back tee for the par-4 16th. With the new tee on 16, the tree-lined dogleg left now has been extended to 500 yards from the championship tees, from 485. Moving the tee back and shifting the landing area to the right will bring the dogleg back into play, Jones said. The course, which closed for construction in mid-August 2009, is expected to reopen June 18. Curtis Tyrrell, Medinah’s director of golf course operations, supervised the implementation of Jones’s plans. A strong advocate of the greens renovation project, Tyrrell said having all 18 greens conform to USGA standards will provide the grounds crew with more control over moisture levels. This, he said, will translate to increased consistency of the putting surfaces. “I’m excited that every green is the same now,” Tyrrell said. “The members will be able to enjoy a uniform standard of turf offering a consistent appearance and playability.” Tyrrell said Jones redesigned the contours of all 11 newly rebuilt greens with the exception of No. 5. He said Jones “utilized existing surround contours to create rolls and valleys” to the new greens in order to give them more movement. The other six greens were stripped, fumigated, and replanted with minor contour changes. No. 15 received a new green. The 11 greens had not been altered at their bases since the course opened in 1925, he said. Ebner said club leaders determined this was the membership’s last opportunity to undertake the projects prior to the 2012 Ryder Cup. The most recent renovation is the latest in a series of improvements. Other improvements include: • Construction of a new 12-acre, state-of-the-art short game practice area adjacent to the club’s newly reconfigured and improved driving range; • In the fall of 2008, Medinah replaced 88,000 square feet of tan-colored sand in all 74 bunkers on its No. 3 Course with white Tour Signature Sand in order to make the bunkers more playable and more visually appealing. W W W. C D G A . O R G

FACILITY FOCUS

Village Greens of Woodridge

SOCIAL

With a ton of ‘regulars’ and weekly leagues galore, Village Greens of Woodridge offers a long list of reasons why players keep coming back By Tim Cronin

t first glance, Village Greens of Woodridge looks like almost every other municipal course in Chicago’s suburbs. There’s a big parking lot, stuffed with cars. A beer truck is just pulling away. Golfers are buzzing about on carts. But open the door to the golf shop and golfers discover a different world— a world where just about everybody knows everybody else. “We have our own private club here,” said Bill Dooley, a Village Greens

NETWORK regular for more than 30 years. “We just don’t know it.” Dooley is not alone in his assessment. With men’s and women’s clubs and 23 weekly leagues, Village Greens of Woodridge is like “Cheers,” the old TV saloon, only with a golf course attached. “It’s fun to know everybody’s name and face,” said head professional Brandon Evans. Shortly after joining the staff a dozen years ago, Evans gave himself another title: director of fun and entertainment. “I still haven’t had a bad day here,” Evans said. That’s understandable. Hang around Evans for 15 minutes and about that many people come by and say hello and ask how the season is going or about the start of another season.

While there’s always room for someone new, Evans counts between 500 and 700 regulars, a few of whom have been playing the course since it opened in 1959, surrounded by cornfields. “This was in the country,” said Bob Zavala, a founding member of the men’s club. “Back then, 75th Street was a blacktop road and that was it. And it was Maplecrest Lake Country Club.” Originally owned by John Henry, who also owned the older Maplecrest course near La Grange, the Robert Bruce Harris design hasn’t changed much over the years. Henry sold the course to the village of Woodridge in 1973—that’s when the name changed—and the Woodridge Park District took over in 1995. As a result, the fortunes of the course, which had been getting tired, began to look up. At 6,638 yards from the tips, the course isn’t a brute, and that’s fine with everybody. There are only about 40 bunkers, the characteristic big ovals that Harris fancied. Two forced carries aren’t that long from the middle tees and the course isn’t going to beat up a

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W W W. C D G A . O R G

PHOTOS BY FRANK POLICH

The second hole at Village Greens of Woodridge.

JUNE 2010

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 21

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: SIGNATURE HOLE: The 536-yard, par-5 18th, a dogleg left with an uphill second shot. From the tips, the tee shot has to clear the water, a carry of about 225 yards, and players should take care not to catch a gathering bunker at the left edge of the fairway. The second shot is to a plateau green with more pin placements than a voodoo doll.

WHERE A BOGEY GOLFER CAN MAKE BIRDIE: The 483-yard, par-5 second, which generally has a helping wind, features an elevated tee box. You can really launch one here, says head professional Brandon Evans. And putts seem to track to the hole. WHERE A SCRATCH PLAYER FIGHTS FOR PAR: The 411-yard, par 4 14th, which plays back into the prevailing wind, has out-ofbounds on the left and a lake biting into the landing area on the right. The tee shot is a little intimidating, and it s a tough green, Evans said. A slight ridge also divides the green into distinct halves, so placing the approach on the correct half is a great advantage. EXTRA BALL INDEX (on a 1-to-10 scale): 4. There s water on eight holes but forced carries only on the 11th and 18th tees. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: With greens that have been top-dressed and mowed for a half-century, subtle breaks have appeared that aren t apparent to newcomers. Evans advises to keep approaches on the low side of the hole whenever possible. Our regulars know where those breaks are, he said. BIRDIES EVERYWHERE: There s often a sizable population of Canadian geese on the property. That means watching where you walk.

20-handicapper. What the course offers is a good time. And with almost 44,000 rounds played last year, people take advantage. “We don’t want to be the tough 18-hole championship course,” Evans said. “We want our players to find value here, to have fun.” Evans has a little George S. May in him. He’s a promoter and has come up with, or enhanced, signature Village Greens tournaments, including 22 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

The 18th hole at Village Greens of Woodridge

FACTS AND FIGURES: ADDRESS:

1575 W. 75th St. Woodridge, IL 60517

PHONE:

630-985-3610

WEB SITE:

www.villagegreensgolf.com GREEN FEE: $40-$50 prime time, lower at twilight CDGA TOURNAMENT: Perennial host of Illinois State Mid-Amateur qualifier

“Rigney’s Revenge,” the end-of-season tournament where superintendent Bob Rigney—a member of the men’s club, incidentally—sets up the course as hard as he can. There also is an annual oneday transformation of the course into an 18-hole par-3 layout, with tees placed in the most unusual spots to create a short course unlike any other. Then there’s the “Divorce Open,” where couples play with each other on the front nine and against each other on the back nine. Evans reports no actual divorces, at least during his tenure. Evans and his staff also have tried to grow the game. This year’s junior golf initiative, donating free range time to the first 1,000 people to sign up to give a child a lesson, found 800 of the slots spoken for in the first month. “We’ve got Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops coming,” Evans said. “All these adults have committed to giving kids a lesson.”

What there isn’t at Village Greens, at least not any longer, is Mary. Or, the ghost of Mary. She left when the original clubhouse, of which the original farmhouse where Mary and her husband lived long ago, was demolished. “The living quarters were still intact,” said Keith Frankland, a longtime regular and a CDGA director. “Mary, for whatever reason, stuck around. People would go in in the morning, after the clubhouse was locked up for the night, and chairs and tables would be rearranged, pots and pans moved. Cards would be on the table. She played solitaire. And the lights would be on. All this would be done with the police on site.” Dooley lives in an apartment complex off the fifth tee. He could see the old clubhouse. “I knew nobody was there, and I’d watch the lights go on and off,” Dooley said. “I knew people who got tapped on the shoulder—and there was nobody there.” Zavala doesn’t buy the stories of Mary haunting the clubhouse, and never has. “Baloney!” he barks. True or not, the old clubhouse has been gone for more than a decade, and if Mary isn’t around, the stories about her are. And aren’t good stories what a good club is all about? Tim Cronin is the golf writer for the Southtown Star. W W W. C D G A . O R G

JUNE 2010

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 23

SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING A When Knollwood Club decided its golf course was in need of work, it went to the one source qualified to lead the restoration

24 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

NEW By Jim Owczarski

t the turn of the century, longtime Knollwood Club superintendent Randy Whaler took a call from a golf course architect who was about to head over to Europe to study the work of early 20th century British design partners Harry Colt and Hugh Alison. The architect had learned that Knollwood, opened in 1924, was an Alison design and wanted some photos to study as he immersed himself in Colt & Alison. Whaler obliged, but after a few years, he lost touch with the architect. Those things happen, of course, but Whaler never truly forgot about those conversations theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d had about the course. About five years ago, when the membership at Knollwood decided the course needed a restoration and its W W W. C D G A . O R G

The sixth hole at Knollwood Club

search committee began making a list of possible architects, Whaler remembered the man who years earlier had expressed interest in the design—Keith Foster. The rest, as they say, is history. This summer marks a new beginning for the venerable Lake Forest club, the site of the 1956 U.S. Amateur, 1982 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 1986 PGA International Cup. “All we had to do was polish up this precious, precious wonderful scale oil painting and I just needed to kind of reframe it a little bit,” Foster said of the two-phase project. “There are some restoration projects where you have to rework the whole thing to get it back. Knollwood was very different because really, Knollwood hadn’t been messed up or overdone or overcooked over the years.” It wasn’t just the Alison name that JUNE 2010

Those were what needed Foster’s reframing. The club knew where the original shoulders of the greens were, but the Great Depression and World War II saw a loss of money and manpower, so over time they weren’t mowed to the same dimensions. Now, 25,000 square feet later, it’s back to the future. “We took them to Alison’s original intent,” Whaler said. “It’s neat to see these greens now, where we’ve added all these new contours and rolls and size to them.” To do so, the club took a new-school approach to the restoration. The club cored down into the green to determine the exact mix of soil, sand, decayFoster ing roots and mowed clippings

drew in Foster; it was the type of design. Spread over 250 acres, Knollwood is a massive golf course and Alison took full advantage during his initial design process. Big bunkers buffeted big greens, which looked down to flat tee boxes. But over the decades, those greens lost some of their magnitude. The bunkers bore the brunt of Chicago’s rain and winter.

“All we had to do was polish

up this precious, precious wonderful scale oil painting and I just needed to kind of reframe it a little bit.” — Keith

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 25

ONLY FINAL DETAILS STILL TO BE DONE AT FLOSSMOOR “(They) are phenomenal,” he said. “We can get rid of the water much Country Club is off and running quicker than we were ever able to. It following the completion of Ray makes a huge difference in being Hearn’s restoration just over a able to get back out and play the golf year ago. “With the spring being so nice and course once we’ve had a heavy rain and obviously helps me in my warm, the course bloomed earlier maintenance areas.” than normal and with a year of The overall work has been heavily maturity, it looks great,” said head commended not only by current and professional Trey Robbins. prospective members—Robbins says Superintendent Bob Lively said membership has increased some final details need a finishing “significantly”—but by national flourish, like the practice range and chipping area, but “the golf course is organizations as well. 100 percent complete now.” Golf magazine awarded Flossmoor Lively and his staff also seeded its “Renovation of the year” and it will the new seven acres of prairie be the site of the Women’s State added to the course in April, which Amateur in June, the Women’s Western he says will make a difference on Golf Association Junior in 2011, the holes 2, 3, 4 and 5. Illinois State Mid-Amateur in 2011, 2012 And while the spring weather and 2013 and the Western Golf has been favorable, Lively is happy Association’s Western Junior in 2014. with the way the drainage upgrades “There has been a pretty good have taken and he anticipates a influx of amateur tournaments better level of playability following coming to Flossmoor as it always has those instances when heavy rains over the years,” Robbins said. do come. —Jim Owczarski ON CHICAGO’S SOUTHSIDE, FLOSSMOOR

within the complex. That sample was sent to New York to break it down and then a Canadian company recommended the right substances to re-create 30-plus years of sand and humus. Once the new mix was created, it was then sent to yet another lab to find out the chemical properties and nutrients needed. Only then was Toronto-based TDI 26 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

Flossmoor Country Club’s 18th hole (top) and the 11th.

Construction allowed to expand the greens with the exact same sod as the original greens. “The expansion blended perfectly with our existing greens, and within two weeks we had two inches of roots and were able to start working on them as far as rolling, mowing and top dressing,” Whaler said. “Now we find coming out of winter they’re in excellent condition.”

Foster, who previously had directed acclaimed renovations at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., and Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, then reshaped and repositioned some bunkers with an eye toward playability and drainage. Whaler says no bunker will have water run into it because of a synthetic liner system and the use of Pro/Angle sand, which W W W. C D G A . O R G

can hold up to 15 inches of rain per hour. And, to the delight of players, it eliminates the fried-egg lie. “It firms up, it fits together,” Whaler said. “Our theory was, it’s easier to soften firm sand than it is to firm soft sand. It’s Augusta sand. This is the white sand (and) makes all the features pop.” The project has not only received rave reviews in-house, but the club’s project manager, John Gregorio, said the club’s use of new technologies was appealing to others. “Because word got out on the amount of detail that went into it, we’ve had golf professionals and superintendents from around Chicago (visit),” Gregorio said. “We had a lot of people come during the work to see (it) because people haven’t seen some of the things we were doing. It came out really, really well and it looks sensational.” An ancillary benefit, of course, to the private club is an increased interest

JUNE 2010

in membership. “Frankly, the admissions is busy,” Gregorio said. “The word’s out.” Other elements were changed as well, including some tree removal and some reshaping of the fairways. Some were lifted, narrowed and rerouted to mesh with the repositioned bunkers. In all, Whaler says the course is now without 30 acres of fairway, but that doesn’t take away from the unique character Knollwood possesses. “I tend to look at Knollwood as a masculine site—it’s just like a big man,” Foster said. “Knollwood has some extremely wonderful, towering trees, and Alison kept the tees low and built these huge greens that were raised and elevated to create this wonderful definition and scale. “And the bunkers were very big in terms of scale,” he added. “So that combination was very, very unique to Knollwood. I’ve worked on Alison greens and bunkers before, but

never to this scale.” This is the first major work to be done on the course since Roger Packard did some restorations in 1975, but the greens had essentially been untouched since the 1920s. The routing, bunkering and the green complexes were finished last year and Whaler says the tee boxes and practice area will be restored in September. The club is serving as a co-host of the 2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur with Conway Farms. Gregorio says the United States and Western golf associations are interested in bringing more national championships to Knollwood. “Knollwood has always been in the top 10 in Illinois,” Whaler said. “We’ll put Knollwood right in the tops in the Chicago area when we’re complete with this project.” Jim Owczarski is a sports writer for the Beacon News in Aurora.

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 27

DESTINATION

Frankenmuth, Mich.

REASONS TO

celebrate In and around the small Michigan town of Frankenmuth, where Christmas is a year-round industry, the choices for golf make it a summer wonderland

28 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

W W W. C D G A . O R G

Eagle Eye is the site of the Michigan PGA Championship.

By Len Ziehm

JUNE 2010

DAY ONE

The most interesting attraction (in addition to the golf) is Bronner’s

Christmas Wonderland. Here, Christmas is celebrated year-round in some 70 languages with more than 800 animated figures, 500 styled nativity sets and 260 fully decorated Christmas trees. It’s the world’s largest Christmas story, and well worth the visit, even when Christmas itself is months away. WEB: www.bronners.com Frankenmuth’s best course is The Fortress, designed by the Chicago-based architect Dick Nugent. The green fee is generally in the $70 range, a bargain when compared to the fees at some courses in the region of the same

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 29

PHOTO CREDIT

t’s no secret Michigan is a great state for golf, even with a season that’s shorter than Chicago’s. Michigan has some 1,000 courses and more than 850 are open to the public. Nine are on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses list, and only Florida and California have more courses. While finding good courses in Michigan is no problem, locating supplemental forms of entertainment for vacation time isn’t always as easy. The best bet might be in Frankenmuth,

a charming community located off Interstate 75 between Flint and Saginaw in an area known as the Michigan Thumb. It’s about a five-hour drive from Chicago, while Flint, Saginaw, Lansing and Detroit are all within an hour’s driving distance with lots of golf options, Frankenmuth is great for an overall getaway because it’s so different. Rich in history (the town of 4,900 residents dates to 1845), it has an overall German theme.

FRANKENMUTH

play the

best

Flint

Grand Rapids

in illinois Hastings

Lansing

196

Kalamazoo Jackson Homer

CHICAGO Michigan City 94 394

Cassopolic

94 80

Gary

Goshen Dunlap

Valparaiso

Three Rivers

Hillsdale

LaGrange Bryan

475

Knox dubsdread 14th hole

quality. This layout opened in 1992 and is within walking distance of Frankenmuthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown area. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique to the area courses in that it has 75 bunkers, huge greens and fescuecovered mounds. While this course can be brutal to players unable to drive it straight, its tee placements make it suitable for all types of golfers. WEB: www.zehnders.com

pine meadow 14th hole

call TODAY

to book your tee time.

Another good option is Shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hollow, in Clarkston, the best of the nearby facilities. It has three nine-hole layouts, all of them designed in 2003 by Arthur Hills, who did Bolingbrook Golf Club in Bolingbrook, Ill. The second and third form a layout that was listed among the 2009 Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest. This is a beautiful layout with a nice, rolling feel. WEB: www.shepherdshollow.com

designed by Chris Lutzke in collaboration with Pete Dye. It has plenty of risk/reward holes and presents a fun challenge. Adjoining Eagle Eye, Hawk Hollow has 27 holes designed by Jerry Matthews. Particularly noteworthy is its par-54 bentgrass putting course. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth a visit, even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play the Eagle Eye or Hawk Hollow 18-holers. WEB: www.hawkhollow.com Frankenmuth is more than one big, unique attraction. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a family place, with three museums, a winery, clock shops, horse and carriage rides, riverboat tours and two miles of specialty shops. Two huge restaurants, Zehnderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn, are landmarks. Chicken dinners are the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specialty, and Zehnderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, which opened in 1929, is the best spot for them. With seating for

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PHOTO COURTESY THE CAPTAINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CLUB AT WOODFIELD

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The locals seem to like Eagle Eye and Hawk Hollow, which, because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re across the street from each other in the town of Bath, make it convenient for those yearning to play 36. Eagle Eye, the site of the Michigan PGA Championship, is widely acclaimed as one of Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best courses. It was W W W. C D G A . O R G

JUNE 2010

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 31

PHOTO COURTESY THE FORTRESS

The 13th hole at The Fortress

1,500, it’s America’s largest family restaurant. It’s not expensive, and its retail bakery is outstanding. WEB: www.zehnders.com DAY THREE

At St. Lorenz Church, the rich German history of this community is underscored. This Evangelical Lutheran church was founded in 1845 and guided and self-guided tours are available. The stain-glass windows tell the story of the church itself. WEB: www.stlorenz.org Nearby courses come in all price ranges and degrees of difficulty, and one with a little bite is The Captain’s Club at Woodfield, designed by longtime PGA Tour standout Raymond Floyd. It’s located in Grand Blanc with green fees usually ranging between $22-$39. WEB: www.captainsclubatwoodfield.com A second good option, especially for players looking for a course that won’t drain their wallet, is The Timbers, on the outskirts of Frankenmuth, in Tuscola. This also is a good walking course. An interesting footnote about this layout: It’s one of the few courses in the world designed by a woman, Lorrie Violla. The course opened in 1996. WEB: www.timbersgolfclub.com Len Ziehm covers golf for the Chicago Sun-Times. 32 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

W W W. C D G A . O R G

JUNE 2010

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Looking to see how his game compared with the best in the world, Brad Benjamin received a valuable tutorial at the Masters By Rich Skyzinski

f course Brad Benjamin had a few goals in mind for his first Masters. He wanted to make the cut and receive the coveted piece of crystal for being the low amateur of the six that were entered, but just as important and far beyond any keepsake, the 23-year-old from Rockford had hoped the opportunity would serve as a measuring stick for an important decision he faces later in the year. With a minimum of two tournament days and a preceding week of practice rounds with touring professionals, Benjamin wanted to use the Masters to see how his abilities matched up with those already playing at the game’s highest level. “I want to see how much longer they are,” Benjamin said on the eve of his opening round, “and I want to see how much better their short games are.” Two days later, Benjamin, in the Masters as the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, had his mixed bag of results. Though he fell three strokes short of qualifying for the weekend following scores of 73-77, six over par, Benjamin left Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club with a week of priceless memories and a thorough practice check list for the rest of 2010. His length was comparable to that of his fellow competitors in the first two rounds, Scott Verplank and two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, but too many wayward shots into the pine straw limited the number of decent scoring opportunities. “After playing this course for two days under tournament pressure, I can see why a guy like (Phil) Mickelson, or even (Tiger) Woods . . . succeeds out here,” he said. “You have to beat up the par 5s. That’s really your only opportunity because the par 4s and 3s are so difficult. Having a good short game around here really is everything. It wasn’t like I felt overly optimistic about my short game coming into the week. “But what I take from the week is that I learned more shots this week than I probably have my whole life. You have to be so creative around the greens and you can almost hit all 14 clubs in your bag around the greens. There’s no right or wrong club; it’s a matter of getting up there and knowing what you want to do with it.” Benjamin did enjoy moments of brilliance in his 36 holes of competition. He made a par 3 at the sixth hole of his first round with a

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sensational up-and-down from the pine straw, what he called “in the top 10 best saves of my life.” Later that afternoon he holed a 20-foot putt for a terrific par 4 at the 14th after a poor drive into the trees. In Round 2 he saved par at the first hole with a sensational pitch to an inch, then at the par-5 second he made an easy birdie with a bump-and-run approach to a foot. After rolling in an 18-foot birdie putt at the 13th hole of his second round, Benjamin was at 3 over par and within striking distance of the 2-over-par number he believed would make the cut.

AMATEURS AT THE 2010 MASTERS Here are the results of the six amateurs at the 74th Masters: POS. PLAYER

QUALIFICATION

T36 Matteo Manassero

2009 British Amateur champion

SCORES

76 73 72 292

MC Nathan Smith

Won 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur

149

MC Brad Benjamin

Won 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links

150

MC Byeong-Hun An

2009 U.S. Amateur champion

155

MC Chang-Won Han

2009 Asian Amateur winner

155

MC Ben Martin

Runner-up at 2009 U.S. Amateur

155

But the par-5 15th proved to be his undoing. After a good drive in the fairway, Benjamin was indecisive on where to lay up. His second shot found the right rough, where overhanging tree limbs interferred with his opportunity to play an unimpeded approach. He was forced to play his third shot lower than he would have wanted and hit it over the green, from where he pitched 12 feet past the hole and then missed his par putt. “I just put myself in a bad position hitting into the green from there,” he said. “If I had to go back and hit one shot over again, that second shot at 15 would be it.” The bottom line was that he simply wasn’t accurate enough. He found eight of 14 fairways on each day and in Round 2 he hit just six greens in regulation and only two after the eighth hole. “Just didn’t give myself enough chances,” he lamented. Benjamin was noncommital about his immediate future. “I don’t have anything scheduled for right now,” he said. “I plan on playing a bunch of amateur events and see where it takes me. I just don’t want to go the mini-tour route; I want to make sure I start (a potential professional career) at Q-School. I just feel like the mini-tours are too much travel for not enough money. I feel I can gain enough experience playing major amateur tournaments around the country as I could on minitours. I’m also exempt into sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open, and that’s another reason to stay amateur.” W W W. C D G A . O R G

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/DAVID J. PHILLIP

JUNE 2010

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 35

TEEING OFF WITH

Pat Foley

Golf and his winter wonderland The weather during hockey season can be downright brutal, but nevertheless, Pat Foley often has golf on his agenda By Len Ziehm

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broadcasts of the Owls’ games and recommended him for similar duty with the Hawks. For most of his career, his play-by-play calls of the Hawks’ games were heard on both television and radio, and he became known as one of the best in the NHL. Golf, though was always part of his lifestyle—especially during the 16 seasons he worked with Dale Tallon. Tallon was Foley’s broadcasting analyst and frequent golf partner before moving into the Hawks’ front office. Though he played 10 seasons in the NHL, Tallon was even more into golf than Foley was. He was a Canadian Junior champion and doubled for a time as a Chicago club professional during the summer months.

W W W. C D G A . O R G

(RIGHT) BUZZ ORR/CDGA, (LEFT) COURTESY CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

olf certainly isn’t the sport you would normally associate with Pat Foley. That would be hockey. Foley has been a most-popular play-by-play announcer for the Blackhawks for 27 seasons, and he called the games for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League for a couple of seasons in between his long stint with the Hawks. Hockey’s not Foley’s only game, though. When the Hawks are in their offseason, and even sometimes when they’re on road trips, you can find Foley on a golf course. “I’m really lucky,” said Foley, “from growing up here and the job I have, I’ve really made good friendships in golf. I might be fun to play with.” No doubt he is that. Foley’s a funloving guy, and golf is all about fun. Foley didn’t have an immediate attraction to the game while growing up in Chicago’s northern suburbs, where he attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette before earning a degree in telecommunication from Michigan State University. “As a kid, I wasn’t into it,” said Foley. “I really liked basketball and played baseball and the other sports. But once I started playing golf, I really fell in love with it.” That came in his first job after college, when he was calling games for the Grand Rapids Owls in the nowdefunct International Hockey League. “It was in the late 1970s, and all the hockey players in Grand Rapids played golf,” said Foley. “The way the timing (of hockey) goes, you have a lot of time in the summer. I’d play golf all day and softball at night.” Michael Wirtz, the late Hawks’ executive vice president, heard Foley’s

“I had options available because Dale was a pro and wanted to tap into every well-known course he could,” said Foley. “He dragged me along with him. We’d play five or six times a season, all because of him with his contacts.” After playing at courses all over the Chicago area, Foley became a member at The Glen Club even before the Tom Fazio-designed layout in Glenview opened. “Before that, I was America’s guest,” said Foley, “but when I heard what Fazio was doing and because Josh Lesnik (of Kemper Golf Management, which operates The Glen Club) was a good friend, I joined site unseen. Because of my experiences with Dale, I’m a big Fazio fan.” Tallon is a member at Conway Farms in Lake Forest, another Fazio design. From an ability perspective, Foley describes himself as “about a 7 (handicap).” “If I’m having a good day I’ll break 80,” he said, “but I lead the league in 81s. I’m usually in the low 80s.” But there was at least one especially good day on the course. “Long, long ago in Palm Springs I played a course from the up tees. It was probably 6,200 yards and I was one under,” said Foley. “Otherwise, I was never that close to par.” While he’s never worked with an instructor for any extended period of time, Foley says his game evolved after Tallon took him to Hank Haney’s Ranch in suburban Dallas about 10 years ago. An instructor there made “a couple little tweaks” in his swing and, presto! “It was incredible,” remembered Foley. “I was a left-to-right player my entire life and this guy moves me around a few inches and suddenly I’m right-to-left. I was shocked. The changes seemed so minute.” Foley endured this last hockey season recovering from surgery on both knees, but the timing of the surgery wasn’t coincidental. He wanted to be ready when golf season rolled around in Chicago again.

PHOTO CREDIT

Feels like

HOME After a lengthy search last fall to find a new commissioner, the LPGA selected Michael Whan, who spent most of his professional career in the golf and marketing industries. Whan has some Chicago roots; he spent a part of his youth in Naperville, where he and his family lived before they moved to Cincinnati.

Question: Tell us about your connection to the Chicago area and your introduction to golf as a youngster. Michael Whan: We moved to Naperville when I was 8. Like a lot of Chicagoans, we used to go to Wisconsin for part of the summer. My dad used to rent the same cabin every year at Lake Delvin, I think it was, and across the street was a golf course. It was one of those courses that gets a lot of use in the summer but no play in the spring or fall. So it was a great place to take your 9-year-old son. I had clubs—I had been to the driving range before—but I’d never been given the opportunity to play a real golf course. My father was an avid player; still is. I remember what my dad told me on the first tee, “I’m going to teach you a game that will teach you more about life than I can.” And I remember thinking, how can that be possible? This guy’s taught me everything. I remember the exact afternoon we started playing. We lived about 10 miles from a nice course out in Naperville, Springbrook, out on 75th (Street). My buddy and I used to strap our bags on our backs and we’d take our 10-speed bicycles and we’d ride out there in the summer, in the morning. And we had a good deal out there; if you paid something like $15, you could play all day. And we’d play until the Cubs game started. That was our deal. The leadoff batter was at 1:15, so we’d play until 1:15 and then go into the clubhouse and watch the Cubs game. That was my summer as a 10-year-old.

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TRACY WILCOX/GOLFWEEK

Q: Did you show some promise at the game? MW: I don’t remember whether I had any talent for the game or not. I’ve always been a pretty good athlete, so sports never came easy to me, but they’ve never been extremely challenging. I remember enjoying the game and I remember the rules: couldn’t walk where my dad’s putting line was. One time I got mad and yelled something out loud—and, of course, I would never swear in front of my dad—but I wasn’t allowed to play the rest of the hole. I had to take the rest of the hole off because you

W W W. C D G A . O R G

JUNE 2010

C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 39

just didn’t do that on a golf course. So I remember thinking early on, there’s a lot of rules, and like a lot of kids, you don’t want to hear about rules, but when my dad wasn’t around, I would teach my friends the rules, like I was some kind of big shot. But the golf course was a place you always could talk to your family. My dad and I had the birds and the bees discussion on a golf course; we talked about where I was going to go to college on a golf course; we talked about my father’s mother dying on a golf course. All the things that I remember were important in life, those conversations came on a golf course. Q: How much did your father want to pass along to you his love of the game? MW: I think he did in just about every sport. My dad was my Little League coach. I was mainly a football player when I got older and I probably surpassed his knowledge and ability, but he always stayed close to it. I think golf was the game he knew I could and would play for life. . . . I remember him saying to me, “If you love competition, it never has to stop.” And that’s why he played, because he loved competition. He never wanted to quit competing. Q: What was your one summer like when you worked as a caddie? MW: It was at Cress Creek Country Club in Naperville. I was 13 or 14. I rode my

bike to the course most days and it was a pretty healthy ride. I really didn’t enjoy caddieing because I wanted to play golf more than I wanted to watch someone else. I used to laugh at my dad, who would say, “You can’t tell the size of the tip from the player you’re playing with.” He was right. Some of the grouchiest members were some of the best tippers. And some of the guys you loved spending four hours with didn’t tip at all. I remember thinking, no matter how well I caddied, it never seemed to reflect tip-wise, and I was pretty into it as a kid. I wanted a guy to say, “That was a great caddie.” Q: How did you get the idea to get a summer job as a caddie? Was it because a lot of your friends were also doing it? MW: I became friends with some of the other caddies. We’d do chipping contests and bunker contests and I think to this day, I’m pretty good out of the sand because of that summer. If it looked like rain and all the members went home, everybody would take out their tip money and head for the practice green. So, no, I didn’t have any close friends when I got there. Typical mom and dad stuff, they thought it was important to learn the rules, learn how to act around men and women of a club. It was part of the maturing process. Q: Were there any members or players that you remember for any particular reason? MW: One guy I remember and I don’t

A president out West MICHAEL WHAN ISN’T THE ONLY FORMER NORTHERN

Illinoisan to have recently assumed the top spot of a topflight golf organization. In January, Aurora’s Jay Anderson, 52, was elected to a one-year term as president of the Arizona Golf Association. Anderson’s attraction to golf is tied to his lifelong success with the game. He remembers watching Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino on television and saying to himself, “I want to try that.” His parents did not play, but they bought him three or four clubs, which he took to practice at Phillips Park in Aurora. He was a member of his East Aurora High School golf team when he broke par for the first time at Aurora Country Club, where he worked for several years, first as a caddie, then as a member of the grounds crew and, when 40 | C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R

know why . . . a left-handed guy, smoked all the time, swore all the time and was a huge tipper. I remember thinking, what a weird dichotomy. He wasn’t very friendly; I don’t even know if any of the other members liked him. He was just one of those guys who was miserable the entire 18 holes. You’d think to yourself before you started, this guy isn’t a very good golfer and he’s so miserable, there’s no way he’d tip me. Then I’d find myself working hard to make sure I could carry his bag. He wasn’t very good, spent a lot of time looking for his ball, but he tipped well, and I found out that if you were going to be there for five hours, at least it was worth it. Q: Then when you were a little older, you worked on a grounds crew at a course. What was that like? MW: When we moved to Cincinnati— this is a non-Chicago story—I was a sophomore in high school, and my sophomore, junior and senior years I worked at a course. We ended up moving about half a mile from a really nice country club. I went into that country club and asked, “Are you hiring for anything?” They offered me a job in the pro shop or on the grounds crew. My friends worked in the pro shop; they’re the ones that told me to come out and look for a job. I remember saying to them, “Tell me about the hours and duties.” Well, the hours in the pro shop were miserable, but you got tips and you

he “tired of getting up a 4 o’clock in the morning,” eventually worked his way into the golf shop. “All of that was great because I was able to really begin to learn the game,” he says. “It served as a great foundation.” Anderson left Illinois in 1982 to live in Colorado, where he took a job in the investment banking business. He then moved to Arizona in 1987. Now a private mortgage banker with the Bank of Arizona, Anderson’s playing résumé includes multiple club championships at more than one facility. He’s been a regular participant in several top regional amateur events, including the Charlie Coe Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo., and tournaments conducted by the Trans-Mississippi Golf Jay Anderson Association. W W W. C D G A . O R G

—Michael Whan

wore nice clothes. On the grounds crew, we started at 5:30 and our day was over at 2:30, but you also could play unlimited golf. So no high school or college-bound kid was working on the grounds crew; it was a unique, eclectic group of folks, but they were good human beings, really good people. That was a great experience: three summers that I’d never take back.

PHOTO BY NICK DOAN

Q: Did you take advantage of unlimited golf? MW: The best part of the job was Mondays. Four of us, and the head greenskeeper decided who they were, if he thought you were one of the four best players, would play four from another course. There were four courses that were part of the mix and so every week, 16 guys would come together and play for money. The greenskeeper would always put up our money. The best part was that we’d go play other country clubs in Cincinnati, courses that I would never have a chance to play. I didn’t have the money to play, my parents would never have joined. Even when I got older and worked at Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati, that was still out of my league. And I used to think to this day, I played some of the great courses in Ohio all through this grounds crew thing while I was making three bucks an hour: Cincinnati Country Club, Camargo, Kenwood, Coldstream, all courses I never would have experienced. . . . I played with nobody who was within 20 years of my age, but I created some friendships that were pretty special. JUNE 2010

Q: With your father being such an avid player, what did he think about his son becoming the head of one of the game’s preeminent organizations? MW: I’d gotten a call from a recruiter about the job and I told him, “I don’t think the job’s for me.” I had traveled a lot in my last job . . . and I had a lot of time away from my family. So I said, “That job sounds great, but I don’t know if I have that kind of road time in my future. I only have another five or six years to be a father to these kids.” So I crossed my name off their list. Two weeks later I was with my dad and mom and told them I got this call and that I told them I didn’t think it was right for me, and I remember the look on my dad’s face. It was almost pained. He said, “Mike, you’d be great at that job.” And because my parents still have that influence on me, I started thinking about it again. I always knew they were right. It was difficult telling the recruiter, “No, not now, not for me.” But I called them back and got back in the mix. So my dad and mom had more to do with me getting into it than I probably would ever give them credit for out loud. AP PHOTO BY TINA FINEBERG

“All the things I remember were important in life, those conversations came on a golf course.”

in Chicago. It will be a regular stop for us. Do I want to go back to Chicago? Of course I do. But I also know it’s just the right thing to do. Q: Considering the position you’re in now, how do you look back on those days when you were first introduced to the game? MW: My son was in a hockey tournament in Naperville this past winter, the first time I’d been back in 12, 15 years. So I drove from my house to the golf course, and it’s a pretty long way. And I remember saying to him, “Dad used to ride his bike here with his golf bag on his back, with his best buddy.” And I remember seeing the sign for the golf course and thinking, that was as good as it ever got: riding in on your bike, knowing you were going to play 36 holes, you were going to watch the Cubs game and then ride home. And there were 12 or 13 kids who did this all the time. . . . Everyone has their sandlot memory; my sandlot memory is a golf course.

Q: By all accounts, Chicago is a great sports town and a great golf city. Is it personally important to you to get the LPGA playing here? MW: We’ll be back to Chicago. I can’t tell you how, but we’ll be back. We don’t have a plan right now, but it’s crazy we’re not playing an event in Chicago. We have to fix that. It’s just that simple. My staff knows, and I’m not telling you something I haven’t told them, and that is, we’re going to play in Chicago. The Solheim Cup validated what we already knew. The fans are there and they’ll show up and support it. Now it’s just a matter of putting the package together, the right corporate partner, the right business venue. It might take a year to figure out, but we’ll definitely be back C H I C A G O D I S T R I C T G O L F E R | 41

GEMS OF THE CDGA

The eighth at Mistwood Golf Club Romeoville, Ill. o the eighth hole at Mistwood Golf Club is the No. 2 handicap hole on the Romeoville course? The eighth plays 566 yards from the championship tees to 512 yards from the regular tees. Those aren’t the most meaningful numbers concerning No. 8. The most important number is 65, as in 65 acres of Lake St. James that runs along the entire right side of the hole. Players have a choice: live dangerously and hug the right side, cutting off as much as 40 yards, or play safe down the left. Going left may save a player’s golf ball from being consigned to the depths of the biggest water hazard in Will County. “We have one regular, a good player with a singledigit handicap, who plays the hole 5-iron, 5-iron, 5-iron,” said Mistwood general manager Andy Krajewski, a PGA professional. The lake’s presence is complicated by the prevailing southwest wind. Any shot played left to right likely is to be exaggerated by the wind, which could lead to rinsing a drive, second or third shot. There are also bunkers to contend with on each shot. “It’s a three shot hole for almost everybody,” Krajewski said. “If you go left to take the water out of play, you have to avoid the trees on the left.” The third shot is the key to making par. The green is at least three clubs deep and slopes dramatically away from the player. It has three distinct tiers and invites three putts for those who are on the wrong one. If No. 8 is such a test, why isn’t it the No. 1 handicap hole? Look across the lake and you’ll see it: the par-5 15th with the lake on its left side. It will be there waiting for you in a couple of hours.

—Reid Hanley

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PAR 5 YARDS

TEE

566 535 512 431

Gold Black Blue Red

FRANK POLICH/CDGA

RULES OF THE GAME By Genger Fahleson | Director, Rules Education, USGA

When not to play like a pro The rules are strict when it comes to those that jeopardize one’s status as an amateur here was a time when making a hole-in-one wasn’t always a moment of unlimited glee. That was, in the case of charity tournaments that might offer a vehicle for a hole-in-one, because the value of the prize exceeded what was permitted under the rules of amateur status; thus, an amateur had to face the difficult decision of turning down the car and remaining an amateur, or taking the vehicle and becoming a professional in the eyes of golf’s governing bodies. It was an odd set of circumstances that turned a double digithandicapper into a professional because of one lucky shot. But the rules of amateur status have endured odd twists and turns, and now that no longer is the case. Most amateur golfers are familiar with the credit in a golf shop or gift certificates received when they do well in a competition. The rules of amateur status put a limit on such prizes at a retail value of not more than $750. This limit applies to the total value of merchandise or gift certificates received for any one event (e.g., club championship, a member-guest) or series of events (e.g., the club’s weekly league competition). An amateur golfer must not accept a cash prize of any amount for a golf competition or series of competitions. An additional caveat is that an amateur cannot exchange a merchandise prize or a voucher for cash. A player who does accept merchandise or a gift certificate prize valued at more than $750 or a cash prize of any amount could lose his amateur status, typically for a period of one year, but the length depends on the extent of the violation. Highly skilled amateurs often qualify for or are invited to compete in competitions involving professionals. This

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could be a tour event, a state open or even a major championship. Though an amateur may participate in an event where prize money is offered, he must, before the event, waive his right to accept prize money. Organizers of golf competitions offering prize money in which amateurs compete must provide a form players can sign to waive any right to cash prizes. (Contact the United States Golf Association for a sample form.) An amateur golfer may accept a prize valued at more than the $750 limit, including cash, for a hole-in-one. This exception permits participation in a “hole-in-one club” and acceptance of “bar bill” costs on the day of a holein-one and any accompanying prizes. An accompanying prize might be a car offered by a local dealership and acceptance of such would not jeopardize the lucky recipient’s amateur status. However, the exception for hole-in-

one prizes does not apply to hole-in-one competitions that are conducted other than while playing golf. For example, if a competition is designed to simply sell repeated attempts at a closestto-the-hole or hole-in-one prize and participants simply make one or more shots at the same target, this exception does not apply. Informal gambling or wagering among individual golfers or teams of golfers is permitted when it is incidental to the game and the primary purpose is playing the game for enjoyment and not for financial gain. Acceptable informal gambling is participation in a “player’s pool” or “skins game” such that the players in general know each other; participation is optional and wagering is limited to the players; the sole source of all the money won by the players is advanced by the participating players; and the amount of money involved is not generally considered to be excessive. Forms of gambling or wagering that are unacceptable include those where there is a requirement for players to participate or that have the potential to involve considerable sums of money (e.g., calcuttas and auction sweepstakes, where players or teams are sold by auction). Other features of unacceptable gambling or wagering is when there is participation of non-players or when the amount of money involved is considered to be excessive. As always, it’s best to get clarification of matters that might be complicated because the penalties could be severe. When in doubt, call the USGA (800-222-8742) or the CDGA (630-257-2005). W W W. C D G A . O R G

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