| by: Dan Rusnak - 5/1/2004 6:19:06 AM |
| The 2004 Chicago golf season is underway and what a difference a year makes!
Last year all the talk was of the U.S. Open at Olympia Fields. It seems so long ago that my now three-year old daughter Allison and I watched Tiger coming up #18. But Tiger’s day in Chicago did not come that Father’s Day weekend, He had to wait until the playing of the Western Open later in July.
While this year is not marked by a major in the Chicagoland area, we are still fortunate to have The 101st Western Open – officially named the Cialis Western Open from June 28 – July 4. We are also blessed in the Midwest by two Majors – the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in August and the 35th Ryder Cup Matches will be played in September at Oakland Hills in the Detroit area.
Another special tournament that will be played this season will be the 100th Chicago City Amateur at Jackson Park in Chicago. Many players email me about tournament availability and this is the one I keep telling them about. It will be held from July 16 – 19 at Jackson Park and there are qualifiers at Water’s Edge in Worth and Columbus Park, Robert Black and Jackson Park. For more information on the Chicago City Amateur, check out CPDGOLF.COM.
Although tournaments play a part in Chicago’s golfing season, there is nothing better than getting on the course yourself!
This year marks an interesting new trend in golf course building in the Chicagoland area. Many area courses are opting to redesign their facilities including Indian Lakes in Bloomingdale, which did a redesign of its West Course, which is now referred to as Blackhawk Trace. The redesign, completed by Rick Jacobsen, is fantastic. Jacobsen is redoing the East course currently, which will be enhanced by a ‘Donald Ross’ feel.
Blackhawk Trace is the site of a Hooter’s Tour event starting May 6.
Other redesigns completed this past season or being completed during the 2004 season include Chevy Chase (now known as Traditions at Chevy Chase), Village Links of Glen Ellyn reopening its 18-hole course and Thunderbird in Barrington, which will be called Makray Memorial.
Chicago’s Largest Demo Day
The Chicago Park District’s Diversey Driving Range will be hosting ‘Chicago’s Largest Demo Day May 15 from 10 AM – 5 PM. The event will feature products form Nike, Titleist, Ben Hogan, Cobra, Top-Flite and Tour Edge. A free Nike two-pac will be given to all attendees while supplies last.
There will be a complimentary PGA Clinic from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM and again from 2:30 PM– 4 PM. There will also be a Miniature Golf Tournament at 1 PM, which will feature a set of Hogan golf clubs as the grand prize to the low score winner. Other features of this event include help from Body Balance – complete golf help and fitness training, ten minute massage tune-ups compliments of Chicago School of Massage Therapy, hourly raffles including some of 2004’s hottest drivers, putters and golf balls and other prizes including ESPN Zone game cards.
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