Golf Chicago Spring 2 2024 Issue

Spring 2 2024, Vol. 28 No. 3

Chicago’s Premier Multimedia Golf Source & Authority

Founder: Bill Daniels

Publisher: Dave Weretka

Editor: Dave Silbar

Art Director: Stephen Hawk hawk@hawkdesign.net

Senior Writer: Neal Kotlarek

Editorial Contributors: Joe Aguilar, Dave Lockhart, Dr. Kevin McGarry, Todd Mrowice, Dr. Ryan Pokrywka, and T.J. Sullivan

Opening ShOt

Dave Silbar

As anticipation grows for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst during the Father’s Day weekend, this month’s magazine draw’s special attention to all the dads out there who have had a large influence on our life, and how it relates to the game of golf.

We’ll feature soliloquies by many of GOLFChicago magazine’s writers on the role their father’s played in their lives and how it impacted their passion for the game.

This fall, Chicago gets back to hosting pro golf, with LIV golf’s 2024 Individual Championship being held September 13-15 at Bolingbrook Golf Club. The Chicago event will host all of your favorite players like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and many others as they compete for final positioning in the individual standings and the title of 2024 LIV Golf League Individual Champion. Tickets can be found via LIVgolf.com.

Senior writer Neal Kotlarek takes us back around the bend and up to Northern Michigan, where Boyne Golf continues to make improvements to its huge selection of world-class golf courses. If you’ve never been there, you’re missing some of the best golf experiences in the world, and without the hours upon hours of traveling.

Among the courses Neal writes about is the famed Donald Ross Memorial Course at the Highlands at Harbor Springs. The course was built to feature famous Ross holes from around the world. Decades later, Boyne officials have now been provided access to the original drawings of these famous holes and even received satellite imagery of what those holes look like at their origin courses. And they’re working to make even more improvements.

I took the liberty of penning this month’s instruction piece. Now that the weather is allowing me to take my GOLFTEC students outside to Pine Meadow Golf Club in Mundelein, I wanted to instill how crucial it is to practice your technique for chip and pitch shots from 50 yards and in. It’s not necessarily your driver that’s going to push down your scores, it’s those shots from just off the green that are going to get you breaking 100, 90, 80, or wherever your bar is set. It’s also just a lot of fun to work on these shots because you can actually practice trying to hole out shots from off the green.

To me, the best aspect of golf is meeting new people during the course of an 18-hole round and learning about them. More often than not, we never see them ever again but always remember their stories. And that’s the reason for our new department with the working title “Chicago Proud.” We’ll be seeking golfers from all across Chicagoland who share that same passion with the game as you do and help to introduce you to their extraordinary ability to make the world a better place. We start with Daniel Haslett, who seeks perfection in every thing he does in life, but has a good reason for trying to do so. You’ll find the rest of the story within the pages of this month’s magazine.

As always, our Good Stuff department is chock full of all the great golf gear, accessories, et al. that you’ll want to check out. There are a ton of great Father’s Day gift ideas in there.

So let’s kick back and enjoy the warm weather, your lowest scores ever, some entertaining tournament golf that the pros can provide, and of course the latest issue of GOLFChicago.

THE GOOD STUFF DAD’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Timberland Sunglasses

Rectangular lenses with sturdy lightweight frames are comfortable to wear on and off the course. Smoked polarized lenses will provide maximum protection on even the sunniest days. Elevate your style and hopefully your game. $87.15 www.framesdirect.com

Tee it Up for the Troops

The Bridgestone e12 Contact is one of the most popular golf balls on the market, and now you have even more reason to grab a dozen (15-pack, to be exact). These special edition balls have Old Glory on them and benefit the military non-profit, Tee it Up for the Troops. Make a difference while hitting more fairways. $34.99 www.bridgestonegolf.com

Good Things, Small Packages

Drawing inspiration from the late-90s, this TaylorMade Mini BRNR Driver is a throwback with a ton of current tech. The unmistakeable copper tone and old school logo pair perfectly with an adjustable loft sleeve and patented Twist Face technology. Available in 11.5 or 13.5-degree heads.

$449.99 www.taylormadegolf.com

Crushing Casual

Easy Carry

A light carry bag usually means you sacrifice a lot of good spacial features. The DRI LITE Feather from Big Max saves weight in materials but doesn’t cheat you on storage. Six pockets, all water-repellent, make the DRI LITE Feather the perfect solution for walkers, riders, and push-cart supporters. $199.99 www.us.bigmaxgolf.com

We’re fully on board with hoodies on the golf course, and the FS-Hoodie from TRUE Linkswear just became our top option for this season. It stretches, it repels water, it breathes, it’s incredibly soft, and it features a skeleton swinging a golf club. How can you go wrong? Well, you can’t. Available in five colors. $125 www.truelinkswear.com

Enlightened Drinking

Founded by Woody Harrelson and Amy Holmwood, Holistic Spirits Co. is all about creating innovative spirits that wake up your tastebuds. Origen Specialty Vodka is infused with a blend of artichoke leaf, elderberry, muscadine grape, and green tea leaf extract. On the course or at home, get ready for a great cocktail.

$42.99 www.drinkholistic.com

Post-Round Steppin’

As G/FORE continues to gain golf shoe market share, now you can sport the brand off of the golf course. The G.112 Leather Street Shoe has all of the comfort and styling you’re used to from G/FORE, but they can go anywhere. Premium leather for sleekness, Adaptive Traction System for the elements.

$250 www.gfore.com

You Complete Me

If you’re not familiar with the Mini G from Grooveit Golf, allow us to introduce you to the hottest accessory in golf. As seen on professional tours, this mini scrubber is your new essential. Its heavy-duty nylon bristles have a three-year warranty. It’s detachable and magnetic, so it goes everywhere with you. Buy now, thank us later.

$19.99 www.grooveitbrush.com

THE GOOD STUFF / DAD’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

SuperSpeed Swing Trainer

SuperSpeeds’ programs have been used by over 1,000 touring professionals and 250,000 amateur players around the world. SuperSpeed’s model of producing award-winning products alongside specific training programs has helped the company become a fixture in the golf instruction and training industries. The programs are based on a concept called OverSpeed Training, which makes the player move faster than normal during their golf swing with lighter-weight training clubs, and then increasing the weight of the training clubs over a short but intense training session.

$149.98 www.superspeedgolf.com

Uswing Sunglasses

Frustrated by the lack of options available on the market, visionary entrepreneur Warren Fong has developed glasses that address visual challenges faced by golfers, such as parallaxes and accurate perception of green patterns and slopes. With a team of experts, Fong dedicated nearly a decade to R&D, ultimately crafting the world’s first professional golf sunglasses. Uswing’s eyewear protects golfers’ eyes from bright sunlight and enhances their performance on the course. Ambassadors include Rose Zhang and Phil Mickelson. Starting at $399 www.uswingeyewear.com

The Stack Swing Speed Trainer

For golfers seeking to unleash their full potential, The Stack System offers a groundbreaking approach to speed training. At the heart of the System lies a 41.5-inch shaft accompanied by five milled weights. These allow for over 30 unique weight combinations, enabling golfers to tailor their training to their individual swing mechanics and desired outcomes. The beauty of The Stack extends beyond its high-quality hardware; this personalized approach eliminates the risk of plateaus often encountered with standardized training programs. $349 www.thestacksystem.com

Revamped and Groovy Mizuno wedges are sneakily some of the best wedges you can own.

The anticipation of the new T24 lineup was high, and Mizuno delivered the goods. Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima, Japan, the T24s are works of art, and we’re suckers for the Denim Copper finish. Available in five different grinds and in lofts ranging from 46 to 60 degrees.

$179.99 www.mizunogolf.com

inStructiOn

Dave Silbar

Many of my students contend that if they could only hit their driver, they would be a much better golfer. The reality is that they have a much better chance at lowering their scores by being more accurate and consistent with their shots inside 50 yards.

If you want to hit a driver, save that for the end of practice but spend at least 85% of your time working on your short game.

In fact, if you come closer to mastering just two techniques from 5 to 50 yards away from the green, I guarantee that you will shoot lower scores.

When it comes to the short game, there are three types of shots: low trajectory, medium trajectory, and high trajectory. The low trajectory shot is a chip shot and is the easiest, most high-success shot the game of golf offers. Mastering this shot will leave you thinking that you can hole out every time you find yourself just off the green. That type of mentality will leave you more taps in than ever before.

A medium trajectory shot is called the pitch shot and allows the sand or lob wedge’s bounce to slide under the ball, producing a higher shot that lands close to your intended target and produces minimal rollout. While the chip shot has the highest success rate, the pitch shot is the one you’ll use roughly 85% of the time, usually between 10 to 50 yards off the green.

The third shot is the high trajectory shot, commonly referred to as the lob, flop, or even sand shot. You’ll need your highest lofted club to execute this shot but it is always the last option you’ll want to turn to as it’s the lowest percentage of the three shots when it comes to executing.

Chip Shot Checkpoints

Making a chip shot is the easiest shot because there’s really not a lot happening with your body, including your hands. Think of a chip shot as a putt, simply using a lofted club. Keys to the chip starts with a narrow stance and positioning the ball closer to your trail foot than to your lead foot. Of course, the easiest way to hit a lower shot is to select a club with less loft, such as a 7, 8, or 9 iron. Hit this shot

Time to Master the Short Game

by starting with leaning the handle just in front of your lead thigh with 70 to 75% of your weight on your lead foot. From there, make a short backswing with minimal wrist hinge and a follow through that finishes with the clubhead staying well below your hands. You’ll want to raise the handle just slightly, lean the shaft towards the target, and, again, feel as if you have 70 to 75% of your weight on your front side.

Pro Tip: Squeeze your elbows tightly together throughout the entire swing. Practice by using a 7 iron through a sand wedge so that you can learn how the ball reacts with each club and which is most comfortable for your particular game. That way, when you find yourself just off the green you’ll be able to trust your training, be more aggressive and feel confident about your ability to knock it close.

Pitch Shot

Checkpoints

For medium trajectory shots we simply have to use our brain and go backwards from what we learned about the chip shot. That starts with grabbing a higher lofted club with some bounce built in, primarily a sand or lob wedge. From there play the ball in the center or slightly towards your lead foot. Next, you will not lean the shaft towards the target and keep your weight very close to 50/50. While your backswing will be a bit lengthier than the chip shot, you’ll want to incorporate more wrist hinge, trying to keep the handle of the club close to your body on both the backswing and the follow through.

Unlike the chip shot, where the club handle will reach the ball well before the clubhead, you’ll want both to cross the “finish line” (where the ball is) at close to the same time. Hinging your wrist and using the club’s natural bounce, you’ll slide the club under the ball much easier. You’ll want to make sure you turn your hips and shoulders while straightening both legs as much as possible in the follow through.

Pro Tip: The pitch works well from both the rough as well as from the fairway. You’ll have to practice the length of the arc of your swing to manage your distance control.

It takes some work to get the courage up to execute the pitch shot during an actual round of golf, but trust your practice and you’ll be hitting pitch shots and stopping the ball very close to the hole just like the pros.

Sweet Home Chicago

Pro Golf Back in Town with Korn Ferry Tour July 22-28

The Korn Ferry Tour returns to Chicagoland this summer with the NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank, scheduled for July 22-28 at the Glen Club in Glenview. Playing spots in the Pro-Am are still available at $2,750 per player or $10,000 per foursome with proceeds benefiting the Evans Scholars Foundation. The pro-am includes a premium gift package, invitations to program cocktail parties, valet parking, and all inclusive food and beverages on the day of the Pro-Am.

Conducted by the Western Golf Association, the NV5 Invitational is the proving ground for the next wave of PGA Tour stars. Tickets will be available in the coming weeks and can be found via www.esinvitational.com.

Carmel Catholic Golf Classic August 12 at Royal Melbourne

The long-running and popular Carmel Catholic Golf Classic will be held at the Greg Norman-designed Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove on Monday, August 12,. The event is a community-wide outing that draws over 150 alumni, current parents, past parents, and friends of Carmel Catholic.

All proceeds support Carmel Catholic High School students through financial assistance, and provide crucial aid for Tuition Assurance which helps students that lose a parent complete their Corsair experience. Since 2018 alone, Tuition Assurance has directly helped 12 students who have lost a parent and their families, totaling over $230,000.

The Golf Classic has raised close to $1 million over the past decade. In addition to playing the fantastic Royal Melbourne course, golfers will be treated to a putting clinic, buffet lunch in the member pub and veranda, a myriad of on-course games, raffles, and prize giveaways, plus dinner and open bar following the round.

Visit www.carmelhs.,org or call Denise Spokas at (847) 388-3354.

Pine Meadow Sunday Family Fun Nights

Throughout the entire summer, Pine Meadow GC in Mundelein (rated Best New Public Golf Course in the US by Golf Digest in 1986) will feature family -riendly green fees on Sunday evenings so that the entire family can play a relaxing 9-hole round of golf. The course will be set up short, and every member of the group (up to a fivesome) must play it from the designated

tee boxes. Cost is $15 per player (two adults and up to three children) and kids who present their scorecard to the golf shop following the round get a complimentary snack. Reserved tee times are required and can be made starting the Monday prior. Visit www.pinemeadowgc.com or call (847) 566-4653

Fox Valley Christian Action Golf Outing June 3

Fox Valley Christian Action Golf will be hosting their annual golf outing June 3 at Prairie Landing Golf Club. FVCA has served the low-income communities in the Fox Valley area since 1977. The event supports FCVA’s Free Summer Camp Program. Cost is $250 per golfer and includes golf, lunch, dinner and prizes. To register go to www.FVCA.org/golf or call (630) 584-2222 x 221.

Water’s Edge Events

Water’s Edge Golf Club in south suburban Worth will host a Father’s Day Best Ball Tournament on Sunday June 16 consisting of two-man teams, while its Women’s Golf Day is scheduled for June 7 and features 50% off green fees for the entire day. The course’s Nine & Dine will be held on June 20 and feature a two-person best ball. Cost is $70 per team and includes 9 holes, cart, and dinner.

In addition, kids (14 and under) always play free with a paying adult after 3 p.m. Visit www.watersedgegolf.com or call (708) 671-1032.

Firecracker Classic Golf Outing June 21 at Glen Club

Tee it up at one of the best golf outings of the season! The 28th Annual Firecracker Classic Golf Outing will be held Friday, June 21 at the outstanding Glen Club in Glenview. This charity outing has supported many notable contributions that enhance the Glenview Park District’s recreation services, programs, and facilities to provide healthy recreational events for the community. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a fun day with your friends at the exclusive Glen Club while supporting the work of the Glenview Park Foundation. The Foundation provides much needed funds for the Park District’s Leisureship Financial Assistance Program. Entry fee is $375 per golfer. Call (224) 521-2254 for more information or to register.

Cog Hill Upgrades

Dubsdread is planning to reopen the first week of June after a bunker renovation program. General Manager Troy Newport mentioned that the drainage in the bunkers was beginning to affect operations, especially after some rain, and were in need of attention. “This was causing erosion and bunkers that were hard in the bottom,” he explains. “Dubs will now have Better Billy Bunkers in place on all bunkers; this helps keep sand from coming down off the faces and soil contamination from occurring.” There was some minor green design changes that took place on hole #3. The right hand fairway bunker on hole #1 was moved down the fairway closer to the green to open that hole up a little more. Overall the improvements will result in a better experience for golfers and the bunkers will provide consistency across the entire course. Newport says the visual pop will be noticeable to those that play with the new beautiful white angular sand.

Way back in 1963, President John F. Kennedy reminded us that the world does not stand still. “Change is the law of life,” he declared. “And those who only look to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.”

Knowingly or not, the visionaries behind Boyne Golf in Northern Michigan have fully embraced Kennedy’s words. At a time when so many golf properties across the country have settled in to enjoy the fruits of America’s post-pandemic embrace of the game, the myriad of golf courses, hotels, and amenities that make up the Boyne properties have been continuously expanded, upgraded, and a few even created from scratch.

As background, Boyne Golf incorporates three hotels across a relatively short expanse of Michigan that includes Boyne Falls, Harbor Springs, and Bay Harbor. Stationed at or around the hotels are 10 delightful, chal-

Michigan’s Boyne ResoR ts continues to suRpRise and delight With Renovations and MoRe golf options

By Neal Kotlarek

Bay Harbor Links

lenging and amazingly diverse golf courses, including two Boyne Mountain courses, Crooked Tree Golf Club, the Highlands courses, and Bay Harbor. Ask someone who has played any or all of them over past years and they will tell you that all 10 are picture-postcard-perfect in beauty and conditioning. That said, each course has either recently received marked improvements or is slated for such in coming months and years.

How do you improve perfection? Bernie Friedrich, senior vice president of Boyne Resorts (and 2023 PGA Executive of the Year) laughed at the question when interviewed in early May. “Like everything else in life, golf courses change as they mature. Maybe the bunkers have filled in. Maybe the greens have gotten smaller than the architect originally intended. Maybe a course’s

drainage system needs to be improved . . . With 10 courses to manage, we try to stay on top of how we can provide the optimal golf experience for our guests and members. So that involves critical assessments of each aspect of the courses—from the design to the maintenance to the playability to the tree coverage.”

Friedrich cited the famed Donald Ross Memorial Course at the Highlands at Harbor Springs as a prime example of this process. “Technology has really helped us understand the subtleties involved in the architecture of Donald Ross,” Friedrich said. When that course was built, famous Ross holes from around the world were emulated to provide players with the look and feel of a Ross design. “But all these decades later,” Friedrich continued, “we were provided access to the original drawings of these famous holes and even

received satellite imagery of what those holes look like at their origin courses.”

The course employed prominent Michigan architect Raymond Hearn Golf Course Design to review each course in the portfolio and provide input on ways to improve the player’s experience. “Regarding the Donald Ross Memorial Course,” Hearn said in a May interview, “we talked about providing guests with a true ‘Donald Ross Experience’ that hopefully provides insights on how Ross challenged players, particularly on approach shots.” Given access to original sketches, maps, and photos of some of the greatest Ross courses, the architect was able to convey the intricacies of Ross designs.

“The fact is,” Hearn said, “most of us will never have the chance to experience some of the great Ross works at those great private clubs like Aronimink,

Seminole, and Inverness. The single goal of the renovation project was to provide players with the next best option.”

Fans of great golf architecture are treated to the works of many of the world’s premier designers on any extended trip to Boyne resorts. In fact, the Monument Course at Boyne Mountain incorporates holes inspired by the greatest holes of Dr. Alister Mackenzie, George Fazio, Robert Trent Jones Sr., and Pete Dye. And speaking of Jones Sr., his 1966 masterpiece The Heather Golf Course is located at The Highlands at Harbor Springs and remains one of Michigan’s premier layouts. Along with The Heather and the Donald Ross Memorial Course, the Highlands at Harbor Springs Resort also features the roiling and rolling Arthur Hills Course. Any golf trip should necessarily include this tract on the itinerary as the

Golf Highlands Donald Ross Hole #1

par-5 No. 13 begins from a tee built on top of the world and descends across and over a valley before climbing up and then down a knoll toward a massive green.

“As everyone knows, the golf industry has experienced an amazing growth spurt following the pandemic years,” said Ken Griffin, director of sales and marketing for Boyne Resorts in an interview. “We’ve seen new interest in golf by couples, women, juniors, and groups. Golf has always been a social game of inclusiveness. We have responded to these new channels with an entire reimaging of our properties, including expanded spa services, new luxury accommodations at The Highlands at Harbor Springs and Boyne Mountain Resort, and food offerings that span all preferences from grab-and-go to fine dining.”

Along with amenities that include swimming pools, an indoor waterpark, ziplining, horseback riding, and Segway tours, the resorts continue to expand with a European Spa and a steakhouse in development at the Highlands and a 1,203-feet-long pedestrian Sky Bridge at Boyne Mountain to provide exhilarating views and light displays of that vast property. “We pride ourselves on locating unique ways to enhance the Boyne experience,” Griffin said. “We want to provide ‘wow experiences’ to both new guests and return guests.”

In totol, the three anchor Boyne properties offer hundreds of accommodations options, from the elegant cottages and suites at the Inn at Bay Harbor to family villas at Boyne Mountain; townhomes at The Highlands, and charming, affordable hotel rooms at each resort.

Golf, of course, remains a point of emphasis at all three Boyne Resorts. Located in Boyne Falls, Boyne Mountain is renowned across all of Michigan for its towering and popular ski hills. Parts of those hills serve double duty during spring, summer and fall in the designs of both the Alpine and Monument courses. Players get to understand the size and scale of both courses right out of the gate as the ride between the clubhouse and the first tee takes you up the mountain for a magnificent view and tees up towering drives toward fairways below. The Monument Course incorporates the aforementioned tribute holes while The Alpine Course—which serves as annual host to the Michigan PGA’s Tournament of Champions—offers up breathtaking views on holes lined with soaring trees.

Designed by Art Hills, the 27 holes at Bay Harbor are actually three unique 9-hole

Golf Highlands Donald Ross Hole #15

DoonBrae Short Course

Mountain Monument Hole #16

courses, each with different landscapes. The Links takes players alongside cliffs hugging Lake Michigan. The Scottish links-inspired course is highlighted by the stunning par-5 No. 7 that serves up a huge tee shot landing area in between mounds and thick rough. Following a well-placed second shot which avoids the perilous right side of the fairway, the approach must keep to the right side of the putting surface which hovers above the lake. You will need an additional few minutes following the hole to take photos of your foursome standing behind this green seemingly on the edge of the world.

The Quarry nine is a reminder of that property’s humble roots as grounds of a cement factory that was decommissioned in the 1980s. One hole calls for a tee shot over a 40-foot gorge while others weave around the quarry and around natural ponds and wetlands. The par-3 No. 8 features Lake Michigan as both a backdrop and a hazard behind the green. No. 9 is a memorable finishing hole lined by the lake on the left and drops down to a huge green protected on the right side by a massive bunker.

The Preserve is nestled in hardwood forest and abounds with wildflowers, native wetlands and an abundance of wildlife. Following 8 holes through the woods, the course ends on a 186-yard par 3 featuring a sloping green postured above the crystal blue waters of Lake Michigan.

Located just across the highway from Bay Harbor, Crooked Tree Golf Club provides 18 perfectly manicured championship holes perched high on bluffs overlooking Little Traverse Bay. No trip to Bay Harbor is complete without drinks and dinner at the opulent Inn at Bay Harbor, a Marriott Collection Hotel. A gourmet dinner on the veranda overlooking the lake will make for the most memorable meal of your year.

In coming months, still two new golf experiences will become available at The Highlands at Harbor Springs. Assuming good growing conditions, seeding will be completed in late spring on the highly anticipated Doon Brae Short Course. Designed by Hearn, the par-3 course is built along the base of the property’s sprawling ski hill. When finished, it will feature a collection of nine holes featuring greens inspired by some of the legendary putting surface designs on British Isles courses. Next to the first tee of Doon Brae will rest a massive Himalayas-style putting green.

“This is a really interesting and exciting project,” said Hearn. “Since Boyne has a continued on page 22

Dave Silbar

Editor’s Note: This month we begin a new department entitled Chicago Proud, highlighting daily-fee golfers with extraordinary stories. Golfers come in all shapes and sizes with varying skill levels. But the things we all have in common are our love, dedication, and of course frustration with the game we call the greatest one there is.

You can’t really blame Cary resident Daniel Haslett for wanting to be perfect when it comes to golf. As director of emergency services, trauma, EMS, and ICU at a Level 1 trauma center in the Chicago suburbs, Daniel is responsible for 350 nurses working to provide safe, high quality patient care.

He can’t afford not to be perfect, so when it comes to his golf game, it can get a little frustrating.

Taking up the game just five years ago, it comes as no surprise that the reason Daniel chose the sport as a stress reliever from his daily work demands, as well to spend time outdoors with his family. He plays the bulk of his rounds at Foxford Hills, the wonderful 18-hole layout and his home course, and enjoys spending time with his wife with two young sons hitting balls at the range there.

When not at work or playing golf, Daniel loves working out, especially weightlifting, and it’s not uncommon for him to get in a 5 or 10 mile run before heading to work in the morning. When it comes to golf, he works hard on his game by taking lessons at GOLFTEC in Vernon Hills.

While working on moving his scores from the mid 90s into the mid 80s, Daniel hits a long ball when he makes good contact. His new personal favorite club is a Callaway Apex utility driving iron, which he said has helped him keep the ball in play on Foxford’s rolling fairways.

Primarily working in an upper management role, it is not uncommon to see him in the ER, assisting

Saving Lives and Saving Strokes

his nurses on the most critically injured patients that a Level 1 trauma center receives on a daily basis.

“Nurses face significant emotional challenges in their work, particularly when caring for dying or injured patients,” says Haslett.

“Empathy, self-care, and effective communication are crucial for managing these demands and providing the best possible

care. ER nurses walk into people’s lives at the worst possible time for them and their families, and they immediately show care and kindness.”

Working alongside his fellow nurses from time to time, Haslett says it’s extremely gratifying. “It gives me so much appreciation for where I came from, and brings me right back to being at the bedside, every day, every shift, every patient,” he says.

In 2022, Haslett was selected as the organization’s inaugural Nurse Leader of the Year for his exceptional professional practice, leadership, influence, and impact.

“As a nurse, you focus on giving your patients high-quality care and a great experience. As a leader, you do that for your team,” he said. “I look at the nursing team and say, ‘How can I make this environment safe for them? How do I give them the best quality of materials and resources to keep them sharp, so they want to come to work and have a great experience? And then it’s reflected in the care they provide.’”

Daniel Haslett by the Numbers Home Course: Foxford Hills in Cary Handicap: 16

Biggest Fear: Any tee box requiring a driver

Best part of game: Putting Worst part of game: Driver (but loves new Callaway driving iron)

What about golf keeps him up at night: “Swing thoughts, especially when it comes to what I could have done differently on all the poor shots I hit that day.”

Had you chosen another profession, you would have been: “A professional chef, I love cooking for people.”

What’s in His Bag:

Titleist TSR4 driver (10.5 degrees)

Callaway Apex UT 18 degree driving iron

Mizuno STZ 5-wood

Titleist TSR1 4-hybrid

Mizuno Hot Metal Pro irons, 5-PW

Titliest Vokey SM9 wedges (52, 56, 60)

Evnroll ER5 Hatchback putter

Dave Silbar Editor

For as long as I can remember, I had considered my Dad my best friend. Growing up in Glenview, he introduced me to golf when I was 12 years old, riding our bikes one summer afternoon to the Glenview Park District Golf Course. I would end up learning how to play that summer and then for four years on the Glenbrook South high school golf team.

Owning a public relations firm in Glenview allowed Dad to attend most of my home high school golf matches, where he would walk along with scorecard in hand, keeping track of my shots.

Dad and I played a lot of golf together. He was a very typical amateur golfer, playing a huge banana slice but finding most every fairway. He didn’t hit it very far, didn’t score particularly well, and didn’t seem to care. Just being together on the course is what he loved.

In 2005, I qualified for the Illinois State Amateur and traveled to downstate Tuscola with my wife and daughter to play in the tournament. My Mom and Dad also made the trip and for two days my Dad followed me with the familiar pencil and scorecard, keeping track of not only my strokes, but my playing partners as well.

I would work alongside my Dad at our family’s public relations agency for nearly 25 years, a time when our relationship would get closer than ever. We would travel all over Chicagoland meeting with clients, sharing plenty of stories and thousands of laughs.

While my Dad retired many years ago, I would trade in my

time golf coach and instructor. In addition to being editor for this great publication, I’m a PGA associate, having taught nearly 7,500 private lessons for GOLFTEC, and am the varsity boys golf coach at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein.

I know my Dad would be proud of how I’ve taken my life-long passion for golf and turned it into a career I love.

Today, Dad is 89 years old and lives a stone’s throw from where I both work and live. Sadly, he is living with the late stages of dementia and has no idea who I am or how we are even connected when I come to visit him. I share stories with him about my high school and GOLFTEC students—, although I know he does not understand a word I say.

The person who introduced me to the game of golf, who I once considered my best friend, and whom I had revered, rightfully so, as a legend in the Chicago public relations arena, is long gone.

But the memories I have of him will last forever. Happy Father’s Day, Dad, and thanks for everything.

A Tip of the Cap to Our

Andy Rees

Business Development

My father, John Davis Rees, played golf for most of his life, and as a Chicago FireFighter for 30+ years he was able to manage family and golf together. He introduced me to the game at the age of 8 and took me to courses like Marquette, Westgate, Gleneagles, Palos, and other south side tracks (some that are still with us, some renovated and others gone). I was able to learn the game from him, as well as work at Beverly C.C. as he did as a caddy to further learn the game and all the mannerisms and discipline that comes with it.

Playing with friends, competing on high school and college golf teams, playing

in amateur events, tournaments, and leagues helped me further appreciate the game as my Dad did for 50+ years. I lost my father this past New Year’s day but memories of us on the course and trips to Jack Nickaluas’ Bear Trail, Mississippi, and other destinations will remain with me forever.

I’m able to also share memories with my son Max Rees, who has started since the 4th grade and plays on the Under Armour Golf Tour as well as for his current school, Christ the King. He hopes to continue to play for his high school, Brother Rice, this fall!

Todd Mrowice

Dads

Editorial

Contributor

Golf has been synonymous with my Dad, Brock Mrowice, for as long as I can remember. He was my first teacher, my first golf buddy, and my first supporter at junior and high school tournaments. No matter where our lives have led us, we’ve always had the game as our bond.

My first clubs were old persimmons he had chopped down for me. And my first actual set he bought me was celebrated with pictures of him and me with our bags in the driveway. My first vivid golf TV moment is sitting in

our family room watching Freddie Couples win the 1992 Masters. “Watch how easy he swings it, Todd.”

Golf life began with my Dad and his buddies on Sunday mornings at Oak Meadows (now The Preserve at Oak Meadows). For some 20 years, their perm times were where I learned to truly enjoy the game, not to mention when (and when not) to press.

Present day, from Phoenix, Dad reads my golf writing. I listen to his weekly updates on how he’s playing while fighting

a mix of jealousy and envy because we’re not teeing it up together. Dad is still a stick at 73, I’ll have you know.

I’m still hoping the lottery hits for us and we can walk Augusta National together. In the meantime, I look forward to our next round together, capped off by a cigar and a splash of bourbon.

There is no greater gift my Dad will ever give me than the love of this crazy game. As my son embarks on his golf journey at age 9, I can only hope to give him the same gift that his Papa gave to me.

Dave Weretka Publisher/Owner

Although my Dad did not play golf, he did enjoy riding along with me from time to time. I did take some of my first swings as a young teenager at Downers Grove Golf Club, now known as Belmont. I have fond memories of being introduced to the game of golf by my grandfather. It was here that I was smitten by the game when a shot was well struck in the center of the clubface. Even though I’m a lefty, grandpa put me in an old set of righthanded sticks. “It makes sense, you want your strong arm to pull the club through and around your body”. I didn’t question it as I was new to the game. Lefty clubs were not as easily accessible back then, and gramps

probably couldn’t justify purchasing clubs for a young lad that may not like the game. Only time would tell.

Being a natural lefty in all things, there was nothing natural about swinging a golf club opposite handed. Reflections of those rounds with my grandfather are seared into my memory as we walked those fairways together in the early ‘80s. Every time I step onto that first tee, I’m whisked back to those special times. They are memories that I will always cherish, and a heartfelt thanks for introducing me to a game that has brought so much joy over the past four decades.

Neal Kotlarek Senior Writer

Golf was the glue that cemented the bond between my Dad and me throughout our lives together. From my first years of learning the game at 9 all the way until my Dad’s death at 89, the subject of golf always served as a conversation ice breaker.

Whether over the phone or in person, no talk between us didn’t eventually transition into some kind of golf reference. “Did you see Watson win that tournament last week?” he would ask. Or maybe, “Do you have any golf trips planned for this summer?” Or maybe even, “Has your wife taken up golf yet? She’s missing out if she’s not taking her clubs when traveling with you!”

Starting when I was 12, my Dad would take off from a half-day’s work every week during the summer so he and my mom could play at one of Milwaukee’s fine municipal courses. I still recall

my sons Bart and Zachary about how their school was going and what they were going to do with their time on spring break.

squinting at the horizon from the backseat as we drove, in fear of Dad’s inclination to turn around if raindrops hit the windshield. Once we got into the course parking lot, I would pace around and stare at the first tee as Dad seemingly took forever to lace up his shoes and haul his clubs out of the trunk. Once out on the course, we would have an amazing time talking about life in between shots. That said, Dad took the game seriously enough that if he had a bad round he’d grow silent. “I knew we shouldn’t have rushed getting here!” he would complain. To ensure against the prospect of the round being ruined, I would try to will Dad’s every tee shot down the fairway and every putt into the hole. Sadly, that strategy rarely worked.

Just like in the lyrics of a Harry Chapin song, time spent with my Dad on the golf course grew less frequent as the years went

by after I moved out of the house, moved to Chicago, got married and had two kids. When our schedules allowed, we would plan a round or two each summer and most often included my Mom.

One afternoon in the early 2000s, I scored a tee time at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wisconsin, where the three of us enjoyed perfect weather on a golf course well above the conditions and quality of the courses we used to play when I was growing up.

“Best course I’ve ever seen or played!” my Dad said, marveling at the rolling hills and towering trees across the fairways. “Stunning,” my Mom agreed. “The best course I’ve ever seen!” I’m pretty sure that was the last round we ever played together as a threesome as my Mom’s eyes were failing at the same time my Dad’s knees were faltering.

As the years went by, my Dad’s golf was limited

to playing in scrambles with a group of buddies his age mostly around Milwaukee. “I made a 40-foot birdie today!” he would chirp on a call to me. “My body can’t take walking 18 anymore, but I sure enjoy getting out there with the guys!”

By the time he got into his 80s, my Dad’s golf was limited to a couple of rounds each summer. But most interestingly, he never packed his clubs away for good. His bag remained in the basement sports closet, awaiting the day in the near future that would surely come when his body rejuvenated and his energy returned.

On Easter Sunday in 2011, I visited the senior center special care unit where my Dad stayed following a medical setback. His head resting against a couple of pillows as he sat up in his bed, Dad asked about the morning church services we had attended. Then he talked with

After some more chitchat and some laughs, the room got quiet. It was time to leave. As the boys and I picked up our coats and prepared to depart, Dad called me back to his bedside. “How,” he asked, “is your golf game? Have you been out yet this year?” I laughed and proceeded to show him a new move I was making on my backswing that was getting me a few more yards off the tee. Dad nodded his head and for a moment, the gleam in his eye returned. “I sure miss playing,” he lamented. “Maybe I’ll get out of this bed in a few weeks and get my strength back.” It turned out to be the last conversation that I ever had before my Dad’s death. While in hindsight I wish we had talked about something more profound and more intimate, I know in my heart that it was an appropriate ending to end our time together. Through all of the changes that impacted both of our lives, our connection through golf and the joys we shared together on the course never dimmed.

When it is my time to go to that great Valhalla G.C. in the sky, it won’t bother me if my final words to my sons are about how their golf games are faring. It won’t bother me one single bit.

deStinatiOnS

When Chicagoans hear the city of Auburn Hills, Michigan, mentioned, our first thought is always of the Detroit Pistons. After all, it was the ‘Bad Boys’— Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, and Isiah Thomas—that stood in the way of our Bulls until Michael Jordan and friends finally made their historic breakthrough back in the early 1990s.

But for Chicago-area golfers, Auburn Hills should be a destination added to your Michigan bucket list, specifically Fieldstone Golf Club, recognized as one of metro Detroit’s best public golf courses. This Arthur Hills gem has hosted some impressive tournaments, including the PGA Tour’s Buick Open Qualifier, U.S.G.A Junior Amateur Qualifier, Michigan PubLinx and Senior PubLinx, and many others.

Fieldstone is expertly managed by PGA professional Chip Hierlihy who, along with course superintendent Myles Sprague, bring more than 40 years of combined experience at private facilities from Florida to Colorado and everywhere in between. That experience shines through with the incredible shape the course is always in and the customer experience which makes this public course feel a lot more like private.

And when it comes to working on your game, Fieldstone offers a tour-quality practice facility and learning center, providing an exceptionally manicured 40-station, bent grass range; four target greens; a large bunker; and a huge practice green that offer a unique opportunity to keep your game in shape from tee to green.

Measuring nearly 7,000 yards, you’ll be tested on nearly every hole in classic Arthur Hills style. The designer who built Stonewall Orchard in northwest suburban Grayslake in 1999, Hills completed Fieldstone just a year earlier. And just like Stonewall Orchard, the par 3s are totally off the hook (in a good way).

The first is No. 3, a short par 3 that is deceptively longer than the card shows (playing 140 to 165 yards). Protected by trees from all sides, swirling winds can often knock down a high ball, leaving you below an elevated green. Go long and you’ll certainly find one of the three bunkers that surround the back, forcing

Fieldstone G.C. Worth Trip To Motor City

Hole #6

Hole #2

a delicate pitch downhill to the hole. The green has wispy native grasses, which protect the back of the green and add to the hole’s overall splendor.

“Although we are a public course, the experience is much more like a private facility, not only in the way that we maintain the golf course but also the way that we treat our customers,” said Hierlihy. “You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more challenging or better manicured course than ours.”

Following back-to-back par 5s, the par-3 8th hole can play as long as 227 yards, but even between 180 to 190, this par 3 will take all that you have to give it on the putting surface. Middle of the green is always a smart choice here as the right side is protected by a large tree and deep sand on the left. A two–tiered green demands the proper club choice to avoid a ridge running through its middle. Long putts can take even the most seasoned player from birdie to bogey in the blink of an eye.

The last par 3 on the course is No. 14, playing between 145 and 190 yards. This is one of Hierlihy ’s favorite holes at Fieldstone. With wetlands spanning from tee to green, you’ll need to hit a solid shot to land safely onto a very challenging green. There’s little room for error here. The green is surrounded by trees and a deep front bunker, compounded by pre vailing winds not often felt from the tee. This is a deep green, so it’s important to pay close attention to the flag position.

Fieldstone finishes with a fun par 4, which happens to be the shortest one out here. You may be tempted to go for the green off the tee on this 326-yard slight dogleg left, but the hole is very well pro tected. Favor the right side of the fairway to leave a short wedge to the hole with ample green to work with. Drive it left, and you’ll have to carry a hazard to a shallow landing area.

Fieldstone uses dynamic pricing, so green fees fluctuate depending on the day and time; your best bet is to call the clubhouse at (248)-370-9354 to book your tee time. For more information, visit www. fieldstonegolfclub.com.

from page 13

diverse clientele which includes avid groups of golfers along with couples and families, the goal was to make a course that would be fun for every level of player. The course is laid out on the side of an impressive ski hill so the goal was to have the majority of holes downhill and sidehills to reduce the amount of uphill climbs required to navigate the nine holes. The emphasis will be on fun!”

The target opening of Doon Brae is late fall. And by then, don’t be surprised if still more plans are unveiled for even more amenities at the three resorts. In coming years, plans to add a music venue, an outdoor sports complex, a new beach house, and perhaps even a new Pete Dye-designed golf course that was planned for the property years ago.

“Our vision of Boyne Resorts goes well beyond 2030,” said Friedrich. “If you like what we have offered golfers, families, and couples up until now, stay tuned for even greater and better experiences in coming days, months, and years.”

To book a trip or for more information, visit www.boyneresorts.com.

PLAY

PHOTO: HARBOR SHORES GOLF CLUB COURSE, BENTON HARBOR

Abbey Springs

262-275-6113

One Country Club Dr. Fontana, WI 53125 abbeysprings.org

Abbey Springs has been rated 4.5 Stars by Golf Digest. With spectacular views of Geneva Lake, Abbey Springs underwent a major green renovation in 2021, featuring state of the art 007 bent grass on all greens. Make your reservation at the web site above.

Arrowhead Golf Club

630-653-5800

26W151 Butterfield Rd. Wheaton, IL 60189 arrowheadgolfclub.org

Arrowhead Golf Club is recognized for its beautifully maintained course and inviting atmosphere.

Arrowhead is a public course which offers impeccable golfing conditions at affordable rates on three separate par-72 18-hole layouts surrounded by forest preserve. The West, East, and South Courses feature new bunker renovations and enhancements. The practice area includes a lighted driving range, putting green, and chipping green. Group and individual golf lessons are available.

The Bluffs

Public Golf Club

815-467-7888

24355 W. Bluff Rd. Channahon, IL 60410 heritagebluffs.com

18 Holes: Par 72

Yardage: 5,035 - 7,171

Located near the intersection of Interstates 80 and 55 just south of Joliet, Heritage Bluffs is the pride of the Channahon Park District. The tranquil surroundings make a day playing golf fun and relaxing.

Along with our award-winning course we also feature a large all-grass practice range, along with a large putting green and a separate chipping green and bunker. After your round you can relax in our Grille Room or out on the patio, enjoying a full menu of delicious food and beverage choices.

Balmoral Woods Golf Club

708-672-7448

26732 S. Balmoral Woods Dr. Crete, IL 60417 balmoralwoods.com

Balmoral Woods offers a demanding, superbly conditioned, magnificent round of golf.

Laid out over 280 acres of wooded, rolling hills, the course will test the skill of golfers with its 6700-yard, 72.6 rated, 133-slope layout. It is a public 18-hole golf course, has hosted many local and state events and tournaments, and is the annual home of the Will County Amateur Championship. Check out our website for new rates, reservations, and more information. Follow us on instagram for the latest updates and events.

Bullseye Golf Club

715-423-2225

2800 Ridgewood Trail Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 bullseyegolfclub.com

Designed by Larry Packard featuring towering pines giving a feel of the Carolinas right in Central Wisconsin. The Wisconsin River provides a picturesque view for the finishing holes across our rolling terrain. Warm up before your round on our new 30,000 sq. ft. bent grass practice tee!

Belmont Golf Club

630-963-1306

2420 Haddow Ave. Downers Grove, IL 60515 belmontgolfclub.org

The historic Belmont Golf Club is a scenic 9-hole par-36 course featuring mature trees, natural areas, elevation, and water hazards. A driving range with 24 hitting stations, a practice putting green, sand trap, and chipping area includes a 10-station covered shelter.

Cantigny Golf

630-668-8463

27W270 Mack Rd. Wheaton, IL 60189 cantignygolf.com

Part of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Cantigny Golf opened in 1989 and is managed by KemperSports. A renovation of Cantigny’s highly rated 27 holes begins in June 2024 with the Hillside nine, followed by the Woodside and Lakeside nines. Eighteen holes will remain open for play throughout the three-year project. Cantigny Golf Academy offers TrackMan Range technology, installed in 2023, plus club fitting and repair services, junior clinics, private lessons and climate-controlled hitting bays. Cantigny Youth Links is a 9-hole, par-3 course for families.

Cog Hill Golf & Country Club

866-264-4455

12294 Archer Ave. Palos Park, IL 60439 coghillgolf.com

Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, a Jemsek Golf Facility, is a historic 72-hole public golf facility located 30 miles southwest of Chicago. The yearround facility includes a driving range equipped with lights and heated Toptracer stalls, two golf shops, patio dining, and a pavilion for events, along with a 280-seat banquet hall.

• Rated in“America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” by Golf Digest

• 2020 GRAA Top 50 Public Range in the Nation

Erin Hills

866-772-4769

7169 County Road O Erin, WI 53027

erinhills.com/

Erin Hills is a course like none other — routed over the kettle moraine areas left by glaciers, surrounded by wetlands and a river, with ground that consists of glacial till of varied composition of sand and small rock. In an unconventional decision for a course in Wisconsin, the architects routed the fairways around contours of the property and provided a firm playing surface that plays shorter than its length on the scorecard.

Fox Bend Golf Course

630-554-3939

3516 Route 34

Oswego, IL 60543

foxbendgolfcourse.com

The Haven Indoor Golf

708-671-8052

12317 S. Harlem Ave. Palos Heights, IL 60463 thehavenindoorgolf.com

The Haven Indoor Golf & Bar is the only indoor facility in the Southwest Suburbs using Foresight GC Hawks! Our simulators are true game improvement simulators making us the premier facility in the Southwest suburbs.

Foresight Sports launch monitors use exact photometric measurements and image processing taken with a clear, direct view of the critical ball launch condition and club head into impact. The result? Our launch monitors measure – not estimate – club head data based on the club’s triangulated face plane, delivering vastly more accurate results.

Fox Bend Golf Course, Oswegoland Park District’s fun and challenging public course, boasts plush fairways, mature trees, and challenging greens. This 6,925-yard par-72 course tests skills of all levels with well-positioned bunkers and water in play on 11 holes. Fox Bend has hosted three Illinois Opens, USGA Qualifiers, Illinois State Amateur Qualifiers, and is home to the annual Fox Bend Amateur. Visit foxbendgolfcourse.com for more information or to book your next tee time. Visit Christina’s Pub & Grill before or after your round to enjoy spacious outdoor seating with great course views and American fare done right!

Heritage Oaks Golf Club

847-291-2351

3535 Dundee Rd. Northbrook, IL 60623 heritageoaksgc.com

Conveniently located between the Edens Expressway and Interstate 294, 30 minutes north of Chicago. Featuring 27 holes of tree-lined golf, a practice range equipped with TrackMan® technology, our golf academy, and indoor golf simulators, Heritage Oaks offers something for everyone. With the elevated Acorn Grill + Terrace overlooking courses certified by the National Audubon Society, Heritage Oaks Golf Club welcomes you for golf, for a meal, or for a timeless experience.

Game of Irons

630-303-9454

3041 Butterfield Rd. Suite 104

Oak Brook, IL 60523

gameofirons.com

Game of Irons is Chicagoland’s most exciting virtual golf experience! Be transported to over 200 world-famous courses in the comfort of a premium indoor facility with 16 hitting bays in over 18,000 sq. ft.perfect for corporate events, parties, and club meetings. We offer a full bar with craft cocktails and amazing food. We invite you to try out our #1 rated simulators with moving floors that adjust to the course contours, auto ball tee and multiple turf types (fairway, rough and bunker).

The Highlands of Elgin

847-931-5950

875 Sports Way Elgin, IL 60123 highlandsofelgin.com

The Highlands of Elgin has become a premier destination for thousands of golfers throughout the region. Nine new holes reclaim an old stone quarry, and take maximum advantage of the unique and dramatic landforms that were left behind, including a twelve-acre quarry lake. Four holes hug the top of the bluff thirty to forty feet above the water, providing golfers with incredible views and numerous shot options on each hole. The prairie-style clubhouse features an expanded golf shop, locker rooms, event rooms, and a full-scale food and beverage operation.

Harborside International Golf Club

312-782-7837

11001 S. Doty Ave. East Chicago, IL 60628

harborsidegolf.com

Harborside International Golf Center, home to the Port & Starboard Courses, is Chicago’s home for golf. Located minutes from Chicago’s Loop, Harborside offers a premier golf experience in the Chicagoland area. Harborside is the only facility with two of Golfweek ’s “Best Courses You Can Play in Illinois” and is home to an expansive practice facility. Harborside is owned by the Illinois International Port District and managed by KemperSports.

Kankakee Elks Country Club

815-937-9547

2283 Bittersweet Dr. Saint Anne, IL 60964 elksgolf627.com

The Kankakee Elks Country Club is an 18-hole par-72 course. It is one of Illinois’ premier Langford @ Moreau design courses, featuring some of the best green complexes in illinois, 40 miles south of Chicago along the beautiful Kankakee River with very affordable rates. Chose from one of our four tees to accommodate all levels of play.

Driving range, chipping area, and putting green with newly remodeled bar and snack shop.

Klein Creek Golf Club

630-690-0101

1N333 Pleasant Hill Rd. Winfield, IL 60190 kleincreek.com

Klein Creek Golf Club is an 18-hole public golf course located one mile south of North Avenue and easily accessible from I-355. Designed by Dick Nugent, the layout features an open design in which water is present on 15 holes. Trees frame the layout’s gentle doglegs, and tall prairie grasses border the fairways. Contoured mounding frames the fairways and greens, allowing a variety of approach options and great risk-reward opportunities.

The Club at Lac La Belle

262-567-7833

6996 Pennsylvania St. Oconomowoc, WI 53066 clubatlaclabelle.com

The newly renovated Club at Lac La Belle is now open for public play! If the club’s original founders and its legendary Scottish golf professionals were alive today, our hope is that they would recognize our new course as fun “sporting” golf, which was a fundamental part of the game in 1896. We invite you to come see why Lac La Belle is the birthplace of the Wisconsin Golf Trail

Lake Arrowhead

715-325-2929

1195 Apache Lane Nekoosa, WI 54457 lakearrowheadgolf.com

Located in the heart of Central Wisconsin, Lake Arrowhead boasts two of the Midwest’s elite 18-hole golf courses. Here you have the rare opportunity to enjoy not just one, but two 4½ star championship golf courses in one incredible experience.

Naperbrook Golf Course

630-378-4215

22204 W. 111th St. / Hassert Blvd.

Plainfield, IL 60585 golfnaperville.org

Located in Plainfield, scenic Naperbrook Golf Course is a “links style” course that features rolling hills and wide fairways. Challenges in the way of ponds, a double green, and hidden bunkers await golfers of all levels. Additional amenities include a recently updated and expanded practice area featuring a one-acre turf range tee, large practice green, and practice bunker. Enjoy post-game refreshments on the picturesque patio. Naperbrook also offers lessons, outings, a well-stocked golf shop, and much more.

Northern Bay Resort and Marina

608-339-2090 ext. 2 1844 20th Avenue Arkdale, WI 54613 northernbayresort.com

Play where the pros play. Experience our unique replica golf course inspired by the most celebrated holes in the game and situated on the shores of Castle Rock Lake.

Northern Bay offers all the amenities of a Wisconsin Dells resort without all the hustle and bustle. Bring your golf buddies to play our one-of-a-kind replica course, or relax around the lake with your family. However you choose to stay, we look forward to greeting you at Northern Bay. Get started and book your tee time.

Pine Meadow Golf Club

847-566-4653

1 Pine Meadow Ln. Mundelein, IL 60060 pinemeadowgc.com

Pine Meadow Golf Club is known for our beautiful 220 acres of fairways, greens, pine trees, and meadow areas.

Golfers of all abilities and ages enjoy the serene setting and fun playable design of the “Pine.”

The Pine, due to its challenging design, has been host to all types of competitive events ranging from PGA Jr. League, to Men’s and Women’s State Ams, to Illinois PGA Championships.

This is truly a golf facility for everyone.

Prairie Landing Golf Club

630-208-7600

2325 Longest Dr. West Chicago, IL 60185 prairielanding.com

Prairie Landing Golf Course is a prairie links style 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The course has been rated 4.5 Stars by Golf Digest for “Best Places to Play.” Prairie Landing Golf Club prides itself on offering the quintessential golf experience of the Chicagoland Area.

PrairieView Golf Club

815-234-4653

6734 N. German Church Rd. Byron, IL 61010

prairieviewgolf.com

Recognized by many suburban golfers as a hidden gem, PrairieView Golf Club boasts beautiful views of restored dolomite prairie land that is well worth a short drive west out to Bryon, Ill. (south of Rockford). With challenging greens, dramatic bunkering, and supreme conditioning, the course will test the skills and nerves of every golfer. PrairieView is also home to PrairieFire Golf & Grill, a year-round Toptracer Range® with heated bays, lounge seating, and great food and drink selections.

Purdue’s Ackerman-Allen Course

765-494-3139

West Lafayette, IN purduegolf.com

The Ackerman-Allen Course, a Pete Dye design, is an 18hole, parkland-style, par-72 championship golf course featuring large bent-grass greens, fairways and tees. The layout presents a challenge for golfers of all abilities with rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, white sand bunkers, and minimal water hazards. Ackerman-Allen offers five sets of tees with the championship tees playing over 7,500 yards and the forward tees playing at 5,300 yards.

Purdue’s Kampen-Cosler Course

765-494-3139

West Lafayette, IN purduegolf.com

The Kampen-Cosler Course, a Pete Dye design, is an 18-hole, links-style, par-72 championship course features large bent-grass greens, fairways, and tees. The layout is a challenge for golfers of all abilities with vast sand bunkers, native grasslands, ponds, and a natural celery bog. There are five sets of tees with the championship tees playing over 7,400 yards and the forward tees at 5,300 yards.

Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course

847-872-2080

351 North Green Bay Rd. Zion, IL 60099

www.shepherdscrook.org

Shepherd’s Crook has earned rave reviews as a course that is both challenging and exciting to play. Keith Foster, who has designed some of the most interesting courses built in the last 10 years, created a linksstyle course that a feels like playing Ireland’s Ballybunion or Waterville courses. The design reflects the golden era of golf course architecture of the 1920s and 30s, with bentgrass fairways, tees, and greens.

“Shepherd’s Crook is routed with classic and strategic design principles that cut features naturally to the terrain.

The vision of Shepherd’s Crook returns golfers to the game’s past.” – Keith Foster, Architect

Kampen-Cosler, one of the top collegiate courses in the nation, has been awarded 4.5 stars on Golf Digest ’s “Places to Play.” It receives high marks as one of the most difficult golf courses in Indiana.

Springbrook Golf Course

630-848-5060

2220 W. 83rd St. Naperville, IL 60564 golfnaperville.org

Springbrook GC commands some of the finest views of Naperville’s open space and trails. This 18-hole parkland-style championship course was renovated in 2022, and is expected to reopen in mid-year of 2023 with exciting updates including new tees and bunkers. Work on your swing at the one-acre turf practice tee, or fine tune your short game at the large practice putting green or two short-game practice greens with bunkers. Enjoy post-game refreshments on the expansive patio with great views of the course. Springbrook also offers lessons, outings, a well-stocked golf shop, and more.

Sand Valley

888-398-8671

1697 Leopold Way Nekoosa, WI 54457 sandvalley.com

Sand Valley is known for its three award-winning golf courses, Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, and the Sandbox, which were modeled after the great heathland courses of London. Enjoy dramatic views, a magnitude of strategic playing options, modern lodging, and a culinary experience to match.

The Shack Indoor Golf

847-904-2905

1717 Chestnut Ave. Glenview IL, 60025 theshackgolfclub.com

The Shack Indoor Golf Club features TrackMan® simulator technology for an immersive golf experience. Enjoy delicious food and drinks from our full bar while practicing your swing. Perfect for socializing or improving your game, come and tee off at our state-of-the-art facility.

Stonewall Orchard Golf Club

847-740-4890

25675 W. Highway 60 Grayslake, IL 60030 stonewallorchard.com

Cutting through hundredyear-old oak and pine trees, Stonewall Orchard Golf Club has quickly become one of Chicago’s most prolific public golf courses.

Since opening in 1999, the Arthur Hills-designed gem located in northwest suburban Grayslake has served as Final Stage Qualifying site for the U.S. Open, and currently sits in rotation with Olympia Fields and Medinah Country Club as host site for the Illinois PGA Section Championship held every Spring 2.

Tam O’Shanter Golf Course & Learning Center

847-965-2344

6700 W. Howard St. Niles, IL 60714

golftam.com

One of the most important courses in popularizing the game of golf in America is located right here in Niles. In 1953, Tam O’Shanter Country Club hosted the first-ever nationally televised golf tournament. Today, a public 9-hole par-33 course remains, maintained with the goal of providing playing conditions reminiscent of those Hogan, Palmer, and Nicklaus enjoyed years ago. Swing out for a scenic round and walk in the footsteps of legends at Tam O’Shanter! Year-round instruction available!

University Ridge Golf Course

608-845-7700

9002 County Rd. PD Madison, WI 53593 universityridge.com

University Ridge is home to the University of Wisconsin Men’s & Women’s Golf Teams. Since 2016, University Ridge has been the host site of the PGA Tour Champions, American Family Insurance Championship, which is hosted by Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker. Play where the Badgers and the Pros play! University Ridge!

White Pines Golf Club

630-766-0304

500 W. Jefferson

Bensenville, IL 60106

whitepinesgolf.com

The White Pines Golf Club’s two 18-hole championship courses, situated on more than 260 acres, have been a favorite among Chicago area golfers since 1928. The public course, owned and operated by the Bensenville Park District, is an excellent choice for players of all skill levels. Whether it’s an evening at the lighted driving range, a casual round with friends, an outing or special event, White Pines Golf Club offers the perfect setting to get “away from it all.” Enjoy food and drink at 37 Bar & Grill. Take advantage of Monday-Thursday tee time specials and book online.

X-Golf Kildeer

847-847-1723

20771 N Rand Rd Suite I-4

Kildeer, IL 60047

xgolfkildeer.com

XGolf Kildeer offers an upscale indoor golf experience. State-ofthe-art golf simulators, full bar, private and semi-private rooms, and wide open floor plan!

X-Golf Libertyville

224-504-2940

1177 S. Milwaukee Ave. Libertyville, IL 60048

xgolf-libertyville.com

We spent 15 years engineering, learning from golf experts, and creating a simulator of unparalleled accuracy. The result?

A completely new experience that lets golfers play on the world’s top courses, compete in a wide variety of game formats, and of course – enjoy some of the best golf they’ve ever played in a high-energy indoor entertainment facility. Whether a tee time or PGA Professional lesson, X-Golf has it all: a full bar with beer and cocktails, shareable appetizers, and courses designed for all ages and levels from amateurs to professionals.

Whitetail Ridge Golf Club

630-882-8988

7671 Clubhouse Dr. Yorkville, IL 60560

whitetailridgegc.com

Experience a “tail” of two Nines at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club. Our Front Nine flows through a beautiful valley featuring a creek that splits through its relatively flat landscape. Our Back Nine begins on #10 with a climb up the slopes and follows the rolling hills into some towering trees. Finish your day in The Persimmon Room. This newly renovated space features an indoor/outdoor dining area with shareable dishes, scratchmade entrees, an extensive list of bourbons and whiskey, and the most spectacular sunsets around!

X-Golf Orland Park

708-966-0486

15876 S. LaGrange Rd. Orland Park, IL 60462

xgolforlandpark.com

We offer eight state-of-the-art simulators which are designed for golfers at all stages of their game. Whether you want to sharpen your game to gain that competitive edge or are just starting out and want to learn new skills without battling the outdoors, this is the place for you. The simulators can give you data about your swing and ball striking to improve your game and along with that, we can help you take your game to the next level by having a PGA-qualified Professional on our team.

Wilmette Golf Club

847-256-9777

3900 Fairway Dr. Wilmette, IL 60091

golfwilmette.com

Wilmette Golf Club is the closest 18-hole facility north of Chicago. This par-70 course will test all skill levels with the purest greens on the North Shore. A 30-station driving range and large putting green are available for working on your game. Enjoy a drink or dinner on the patio overlooking the 18th green at The Lawn. Contact us directly to book your next outing or special event. Take advantage of tee time specials by booking online at golfwilmette.com

X-Golf Schaumburg

847-380-1848

1100 American Ln. Schaumburg, IL 60173

xgolf-schaumburg.com

We spent 15 years engineering, learning from golf experts, and creating a simulator of unparalleled accuracy. The result?

A completely new experience that lets golfers play on the world’s top courses, compete in a wide variety of game formats, and of course – enjoy some of the best golf they’ve ever played in a high-energy indoor entertainment facility. Whether a tee time or PGA Professional lesson, X-Golf has it all: a full bar with beer and cocktails, shareable appetizers, and courses designed for all ages and levels from amateurs to professionals.

Shepherd’s

Crook’s

Christopher Cudworth

TSaving Mother Earth, One Stroke at a Time

his is an excerpt from a book titled Nature is Our Country Club by Christopher Cudworth. Golf serves as an apt symbol of how humanity manages sustainability. As a lifelong golfer and naturalist, Cudworth examines the relationship between golf and the environment, how golf courses and the industry have evolved, what challenges golf faces relative to economics, water supplies and human needs, and climate change as factors affecting the game. A book talk and signing event is scheduled for June 19 at Cantigny Park. Those interested are invited to come early for a casual nature walk before the presentation. To join the walk, meet behind the Cantigny Visitors Center at 5:30 pm. No sign-up is necessary, and binoculars will be available for borrowing.

Those of us who golf often receive instructions about the day to come from a person standing by the first tee box, a person we know simply as the “starter.” This individual’s job is to set expectations while we borrow the course for the next several hours. If there are cart restrictions due rain or extra dry conditions, the starter informs us so that the course condition doesn’t suffer from carelessness or ignorance. Keeping a golf course in playable condition takes a lot of work and even more money. The maintenance includes mowing fairways, tees, and greens at the prescribed lengths. On most courses, there is daily watering as well. Greenskeepers inspect everything from turf conditions to tree health so that the delicate balance of golf course beauty remains intact.

Yet sustaining a golf course’s appearance is not the same as creating overall sustainability. It became apparent several decades ago that too many golf courses were toxic environments maintained by heavy chemical use, pesticides, and herbicides that posed dangers not only to wildlife but also to human health. There is even a well-known course (which will remain nameless) in the Chicago area which learned that for years it had been pumping water polluted by salt from a neighboring factory. It took that course nearly a decade to rebound once the situation was rectified.

But a revolution in attitude about golf course maintenance has commenced and is ongoing. The golf industry needed its own starter of sorts to help guide its efforts toward sustainability. Many interests and factions got involved, with native landscaping integrating natural habitats and plants with golf course topography. The advisors who engaged in golf course sustainability ranged from non-profit organizations to for-profit businesses, government regulatory agencies, and municipalities of every size and scale.

During this period of change, economic recessions, climate change, and severe weather events caused golf courses misery. The word “sustainability” about golf represents the game’s ability to adapt to many factors.

Golf is a global sport with between 25 and 30 million people, or 10% of the population, playing here in the U.S. But don’t be fooled; the 90% non-golfing majority is still affected by the game. In locations like Phoenix, hundreds of golf courses compete for the same water used by area residents. Some desert courses use a million gallons of water daily to keep their courses green. Yet the City of Scottsdale had to cut off water supplies to a neighboring residential community because it ran short of water for its residents.

These and other environmental issues make the golf industry an exciting case study in sustainability. As golfers play their rounds, the appropriate course etiquette is to perform course maintenance by replacing or filling divots, raking sand traps, and repairing ball marks on the green. These actions symbolize the small things we can all do to make the world a better place. That shows respect for others and contributes to sustainability overall.

My recently published book, Nature is Our Country Club, illustrates how sustainability initiatives in golf show us why we must all protect the “country club” we live on, Planet Earth.

While golf is a “game of rules,” it is up to every golfer to respect and abide by them. There’s an honor system at work. Not every golfer is good at obeying the rules or keeping the course in good condition. This book is also about having the humility to admit when we’ve messed up and forgive those whose actions seem to conflict with our own. We’ll explore that even oppositional “players” in the game of life often have more in common than they might think. That’s the “common ground” between the game of golf and the world of golf. Because, in the end, nature is our country club.

Christopher Cudworth, of North Aurora, Illinois, is an experienced speaker, journalist, artist, and avid naturalist with a special gift for connecting with his audiences. Among his specialties is helping people appreciate nature through art instruction and writing. He is a Certified Naturalist Educator who teaches in public schools, higher and adult education. An active muralist, Chris’s work appears in public and private spaces throughout the Chicago region. Nature is Our Country Club is his fourth book. To learn more, visit ChristopherCudworth.com.

Nature is Our Country Club illustrates how sustainability initiatives in golf show us why we must all protect the “country club” we live on, Planet Earth.

Elevate their game at: www.swannies.co