Len Ziehm’s Golf Travels

Features on the beautiful and unique golf courses throughout the United States.

It Ziehms to Me: Tweaking is almost done at Erin Hills

Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm Erin Hills has undergone more than its share of tweaks in its brief history, but interest in the layout 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee has never wavered. In fact, enthusiasm for the course has grown with each of the changes made since the opening in 2006. It's good news, though, that the alterations are just about done. (more…)

This is American Golf’s ‘Other Augusta’

Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm When you put Augusta and golf together you think of April, azaleas and the Masters tournament, right? Well, that'd be understandable. Not all the great Augusta golf is played in Georgia, though. Check out Augusta, Michigan. Golf is pretty good there, too. This little town (population of only about 1,000) in southwest Michigan is the home of one of the premier families in the American golf industry as well as a unique resort/convention center complex that features one of that's state's premier courses. [caption id="attachment_1910" align="alignright" width="300"] Vice president Tim Moskalic shows his eye-catching course at Yarrow Golf & Conference Resort.[/caption] Put them together and you have the story of six courses just a few miles apart that create an ideal destination for group outings. We'll start with Yarrow Golf & Conference Resort. Its golf is good - an 18-holer designed by busy Michigan architect Ray Hearn in 2002. Hearn has either designed or worked on 25 courses in his home state (he lives in Holland, MI.) and has done quality work elsewhere. His renovations at two Chicago clubs - private Flossmoor Country Club and upscale public Mistwood - have drawn more attention lately but Yarrow is definitely one of Hearn's best. (more…)

India’s 61 in U.S. Open qualifying precedes Malm’s bid for a three-peat

Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm

Deerfield product Vince India has been struggling as a rookie on the PGA's satellite Web.com Tour this year, but he didn't struggle on Monday in a local qualifier for the U.S. Open.

The former University of Iowa golfer shot a 10-under-par 61 to earn medalist honors in a local qualifier at Waterlefe, in Sarasota, FL. India played there because it was close to his new residence in Lakewood Ranch, FL. India moved there after obtaining playing privileges at the Concession Club, the site of the annual Big Ten Match Play Championship.

Concession is also the home course for former PGA champion Paul Azinger and Tony Jacklin, the former U.S. and British Open champion. The name of the course was inspired by Jacklin, in honor of a memorable Ryder Cup moment when Jack Nicklaus conceded him a short putt that led to the competition between the U.S. and Europe ending in a tie in 1969. Last month Concession hosted a new team event, the Concession Cup, which pitted amateur teams from the U.S. and Europe against each other. (more…)

It Ziems To Me: Getting No. 1 Seed Gives U.S. Boost For International Crown

Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm

There's a drawback to designating one prime superstar in a sport. That policy can work to the detriment of others, and that's what happened this week, when Tiger Woods announced he wouldn't play in this year's Masters. In this case the victim was the LPGA, which had its own big news to unveil at its first major championship of the season. (more…)

Women’s Events Will Trigger Busiest Year For French Lick

Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm

FRENCH LICK, Ind. - Golf's newest Hall of Fame has been slow in developing since Dave Harner, director of golf at French Lick Resort, announced plans for the LPGA Legends Hall of Fame last September.

The facility, to be located off the lobby of the West Baden Springs Hotel in this little southern Indiana town, is still vacant though Harner has no doubts that the Hall will be a major attraction when the Legends Championship returns to French Lick's Pete Dye Course from Aug. 15-17. (more…)

It Ziehms To Me: Georgia’s Summer Grove Course Could Be Called Jemsek South

Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm

NEWNAN, Ga. - It's no secret that the Jemseks are the first family of golf in Chicago. In fact, it's been that way for a long time.

It all started when Joe Jemsek purchased St. Andrews, in West Chicago in the 1930s. He later bought Cog Hill, in Lemont, and expanded it from 36 to its present 72 holes. [caption id="attachment_1835" align="alignright" width="251"] A cheery welcome greets golfers when they arrive at Summer Grove.[/caption] The Jemseks are now three generations deep in Chicago golf. For years the family operated Glenwoodie, in Glenwood, and - in addition to Cog Hill and St. Andrews -the Jemseks also operate Pine Meadow, in Mundelein. But the family's golf involvement isn't limited to the Chicago area. Though it's not widely known, the Jemseks also have a course in Georgia – and it’s one that in some ways has more family involvement than the Chicago layouts. (more…)

It Ziehms to Me: Economic downturn hasn’t hurt Kiawah

Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - With so many golf facilities struggling these days, Roger Warren's report on the popular Kiawah Resort is eye-catching to say the least. "We had the best year in the history of the resort last year," said Warren who left the Chicago area for Kiawah in 2003 and has been the resort's president since 2005. "There was a halo effect from (hosting the 2012) PGA Championship, but we experienced four years of double digit growth from 2009 on." [caption id="attachment_609" align="alignleft" width="300"]Roger Warren has plenty of good memories from his recent Ryder Cup experiences. Roger Warren has plenty of good memories from his recent Ryder Cup experiences.[/caption] Why is that? “I know it flies in the face of what's happening in the rest of the game, but there's a segment in this country that's doing just fine - and that's my customer," said Warren. "They continue to come here. This is a beautiful island, and there's a lot to do here." This five-course facility near Charleston, S.C., doesn't need a commercial after already hosting an historic Ryder Cup (in 1991) and a major - the PGA, won by Rory McIlroy. Its Pete Dye-designed Ocean Course has witnessed it all. (more…)

It Ziehms To Me: International Crown trophy will be impressive

Len Ziehm on GolfBy Len Ziehm DAYTONA BEACH, FL. - I'll let you in on a secret. The trophy that will go to the winner of the LPGA's biggest-ever event will be one of the most impressive in all of sports. I received a sneak preview of the prize that the players in the new International Crown event will play for in July during my first visit to LPGA headquarters here (photo below). No pictures of the trophy or descriptions of it were allowed then, and the trophy won't be officially unveiled until April 1 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. (more…)

Golf on Florida’s Treasure Coast isn’t just for the touring pros

By Len Ziehm PORT ST. LUCIE, FL. - Florida's Treasure Coast embraces three counties - Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie. Add the surrounding areas and the golf options in this east coast area are numerous, diverse and competitively priced. That's why so many tour players make this their offseason home. Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Ricky Fowler and Nick Price are among 16 present or past tour players who are members at Medalist in Hobe Sound. Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Ernie Els and Camilo Villegas play at The Bears Club in Jupiter and Greg Norman, Russ Cochran and Scott Langley are at The Dye Preserve - another Jupiter club. Old Palm, in Palm Beach Gardens, includes Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Darren Clarke and Raymond Floyd. Even President Barack Obama has visited the area's links; he made a weekend vacation trip to The Floridian in Palm City. (more…)

Encompass tourney gets the spotlight at Chicago Golf Show

By Len Ziehm Chicago Golf Show The only pro golf tour event in Chicago in 2014 will also headline the 31st Chicago Golf Show. The Encompass Championship, which made its Chicago debut on the Champions Tour in 2013, will be the presenting sponsor of the winter attraction that begins a three-day run at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont on Friday (FEB 21). Golf at Encompass Championship 2013 Jeff Sluman, the Champions Tour veteran from Hinsdale, will become the fourth former major champion to appear at the show, following John Daly (2008), Craig Stadler (2012) and Lanny Wadkins (2013). Sluman won the 1988 PGA Championship. (more…)