Len Ziehm’s Golf Travels

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

NW Indiana: Start is spectacular at Lost Marsh

By Len Ziehm Lost Marsh Clubhouse Hammond HAMMOND, Ind. - The Lost Marsh golf course didn't exist when I lived in Northwest Indiana from 1967-69 and was just getting serious about golf. What a shame! Back then, while working for the Hammond Times immediately after finishing college, the courses of choice were Wicker Park - it had a player-friendly course, the best hot dogs in Indiana and a most friendly staff - and the much newer Scherwood, in Schererville. Then there was Woodmar, right next to Wicker, but it was a private club and difficult to get on. (more…)

Erin Hills: Wisconsin layout will be a popular destination prior to ’17 Open

By Len Ziehm Erin HillsErin, Wis. - The hoopla was extraordinary when Erin Hills first welcomed golfers in 2006.  The very upscale public course on the outskirts of Milwaukee was even awarded a U.S. Golf Assn. national championship (the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links) before its land was even seeded. By 2009 - following an ownership change from creator Bob Lang to Milwaukee businessman Andy Ziegler, co-founder of the investment firm Artisan Partners - Erin Hills was named a site for both the 2011 U.S. Amateur and the 2017 U.S. Open. Frankly, I couldn't understand why. (more…)

TRAVERSE CITY: Two resorts that have withstood the tests of time

By Len Ziehm TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Golf course openings are rare in these tough economic times. Three decades ago that wasn't the case, but none back then were as celebrated as Jack Nicklaus’ The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort. Grand Traverse tower at The BearGrand Traverse, then just five years old, took an extraordinary step when The Bear was ready for play. Virtually every member of the media covering the 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills was invited to play the layout the day after Andy North won his second Open title, and most of them showed up. That type of sendoff for a new golf course was unheard of, and media members from throughout the country found the layout appropriately named. It was indeed a bear. (more…)

Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club

By Len Ziehm Back in 2002 it was hard to imagine that the Senior PGA Tour wouldn't be coming back to Chicago the following year.  After all, the circuit for golf’s 50-and-over stars had been well-received for the 12 previous years and the players made it clear they liked coming here. Sponsorship didn't materialize, though, and the event known originally as the Ameritech Senior Open and then – in its last three stages – as the SBC Senior Open was gone forever. On a more upbeat note, however, the most exciting feature of this golf season is the circuit’s return -- for the June 17-23 Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club in Glenview. Chicago’s devoted golf fans, though, shouldn't expect to see revival of the tournaments held here from 1991-2002. Lots of things have changed since then. (more…)

JONES TRAIL: Cambrian Ridge was a great place to start

By Len Ziehm GREENVILLE, Ala. – Some things are just meant to be. That seemed to be the case when a chance to play on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail finally materialized at the end of a 10-week road trip. This  travel-writing journey was to finish up with rounds at Sandestin, on the Florida Panhandle, and Preserve, a Jerry Pate creation in Biloxi, Miss.  Alabama had been on the route back to Chicago two previous times on similar trips, but not on this one. (more…)

It Ziehms To Me: A fitting honor for Chicago legend Bill Ogden

By Len Ziehm A golf professional’s job was much different when Bill Ogden ran the shop at North Shore Country Club. Ogden not only could compete at the highest level, but he also was a master at handling the detail work that was required on the job. The Chicago area never has had a club pro as widely successful as Ogden, and his myriad of accomplishments were recognized this week when he was named among eight inductees into the PGA Golf Professionals Hall of Fame.  He’ll be inducted posthumously at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, FL., on March 12. (more…)

STREAMSONG: Finding this new resort added to its excitement

By Len Ziehm STREAMSONG, FL. – The anticipation surrounding the opening of Streamsong Resort was too great.  I had to see it pronto. Eventually I did. Eventually. As it turned out the adventure involved in finding the place was very much part of the excitement surrounding it. Streamsong wasn’t easy to find, but well worth it once we did. While the Streamsong website (streamsongresort.com) is explicit in giving directions, the location is hard to fathom.  The resort guide describes it as ``a place so far removed from the ordinary, it’s hard to believe it’s in Florida.’’ No question about that. (more…)

It Ziehms to Me: Changes are coming in Chicago club pro ranks

There wasn’t much movement in Chicago’s club professional ranks the past few years, but that’s not the case now. Already five well-established head pros have announced plans to move on. The move creating the most ripple effect was Mike Scully’s departure from Medinah immediate after the Ryder Cup.  He is now in charge at Desert Mountain, a Scottsdale, Ariz., resort that has five courses. Scully was also the vice president of the Illinois PGA, so his leaving the area after nearly 10 years created some adjustment in the section’s rotation of officers.  Chris Gumbach became the IPGA’s 25th president at the Fall Annual Meeting. Gumbach, a member of the board of directors from 2007-12, succeeds Casey Brozek, who will continue on the board as honorary president. (more…)

It Ziehms to Me: New bunkers have change the look of Kemper Lakes

Kemper Lakes Bunker Project Illinois PGA will have a different challenge if the section decides to keep its first major tourney of 2013 at Kemper Lakes. The club, which hosted the 1989 PGA Championship, the 1992 U.S. Women's Amateur and several Champions Tour stops before it became a private venue in 2009, has begun a renovation project. Taking small steps at first, the club approved Libertyville architect Rick Jacobson's plans to radically change the bunkering.  The original course had 199,000 square feet of bunkers.  When Jacobson's work is done it'll have 112,000. But the number of bunkers will probably increase from the present 63. (more…)

It Ziehms to Me – Ryder Cup, Teaching, Western Golf Assn and more

by Len Ziehm THE RECENT RYDER CUP may have seemed a downer after the collapse of the U.S. team in the Sunday matches, but – while being on site at Medinah every day – I found an uplifting story behind the scenes -- the reunion of the Sweeney brothers. Frank and Mary Sweeney, their parents, moved to a residence on Sunset Terrace – about 600 yards from the Medinah clubhouse – in 1962 and raised six children there. Their four boys – Frank, Phil, Pat and Brendan – were all Medinah caddies, and the Ryder Cup marked the first time they were all together since 2007. Their father passed away in March and their mother lives in Venice, FL. (more…)