Former WGA boss Don Johnson dead at 77
Former Western Golf Association executive director/president Don Johnson died Thursday, aged 77, the WGA announced Friday.
Johnson, who took control of the financially shaky WGA in 1988 and built a $45 million endowment by the time of his 2009 retirement, died in his Lake Bluff home, the WGA reported. The cause of death was not immediately available.
“Don’s leadership skills were vital to our organization’s success for more than two decades,” successor John Kaczkowski said. “His leadership resulted in the presentation of world-class championships that were admired and respected throughout the golf world."
A caddie in his youth and a lawyer by trade, Johnson active first in the Wisconsin State Golf Association, and was a WGA director for five years before replacing the retiring Marshall Dann.
He is survived by his wife, Jane; a son, Benjamin, at home; two daughters, Mindy Carter, Madison, Wis., and Tally Nathan, Paradise Valley, Ariz.; four grandchildren, Nikki Nametz, Brittany Klutsky, Max Nathan and Brenner Nathan; and one sister, Lisa Hillyer, Colorado Springs, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Pamela Helfrich.
A June memorial service is planned. Memorials in the name of Don Johnson may be made to the Evans Scholars Foundation, 1 Briar Rd., Golf, IL 60029, or online at www.wgaesf.org.
Mistwood renovation nearly ready; McQ's opens
Hard-charging Jim McWethy recently completed his purchase of the sports dome in Bolingbrook, and is renovating it with an eye toward opening it to golf – and only golf – after the annual Halloween haunted house festival. But McQ's, the new name for the dome's attached restaurant, is open, and with a spectacular new menu.
Meanwhile, McWethy's Mistwood in Romeoville is nearing completion of the $6 million renovation. In a few words, it is spectacular. We'll have more details closer to the June opening to the public – the Mistwood membership is already playing the back nine.
Chapman up 5 in Senior PGA at Harbor Shores
Roger Champan won't go away. The one-time winner – and only one time – on the European Tour has a five-stroke lead on John Cook and a seven-stroke-plus lead on the rest of the field with a round to play in the 73rd Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores. One of the two seven back: Hale Irwin, who, based on his track record on hard courses, should be in the middle of the fight. Details in News.
Illinois Golfer print edition on hiatus; online to expand
The print version of Illinois Golfer – the April edition is available now at a course near you – has been put on hiatus until the local advertising market improves. That means good news for online readers, including features that were slated for the print edition and an online version of the print edition's directory. That's coming soon, so bookmark this site and check back often!
– Tim Cronin, publisher and editor, Illinois Golfer
Kearfott wins Will County Amateur
Tom Kearfott of El Paso won the 24th Will County Amateur on Sunday, beating defending champion Michael Natale with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. See news for the details.
In The News:
Greg Martin has won the Oak Meadows Renovation Derby. Find the details in the print edition of Illinois Golfer, and then check out the backstory on Rory Spears' "Golfers On Golf" website: http://spears.golfersongolf.com/
Len Ziehm, the traveling golfer, finds an Alabama course worth finding the a little town of Sylacauga. Copy this into your browser to read Len's tale: http://lenziehmongolf.com/travel-destinations/farmlinks-finds-its-time-for-a-change/
2012 Calendar
including international majors, pro tour appearances in area, and local tournaments and exhibitions of interest
March
29-4/1 41st Kraft Nabisco Championship, Mission Hills Country Club (Shore), Rancho Mirage, Calif.
April
5-8 76th Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.
21-22 Will County Amateur, Balmoral Woods Country Club, Crete
May
7-8 21st Illinois Public Links Championship, Dunne National Golf Course, Oak Forest
10-13 39th Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass (Players), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
14-17 61st Illinois PGA Match Play Championship, Kemper Lakes GC, Hawthorn Woods
15-16 20th Illinois Mid-Amateur, Flossmoor Country Club, Flossmoor
17 12th CDGA Public Links Championship, Plum Tree National Golf Club, Harvard
21-24 11th CDGA Senior Amateur, Rockford Country Club, Rockford
24-27 73rd Senior PGA Championship, Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Mich.
29-31 Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Championship, Shoreacres, Lake Bluff
June
7-10 58th LPGA Championship, Locust Hill Country Club, Rochester, N.Y.
13 51st Radix Cup Matches, Oak Park Country Club, River Grove
14-17 112th United States Open, Olympic Club (Lake), Daly City, Calif.
18-23 112th Women’s Western Amateur, Monroe G&CC, Monroe, Mich.
19-22 95th Western Junior, Country Club of Florida, Golf, Fla.
26-29 93rd CDGA Championship, Cantigny Golf, Wheaton
July
5-8 67th U.S. Women’s Open, Blackwolf Run (original), Kohler, Wis.
9-13 88th Women’s Western Junior, Cincinnati Country Club, Cincinnati
12-15 42nd John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run, Silvis
16-18 63rd Illinois Open, The Glen Club, Glenview
19-22 141st British Open Championship, Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lancashire, U.K.
30-8/4 110th Western Amateur, Exmoor Country Club, Highland Park
August
6-7 Illinois PGA Senior Championship, Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley
7-9 82nd Illinois Amateur, Kokopelli Golf Course, Marion
9-12 94th PGA Championship, Kiawah Island (Ocean), Kiawah Island, S.C.
27-29 90th Illinois PGA Championship, Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, Grayslake
September
6-9 BMW Championship (109th Western Open), Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Ind.
8-13 32nd U.S. Mid-Amateur, Conway Farms Golf Club, Lake Forest
10-11 Illinois Senior Open, McHenry Country Club, McHenry
17-19 26th Illinois Senior Amateur, Prestwick Country Club, Frankfort
24-25 Junior Ryder Cup Matches, Olympia Fields Country Club (South), Olympia Fields
25 4th Prairie State Challenge, Bloomington Country Club, Bloomington
28-30 39th Ryder Cup Matches, Medinah Country Club (No. 3), Medinah
October
8-9 Illinois Players Championship, Eagle Ridge Resort (General), Galena
Welcome to Illinois Golfer!
Writing from Chicago
Monday, January 30, 2012
A hearty welcome to Illinois Golfer, dedicated to coverage of the game in Illinois and beyond. While our name has the state in it, we're interested in all things golf, inside and outside the borders of the Land of Lincoln, and especially so when Illinoisans, either native or adopted, are involved.
This website will incorporate all the previous posts from our GolfInChicago.wordpress.com website. Click on Golf In Chicago for those. For the latest news, click on News.
Watch this website for much more in the days to come! And thanks for stopping by.
– Tim Cronin