Phil Kosin has been the editor and publisher of Chicagoland Golf since 1989. He has covered golf in Chicago since 1975.
Mid-April, 2008 No matter what you saw on TV, it was Tiger Woods who presented Trevor Immelman with the green jacket for 2008. Defending
champion Zach Johnson only performed the formality of physically
slipping the jacket onto Immelman’s shoulders, first for the worldwide
TV audience in the Butler Cabin and again at the real ceremony on the
18th green.
April, 2008: Mother
Nature, to make amends for an unusually snowy and chilly winter (and as
a kickoff to Masters week), provided golfers in the Chicago area two
weekend days with terrific weather – sunny, clear and in the mid-60s.
Perfect conditions for golf. So now that we’ve officially kicked
off spring, we can turn our attention south to an annual ritual – Bobby
Jones’ Invitational, contested on a former fruit orchard that has
become hallowed ground to anyone who considers himself a serious player.
Golf Show, 2008: In a real estate condemnation trial that lasted only three days last December, a DuPage County jury decided Country Lakes Golf Course in Naperville was worth $1.25 million less than the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County offered for the property several years ago.
Winter, 2007: Okay, so the PGA Tour has made some “tweaks” to the FedEx Cup playoffs
– most prominent the decision to move the Tour Championship to the far
side of the Ryder Cup and giving the winner $9 million in cash right
away with $1 million deferred, instead of the entire wad not being
available until the player reaches 45.
Fall, 2008: I have written
numerous times over the years that from my perspective, most
initiatives to “grow the game” have been little more than lip service –
golf organizations throwing cash at the problem and hoping someone at
the grass roots level steps up and does something. As long as they keep
a few grant dollars flowing downstream, those organizations will tell
you yes, they’re doing their part.