Archive: Golf Digest Magazine

'Multi member club' catching on in Chicago: When a slumping economy causes membership rolls at private golf clubs to drop, is there a solution besides shutting down? How about offering modified memberships without full benefits?That's the idea behind MM (for "multi-member") Players...; By Geoff Russell; Published May. 25, 2009; Keywords Chicago | Illinois | membership deals | private clubs

The Man Who Saved Ravisloe: Last month we blogged about Ravisloe Country Club, a 108-year-old private club (whose course was at least partially designed by Donald Ross) in the Chicago suburb of Homewood. Forced to close because of declining membership,...; By Geoff Russell; Published Mar. 23, 2009; Keywords Chicago | Illinois | Private to Public | Ravisloe CC

Daily Double Addenda: Last week, we reported that Scott Wood and his wife, Stephanie English, made holes-in-one on the same hole within hours of each other (see Local Knowledge post: "Daily Double"). This happened on the sixth hole...; By Liz Bergren; Published Sep. 22, 2009; Keywords Conway Farms | Illinois | Lake Forest | Topsy Siderowf | hole-in-one

Ravisloe Update: 'Someone had to fall': Deeds & Weeds has already covered the story of Ravisloe CC, the 108-year-old suburban Chicago club that was sold to a local veterinarian and turned into a public facility this month after a catastrophic decline...; By Geoff Russell; Published Apr. 23, 2009; Keywords Chicago | Idlewild | Illinois | Ravisloe CC | declining membership | private to public

2007-2008 Best in State Rankings: Florida: We rank the top venues in Florida; Published Dec. 12, 2008; Keywords America's 100 Greatest Public Courses | state-by-state rankings | Illinois

Nothing Small about Illinois coach's game: There has been a running joke the past few years regarding Illinois men's coach Mike Small and how his game has been better than any of his Illini players. It becomes a hard point to...; Published Dec. 19, 2007; Keywords College golf | Illinois | Mike Small | PGA of America | Ryan Herrington

Conference preview: Big Ten: Big TenMEN2009-10 outlookPredicted champion: IllinoisPredicted player of the year: Kevin Foley, Penn StatePredicted freshman of the year: Ross Frankenberg, IllinoisNCAA Regional bound: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio StateTeam on the rise: Iowa--The Hawkeyes played...; By Ryan Herrington; Published Sep. 11, 2009; Keywords Big Ten | College golf | Illinois | Kevin Foley | Maude-Aimee LeBlanc | Purdue | Ryan Herrington

Illinois coach Small comes up big at PGA of America's PNC: For the second time in five years, Illinois men's coach Mike Small has won the PGA of America's national championship for its rank-and-file members. A final-round 68 at Twin Warriors GC in Santa Ana Pueblo,...; By Ryan Herrington; Published Jul. 01, 2009; Keywords Illinois | Men's college golf | Mike Small | PGA of America Professional National Championship | Ryan Herrington

The Battle of Evergreen CC: This article in today's Chicago Tribune tells the interesting story about Anna Mae Ahern and Evergreen CC, which is located in the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park. The course sits on 95 acres of land...; By Geoff Russell; Published May. 07, 2009; Keywords Anna Mae Ahern | Chicago | Ernie Banks | Evergreen CC | Evergreen Park | Illinois | public courses

Illinois Club Reborn as Public Course: Ravisloe Country Club was a private golf club for 108 years. But it couldn't survive the recession of 2008-09. The facility, located in the Chicago suburb of Homewood, Ill., closed last Oct. 31, a victim...; Published Mar. 01, 2009; Keywords Current Affairs | Economy | Illinois | Private Clubs | Public Access | Ravisloe Country Club | declining membership

Tom Wargo's Course For Sale: Is the golf course market overbuilt? This well-researched, wide-ranging article in Friday's Chicago Tribune, while not making any sweeping pronouncements, makes a good case that it is. It cites numerous examples of the realities of...; Published Feb. 07, 2009; Keywords Bankruptcy | Budget cuts | Current Affairs | Economy | Illinois | Member/owners | Private Clubs | Tom Wargo | declining membership

Bolingbrook Blues: Bolingbrook Golf Club, the Chicago-area public course designed by Arthur Hills, has lost an average of $1.3 million a year since its opening in 2002, according to this Chicago Tribune report. The article is a...; By Peter Finch; Published Aug. 30, 2009; Keywords 4 1/2 stars | Arthur Hills | Bolingbrook | Bolingbrook Golf Club | Chicago | Illinois | Places to Play ratings | Roger Claar | economy | losses