Here comes the golf show

Writing from Chicago

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Thanks to this delightful false spring we have been enjoying, more than a few rounds of golf have already been played in these parts this week. Even a few courses in Wisconsin have noted their tundra is no longer frozen and are open for customers.

That said, the proverbial first robin of spring for golfers is the presence of the golf shows. There was one conducted in near-privacy at the Tinley Park Convention Center on Feb. 2-4, but attendance and the number of exhibitors was said to be sparse, a comedown for a show that commenced with great promise a few years ago.

Friday brings the long-standing Chicago Golf Show in the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The 39th edition runs from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults on Friday and $12 on the weekend. Youths from 12-15 pay $4 and kids 11 and under are gratis. Parking is $15.

Illinois Junior Golf Association members can also get in free if they’ve registered for 2024.

According to publicist and Chicago District Golfer editor Barry Cronin, there will be about 300 exhibitor booths occupied, which is the largest number in years. Everything from second-hand clubs for sale to far-off travel destinations, and many courses from the area, will be on hand.

The Chicago District Golf Association is the presenting sponsor for the third year, and is stepping up its commitment with an 11,000-square foot area including a pair of longest putt competitions, a store selling CDGA-logoed gear, a media studio – location for Saturday’s radio broadcast on WMVP-AM (1000) from 9-11 a.m. with Tyler Aki and the CDGA’s Mike Gilligan – and more. If you’re a CDGA members you can renew your membership, which includes your handicap index, on site.

There’s also a “Break The Glass Challenge” in the demo area with prizes for those who break the glass.

The demo area is also where professionals from the Illinois PGA will give free mini lessons to showgoers. This is worth the price of admission in itself. Nearby is the First Tee area with putting and chipping contests for kids.

“There’s no doubt the Chicago Golf Shop is the unofficial kick-off to the Chicago golf season,” IPGA executive director Carrie Williams said.

There will be a number of guests demonstrating how to hit the ball on the stage, including  Kevin Weeks and Todd Sones on Friday, Todd Russell, former Bears kicker Robbie Gould and Mistwood’s John Platt and Nicole Jeray on Saturday, and Vince India on Sunday. India is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Korn Ferry Tour for gambling. Invariably, you look up that story and it appears on a website with ads for gambling.

On top of everything else, GolfVisions, which operates several courses in the Chicago area, will be giving out free rounds of golf.

Around The Greens

Dennis Johnsen says this year in golf, his 50th, will be his last behind the counter and on a lesson tee. The pro at Pine Meadow Golf Club, one of the sport’s better guys, is retiring at the end of the season at age (and even-par) 72. … Jamie Nieto has moved to Royal Fox Country Club from the Preserve at Oak Meadows. It’s his first venture into private clubs… Casey Brozek is the new director of golf at Medinah Country Club, returning to the area from Naples, Fla. He replaces Marty DeAngelo, who left for a position in Florida. … Curtis Malm is out as general manager at White Eagle Golf Club after getting the club boffo notices for hosting the Illinois Open and Women’s Western Junior. … Ian Brown is out as director of golf at Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook.

The Court Scorecard 

Mike Scully has gotten a second continuance in his triple-felony case in Florida. The arraignment for the charges of stealing and selling over, $100,000 in merchandise from Streamsong Golf Club in 2022-23 has been reset for May 14 in Polk County’s Bartow, Fla., courthouse. In what may be a hopeful sign for the former Medinah Country Club head pro, the order for the bond he was originally required to post has been discharged. Speculation has it that the continuances stem from a potential plea-bargain, though it’s unusual for such a proceeding to commence before an arraignment. 

– Tim Cronin