Golf in Chicago

[Hal Hicks]

I caddied in the PGA championship in 1989 for a club pro friend at Kemper Lakes.  Really good golf course.  Won by Payne Stewart. 
I hear it's in good condition from recent reviews.  Hope you get a chance to play it!

Who was that sir?
I was a caddy for a club pro for 3 years in that area. Caddied in the Illinois Open every year, and the IL PGA at Kemper Lakes. Chicago had some very cool old school club pros, the most memorable to me being Don Stickney, from Chicago Golf Club. He was a hoot; smoking, drinking, and laying side bets on the practice green before the tournament.

I believe Stan Mikita, the ex NHL player was the head pro at Kemper back then.

Jim,


    He name is Ray Freeman from Greensboro, North Carolina.  Ray was a really good player.  Caddied for him in the PGA championship at Inverness, Oak Tree, PGA National and Kemper Lakes.  Pretty good for a club professional.  He made the cut at PGA National and was leading the tournament during the first round.  Loved every moment!  Great learning experience for me!

[PCCraig]

I caddied in the PGA championship in 1989 for a club pro friend at Kemper Lakes.  Really good golf course.  Won by Payne Stewart. 
I hear it's in good condition from recent reviews.  Hope you get a chance to play it!

Who was that sir?
I was a caddy for a club pro for 3 years in that area. Caddied in the Illinois Open every year, and the IL PGA at Kemper Lakes. Chicago had some very cool old school club pros, the most memorable to me being Don Stickney, from Chicago Golf Club. He was a hoot; smoking, drinking, and laying side bets on the practice green before the tournament.

I believe Stan Mikita, the ex NHL player was the head pro at Kemper back then.

Emil Esposito (no relation to Tony or Phil) was the head pro at Kemper then. Stan, along with former NHLer Bob Murray, were assistants. And Lou Varga, the Blackhawks' equipment guy, was the locker room guy.

Dale Talon who played for some time in the NHL but was also the Canadian Jr. Golf Champ was the pro at Highland Park GC for some time. He left that role to rejoin the Hawks where he drafted Jonathan Towes and Patrick Kane. He laid the groundwork for the dynasty of the 2010's.

[Jim O’Kane]

I caddied in the PGA championship in 1989 for a club pro friend at Kemper Lakes.  Really good golf course.  Won by Payne Stewart. 
I hear it's in good condition from recent reviews.  Hope you get a chance to play it!

Jim,


    He name is Ray Freeman from Greensboro, North Carolina.  Ray was a really good player.  Caddied for him in the PGA championship at Inverness, Oak Tree, PGA National and Kemper Lakes.  Pretty good for a club professional.  He made the cut at PGA National and was leading the tournament during the first round.  Loved every moment!  Great learning experience for me!

Wow, that is wonderful.  I remember his name. Caddying on a big stage is fun; next best thing to playing.

I illogically assumed it would have been a club pro from IL. That's silly. Not sure why I got that in my head.

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity. How awesome all of those must've been.

[Jim O’Kane]

I caddied in the PGA championship in 1989 for a club pro friend at Kemper Lakes.  Really good golf course.  Won by Payne Stewart. 
I hear it's in good condition from recent reviews.  Hope you get a chance to play it!

Who was that sir?
I was a caddy for a club pro for 3 years in that area. Caddied in the Illinois Open every year, and the IL PGA at Kemper Lakes. Chicago had some very cool old school club pros, the most memorable to me being Don Stickney, from Chicago Golf Club. He was a hoot; smoking, drinking, and laying side bets on the practice green before the tournament.

I believe Stan Mikita, the ex NHL player was the head pro at Kemper back then.

Emil Esposito (no relation to Tony or Phil) was the head pro at Kemper then. Stan, along with former NHLer Bob Murray, were assistants. And Lou Varga, the Blackhawks' equipment guy, was the locker room guy.

The above is all true at the time of 1989. But before that, in the late 70's and early 80's, Mikita was the head pro. Emil Esposito, who I knew well back then, was the pro at Mt. Prospect during those years. Later, Emil took the job at Kemper some time in the mid 80's and Mikita stepped down to Asst as he was getting older.

[Tim_Cronin]

I caddied in the PGA championship in 1989 for a club pro friend at Kemper Lakes.  Really good golf course.  Won by Payne Stewart. 
I hear it's in good condition from recent reviews.  Hope you get a chance to play it!

Who was that sir?
I was a caddy for a club pro for 3 years in that area. Caddied in the Illinois Open every year, and the IL PGA at Kemper Lakes. Chicago had some very cool old school club pros, the most memorable to me being Don Stickney, from Chicago Golf Club. He was a hoot; smoking, drinking, and laying side bets on the practice green before the tournament.

I believe Stan Mikita, the ex NHL player was the head pro at Kemper back then.

Emil Esposito (no relation to Tony or Phil) was the head pro at Kemper then. Stan, along with former NHLer Bob Murray, were assistants. And Lou Varga, the Blackhawks' equipment guy, was the locker room guy.

The above is all true at the time of 1989. But before that, in the late 70's and early 80's, Mikita was the head pro. Emil Esposito, who I knew well back then, was the pro at Mt. Prospect during those years. Later, Emil took the job at Kemper some time in the mid 80's and Mikita stepped down to Asst as he was getting older.

According to the Chicago Tribune (5/25/1979), John Anderson was the first head pro, and Bob Spence was Kemper Sports Management's director of golf. Mikita joined Kemper at that time in an undefined role. By 9/7/1979's Tribune, Spence was the head pro. Mikita became an assistant after his April 1980 retirement from the Black Hawks.


Emil Esposito got the head pro job at Kemper in 1985, replacing Spence. By that point Mikita was the director of golf.

[Sean_A]

I caddied in the PGA championship in 1989 for a club pro friend at Kemper Lakes.  Really good golf course.  Won by Payne Stewart. 
I hear it's in good condition from recent reviews.  Hope you get a chance to play it!

Who was that sir?
I was a caddy for a club pro for 3 years in that area. Caddied in the Illinois Open every year, and the IL PGA at Kemper Lakes. Chicago had some very cool old school club pros, the most memorable to me being Don Stickney, from Chicago Golf Club. He was a hoot; smoking, drinking, and laying side bets on the practice green before the tournament.

I believe Stan Mikita, the ex NHL player was the head pro at Kemper back then.

Emil Esposito (no relation to Tony or Phil) was the head pro at Kemper then. Stan, along with former NHLer Bob Murray, were assistants. And Lou Varga, the Blackhawks' equipment guy, was the locker room guy.

Dale Talon who played for some time in the NHL but was also the Canadian Jr. Golf Champ was the pro at Highland Park GC for some time. He left that role to rejoin the Hawks where he drafted Jonathan Towes and Patrick Kane. He laid the groundwork for the dynasty of the 2010's.

Tallon was a very serviceable dman. I am sure he played over 500 games and had at least 300 points…playing for mainly ropey teams. I seem to recall Tallon played in a few Champion Tour events, but maybe I am wrong.

Ciao

[Ian Mackenzie]

I caddied in the PGA championship in 1989 for a club pro friend at Kemper Lakes.  Really good golf course.  Won by Payne Stewart. 
I hear it's in good condition from recent reviews.  Hope you get a chance to play it!

Who was that sir?
I was a caddy for a club pro for 3 years in that area. Caddied in the Illinois Open every year, and the IL PGA at Kemper Lakes. Chicago had some very cool old school club pros, the most memorable to me being Don Stickney, from Chicago Golf Club. He was a hoot; smoking, drinking, and laying side bets on the practice green before the tournament.

I believe Stan Mikita, the ex NHL player was the head pro at Kemper back then.

Emil Esposito (no relation to Tony or Phil) was the head pro at Kemper then. Stan, along with former NHLer Bob Murray, were assistants. And Lou Varga, the Blackhawks' equipment guy, was the locker room guy.

Dale Talon who played for some time in the NHL but was also the Canadian Jr. Golf Champ was the pro at Highland Park GC for some time. He left that role to rejoin the Hawks where he drafted Jonathan Towes and Patrick Kane. He laid the groundwork for the dynasty of the 2010's.

Pat, have had a few Dale Talon sightings over the years.
First was at Tamarck out in Naperville in the early 90's or late 80's i think. He was behind the counter.


Fast forward to around 2007 and I saw him on the ice at the Winter Club in Lake Forest on Christmas day. He was skating by himself and i was with my kids and nephew/nieces. We had a fun talk and he said. "Just you wait, we have serious talent on the way to the Hawks." In the next two years, Patrick Kane, Jonatahn Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook joined the Hawks...


Dale Tallon is widely credited for building the nucleaus of the Hawk's 3 Stanley Cup teams.


Rick, weather here in Chi is heading to the 60's next week so most courses may be open with flags in greens. If so, happy to take you out to my home course that Pat knows well.


DM me.

[Jim O’Kane]

I caddied in the PGA championship in 1989 for a club pro friend at Kemper Lakes.  Really good golf course.  Won by Payne Stewart. 
I hear it's in good condition from recent reviews.  Hope you get a chance to play it!

Who was that sir?
I was a caddy for a club pro for 3 years in that area. Caddied in the Illinois Open every year, and the IL PGA at Kemper Lakes. Chicago had some very cool old school club pros, the most memorable to me being Don Stickney, from Chicago Golf Club. He was a hoot; smoking, drinking, and laying side bets on the practice green before the tournament.

I believe Stan Mikita, the ex NHL player was the head pro at Kemper back then.

Emil Esposito (no relation to Tony or Phil) was the head pro at Kemper then. Stan, along with former NHLer Bob Murray, were assistants. And Lou Varga, the Blackhawks' equipment guy, was the locker room guy.

The above is all true at the time of 1989. But before that, in the late 70's and early 80's, Mikita was the head pro. Emil Esposito, who I knew well back then, was the pro at Mt. Prospect during those years. Later, Emil took the job at Kemper some time in the mid 80's and Mikita stepped down to Asst as he was getting older.

According to the Chicago Tribune (5/25/1979), John Anderson was the first head pro, and Bob Spence was Kemper Sports Management's director of golf. Mikita joined Kemper at that time in an undefined role. By 9/7/1979's Tribune, Spence was the head pro. Mikita became an assistant after his April 1980 retirement from the Black Hawks.


Emil Esposito got the head pro job at Kemper in 1985, replacing Spence. By that point Mikita was the director of golf.

All names and timelines that ring true from my lifetime, from where and when I grew up. Thank you?

I guess it's not understandable that things get a little blurry after 45 years.
I must be way more careful in having memories in the future...I like that line. I think I'll use it more often.

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