Conway Farms hopes magic will return at BMW Championship

Share

Stanley Cup fever has swept over Chicago during the past week. The NBA Draft is approaching and Bulls fans hope one more key piece can help get them over the top with new coach Fred Hoiberg. Baseball season is now in full swing with the Cubs and White Sox while Bears fans are chomping at the bit to shake off an ugly 2014 and get back to their winning ways under a new regime. 

But there's one sport that has been missing from the limelight of Windy City sports: Golf.

The BMW Championship will make its return to Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Ill. this year for the first time since 2013 when the event kicks off September 17th.

"We had an incredible championship in 2013 with some of the best players in the world," senior vice president of tournaments Vince Pellegrino said. "Conway Farms has been a tremendous partner of Western Golf Association from the stand point of supporting the Evans Scholar Foundation. Players enjoyed their time in 2013. Chicago is an important market not only for Western golf association but for our title sponsor BMW."

[MORE GOLF: Spieth captures U.S. Open after Dustin Johnson stumbles at finish]

2013 saw Zach Johnson hold off Nick Watney and Jim Furyk for the tournament victory. One of the late risers in the tournament was North Shore resident and Northwestern alumn Luke Donald, who considers Conway Farms his home course. Conway Farms director of golf Jeff Mory hopes Donald and the rest of the stars that may show up in Lake Forest in the fall will bring the North Shore community together like in 2013.

"It was the first time in 40 years almost where a PGA Tour event was played on the North Shore," Mory said. "That particular part of it became a North Shore community event as well as a major golf event in Chicago. All around this area having the best players in the world playing in people’s backyard was a special experience."

Mory also believes some of the changes to the course will make the event more attractive for members, including new, top-of-the-line greens that are some of "the best surfaces you could have."

With sports fans watching a rising star in Jordan Spieth emerge onto the scene after a Masters and U.S. Open victory, Pellegrino has taken notice of the bump in ticket sales for the BMW Championship following major events. He hopes golf fans in Chicago miss the big local tournaments and get themselves ready for the sport's return to the North Shore this fall.

"With each week that passes and you see players like Jordan Spieth win the Masters and secure his place in the playoffs," Pellegrino said. "As the golf season goes along, people remember those good times they had and seeing the best players in the world and having that opportunity again this year."

Contact Us