The Daily Dose: June 2009 Archives

We all need to get away. Especially to play some great golf. This week's Front Nine brought you Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa in Galena, Ill. and Wildnerness Resort & Water Park in Wisconin Dells, Wisc. Eagle Ridge is a must play for Illinois golfers who are used to parkland or links style golf - which is what you should be used to, to be honest. Galena offers some drastically different topography than most of the state, and the four great courses at Eagle Ridge take full advantage. Says Eagle Ridge Director of Golf Erin Strieck: "Especially on The General for sure, but the North and the South aren't flat either. Our signature hole on the North is a par 3, about 165 (yards) which shoots out over Lake Galena. It's not as severe as No. 14 (on The General) but it's a good 75-foot drop tee to green. On The General No. 14 is pretty amazing, and then you have to play back up on 17. You can get some really good elevation on (all three courses). It's also a place where you can bring your spouse and children, as the East Course is perfect for short hitters and juniors. The other three 18-hole layouts are playable as well, but they're definitely a bit more challenging. "We do have the ability to accommodate for all skill levels of golf," Strieck said. Also, it's the only place in the state of Illinois where golfers can get away and play multiple courses at a competitive rate for either a twosome, a family, or a group event. Strieck continued: "Every avid golfer would love to up to (Kohler, Wisc.) and play Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, but sometimes that doesn't fall into what the budget is. We're really lucky to have all the different amenities because not everybody golfs. We have horseback riding, boating, and things like that. "And I don't know how many other states have 63-hole golf resorts, except maybe Wisconsin. In the state of Illinois, no. In the state of Iowa, no." Which brings us to the Wildnerness Resort in the Dells. No, it's not a 63-hole facility, but the 27 it does have are pretty amazing. First, if you played the course years ago like I did, the original 18-hole layout has been cut to 9 called The Woods. It's meant for all players, but it's main draw are families. The famed island green is still there, although some of the other holes have been changed a little. Director of golf Chris Goodwick says rounds can be played quickly and the tips will give adults a challenge. The jewel of the course is the new Wild Rock 18-hole layout, which opened last summer to rave reviews from golf publications around the country. speaking of topography... says Goodwick: "The Dells has been blessed - the river, the canyons, the rock walls, sandstone cliffs." The course was built for resort golfers, and is generous with its wide fairways and up to 6 sets of tee boxes on a hole, but the green complexes and bunkering have been strategically placed to challenge the above average player. "All of our shots are off elevated tees and you can see right where you need to go," Goodwick said. "We have wide fairways, wider than almost anywhere. It really caters to resort golfers, but it's a dramatic look. It's more eye-appealing than most golf courses." On the resort side, the Wildnerness offers a handful of water parks for the family to enjoy. These are definitey two places for you to consider when planning either a family stay-and-play golf vacation, or a group outing with buddies.

so no Daily Doses for like, a week!

so, you have some time to rectify this little situation - why when you Google "Fire and Passion" - "in Jane Eyre" comes up as the most searched query...

huh?

Aaron Rowand?

enjoy the week peoples!

So, I watched the Cubs-Sox game today. Sox win, 4-1. John Danks was fantastic, the Cubs were not.

The Lt. didn't see the game - some people have to work all day - so he turned on Baseball Tonight at 9 p.m.

At 9:52 they showed John Danks striking out a batter and flashed a quick box score on the screen saying "The White Sox win 4-1."

But, I will say I was so happy to see the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, had to hear that captivating phone in from Dusty Baker, then replay after replay of the game ESPN just televised in Toronto and Philadelphia...brutal.

The Lt. just gets up, puts the remote next to me and says "That's bull!@#$."

It's been a little bit since we've delved into our favorite Chicago baseball topic - The Fire and The Passion.

We all know that Aaron Rowand is the keeper of the flames and driver of the chariot that rules the kingdom of The Fire and The Passion. But just when you thought you could get away from him - maybe think a Chris Getz or a Gordon Beckham might have the ability to break in and capture the flame - Rowand comes roaring back to torch any and all comers.

On The Score today a guy called in and said Rowand "single handedly won the 2005 World Series."

Talk about The Fire and The Passion coarsing through the veins of Southsiders. That's what Nicky the Swish couldn't accomplish in his one miserable year here. That's what a Getz or Beckham won't accomplish. Oh, they may be part of a world champion down the line - but to single handedly destroy the American League Central, the Boston Red Sox, the Anaheim Angels and Houston Astros by hitting .267 in the playoffs and .264 in the second half of the regular season.

Bah, don't youz remember dat game in New York when Aaron Freakin' Rowand saved the day like 2-1 when Contreras wuz pitchin? Aaron Freakin' Rowand dove and caught doze two ballz and widout him, the White Sox wouldnta dun nuddadatstuff.

Don't worry meathead Cubs fans..you've been well represented too. Now, Cubs fans tend to stay away from the words "fire and passion" (for the most part) and today was just another example.

A caller said Mike Fontenot should be a National League All-Star for keeping the Cubs "in it and above .500" in the absence of Aramis Ramirez and has really "kept the team together."

Potential members of the US Solheim Cup team were at Rich Harvest Farms today after competing in the LPGA Championship over the weekend.

Many had to catch an early flight out of the East Coast (4 am wakeup; 7 am departure) to make the trip, which shows just how important this event is to these players.

In attendance were Angela Stanford, Nicole Castrale, Brittany Lang, Christina Kim, Kristy McPherson, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome and Laura Diaz.

"It's definitely a huge goal for a lot of Americans to get on this team," Castrale said. "It's an honor to represent your country and be one of the 12 best Americans every two years. It's something spectacular."

The Americans have won 7 of the 10 Solheim Cup's contested since 1990 and have never lost at home.

Well, the Sox took a dump again today, losing 7-2 to the Brewers up in The Good Land...
no fun there.
but ths is fun. Enjoy.

Tim Floyd is resigning from USC , which leaves East Aurora junior-to-be Ryan Boatright in limbo.

The point guard verbally committed to the Trojans the summer before his freshman year at East, and has stayed the course even through Floyd's dalliance with Arizona and a scandal involving the recruitment of former Trojan OJ Mayo.

But now, Boatright is unsure of what's going to happen with his recruitment.
"I really don't know. I'm going to talk to my mom and call the school and see what's going on. I really don't know."

Well, it's finally done.

The Sox called up Gordon Beckham from AAA Charlotte to replace the God-awful Wilson Betemit ...

Now, it's good that Betemit is gone. The guy was terrible. But what are they going to do with Beckham?

Ozzie said he wants the kid to play and will move him around at third, short and second base.
That's a huge mistake.

Baseball is a hard enough game, let alone when you're a rookie being thrust into a tight division race and then having to bounce around a handful of positions.
The guy needs to play second base or third base. That's it.
So either Chris Getz (.248 avg) or Jayson Nix (.220 avg) or Josh Fields (.238) need to go to the bench, and I vote for the Getz/Nix combo. I think FIelds has a better upside than either Getz or Nix, and Beckham needs to play every day.

the MLB Amateur Draft is next week, with Marmion Academy's Matt Milroy expected to be selected early on. East Aurora's Dan Okapal also has a shot to get picked.

Aurora Christiain junior Matt Morse is headed up with his Illinois Sparks travel team up to Minneapolis for a showcase event on June 10-12.

There's a chance Morse could make his college decision this summer.

Following a late victory tonight on the strength of solid pitching and, what else, a home run the Sox are 25-25 on the year.

Some people are excited, others aren't so much - at least judging by friends and the reaction on the radio. More people seemed concerned that "we can't dump Dwayne Wise and/or Brian Anderson and/or The Prancing Pony when Carlos Quentin comes back - what do we do?"

Whaddaya mean you can't dump D-Wise? Last I checked Wise is 31 years old and is hitting .180. I don't care if he's left handed or has slightly above average speed. Brian Anderson, at least, is 27, hitting respectably and plays a stellar outfield.

Sox fans whine and complain about the dumbest crap. Dwayne Wise? C'mon....

An oh by the way EDIT: This guy says its nearly impossible for the Sox to make it to the World Series this year...