Daily Herald Golf Academy Stage

2010 Golf Academy Stage Line Up

Schedule is subject to change.

Friday, February 26th

1 p.m. - Here Come the Hawks!
Troy Murray, Chicago Blackhawk alumni & Connie DeMattia, Director of Instructions, Cantigny Golf Academy

No. 19, Troy Murray, was a center on the Blackhawks for 12 seasons, from 1981-1994. A five-time twenty-goal scorer, Troy reached a high of 45 goals on 1985-86 team. He ranks in the Top 20 in Blackhawks history in number of goals, assists, total points and in regular-season games played. After retiring, Murray began his broadcasting career in 1999 as a studio analyst for Blackhawks television broadcasts. Murray is in his 10th year as a member of the Blackhawks broadcast team and his fifth as the radio analyst, currently on Chicago's WGN Radio 720.

PGA Professional Connie DeMattia has helped men, women and juniors to play golf throughout the United States and Mexico. Currently he is Director of Instruction at the Cantigny Golf Academy in Wheaton and holds a spot as one of the Top 10 Teachers in Illinois as rated by Golf Digest. The former Director of Instructor at the Medinah Country Club, he also teaches at the White Pine Golf Dome during the winter months. Connie was the Illinois PGA Player of the Year for 2005. A golf staff instructor with the prestigious Golf Digest Schools from 1996-2000, Connie attended Stetson University in Florida on a four-year Division I golf scholarship and was also captain of the team. He has competed in tournaments on the PGA Tour, Nike Tour, and PGA of America National Club Professional Championships. He has a competitive career low round of 64.

3 p.m. - Here Come the Hawks!
Jerry Korab, Chicago Blackhawks alumni, & Kevin Weeks, Director of Instruction, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club

Jerry "King Kong" Korab was an imposing mix of brute force and offensive smarts during his career as an NHL defenseman with four different teams. His 6'3" 220 lb. frame allowed him to stand up to any of the league's rough players while his heavy shot was a handful from the point and useful when clearing his own zone. During his tenure as a Hawk, the team reached the Stanley Cub finals in 1971 and 1973. He was picked to play in the 1975 and 1976 NHA All-Star Games, where his team, the Buffalo Sabres, reached the NHL finals for the first time.

Kevin Weeks is in his 14th season at Cog Hill. He has been a Class A Member of the PGA of America since 1991 and has over 20 years teaching experience. He was the Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year in 2005, 2007, and 2009. US Kids Golf named him one of the Top 50 Instructors for juniors three times 2007, 2008, and 2009. In the July 2005 issue of Golf Digest Kevin was ranked as the number 2 instructor in the State of Illinois. Kevin's specializes in teaching low handicappers, juniors, PGA Tour Professionals and short game. Kevin has worked with over 50 PGA Tour Professionals in 2007 & 2008. In 2009 Kevin's students racked up 9 top 5 finishes on the PGA Tour with Michael Bradley and Mark Wilson both winning.

4 p.m. - Brett Packee, President
CORE Golf

When Brett won the 2008 Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year, he became the first person in Illinois PGA history to win a Player of the Year Award and a Teacher of the Year Award. As a teacher, Brett spent three years as the golf coach at Northwestern University and under his tutelage, more than 20 junior golfers have gone on to play college golf. He also was a Head Instructor for The Golf Digest Golf Schools and has written numerous instructional tips and produced various golf videos. He also has coached and instructed top collegiate and PGA Tour players.

As a player, he has competed in more than 600 tournaments starting at age 10. He was a three time IHSA All State Golfer and played college golf at the University of Miami in Florida. He currently among the TOP 15 among IPGA Professionals, he is a three time Qualifier of the PGA Professional National Championship and a 2007 and 2008 RADIX CUP MEMBER. He also qualified for the 1999 Motorola Western Open,

5 p.m. - Dan Kochevar
Golf Instructor, Oak Brook Country Club

The 2002 Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year, Dan was voted as one to the "Top Instructors by Region" by Golf Magazine and as one of the "Top 10 Instructors in the State" by Golf Digest. He has taught six IHSA High School Champions, several US Amateur qualifiers, and two Illinois Junior Amateur Champions.

Saturday, February 27th

11 a.m. - Here Come the Hawks!
Cliff Koroll, Chicago Blackhawk alumni & Louise L. Davis, Teaching Professional, Cog Hill Golf & Country Club

Cliff Koroll played his entire NHL career spanning from 1969 to 1980 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He then became as assistant coach for the Black Hawks for six seasons. Cliff became the first Blackhawks rookie to register a hat trick when he achieved the feat on December 14, 1969 in a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia at the Stadium. For many of those years, he was paired with hockey legend Stan Mikita on the Hawks No. 1 line as well as playing on power plays. Twice, they reached the Stanley Cup Finals, in 1971 and 1973. He ranks in the top-20 all-time among Chicago players in goals, assists and points.

Louise, a PGA member, has over 17 years teaching experience and is entering her 7th year at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club and her 4th year at Flagg Creek Golf Course . She was voted #4 ranked Instructor and #1 Female Instructor in Illinois by Golf Digest in 2009. Louise has been a Golf Digest Schools and Golf for Women lead instructor and featured in Golf Digest Magazine. In addition to a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Jim Suttie (2000 PGA Teacher of the Year) and former head professional, Louise played on the University of Mississippi golf team and was a Futures Touring Professional from 1996-1998.

12:00 p.m. - Celebrity Golf Instruction
Dan McNeil & Matt Vinge

WSCR-The SCORE'S Dan McNeil, host of "The Danny Mac Show," takes a golf lesson from Matt Vinge, Director of Instruction for Top Golf

Dan McNeil, is host of "The Danny MacShow" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on WSCR Radio, 670 The SCORE. Dan is celebrating his 25th anniversary in Chicago radio this year. His candor, quick wit and unpredictable approach have made his shows among the highest rated radio programs among men for several years. Dan has wanted to be in radio since he was eight years old, even doing play-by-by into a portable cassette of the Blackhawks games while watching them on television. After college at Ball State, Dan interned at WGN producing their sports programming and then worked as a writer for The Times of Northwest Indiana. Most of us became aware of him in the late 1980s when he was hired as executive producer of Chet Coppock's weeknight sports show and the Chicago Bulls broadcasts on WLUP. "Dangerous Dan" quickly developed his own following as a sidekick and fill-in host.

Matt Vinge is Director of Instruction for TopGolf in Wood Dale. Matt has more than 10 years of experience in the golf industry and has taught individuals of all skill levels including beginners, Tour Professionals, NBA and NFL Athletes and movie Academy Award Winners. Matt was selected as Director of Golf Instruction at Top Golf because of his extensive knowledge on how to teach the golf swing and his ability to communicate to his students. As a club fitter, Matt has worked with many of the top club manufacturers in the industry. As a player, Matt was a well accomplished high school and collegiate golfer, winning five state and national titles.
TopGolf is a revolutionary new game in golf that utilizes breakthrough technology, allowing each ball to be personalized to each player, tracking each ball hit and providing instant feedback for up to five people in each hitting bay. To play TopGolf, you hit one of their quality golf balls out into the range. If your ball lands in any one of the 11 recessed target greens located from 25 to 250 yards or more in distance, you will receive immediate feedback on the screen in your hitting bay. This monitor screen will visually show you exactly how far your ball was hit, and how close it came to the flagstick. These two components are then utilized to award a point value for each ball. This ground-breaking technology allows you to compete against yourself or with up to four other players in your hitting bay, utilizing handicaps that are calculated for each player after only three games to ensure fair point scoring.

1:00 p.m. - Marty "Long Ball" and Lisa "Launch it" Joyce
Trick Shot Show and Long Driving Exhibition

Marty Joyce is an internationally renowned trick shot artist and long drive champion. Marty has won 78 long drive championships and has qualified for several of them both left and right handed. His personal best is a drive of 443 yards and his most recent championship as the 2009 RE/MAX Last Chance Long Drive Championship. A former Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year, Marty teaches at the Golf Dome in Bensenville.

Although still a college student at nearby Elmhurst College, Lisa "Launch It" Joyce is recognized as one of the longest female hitters in the world. She already has won the prestigious Re/Max World Long Driving Championship and she also holds the world record for long drives as junior, hitting a golf ball 315 yards off of the tee in a Texas competition.

2:30 p.m. - Illinois Junior Golf Association presents, "The stages of junior development"

Carrie Williams, IJGA Executive Director, Kevin Weeks, Director of Instruction, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club

Kevin Weeks is in his 14th season at Cog Hill. He has been a Class A Member of the PGA of America since 1991 and has over 20 years teaching experience. He was the Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year in 2005, 2007, and 2009. US Kids Golf named him one of the Top 50 Instructors for juniors three times 2007, 2008, and 2009. In the July 2005 issue of Golf Digest Kevin was ranked as the number 2 instructor in the State of Illinois. Kevin's specializes in teaching low handicappers, juniors, PGA Tour Professionals and short game. Kevin has worked with over 50 PGA Tour Professionals in 2007 & 2008. In 2009 Kevin's students racked up 9 top 5 finishes on the PGA Tour with Michael Bradley and Mark Wilson both winning.

3:15 p.m. - Illinois Junior Golf Association presents, "The Importance of club fitting for Junior Golfers"
Mark Pekarek, Green Grass ClubFitting

Sunday, February 28th

11 a.m. - Here Come the Hawks!
Grant Mulvey, Chicago Blackhawk alumni

Grant Mulvey played all but 12 games of his 586-game NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks. The right wingers career with the Hawks began in 1974 when he was the 16th overall draft choice. He jumped directly to the Blackhawks and at age 18, paired with Terry Ruskowski and Rich Preston to form the RPM Line. The trio combined for one of the greatest moments in Hawks history on February 3rd, 1982. Playing against the St. Louis Blues, Mulvey had the night of his life, scoring a record 5 goals and 2 assists for 7 points. Known for his physical play, he had two monster years, scoring 39 goals in 1979-80 and 30 in 1981-82. Since his retirement, Grant has given back to hockey in many ways including serving as coach of the Chicago Wolves Hockey team, of which he is part owner.

12:00pm - Marty "Long Ball" and Lisa "Launch it" Joyce
Trick Shot Show and Long Driving Exhibition

Marty Joyce is an internationally renowned trick shot artist and long drive champion, Marty has won 78 long drive championships and has qualified for several of them both left and right handed. His personal best is a drive of 443 yards and his most recent championship as the 2009 RE/MAX Last Chance Long Drive Championship. A former Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year, Marty teaches at the Golf Dome in Bensenville.

Although still a college student at nearby Elmhurst College, Lisa "Launch It" Joyce is recognized as one of the longest female hitters in the world. She already has won the prestigious Re/Max World Long Driving Championship and she also holds the world record for long drives as junior, hitting a golf ball 315 yards off of the tee in a Texas competition.

1:30 p.m. - Illinois Junior Golf Association presents "Swing DNA"

Carrie Williams, IJGA Executive Director, Chris Groszek and Lou Cesarek, Mizuno USA

2:15 p.m. - Illinois Junior Golf Association presents "Making the transition from baseball/softball season to golf season"

Louise, a PGA member, has over 17 years teaching experience and is entering her 7th year at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club and her 4th year at Flagg Creek Golf Course . She was voted #4 ranked Instructor and #1 Female Instructor in Illinois by Golf Digest in 2009. Louise has been a Golf Digest Schools and Golf for Women lead instructor and featured in Golf Digest Magazine. In addition to a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Jim Suttie (2000 PGA Teacher of the Year) and former head professional, Louise played on the University of Mississippi golf team and was a Futures Touring Professional from 1996-1998.