Cog Hill Golf & Country Club’s Dubsdread course is one of the most well-known public golf courses in Illinois and one of the biggest public golf names near Chicago.
In this Course Spotlight on the Illinois Golf Podcast, Brett Smith highlights why Dubsdread stands out in Illinois golf. It offers golfers something a lot of people want from a public course: real name recognition, championship feel, and a reputation that reaches far beyond local play.

If you are searching for Illinois golf, Chicago golf, public golf in Illinois, Cog Hill, Dubsdread, or golf near Chicago, this episode gives you a quick look at one of the strongest public golf destinations in the state.
The Illinois Golf Podcast is part of Golf Podcasts USA, America’s only local golf podcast network. Search Illinois golf podcast to find the show, or explore the full network at golfpodcasts.org.

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​Michael Ambriz, VP of Operations for World Long Drive, joins Golf Podcasts USA to discuss how World Long Drive local qualifiers work, how golfers can move through the three-step qualifying process, and why long drive continues to grow through golf expos, PGA TOUR Superstores, and live fan events. This episode is a great fit for Illinois golf fans who follow competitive golf, golf technology, indoor golf, swing speed training, and equipment innovation. We also talk about the athleticism of long drive, specialized driver setups, and the excitement surrounding local qualifiers and the road to the World Long Drive Championships. If you follow Illinois golf, golf podcasts, long drive golf, or the future of competitive golf entertainment, this episode is for you.

​The Players Championship 2026 is here, and Golf Podcasts USA is calling Scottie Scheffler to win at TPC Sawgrass. In this short golf preview, Brett Smith talks about why The Players is considered the unofficial 5th major, what makes TPC Sawgrass such a pressure-packed test, how the island green at 17 can change everything, and why Scottie feels like the right pick against one of the strongest fields in golf. If you follow PGA Tour golf, golf betting storylines, golf news, and major championship-level events, this Players Championship preview is for you. Golf Podcasts USA is the voice of local golf in all 50 states. Just Google your state plus golf podcast and find the full catalog at golfpodcasts.org.

​Abbey Algiers joins Golf Podcasts USA for a wide-ranging conversation on Illinois golf travel, the record-setting Chicago Golf Show, club fitting, Spain golf, and the golf tourism trends shaping 2026. This episode is especially relevant for Illinois golfers looking for golf trip ideas, golf travel inspiration, preseason equipment insight, and a better understanding of why golf tourism is booming right now in both the United States and Europe.

In this episode, Brett Smith and Abbey talk in depth about the Chicago Golf Show, which drew more than 18,000 people to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center near O’Hare Airport. Abbey was there Friday through Sunday for her first time at the show and shares what stood out most, including the energy on the floor, record attendance, travel exhibitors, simulators, putting contests, merchandise, and major appearances from names like Hank Haney and Bubby from Good Good Golf. The episode also explores why golf shows still matter in 2026, especially for golfers who want to compare destinations, ask questions directly to travel experts and tourism boards, and hear the human stories behind golf trips before they book.

For Illinois golfers, this episode has an especially strong local connection. The Chicago Golf Show is one of the clearest signs that golf interest is surging in the Midwest, and Abbey explains why these events are so useful for trip planning, discovering destinations, and finding golf experiences that go beyond a single round. Travel exhibitors from destinations such as Gulf Shores, the RTJ Trail, Links of Ireland, and other golf regions were on hand telling their stories firsthand, which is exactly why golf shows remain valuable for golfers who want more confidence and more context before making travel decisions.

Club fitting is also a key part of this conversation. Abbey shares her PXG fitting experience at the PXG store in Northbrook, Illinois, where she learned that her irons were too stiff and too heavy for her swing. Through a more personalized fitting process, weight adjustments and better specifications helped dial in a setup that fit her game much better. That leads into a useful conversation on why club fitting matters for everyday golfers, not just elite players, and why Illinois golfers should consider doing an equipment audit before the season gets fully underway. If you are thinking about new clubs, trying to improve consistency, or simply wanting to play better golf in 2026, this section of the episode is especially practical.

The travel conversation in this episode goes well beyond Illinois. Abbey talks about the rise of golf tourism, the growing interest in destinations like Gulf Shores and the RTJ Trail, and why family-friendly golf travel is becoming a bigger part of the industry. Golfers are no longer satisfied with hearing only about weather and course conditions. They want the full experience: great golf, good food, memorable lodging, local culture, activities for the whole family, and a destination that feels worth the trip. That broader trend is also what makes Abbey’s expertise in Spain golf so valuable in this conversation.

Abbey brings a strong perspective on Spain golf and why Spain and Portugal continue to attract so much attention from golfers planning international trips. She discusses regions like Costa del Sol, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and other areas where golf, scenery, history, and broader travel experiences all come together. That international angle helps frame the bigger story of this episode: golf tourism is booming in 2026 because golfers want more than just a tee time. They want a full experience, whether they are traveling in the Midwest, the South, or across Europe.
If you are interested in Illinois golf, Illinois golf travel, the Chicago Golf Show, club fitting, PXG Northbrook, Spain golf, Midwest golf trips, golf tourism, golf travel trends, or planning your next golf trip, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Abbey Algiers at www.abbeyalgiers.com

​Explore the full Golf Podcasts USA catalog at golfpodcasts.org

​Jack Dillon joins Golf Podcasts USA for our “In My Opinion” segment — a short-form golf business and golf industry commentary series featuring smart voices from across the game.

Jack is a two-time author, Golf Inc. Magazine contributor, and longtime golf business expert. In this episode, we talk about golf growth, course hospitality, player development, off-course golf, and how the industry can do a better job keeping new golfers engaged for the long term.

We also discuss why courses need to stay connected to golfers after the round, how group instruction and better hospitality can help retention, and what operators, brands, and media companies should be thinking about over the next 90 days.

Learn more about Jack at www.youdontknowjackd.com

Read his Golf Inc. commentary here: https://golfincmagazine.com/commentary/

​Golf Podcasts USA is America’s only local golf podcast network, with golf podcast coverage in all 50 states and beyond. Explore the full catalog at golfpodcasts.org.