McHenry County Blog

When I saw this tee shirt at the Buffalo Grove swim meet, I immediately thought of the Doc Haznow Chili Open on Crystal Lake.

Guess I should have run it before the meet, but I forgot.

It has a snowman holding the flag on a green. Underneath it says,

I told the man wearing it about the Chili Open.

“Oh, I know about that,” he said.

I asked him where he was from. The answer was McHenry. He had to be a McHenry Marlin swim Dad like me.

Saturday I thought there would be water on the ice at the Crystal Lake Park District’s Doc Haznow Chili Open.

But it was in the 50’s Saturday and in the 30’s on Sunday for the on the surface of Crystal Lake golf tournament.

When the lady was sliding on the ice on the way to and from where her ball had gone out of bounds, I saw no water splashing up.

No wake here either.

Just like the woman, this man’s golf ball went into the “rough.”

Here the golfers are gathered around a pirate flag. I wonder what that’s all about.

While the golf tournament stated at 8 AM, here are some late starters I found after church.

When I saw this tee shirt at the Buffalo Grove swim meet, I immediately thought of the Doc Haznow Chili Open on Crystal Lake.

Guess I should have run it before the meet, but I forgot.

It has a snowman holding the flag on a green. Underneath it says,

I told the man wearing it about the Chili Open.

“Oh, I know about that,” he said.

I asked him where he was from. The answer was McHenry. He had to be a McHenry Marlin swim Dad like me.

Saturday I thought there would be water on the ice at the Crystal Lake Park District’s Doc Haznow Chili Open.

But it was in the 50’s Saturday and in the 30’s on Sunday for the on the surface of Crystal Lake golf tournament.

When the lady was sliding on the ice on the way to and from where her ball had gone out of bounds, I saw no water splashing up.

No wake here either.

Just like the woman, this man’s golf ball went into the “rough.”

Here the golfers are gathered around a pirate flag. I wonder what that’s all about.

While the golf tournament stated at 8 AM, here are some late starters I found after church.

If it were a horse race, the mudders would win in today’s Doc Haznow Chili Open.

But it’s a golf tournament held in front of the Crystal Lake Park District’s Main Beach.

Run by the park district, it appeared that the advertised playing “one of two championship, nine-hole, par 32 courses on frozen Crystal Lake” will be much like last year’s, which you can see above.

Here’s what the course looked like Saturday morning. Similar to last years, except with snow banks.

After a Saturday in the 50’s, there was a lot more water on the course by late afternoon than there was at 9 AM.

Here’s a view of the Saturday sun setting on the beginning of one of the golf courses. It was taken about the same place as the second photo, but with a tighter view.

It looks as if golfers should wear boots.

What a change from the just above zero temperatures ice fishing derby on the West End of Crystal Lake. Check out the guys flying the City of Chicago flag.

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

If it were a horse race, the mudders would win in today’s Doc Haznow Chili Open.

But it’s a golf tournament held in front of the Crystal Lake Park District’s Main Beach.

Run by the park district, it appeared that the advertised playing “one of two championship, nine-hole, par 32 courses on frozen Crystal Lake” will be much like last year’s, which you can see above.

Here’s what the course looked like Saturday morning. Similar to last years, except with snow banks.

After a Saturday in the 50’s, there was a lot more water on the course by late afternoon than there was at 9 AM.

Here’s a view of the Saturday sun setting on the beginning of one of the golf courses. It was taken about the same place as the second photo, but with a tighter view.

It looks as if golfers should wear boots.

What a change from the just above zero temperatures ice fishing derby on the West End of Crystal Lake. Check out the guys flying the City of Chicago flag.

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Sunday was the day that local golfers took part in the Crystal Lake Park District’s almost annual Doc Haznow Chili Open.

Sometimes, like when the lake was low and it did not freeze sufficiently (because of the springs?), the golf day is canceled.

Sometimes, like this year, it is postponed.

This year that meant it was held last Sunday, February 17th, instead of the Sunday before.

Here is how the park district promoted it this year:

“Golfers will play one of two championship, nine-hole, par 32 courses on frozen Crystal Lake.

“All foursomes will receive our great giveaway, one bowl of chili and the chance to win several prizes.

“Prizes include: various golf bags, Ping golf clubs, Ping apparel, and other prizes.

“Decorate a sled and enter it in the Chili Open “Best Sled” contest.”

After we got back from our treacherous trip home from the Milwaukee area, we stopped at Gate 3 beach in Lakewood to take some photos.

It had rained a lot and the temperature was in the forties.

The surface of Crystal Lake was covered with water.

The golfers didn’t quite look like they were walking on water, but it was close.

Brightly visible was a device that looked like a Zamboni from a distance.

What we saw was mainly people walking around.

Maybe the tournament was over and people were cleaning up.

We did see a couple with golf clubs crossing to the parking lot about noon.

Monday was a completely different scene.

The water had frozen.

The ice had been covered with snow.

The wind was so strong that anyone on the lake would have experienced a near whiteout experience.

The evergreens around the holes were still visible, but the golfers were elsewhere.

All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Sunday was the day that local golfers took part in the Crystal Lake Park District’s almost annual Doc Haznow Chili Open.

Sometimes, like when the lake was low and it did not freeze sufficiently (because of the springs?), the golf day is canceled.

Sometimes, like this year, it is postponed.

This year that meant it was held last Sunday, February 17th, instead of the Sunday before.

Here is how the park district promoted it this year:

“Golfers will play one of two championship, nine-hole, par 32 courses on frozen Crystal Lake.

“All foursomes will receive our great giveaway, one bowl of chili and the chance to win several prizes.

“Prizes include: various golf bags, Ping golf clubs, Ping apparel, and other prizes.

“Decorate a sled and enter it in the Chili Open “Best Sled” contest.”

After we got back from our treacherous trip home from the Milwaukee area, we stopped at Gate 3 beach in Lakewood to take some photos.

It had rained a lot and the temperature was in the forties.

The surface of Crystal Lake was covered with water.

The golfers didn’t quite look like they were walking on water, but it was close.

Brightly visible was a device that looked like a Zamboni from a distance.

What we saw was mainly people walking around.

Maybe the tournament was over and people were cleaning up.

We did see a couple with golf clubs crossing to the parking lot about noon.

Monday was a completely different scene.

The water had frozen.

The ice had been covered with snow.

The wind was so strong that anyone on the lake would have experienced a near whiteout experience.

The evergreens around the holes were still visible, but the golfers were elsewhere.

All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Andy Warhol predicted everyone would get 15 minutes of fame.

I got 15 seconds, maybe less, as the picture you see was flashed on the Channel Five 10 O’clock News screen by Brant Miller after his weather report.

While me name and hometown were in the upper left hand corner of the television screen, I’m sure that most people were looking at the golfers on the water covered Crystal Lake ice last Sunday.

The three photos were shown. All were of ice.

Andy Warhol predicted everyone would get 15 minutes of fame.

I got 15 seconds, maybe less, as the picture you see was flashed on the Channel Five 10 O’clock News screen by Brant Miller after his weather report.

While me name and hometown were in the upper left hand corner of the television screen, I’m sure that most people were looking at the golfers on the water covered Crystal Lake ice last Sunday.

The three photos were shown. All were of ice.