Urlacher joins other greats for a round in Encompass
He's pounding a gap wedge instead of plugging a gap. And while he's no longer doing NFL commentary on TV either, Brian Urlacher still keeps up on his former football team.
The former Bears great participated in Friday's Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club in Glenview. The tournament format includes a pro-am the first two days. Urlacher and playing-partner Jeff Sluman were paired up with Jay Haas and former Blackhawks star Jeremy Roenick.
"I played OK today," said Urlacher, looking slim and in playing shape. "I made some putts. That was fun. We had a good time. I had a good group.
"They're good golfers," he added, smiling.
The Bears open training camp in Bourbonnais under new head coach John Fox later this month. If Bears fans listen to Urlacher, they should be fired up.
"I'm a huge fan of Coach Fox," Urlacher said. "I've always been a fan of his. With his style of football - run the football, play good defense - they'll be better this year. They have to be. They'll take pressure off the quarterback with running the football. They'll throw the short passes. Good OC (Adam Gase), good DC (Vic Fangio). Fox knows how to win football games. He's shown that his whole career."
Urlacher has been up to Halas Hall a few times this summer and caught up with some former teammates, including Tim Jennings, Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte.
"It was cool to see some of the guys I played with," he said, "because I hadn't been back there in two years."
A member of the Merit Club in Libertyville for 12 years, Urlacher says he plays more golf in the winter in Arizona than he does in the summer. He and Sluman shot a team score of 10-under par (tie for seventh, two shots back). Roenick and Haas came in at 2-under (tie for 70th).
"They're so consistent," Urlacher said of Sluman and Haas. "There are no weaknesses in their games. They're not like us amateurs, where we have one thing that we do decently well and a lot of things that we don't do well."
Putt for charity: The Putt for Charity Challenge, sponsored by Myrbetriq located in the Encompass Fan Zone, will give fans a chance to test their skills while raising money for charity.
Each participant will have three opportunities to putt and win prizes. Plus, Astellas will donate $1 for each person Encompass Championships charity partners, up to $5,000.
Also new this year, the volunteer who best exemplifies the tournament's core values of volunteerism will be presented with the Volunteer Appreciation Award, presented by Myrbetriq. A $10,000 check in his or her name will be donated to Encompass Championship charities.