BY: RORY SPEARS

A Happy New Year to everyone as we say goodbye to 2014, and welcome in 2015.

OUR WINTER SPONSORS  such as the Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Center located on Old McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove of course, (847)-459-2321 or bgparks.org will be open today call for hours. Bang some balls in the dome, get your swing right for 2015.

IN ADDISON ON LAKE STREET, AWARD WINNER LINKS & TEE’S IS OPEN AS WELL, CALL (630)-233-7275 EXT 4 FOR HOURS, OR VISIT ADDISONPARKS.ORG.

GOLF DOME, OTB, AND SPORTS RESTAURANT

MCQ’s Sports Dome is open today, they are an official Blackhawks bar. So you can see the winter classic there. They are having a raffle to give away 1 winter classic jersey. MCQ’s in Bolingbrook.

Golf dome is open as well, head on over and hit some balls before the puck drops, or the football’s fly through the the air in the bowl games. Hoops at night, the Bulls.

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO Follow us on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Linkedin or Facebook via Rory Spears

From all of us at Golfers on Golf, have a Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you on the course this coming year. Maybe at the golf shows as well, come Tinley Park and Rosemont for the Chicago Golf show.

Happy New Year from, Mike Munro, Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and yours truly.

The Gog Blog returns tomorrow, looking ahead at 2015.

     THE DOMES ARE OPEN EARLY TODAY, BUT CLOSING EARLY AS WELL. Call the Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center at (847)-459-2321 or Links & Tee’s in Addison at (630)-233-7275 Ext 4 for hours today. Full hours tomorrow. Happy New Year.

BY: RORY SPEARS, EDITOR AND SR. WRITER

Where has 2014 gone, it seems like it wasn’t that long ago Bubba Watson was winning his second Masters. The Back-to-Back U.S.Opens were on at Pinehurst, then Rory McIlroy went on his roll winning two straight majors.

The Fed Ex Cup Playoffs and the Ryder Cup came and went, then the silly season started. of course these days you could call the wrap around season a silly season as well. The beautiful Kapalua Plantation Course that doesn’t get the respect it deserves, is next on the tee. Here’s to a good week for good friend and Director of Golf at Kapalua Mike Jones and crew. The 2015 PGA Tour season really does start this next week.

The Par 3, 3rd hole at Merion.

As for me I’m up for watching golf from the Hawaiian islands for a few weeks. Having made the trip to the islands 8 times, there is plenty of great golf to be found there. I would recommend Hawaii before I would travel south of the border.

Hopefully you are planning your golf trip or trips for 2015 already, there are so many good places to go.

With everyone doing their Top 10 list or so from 2014 to close out the year, I thought I would do my 25 favorite rounds from 2014. No not by score, but just the enjoyment of playing where I did. Yes some are private clubs and some are not, but all in all they are great golf. I am just hoping that golf is just as much fun in 2015 as it was in 2014.

No.1 was my return to Merion outside Philadelphia. No I did not play as well as I did in my first visit in 2009, but Merion is still a special place and a really neat golf course. It’s no wonder the USGA did all it could to have the U.S. Open back there again in 2013. It wasn’t fun being over run by bugs (nats) there this time around, it seems as if parts of the Philly area had that issue this summer. But a day on Merion with club historian and good friend John Capers makes for a special round.

No.2 was a first time visit to Shinnecock Hills in Southhampton on Long Island. The SHGC will host yet another U.S. Open in 2018, the new tee’s are already in place.

The Par 5, 16th hole at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

Shinnecock is one of those special places you just can’t help but enjoy. The entire club just reeks of tradition and history, it’s no wonder that some newer prairie fescue design type courses all try to capture the look of Shinnecock.

The course is not right on the water, but it’s not far away from two different directions. Tree’s are few and the wind will blow quite frequently, then there are greens than can leave you scratching your head after a missed putt. Ah, the joy of Shinnecock, I’m looking forward to a rematch down the road some day.

No.3 Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton. It had been 9 years since my last round there and it was good to return, great company and great weather made for a special day.

Holes 1 (R) and 9 (L) at Friars Head GC in Riverhead NY.

No.4 Friarshead Golf Club in Riverhead NY. just up the road from the big name courses in Southampton.

Friarshead is a Crenshaw and Coore design that is a mix between Pinehurst No.2 and Streamsong Red. There are one set of tee markers on every hole, not five. Everyone pretty much plays from the same tee’s regardless of handicap, age or ability. No yardage markers on the course or on the card, trust your caddie and have fun, and I sure did. One of the great rounds of the year. One of the great short walks in golf, between holes 15 and 16 on a walkaway up and over a beach. Pretty neat.

Letting it rip on the 18th hole at Sebonack, a nice par was made to close out the round.

No.5 Sebonack on Long Island, this Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus design has a few greens that will leave your jaw dropping down to your ankles. But you can’t beat the rest of the golf course, the clubhouse or it’s cottages.

This is one of those courses that the walk is so good, you won’t really care what you score is. The U.S. Women’s Open was played here already, and I’m sure the USGA will return with yet another championship at some point.

Can’t beat a course with an elevator for the walkers to the next tee box. From 17 green to 18 tee box.

No.6 the Pittsburgh Field Club, after a redo from architect Keith Foster, the PFC is now shoulder to shoulder with it’s more famous neighbor Fox Chapel Country Club that’s about a mile and half around the corner.

It’s hard to beat a golf course that gives it’s walking golfers an elevator to ride in, from the 17th green to the 18th tee box. The hill is pretty steep so the elevator is a cool addition. Look for more on the PFC in an addition of the Gog Blog’s Great Golf on a Cold Day, coming soon.

Kiawah Island the Ocean Course by Pete Dye

No.7 The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort.

It’s always fun to arrive at one of the countries top golf courses, and see that the mercury has plunged down to 42 degrees. Then it dropped to 39 degrees by the time 18 holes had been played.

When the wind is whipping off the ocean it add’s to the day. Special thanks to caddie Mike Warren who had me tee off the backside that day, and so we never encountered another group in the 3 hours and 5 minutes it took me to play. Fun course, fun round and a great test of golf.

No.8 The Philadelphia Cricket Club, Wissahickon Course. The trip this summer was rematch for me on this old classic A.W. Tillinghast Course. Philly Cricket is the country’s oldest country club. There was a country club for some 42 years before they had a golf course. The recent Keith Foster renovation has put this course back on the map, I’ll have more in an upcoming GOG-GG on a Cold Day segment.

No.9 Saucon Valley, the Old Course. The old course at Saucon Valley was the lead course for this years USGA Mid-Amateur. It’s one of three courses the club has, and the 54 holes are great tracks. Someday I’m looking forward to seeing the other two courses I didn’t play.

Fox Chapel’s par 3 called “Short” 140 from the tips.

No.10 Fox Chapel, or fun in the fog as it was for me that day. This is an old Seth Raynor classic that had been hosting the Sr. Players Championship.

I really enjoy the old courses, because you really don’t see architecture like this anymore. Well if you have heard of island greens, this was an island green even before there was island greens. Sand helped from the island, long before water came in during the 1970’s.

One of the other great par 3’s on the golf course, is the 17th hole with a Biarritz style green ( if your not sure what this is, it’s like a U shaped green). I hit the front end of the green, the pin was in back. You gotta love those 185 foot birdie putts for a 2. I did make par.

The rest of the top 25 include. 11. Scioto in Columbus Ohio. Jack Nicklaus boyhood golf course and host of the 2016 U.S. Sr. Open. 12. Bethpage Black NY, hosted 2002 and 2009 U.S Opens, will host 2024 Ryder Cup. 13. Lancaster CC,Lancaster PA, home of the 2015 U.S.Women’s Open. 14. Erin Hills, Erin Wisconsin, home of the 2017 U.S. Open. 15. Rolling Green GC, Springfield PA., home of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur. 16. Streamsong Red, Streamsong Florida. 17. Sands Point, Great Neck NY. recently renovated by Keith Foster old Tillinghast course. 18. St.Georges GC on Long Island NY. it is the most fun you can have on a 6,300 yard golf course. 19. Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta Ga. 20. Sentry World in Stevens Point Wis., this Jay Bilasi redo is really good, enjoy the flower hole. 21. Old Elm GC. Highland Park IL., Drew Rodgers has recaptured the old Harry Colt/ Donald Ross design. 22. Cog Hill Dubsdread course #4. always enjoyable playing here, then having a Dubsburger afterwards. 23. Pine Meadow in Mundelein, can’t beat these old William S. Flynn courses. 24. Doral the Blue Monster, Gil Hanse has done some nice work to this Miami resort course. 25. Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor Michigan, right after the Sr. PGA when the course was in great condition.

I hope your 2014 list was as enjoyable as mine was. good luck inputting together a great list of courses for 2015. Happy New Year. RS

           THE AWARD WINNING DOMES. The Buffalo Grove Golf Dome and the Addison based Links & Tee’s Golf Dome are both award winners again, Congrats to both facilities. BGG & SC on Old McHenry Rd. in Buffalo Grove (847)-459-2321. L & T’s on Lake Avenue in Addison. (630)-233-7275 EXT 4.

BY: RORY SPEARS, EDITOR & SR. WRITER

Happy Birthday Pete, yes I am a day late in our CST time zone but Happy 89th birthday to one of the great characters and creators in golf Pete Dye.

The Hall of Fame architect has done wonders for the game of golf, he has created some of the games most interesting designs.

If your wondering about some of the great Pete Dye courses out there you can play. here are some of them.

 The Pete Dye Golf Course at the French Lick Resort in Southern Indiana. As part of the hundreds of millions of dollars spent to restore the famed property, Dye was hired to build a golf course on top of some high ground. From many of the holes, golfers on a clear day can see for over 25 miles. Dye created a breath taker complete with Volcano Bunkers, who said you have to travel to Hawaii to find paradise.

          The home of the PGA Championship in 2015, Whistling Straits Golf Links in Haven/Kohler, Wisconsin, part of the American Club Resort. Dye designed all four courses for the resort, including the Top 100 rated River Course. (Straits Clubhouse Painting by artist Cassy Tully).

            The Kiawah Island Resort in Charleston South Carolina. L to R hole 17 and hole 11 on the Ocean Course. The course has had the “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup and the 2012 PGA Championship that was won by Rory McIlroy. What’s up next is probably another PGA Championship, maybe not too many more years down the road The Ocean Course is one of Dye’s best courses. As Dye said, “not sure you could ever build this course again. We got to do somethings only because we had to repair hurricane damage to the area.” Dye doesn’t believe he could ever get the permits to redo what was done there in the late 1980’s.

HARBOR TOWN in Hilton Head South Carolina, yes it’s that course with the famed lighthouse you see at the PGA Tour event the week after the Masters. Don’t forget TPC Sawgrass home of the Players Championship, the PGA Tours “5th Major.”

The Pete Dye Trail runs through Indiana, with several courses around the Indianapolis area, including the Brickyard Course that runs through the Indianapolis 500 race course.

With Pete Dye at The French Lick Resort, Pete Dye Golf Course.

There are plenty of great Pete Dye Courses around America, hopefully Dye will do a few more before he finally gets through as he says, “playing in the dirt.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE, Have a great one, from all of us at Golfers on Golf.

       The Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center Open Weekdays from 9 AM to 10 PM, but closing early on New Years Eve, call (847)-459-2321 for details. Bgparks.org online for more information. Todd Sones FREE clinics coming again in January.

BY: Rory Spears, with the Wicker Basket at Merion.

When I think back to 2014, I’ll think back to my return at Merion in early July. I must say that Merion remains my favorite course that I have played, that might change someday but for now Merion remains on top.

In October I played Shinnecock Hills and it’s very good, I thought going in it might be my new No.1 when I finished the 18 holes there but it had to settle for No.2. Regardless both courses are very good, and a must play if you ever have the chance to play there. Both courses test your game in ways you don’t see everyday. You don’t have to play the tips at either course to have your hands full.

I had the chance to play several top courses this year, and each test of golf was more exciting than the next one. If you haven’t taken the time to play a real top course in 2014 or even ever, make 2015 your time to do so. You will be glad you did.

Golfersongolf.com Chicago’s winter home for golf news. Follow us on Facebook and Linkedin under Rory Spears, or on Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

When it comes to playing top courses, you do have choices. There are several public courses that have or will host U.S. Opens.

Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines, Erin Hills, and Chambers Bay that will host the U.S. Open this coming year.

There are public courses that have hosted PGA Championships, like Pinehurst, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. there are public courses that have hosted Fed Ex Cup Playoff Events, U.S. Amateurs (like Cog Hill) and more. So why not take a day, at least one day for a round of golf at a top championship public course. There is no feeling like playing one of these type courses. Both Harbor Shores in Michigan and the French Lick Resort will be or have hosted the Sr. PGA Championship in 2014 (HSGC) and 2015 (FLR).

There are some ways you can play a championship private club. If you don’t know a member, or have a business contact, find a top club that supports a charity close to your heart and pay the extra bucks to play. Maybe you can just find a good charity that could use the support.

You can always visit Top 100 lists from various publications, and play courses that are on these lists. Even if they have not hosted a major or a PGA Tour event, most of them are very good golf courses.

As 2014 comes to a close, I’ll start planing where I want to play in 2015. I’m looking forward to adding some courses to my list of courses I have never played before. My number of courses played is close to 450 in some 37 states. While it’s nice to play courses you know very well, it’s nice to play new challenges. As somebody once said, variety is the spice of life.

Addisonparks.org The golf dome is open, go practice your game.

I’ll return on Wednesday to wrap up 2014 and over the first few days of 2015 I’ll have some thoughts about the year ahead. Both local picture and on the national scene.

If you got new clubs for Christmas, go hit the domes and start breaking them in. If you have gift cards from golf stores, it’s time to go visit, test some clubs and or get fitted.

If you want to test some clubs first, start looking for the demo days at the area’s domes. Sometimes you can get great deals if you buy at demo day, do inquire.

The Gog Blog Returns tomorrow, stay clicked in. RS

        LINKS & TEE’S GOLF DOME ON LAKE STREET ADDISONPARKS.ORG. CALL (630)-233-7275 EXT 4 FOR INFORMATION Friday night country themed music to hit by starting soon in January. Customer appreciation day January 31st.

BY: RORY SPEARS, EDITOR & SR. WRITER

It’s not far from the famed French Lick Resort, in fact just over 30 minutes away. While the management agreement between the two properties might be expiring, it’s still great golf all in the same area of Southern Indiana.

Welcome to Sultans Run Golf Course.

Jasper Indiana is not a far drive from French Lick Indiana. Jasper might not be home to a famous basketball legend like French Lick is, but both town have one thing in common and that’s great golf.

Jasper might only have one golf course, but that’s okay because it’s a pretty good one and golfers who have been there keep coming back.

Sultans Run at one time was a horse farm. It was home to a horse called Supreme Sultan, that has some history behind him. Over the land that now comprises 18 holes of golf and a driving range, Supreme Sultan sired a record amount of World Champion American Saddlebred horses. Nobody else can claim this record.

THE PAR 3, 2ND HOLE REQUIRES A CARRY FROM THE TEE.

If your curious about who some of the horses are who got their start in life right at Sultans Run, you need check no further than the engraved stones around the tee boxes to see the names.

The property underwent a renovation in 1996 by architect Tim Liddy who broke into golf design under the watchful eye of Indiana’s very own Pete Dye.

Sultans Run has had new bunkering, re constructed greens, and a reworking of a few holes over the years. What it is now, is one of Indiana’s best public golf courses.

The par 3, 12th hole has water long and left.

Liddy has created several challenges the golfer will enjoy. The first hole is a straight out par 4 that helps you get the round going, but the second shot is uphill.

The second hole requires some carry over water into a green snuggled into the side of a hill. The rest of the front nine will give you more elevation change and a series of doglegs, including the short (493 yard) par 5 that plays Left to Right but has an uphill long second shot to get home in two.

The back nine opens with a solid 576 yard par 5, that makes you think how much of the corner you want to cut off with your drive. The Par 3, 12th hole plays around 200 yards from the back tee’s, with water long and left. the last par 5, of the day is the 13th hole. It has a strategically placed creek and traps, that make this gradually uphill hole play tougher than it looks.

The par 3, 16th hole is 192 yards from the Tips.

No golf course that is built on a former horse farm is complete unless, it has a horseshoe shaped bunker. At Sultan’s Run this is found on the par 3, 16th hole that plays 192 from the back tees.

If you fly the green and the horseshoe you will find the pond.

While Donald Trump did not design the final hole at Sultan’s Run, you do get a finish that you might find at one of his courses. The waterfall behind the 18th green not only gives you a pretty finishing approach shot, the sounds of the water can be soothing as you stand over your final putt of the round.

The 18th green with full waterfall behind.

Sultans Run is doing some remodeling so they can not only help golfers have a great round, but giving your group the setting for you 19th hole activities. Have a big group and small group, need the right spot for a wedding. No problem Sultans Run can handles your requests.

If you GPS on the golf course, you can even download the App to your phone.

Sultans Run should be on your hit list if your headed through Indiana, just over 1 hour from Churchill Downs if headed down to the Kentucky Derby. Call (812)-482-1009 for tee times, or visit the website and book online at SultansRun.com. 1490 N. Meridian Road in Jasper, Indiana.

            THE BUFFALO GROVE GOLF & SPORTS CENTER, is open today Saturday from 7 AM to 10 PM, rates start at just $12 for 30 minutes. It’s not too late to get the 5 hour pass for $85, or a season membership for $525. 801 McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove call (847)-459-2321 or visit on line Bgparks.org. Customer Appreciation Day is Feb. 7th from 11 AM to 2 PM.

BY: RORY SPEARS, EDITOR & SR. WRITER

In the Chicago area golf fans would love to see the PGA Tour be in town every year, but since the Fed Ex Cup Playoff’s have been around the BMW Championship has stayed on the move and in 2014 that was the case again.

In 2008 the BMW Championship drove off to St. Louis, in 2012 it went over to Indianapolis, and now the Denver Colorado area in 2014. This next year in 2015 the championship will return to the newly revamped Conway Farms in Lake Forest.

But now with the final numbers in for 2014, the picture becomes a little more clear why the championship stays on the move. The picture is more than Black and White like the color of some BMW models, it is green like a golf course and the color of cash that it takes to keep some 800+ Evans Scholars in school.

The 2014 BMW Championship played at Cherry Hills Country Club and won by Billy Horschel, poured a record amount of $3.5 million dollars into the coffers of the Evans Scholars Foundation. That will keep a lot of scholars hitting the books at various schools mostly around BIG 10.

This past September over 125,000 spectators poured into Cherry Hills to see the BMW be played in the state of Colorado for the first time. The $3.5 million broke the record amount raised in 2008 at the Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, that figure was $3.4 million. Since BMW came on board in 2007, they have helped raise $ 19.6 million dollars for the Evans Scholars Foundation.

“The 2014 BMW Championship would not have been the success it was without the support of the Denver-area golf fans, the greater Denver corporate community, the Cherry Hills Country Club members and staff and the leadership of the event’s general chairman George Solich,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “From local celebrities to our corporate hospitality patrons, to thousands of area golf fans, the entire Denver community rallied around this event.”

Last month the tournament was named the 2014 PGA Tour’s Tournament of the Year for the third straight year. It also received honors for for “Best On-Site Staging” and “Best Advertising Campaign/Promotional Idea.”

The PGA Tour has named the Evans Scholars Foundation as one of the five finalists for the 2014 PGA Tour Charity of the Year Award.

The 2015 BMW Championship will be played from September 14th thought the 20th at Conway Farms Golf Club, in Lake Forest Illinois. Where Illinois golf fans will have the chance to break the $3.5 million dollar record raised for the scholars.

      The Links and Tee’s Golf Dome is located on lake Avenue in Addison Call (630)-233-7275 Ext 4 for more information or see addisonparks.org.

       OUR AWARD WINNING SPONSORS. Please support them. Links & Tee’s in Addison on Lake Street, and the Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center on Old McHenry Rd. in Buffalo Grove.

       BY: RORY SPEARS EDITOR AND SR. WRITER-VISITING SHINNECOCK HILLS GC.

No I’m not there today, but wish I was. I’m sure it’s great day for this time of year out on Long Island. But my fall stop there was very enjoyable. The club will be a great host for the 2018 U.S.Open.The history there is really something, and Shinnecock Hills will be one of our “Great Golf on a Cold Day” features coming up this winter.

DID YOU KNOW…Shinnecock Hills really never closes, in fact if the weather there is as nice as it is here today, there are probably a few members out playing. The clubhouse is closed, but pins are in and the spirit of the game lives on.

CHRISTMAS IS OVER but it’s not too late for golf gift buying, especially if you got a gift card for a golf store like I did. Shopping time, special thanks to my brother Reid Spears for that one.

WHAT IS KIND OF NEAT is that we did have a rare green Christmas and today the temperature is closing in on 50. Tomorrow Saturday is supposed to be a little warmer, and what I’m getting is emails that some courses are open if your ready to go out and play.

In fact the Bull at Pinehurst Farms, the Jack Nicklaus design just south of Kohler in Wisconsin is open today for golf. Stop off and play in route to the Packers and Lions Sunday in Green Bay, should you be going that way.

SOME OPEN COURSES around here include Settlers Hill in Geneva, Rob Roy in Prospect Hts., Cog Hill courses 1 & 3 in Lemont to name a few. In fact I would check on Maple Meadows in Addison, that might be open as well. I would check out Dupagegolf.com.

SPEAKING OF COG HILL..the Eskimo Open is coming up on Jan. 4th and if this weather holds out, it might worth putting on your calendar. Hey, there won’t be any Bears game that day. The record for players was set only a few years back in 2012, when we had the warm spring. Maybe this year that record could fall.

DID YOU GET NEW CLUBS, okay if so you should go hit them. Either outside or inside doesn’t matter, but try them out. Sooner the better, if you have today off why not go hit them.

Time to go shop.I hope you had a great Christmas, and the golfing Santa’s in your world got you what you wanted.

RS

         THE GOG BLOG, BY RORY SPEARS

MERRY CHRISTMAS, from all of us at Golfers on Golf. Standing L-R Mike Munro the former owner of the White Pines Golf Dome, Ed Stevenson Director of Golf Operations for the Dupage County Forest Preserve District. Seated Rory Spears (L) and Bill Berger PGA Life Member and owner of Bill’s Pizza and Jake’s Pizza of Franklin Park.

All of us hope you get all the great golf gifts you are looking for from Santa, family or friends. Mike Munro is still hanging out at the White Pines Golf Dome, stop and hit balls with your new clubs. Ed Stevenson will help you get goodies from Dupage Golf. Billy will serve you up a great pizza at Jake’s.

I will be out at some of the domes over the next couple of weeks, getting ready for the golf that is to be played around the PGA Merchandise Show in January. Stop and say hello, if your out hitting or rolling a few yourself.

I’m anxious to get 2015 rolling, I hope you are too. See you on the tee, now go enjoy the day and here’s hoping there is a golf gift under the tree for you.

You can friend me on FB, connect with me on Linkedin, or follow me on Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

BY: RORY SPEARS, EDITOR & SR. WRITER

I know you are in a hurry to test out those new golf clubs. I can’t say I blame you. Your headed somewhere warm for New Years eve and your taking the clubs, that is a great idea.

Your starting that New Years resolution early and getting some exercise, that is a great idea as well.

Bottom line is you are ready to hit some golf balls while you have a few days off from work, this week or next week. Well there are several domes you can visit, and the Gog Blog is here to make sure you know the holiday schedules so you can go hit the dome over the holiday break.

In Buffalo Grove at the pride of Lake County. The Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center.

  The award winning Buffalo Grove Golf Golf & Sports Dome will be open on Christmas Eve from 9 Am to 2 Pm and is closed on Christmas Day. The dome will reopen on Friday at 9 AM, and will open until 10 PM on Friday night.

New Years Eve hours 9-2 PM. Closed New years Day, regular hours return on Jan. 2nd. (847)-459-2321 and visit bgparks.org.

                           Links & Tee’s Golf Facility on Lake Street in Addison. Holiday hours are 8-4 PM on Christmas Eve, Closed on Christmas Day, normal hours on the 26th 8 AM-10 PM.

For New Years Eve, 8 AM to 4 PM, New Years Day Open from 8 AM to 10 PM. For more information see addisonparks.org. or call (630)-233-7275 Ext 4.

               MCQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook an official Blackhawks bar as well. Is Open on Christmas Eve until 5 PM. Closed on Christmas Day and reopens at 8 AM on the 26th for normal business hours. On New Years Eve, open until 8 PM. Reopens on New years Day at 8 AM (see NHL Winter Classic there) and normal business hours on Jan. 2nd. For more information see MCQ’SBAR.com. or call (630)-739-1592.

                  The White Pines Golf Dome in Bensenville, that is now operated by KemperSports Management, is open on Christmas Eve from 7 AM to 4 PM but unlike past years will now be closed on Christmas Day. On New years Eve the dome will be open from 7 AM to 5 PM and will open on New Years Day from 7 Am to 11 PM.

Sight seen at White Pines Golf Dome, Champions Tour Golfer Chip Beck dropped by and gave some lessons. You never know who will be at the White Pines Golf Dome, so call (630)-422-1060 or visit whitepinesgolfdome.com.

All of the domes will have equipment companies coming out soon for demo days, so stay clicked in at the Gog Blog for all the details.

Follow us on Facebook and Linkedin under Rory Spears or on Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

 The Buffalo Grove and Sports Center, and Golf Dome, is the best place in Lake County to practice all winter long on your game. (847)-459-2321, or online at Bgparks.org.

BY: RORY SPEARS EDITOR & SR. WRITER

Happy Holidays from all of us at Golfers on Golf. We hope Santa brings you all the golf goodies your looking for, and plenty of great rounds in 2015.

Make it a point to to play more in 2015 than you did in 2014, you will be glad you did.

Have you ever been to Far Hills New Jersey, home of the USGA and the USGA Museum. The museum is home to the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, and in 2015 home to the new Jack Nicklaus building.

 The Golf House Museum (L) and the new Jack Nicklaus building now under construction.

The USGA Museum is home to the world’s premier collection of golf artifacts and memorabilia. It is here that the greatest champions and greatest moments in American golf history come alive through entertaining and engaging exhibits as well as numerous multimedia and interactive displays.*

When one tours the museum you can see over 50,000 artifacts. Some of the items on display include the champions medal won by Francis Ouimet in the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club. A painted portrait of Bob Jones, that sits near his famous Calamity Jane II putter. Ben Hogan’s Masters Green Jacket is looking over the famed 1-Iron that he used in his 1950 U.S. Open win at Merion.

          The Ben Hogan exhibit at the USGA Museum, is one of the most popular attractions.

The USGA created a new history center, and it’s named for Arnold Palmer. The King is just one of the many golfers honored in the Museum’s Hall of Champions. Found in the hall is the 13 original USGA Championship trophies. The champions of all the USGA championships since 1895 have their names on the walls.

Trophies in the USGA Hall of Champions.

Behind the museum is the Pynes Putting Course. The 16,000 square foot green was inspired by the Himalayas green at St. Andrews in Scotland.

Guests can go putt on the green with replicas of clubs and balls from the 19th and early 20th centuries.  The Pynes Putting Course is open to guests during regular hours from early spring until late fall.

The Tee-times are available from 10 AM to 4 PM. Visitors should allow about 30 minutes to play the 9-hole course. With your green fee, players get a souvenir golf ball to keep.

This spring the Jack Nicklaus Building will open, giving guests even more to see. The building will be a tribute the greatest golfer in the games history.

MUSEUM INFORMATION:

Hours 10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday-Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays and on major holidays.

Admission fee is $7 for Adults, USGA members $5, Group Rate (10 or more) $5, Children (13-17) $3.50 under 12 Free, Pynes Putting Green $5.

Group Tours for 10 or more visitors are available, and the museum is available for special events. The Museum shop offers a range of gift items. The Golf Library is open to visitors Monday to Friday by appointment.

The USGA Museum is located in Somerset County NJ., near the intersection of Interstates 78 and 287. It’s 30 minutes from Newark Airport. For more information see the museum website at usgamuseum.com. (908)-234-2300.

*Paragraph from the USGA Museum brochure.

     LINKS & TEE’S ON LAKE STREET IN ADDISON. GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. (630)-233-7275 ADDISONPARKS.ORG.