LINKS & TEE’S Golf one of the few year round golf facilities in the Chicagoland area has opened it’s golf dome for the winter golf season ahead. Located at 880 West Lake Street in Addison, Links & Tee’s has an indoor putting green and short game area, along with targets to shoot at from the tee line.  For more on upcoming special events including a full schedule of ladies nights, see Addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275.   ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog Chicago’s #1 Golf Online Golf News Source, by Rory Spears. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. By the fireplace in McWethy’s Tavern, Now Open, at the Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville.

As December rolls along, the golf news continues to happen as 2015 comes to the end.

A great fall and outdoor temps giving courses a chance to stay open well into December, has made for 2015 to be a great year for many clubs.

This weekend the weather is supposed to be unseasonably warm, and as a result many courses are open.With the regular greens and carts available.

Some of the courses that are open include, Courses 1,2,3 at Cog Hill in Lemont, with the Three Club Open this open this Sunday on Course #1.

Cog Hill has 3 open courses # 1-2-3 see CogHillGolf.com

Cog Hill has three courses open for now. Courses 1 & 3 remain open year round

The 3-Club Open is this Sunday, and for golfers that again want to take part in the tradition of the Eskimo Open. That will be held on January 3rd on Courses 1 & 3.

Eskimo Open sign up begins on December 28th.

GREEN FEE is $46 and that includes meal of Chili/ Drink, with prizes and gift cards. Carts for $16 weather permitting. Call Golf Hill (866)-COG-HILL or visit CogHillGolf.com to sign up. The weather might be good. Until December 31st, ASK FOR the COG HILL 131 Card.

STILL OPEN in Northbrook the Sportsman’s Golf Club through Sunday, course will close regardless of the weather on Monday the 14th. Tee-times at (847)-291-2351. On the Southside Ravisloe is Open prices from $28 to walk to $40 to ride. Call the club at (708)-798-5600.

PGATOUR.COM

The PGA Tour has named the two tournaments with stops in Illinois, as award winners for 2015.

The BMW Championship which was played at the Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest and won by Jason Day, was named the “Best On-Site Staging” award.

PGA Tour VP Andy Pazder made the announcement, as BMW and the WGA created ways to make the onsite experience better for all the golf fans that attended.

AT THE JOHN DEERE CLASSIC The 2015 Deere received not one but two awards from the PGA Tour said Tournament Director Clair Peterson. the JDC won by Jordan Spieth received the “Most Engaged Community” award and the “Best Social Media Activation” award. The JDC in 2015 saw record attendance including a 10% gain over 2014. In 2015 24 new sponsors joined the championship and there was over 300 new volunteers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The BMW Championship will be played at the Crooked Stick Golf Club just north of Indianapolis Sept. 6-11 of 2016. The John Deere Classic for 1 year has been moved to August 8-14 in 2016.

JASON’S BOX a charity affiliated with the John Deere Classic founded in memory of a Quad Cities area soldier  Army Cpl. Jason Pautsch killed in Iraq, has been named a Top-3 PGA Tour charity for 2016, and will receive a $5,000 donation from the PGA Tour. Jason’s Box helps Quad-City area soldiers and vets.

Golf Scene Host Steve Kashul

The Golf Scene hosted by Steve Kashul will air it’s Winter Edition Program on Comcast Sports Net, starting this Sunday at 6 PM. It will also be replayed on Sunday night at 8:30.

Two other times are Tuesday December 15th at 1 PM, and on Saturday December 19th at 3:30 PM.

Some of the features include, a tour of the Links and Tee’s Golf Dome in Addison, a preview of the Tinley Park Golf Expo, a review of the Golf center in Des Plaines, the new line of golf balls from Wilson, a golf tip from pro Gregg Tengerstrom a the GT learning center, a Tour of the MCQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook, with a tip from John Platt of Mistwood/MCQ’s golf instruction staff.

The Clubhouse at the Palmetto Dunes Ocean front Resort on Hilton Head Island.

Wanna Golf Away this winter or in the spring of 2016.

How about a trip to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Not sure what to get or how to set up that trip with friends, family or your favorite golf foursome.

How about a gift card for the resort, that covers plenty of options. Order by December 14th and your gift card will arrive by December 24th. For more information call Palmetto Dunes at (843) 686-9697 or visit online PalmettoDunes.com. Three courses and a ocean full of fun.

One last sign auction at DuPage Golf

The final Oak Meadows memorial tee signs are now up for bid through Monday December 14th. The auction is live and you can make your bid, right now.

This is a chance to own a piece of Oak Meadows history.

Go to DuPagegolf.com and follow the link to the auction site.

Don’t forget to get your DuPage Golf Holiday Gift Card through December 20th, purchase a gift card for more than $100 and receive a Holiday Golf Bonus. Reminder Maple meadows is still open for golf, call the pro shop for available tee times.

READY FOR UK TRAVEL. It’s not to early to plan 2016 travel into the United Kingdom like Scotland and Ireland. Visit Golfbreaks.com, get your tee time in line for St. Andrews and other top venues today.

The Gog Blog Chicago’s #1 Online Golf News Source by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy in McWethy’s Tavern at Mistwood GC.

 MCQ’s Dome part of McWethy Golf along with Mistwood Golf Club is alive and ready for the upcoming winter golf season. This Sports Bar, OTB and Golf Dome is a great place to hangout in the cold months ahead. So whether it’s golf, horse racing, or just wanting to be in a Blackhawks bar with great BBQ in time for the game visit MCQ’s Dome located on Rt.53 in Bolingbrook. Call (630)-739-1592 or online MCQsdome.com.  _____________________________________________________________________

Jim McWethy, Owner of Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, and the MCQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook, with the menu and history of McWethy’s Tavern.

McWethy’s Tavern is open and if you have not been there yet, you need to go and now. Put it on your holiday season to do list.

Mistwood Golf Club and MCQ’s Dome Owner Jim McWethy has served up a winner in the opening of McWethy’s Tavern inside the new clubhouse at the Mistwood Golf Club on Renwick Road in Romeoville.

If you haven’t been to Mistwood this summer for golf or more, then it’s time to stop over and try McWethy’s Tavern, take a tour around the new clubhouse, and see the Great Hall a perfect place for your next big party or special event.

  There is no doubt that McWethy’s Tavern is a big part of Mistwood Golf Club.

I went and joined Jim McWethy for lunch on Tuesday at McWethy’s for my first meal in the new clubhouse and the tavern that carries McWethy’s name. Before you even think it, no McWethy is not on an ego trip about naming the tavern after himself. In fact he was very reluctant to do it. In the end it was done for two reasons, one a majority of people who gave suggestions told McWethy to name it after himself ( I had suggested to him McWethy’s Pub), and when you read the McWethy family history on the Coat of Arms inside the front cover of the menu, it makes even more sense.

 Enjoy holiday dining by the Christmas Tree and near the fireplace at McWethy’s Tavern (L). The circular bar is a great place to enjoy food, your favorite beverage, watch the big game, or get your work done. (The wireless at the bar is very good).

The menu is very good and has a big variety of things to choose from, it is very well priced. The list of choices in the starter area are very good usually under $10 dollars, top end has steaks in the mid $30 to just over $40 dollar range. McWethy says his steaks are being supplied by the same people, who supply a few of Chicago’s top well known steak houses.

The beer and wine list is extensive, and on the back of end of those items is a dessert menu that gets your mouth watering.

My choices for the day were, the french onion soup for starters. Then I ordered the steak sandwich with pepper fries. For dessert my favorite choice is to go with the cheese cake, and the big serving size finished me off. All were outstanding. With so many great choices to choose from, I’m looking forward to going back and trying even more items off the menu.

  Dine in McWethy’s Tavern with views of the golf course and the Mistwood Performance Center (L) or for special functions and large groups the Great Hall (R). Both rooms are complete with views of Mistwood and fireplaces.

During lunch with McWethy it became obvious that he was like a proud father with his new creation, and he should be. I found everything to like, and not much of anything to add, even though McWethy admits there will be some “tweaking done” as the clubhouse and the tavern settle in.

  The balcony outside McWethy’s Tavern and the Great Hall, will be a great place to eat drink and be social, while watching some golf (L). The balcony view of the partial island green that is the third hole.

Currently you can dine at McWethy’s Tavern without a wait, and get a table with a great view. But by summer when the golfers and non-golfers are all lined up for something to eat and drink, I suspect there will be a day when, waits will occur and reservations might be recommended.

The Great Hall is likely to become a very popular place, not just for golf banquets but weddings, birthday parties, corporate gatherings and more. Currently there are a fair amount of good open dates, but those could go very quickly. Liek tee times next summer, now that all three phases (golf course-performance center-clubhouse) are now complete and the ma

While the Mistwood Golf Course and the Performance Center are closed for the season, McWethy’s Tavern is open and ready for you to stop in. Hours are from 10 AM to 10 PM, but on Fridays and Saturdays it’s 10 AM to 11 PM.

For more information on McWethy’s Tavern the Great Hall, Mistwood Golf Club and Performance Center visit Mistwoodgc.com or call (815)-254-3333.

  The Ivanhoe Club home of the Rust-Oleum Championship coming in June of 2016. The Links and Tee’s Golf Dome is open for the winter golf season see Addisonparks.org.      _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog Chicago’s #1 Online Golf News Source by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort in Tarpon Springs.

On Tuesday a Grand Opening/ Media Day was held on the newly renovated Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook resort in the Palm Harbor/Tarpon Springs area, north of Tampa Bay.

The Copperhead Course is home of the PGA Tour Valspar Championship, were golfers like Wheaton’s Kevin Streelman and Northwestern Alum Luke Donald are among the past champions.

The course was shut down in early May of this year, and some limited member play last week before reopening today.

New white tour sand was going on last year, even before the Valspar Championship.

The Gog Blog went and saw the course originally designed by the famed Larry Packard early in 2015, but even then the course work had started.

Once May rolled around, the course shut down and heavy work began.

A renovation that the Salamander Resort Chain has called, restorative enhancement that respects the guiding principals of Packard’s original design.

BIG 3 Partner Len Ziehm was on site yesterday for the grand reopening, and will have more on the course renovation shortly. The Gog Blog will have it’s own review of the Copperhead renovation at the end of January in 2016, when our return visit occurs. In the meantime visit Lenziehmongolf.com for more information on Innisbrook Resort.

 The Web.com Tour comes to Lake County in June of 2016 with the Rust Oleum Classic at the Ivanhoe Club. The Links & Tee’s Golf Dome on Lake Street in Addison is open for the winter golf season, stop in or visit addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275 ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog Chicago’s No.1 Online Golf News Source by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the Red Course at Streamsong.

The Web.Com Tour is coming to the Chicago area up in Lake County in Ivanhoe, and to the Ivanhoe Club from June 6-12. One week before the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Vernon Hills based, Rust-Oleum Corporation is the title sponsor, of this $600,000 dollar event that has $108,000 going to the champion.

The championship has a three-year agreement to play the tournament in the area with the tour.

All four days of the championship will be televised by The Golf Channel which has a potential audience of over 93,000,000 homes.

L-R Tournament Director Scott Cassin, Rust Oleum President Tom Reed, Tournament Co-Chairman Denny Belcastro, Web.Com President Bill Calfee, unveil the championship logo at the Ivanhoe Club.

“The Web.com Tour looks forward to bringing the Rust-Oleum Championship to the Chicago area, one of the great cities for golf in all of America,”, said Bill Calfee, president of the Web.com Tour. “Rust-Oleum has been a wonderful partner for the last two years in Cleveland and we think the move to their hometown and the Chicago area’s strong affinity for golf will make for a very successful Rust-Oleum Golf Championship. “The Ivanhoe Club is going to serve as a terrific venue for Web.Com Tour players, who will be in the midst of their pursuit of a PGA Tour card for 2016-17.”

Welcome to the Ivanhoe Club

The Rust-Oleum Championship has had two exciting finishes the last two years in Cleveland.

In 2014 Steve Alker won the longest playoff in tour history with an 11 hole playoff win over Dawie van der Walt.

Earlier this year Shane Bertsch fired a final round 66 to win by 1 shot over Lucas Lee.

When the Web.com tour last played in the Chicago area, it was the Lasalle Bank Open, and it was held at the Glen Club, 2007 winner was Jason Duffner winner of the 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Scott Cassin who served as tournament director for the Lasalle bank Open, returns in the same capacity for the Rust-Oleum Championship.

Rust-Oleum has it’s own charity arm called Rust-Oleum Cares. It supports Seven area charities, including the First-Tee Program of Greater Chicago and the Evans Scholar Foundation.

Click here to hear interviews with Rust-Oleum President and Ivanhoe member Tom Reed first, then with Ivanhoe Director of Golf and new Illinois Golf Hall of Fame member Jim Sobb.

Ivanhoe Director of Golf Jim Sobb at his Illinois Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Glen Club.

“When the club opened in 1991 we only had 18 holes,” said Sobb, Ivanhoe’s Director of Golf. “About four years later we were able to acquire some addition land and expand to 27 holes. Our original back nine has some holes become part of our Marsh 9, and some holes became part of the Prairie 9. For the championship our Forest Nine will be used as the front nine, and our original 9 holes will be used for the back nine.”

Sobb expects the course to be challenging for the players, saying their are not many flat lies on the front nine the Forest Nine, and with some tucked pin placements behind the water hazard’s and bunkers, they could also prove to be a test for the players especially if the conditions are not perfect.

One of the par 5’s on the course will get shortened and play to a par of 4,making the par 72 Ivanhoe course, just 71 for the championship.

Sobb admits he holds the course record at 64, when asked if he is concerned about that record falling Sobb said, “I am.”

The field of 156 players including some with local ties are expected to be in the field, and some players who will play in the U.S Open the following are also expected to be in the Rust-Oleum Championship.

More information on the tournament, such as tickets and to volunteer will be out shortly, stay clicked in here for details as they become available.

 The Web.com Tour comes to Ivanhoe Country Club today to announce it’s Rust Oleum Tournament to held next June. Golfersongolf.com will have more on this later today.      _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog Chicago’s No.1 Online Golf News Source by Rory Spears. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Erin Hills home of the 2017 US Open might be closed for the year, but many courses are not with the warm December weather we are getting.

Today I’m spraying to all fairways, and not snow covered fairways. Yes it is December, and the week ahead looks so good many courses are still open. You can’t beat that.

Public courses and private clubs alike are still letting golfers and or their members tee it up. Some are cart path only some courses are not, temporary greens haven’t shown up yet.

The Eskimo Open at Cog Hill on Jan. 3rd could end up with a record amount of golfers if the weather doesn’t change and change quickly. Speaking of Cog Hill, courses 1-2 & 3 are still open and over 160 golfers showed up this past Saturday to play golf. Over 100 more were out playing at Maple Meadows too, even Conway Farms had some member play.

All of this outdoor play might not bode well for the golf domes, but their day is coming and it’s coming soon. In the meantime, go outside and enjoy December, and do it with a club in your hand not a show shovel in your hand, it’s a great feeling.

WEB.COM the Rust Oleum Championship makes it’s debut in the Chicago area today with press conference at Ivanhoe Golf Club, several speakers will be on-hand to bring everyone up to speed on what to expect at the tournament next June which should be a good one. More on this later today.

THE USGA has drafted another new rule and it’s not going to make to many people to happy. If you are playing as a single, you are not supposed to post your score to be used for handicap purposes. As someone who plays solo many times during the day during the week, I will not be able to post too many scores.

It’s my concern as well that groups that keep track of data to supply golf organizations including the USGA with data on growth of golf, rounds played etc., could be sending in flawed numbers. I understand what the USGA is trying to do, hoping to cut down on the fudging of numbers, but if somebody wants to change their handicap up or down from what they really shoot, they will do it whether or not they play as a single or a foursome.

TIGER WOODS held a press conference last week before tournament play started. It sounds like Woods won’t be on the golf course a for a long time, after multiple back surgeries. While I wish Woods a speedy recovery, I was amazed at the gloom and doom by some golf media members who took the press conference as if Woods was retiring.

In all fairness to the great players or today’s game, it’s time for some of the print media and some of the networks to start looking ahead instead of behind. There was great golf before Tiger and there will be great golf after Tiger.

SOME OF WHICH WILL BE PLAYED BY Jordan Spieth who recorded yet another hole-in-one this past week. No word if he sprung for food and booze in the press tent like he did at the BMW Championship at Conway Farms.

THE DOMES ARE OPEN and looking for your business as well, don’t be afraid to go inside and outside this week when you practice or play.

The Gog Blog Returns later with an update on the Web.com Rust-Oleum Championship at Ivanhoe Country Club. RS

   The Cog Hill Christmas returns today by popular demand, after a success on Saturday the 2-4 building is ready for more golfers, call (866)-COG-HILL or visit CogHillGolf.com. The Great Hall at Mistwood is ready for Sundays visit by Santa, breakfast with Santa starts today at 10. See Mistwood.com for more information, event is open to the public.   ______________________________________________________________________

the Gog Blog Chicago’s #1 Online Golf News Source by Rory Spears (L), USGA Executive Director Mike Davis (M), Tim Cronin of the Illinois Golfer (R). Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy, at the CDGA Centennial Dinner.

Dates and locations of the 2016 Chicago District Golf Association’s 11 championships are now official, that includes the new CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship and the CDGA Sr. Four-Ball Championships, the new team and individual net series, and several USGA qualifiers.

“The 2016 season should be exciting with all the great sites and the launch of our Four-ball championships,” said CDGA Director of Rules and Competitions Nick Scillia.

The 86th Illinois State Amateur Championship is being moved back a week from it’s previous dates over the last three years. This years championship that will be contested from July 19-21, will be held at the St. Charles Country Club. It is the first time the club has hosted the championship since 1945.

“St. Charles is a classic country club layout with tight tree-lined fairways and many small greens,” said Scillia. “The course plays just over 6,800 yards, and the championship will place a premium on precision rather than distance.”

Qualifying for the championship will commence on June 7th, and run through the end of the month.

Visit CDGA.org

The 97th CDGA Amateur Championship the CDGA’s oldest event will be held on one of the districts oldest golf courses. The Calumet Country Club in Homewood, June 27-30. The match play event has been held at the club three times in past years,most recently in 1947.

“Calumet is a vintage Donald Ross design with very challenging greens and narrow fairways,” Scillia said. “Staying in the fairway and placing it in the correct quadrant of the green will be essential. It will be great for match play with some risk-reward holes.”

There will be four qualifiers held in late May and in early June, starting on May 23rd.

New in 2016 are the CDGA Amateur Four-Ball and CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championships. These are similar to the newly added USGA U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championships. The CDGA versions will be two-man teams. The championship will be held August 1-4 at the Eagle Brook. the Sr. Amateur Four-Ball will be played May 23-26 at the Crystal Tree Golf and Country Club.

THE CDGA will host several USGA qualifiers. The U.S.Open local qualifying is May 9th at Village Links and Illiana CC in Springfield. Another qualifier is May 16th at Exmoor CC.  A U.S. Women’s Open qualifier will be held on May 23rd. On July 12th a U.S. Amateur qualifier will be held on the Weibring Course at Illinois State University, and a qualifier for the USGA Mid-Amateur Championship will be played on August 1st at the Cantigny Golf Links in Wheaton.

For more information on the full CDGA Championship schedule, getting a handicap, enjoy the fantasy golf events, please visit cdga.org.

   The Main Clubhouse at Cog Hill, ready to host your holiday parties see CogHillgolf.com and the New Titleist DT TruSoft Golf Ball now available at pro shops and golf retail stores near you. Please visit Titleist.com for more information on this new golf ball.         ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog Chicago’s #1 Online Golf News Source by Rory Spears, Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Standing on top of the Volcano Bunkers at the French Lick Resorts Pete Dye Golf Course on a cool day.

DECEMBER NEWS PART 2…

It might be December, but the golf news in the Chicago area is flying all over town.

There is so much going on in this “off season” that it feels more like early summer than early December.

The weather outside is outstanding, at least for the next few days anyway.

As a result many courses have elected to remain open for play, and are still not using temporary greens. Some courses are sending out golf carts. At some courses it’s cart paths only, at others it’s not.

COURSES WHERE YOU CAN TEE IT UP TODAY INCLUDE:

Maple Meadows part of DuPage Golf, Go join over 100 golfers who already have tee times.

Maple Meadows is open. Director of Golf Operations Ed Stevenson says there already over 100 golfers signed up to play. But there are tee time available, the first group out is at 8 AM providing there is no frost delay, and there could be based on Friday night lows.

Deerfield Golf Club in Deerfield is open. The Blackberry Oaks Golf Club in Bristol is open, walking or riding. The Buffalo Grove Golf Course is open. As we reported Friday, the White Deer Run golf course in Libertyville is open, Chapel Hill in McHenry is open along with Courses 1 & 3 at Cog Hill in Lemont. If you are looking for other courses that might be open, I recommend calling the pro shops and checking if courses are open.

                     Chris Charnas and Links Capital Advisors have brokered yet another golf course deal, with the closing and sale of the Eagle Creek Golf Club in Hortonville Wisconsin.

Len Ziehm at the Conservatory Golf Club in Florida.

BIG 3 Partner Len Ziehm, and his traveling golf machine is on the road again. Ziehm has filed recent reports of his travels from courses and resorts like Wild Dunes in Charleston South Carolina and Santee South Carolina.

From their the Ziehm machine headed west to Louisiana, and then back East to Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Recent posts from Ziehm include, Lake Charles in Louisiana, Old Waverly and the new Mossy Oak in Mississippi. The Innisbrook Resort just north of Tampa, where the Copperhead Course home of the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour will reopen this coming week from a major renovation. The Mission Inn in Howey-In-The-Hills Florida was his most recent stop. For more on travel golf destinations visit his website LenZiehmongolf.com.

SANTEE, SOUTH CAROLINA will become a town with easy access when the new exit off of I-95 opens in 2016. New restaurants and a new conference center are among places that are creating exciting reasons to visit the town. The YMCA run Rec. Center and Waterpark,complete with an 80,000 gallon pool that opened last year, is separated into three sections for all ages.

Golf has been the draw in Santee for years, but is growing. Courses like the Santee Cooper Country Club designed by George Cobb opened in 1967 that sits on Lake Merion.  The Lake Merion Golf Club that opened in 1978, has tree lined fairways, bordering lakes and 47 sand bunkers.

Santee National Golf Club that opened it’s first tee to golf in 1989, underwent a renovation in 2005, is lined with mossy live oaks but more open than the other golf courses. Five other courses are within 20 minutes of the town, ten courses are within 40 minutes. Santee is considered a “people place” where faces are friendly around the town. For more information on Santee see GolfSantee.com or Santeetourism.com.

CARNOUSTIE SPORTSWEAR has announced the spring of 2016 men’s collection of outerwear called the MacKenzie Collection. This lightweight line of cotton outerwear has already been well received, and brings a new dimension to their outerwear offerings. For more see carnoustiesportswear.com.

COG HILL the annual Christmas/Holiday sale is today in the 2-4 Building at Cog Hill, it will run from 10 Am to 4 Pm with punch and hors d’oeuvres. It will be the largest sale of the season.

THE ESKIMO OPEN AT COG HILL will be played on Jan. 3 2016, sign up ends on December 28th, 2015. The 3-Club Frosty Open is Sunday December 13th on Course 1 at 9:30. Call Cog Hill at (866)-COG-HILL for more information or to sign up.

THE PURDUE UNIVERSITY GOLF COURSE continues to make progress towards a spring of 2016 opening. The course renovation work is being overseen by architect Pete Dye. The Ackerman Hills golf course will remain a par-72, with member tee’s at 6,200 yards and the championship tees at 7,400 yards, with front tees playing much shorter than the member tee’s.

The Donald Ross portrait in the Donald Ross Room at the Pinehurst Resort.

Donald Ross-Discovering the Legend the film is out and now available on DVD for just $20.00.

The film has interviews with several top architects like Ben Crenshaw who along with his partner Bill Coore, did the renovation work on Pinehurst #2 the Ross masterpiece that sits at the heart of the Pinehurst Resort.

Other interviews include Tom Fazio and Golfweek architecture writer Brad Klein who wrote the book, Discovering Donald Ross. For details on the film or ordering the DVD see DonaldRossfilm.com.

A look at the 2016 CDGA schedule comes up tomorrow. Stay Clicked in. RS.

  The New Titleist H816-H2 Hybrid, now available see Titleist.Com, or visit your favorite pro shop or golf retail store. Antigua Golf Outerwear, view the 2016 line of new fashions and new colors at Antigua.com or ShopAntigua.com. The Links & Tee’s Golf Dome on Lake Street in Addison is now open for the winter. Addisonparks.org or (630)-233-7275. ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog Chicago’s No.1 Online Golf News Source by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Yes it’s getting difficult to play outdoor golf, at Bethpage State Park, Black Course.

PRAIRIE LANDING GOLF COURSE, multiple sources have confirmed that the West Chicago based golf course, MIGHT get closed by the DuPage Airport Authority.

What appears to be the situation is that, a company is looking to build a major facility on the land that is currently the golf course.

The company is looking for space that gives them both direct railroad and airport access. There is no secret that the county would like to keep businesses from leaving, and that goes double for the State of Illinois. The company looking at this land, might be getting support from both the county and the state to make this plan come to fruition.

With Fox Valley Golf Course already closing, the second course closing would not be idea for the area. If indeed the close is made to close, there is no set timetable for when that could happen. The course just underwent a major bunker renovation, that was well received by golfers. The clubhouse is a popular destination not just for golfers but other social and business events. Stay tuned for details.

OPEN TODAY FOR OUTDOOR PLAY..among the courses that are open include, White Deer Run in Libertyville today and all weekend, see Whitedeergolf.com. Chapel Hill Golf Course in McHenry (815)-344-1894. Cog Hill courses 1 & 3, (866)-Cog-Hill for more information. There are some others, call your local pro shop or check online to see who is still open.

See Erinhills.com

A successful 2015 season at Erin Hills in Erin Wisconsin home of the 2017 U.S. Open is now over on the course, but still moving along off of it.

New improvements in 2015 included a short game area, and expanded putting green. Now there is even more for 2016.

Tickets for the 2017 U.S. Open will go on sale June 13th, with tickets for some packages on sale for USGA members on March 1st.

The online store is open for holiday shopping, but the pro shop is open most days in the month of December except for some Saturdays, all Sundays and Christmas Day.

Opening day for 2016 is May 9th, and closing date is October 4th, the golf course will then remained closed until after the the conclusion of the 2017 U.S. Open. For information on playing the course in 2016 visit the website of call (866)-772-4769. There are May specials for 2016 already available.

THE CDGA 2016 tournament schedule is out, for immediate viewing see CDGA.org.

The Great Hall at the Mistwood Golf Course in Romeoville.

The Great Hall in the new Mistwood Golf Course is open, and early reports on it are so good, that this Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM, Santa Claus himself is coming to check it out.

Brunch with Santa, adults $29.00 includes Bloody Mary’s or Mimosa’s.

Kids $12.00 12 and under, kids 2 and under are free.

Book your reservations now at (815)-254-7001, this event is open to the public. Right next to the Great Hall is McWethy’s Tavern, now open daily.

SRIXON GOLF has announced a new golf ball the 3rd Generation of the Q-Star Golf Ball. This ball is designed for mid to high handicapped golfers who require more distance, and better performance around the greens. Now available in your pro shops and golf retail stores for $24.99. More information see Srixon.com.

MORE DECEMBER GOLF NEWS COMING NEXT WEEK, Stay clicked in. RS.

 The Links & Tee’s Golf Facility on Lake Street in Addison is ready for the Indoor Golf Season. Visit Addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275 for more details. Shari’s Shot the new golf suspense-murder mystery by James Ross is the latest in the line of novels about the Prairie Winds Golf Club, see authorjamesross.com on how to get your copy.   ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog Chicago’s No.1 Golf News Source by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Testing out the hitting bay at the Mistwood Golf Club Performance Center.

Titleist has announced the release of it’s newest Hybrids the Titleist 816H, that Titleist says will provide golfers with superior technology to improve long game shot making.

The new Titleist 816 H1 and 816 H2 models use an Active Recoil Channel and Ultra Thin Face technology to create high speed and low spins for loner distance. A HOI design increases speed across the face for more forgiveness on off-center hits, while the center of gravity (CG) increases launch and trajectory for more shot-stopping control.

The Titleist 816H2 Hybrid for more information Titleist.com.

“Golfers have long thought of hybrids as “rescue clubs”  and not scoring clubs, but we intend to change that perception,” said Chris McGinley, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “More golfers than ever are replacing long irons with hybrids and carrying multiple hybrids in their bags because of their performance benefits. Our new 816 models are technically advanced scoring clubs that have better shot stopping ability and can improve yardage gaps at the long end of the set. Instead of thinking about getting out of trouble or just getting the ball close to the green, golfers can now think about hitting the green and stopping the ball closer to the pin more often.”

“Our best club fitters on tour and in the market look at Hybrids as a direct extension of the iron set, and fit golfers for hybrids and irons at the same time,” McGinley said.” For this reason, we’ve made the decision to put Titleist hybrids and irons on the same launch cycle.”

The Hybrid 816H1 and 816H2 are now available in pro shops and golf retail stores.

816H1 models are a high launching hybrid that will fly farther and land soft, 816H1 has a larger profile that gives the golfer confidence, with an increased face profression that works will from the rough.

816H2 have a more compact shape to them and are slightly offset for an iron-like shot control for players who engage the turf in a more aggressive manner.

Top ranked golfer and Titleist Staff player Jordan Spieth says,” The new 816, with the silver head and black face, is a really cool looking hybrid. It’s really clean, really crisp. When I strike it, it shoots off the face nicely. It goes higher than my 915 hybrid, and a little bit further, ultimately that’s enough to make a golfer pleased. When you mishit a hybrid, you need it to stay on line, still get up in the air and to go far enough-and that’s what an 816 does.”

Cost of the Hybrids are $249 (MSRP $269). For more information see Titleist.com.

   December means dome season. Even though there might be a few outdoor days left this weekend. The Golf Domes are open. The Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Center is open for the winter, Links and Tee’s on Lake Street in Addison, and MCQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook are the premier golf domes of the Chicagoland Area. Visit them all.               ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog Chicago’s #1 Online Golf News Source by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With Author Elisa Gaudet of the Two Good Rounds Series of three books. Recommended reading.

The holidays are coming and it’s time for you to start shopping for the favorite golfer or golfers in your life.

If you want to find something they can enjoy after the round, or when they snuggle up around the fire place this winter. You might want to find a good golf book for them to read.

There are several great golf books to read that are written on different topics from within the golf industry.

On the left, author Elisa Gaudet has now written three books in the “Two Good Rounds” series. Two Good Rounds, then TGR Superstars, and finally TGR Titans. All three are a great read and while checking out the books, see the website TwoGoodRounds.com for other golf related TGR items. Books from $15-20 range.

Dream Golf, the building of Bandon Dunes, and A Difficult Par on the life story of Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Recent Gog Blog reads include Dream Golf by Stephen Goodwin, who looks at the building of Mike Keiser’s Bandon Dunes Resort on the Pacific Ocean and the Oregon coast line.

This book starts with a look at Keiser and how begins his search to create a golf destination in America, that gives one the feeling of traveling to Scotland or Ireland.

Bandon Dunes didn’t just happen overnight, and Goodwin explains all the hurdles that Keiser and his various teams went through to create one of the best golf destination in the world. While the challenges might be different, one can only read this and start to wonder if Keiser and architects like Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore and David McLay-Kidd are going through as they begin to create another Bandon Dunes, without water in central Wisconsin at Sand Valley. 376 pages $24.95, the new version with added chapters on Old MacDonald is recommended.

A DIFFICULT PAR the story of Robert Trent Jones, that does towards the end start to incorporate the entire family including both sons Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Rees Jones.

A Difficult Par starts off as tough read, (many pages of small print without many pictures) but the book gets harder to put down the further you get into it. James Hansen’s persistence to get everyone in the Jones family to finally open up with him is a story in itself, considering the turmoil and infighting the Jones family has gone through over the years.

If anyone has played Jones family courses, or wants a great background and look at the golf architecture industry, A Difficult Par is a long but must read. $32.50, 488 pages.

Shari’s Shot by Author James Ross, the latest golf suspense story the circles around the Prairie Bluffs Golf Club near St. Louis.

Author James Ross ( what, you were expecting Donald) has created a fun and believable cast of characters, that all enjoy the Prairie Bluffs Golf Course a fictional club on the Mississippi River near St.Louis.

This series of stories are suspenseful, fun, and let golfers enjoy the story line that includes a golf theme, that can be mixed in with legals issues, gambling, divorces, politics, murders and more.

In his latest addition to the series, Ross creates a character with a shot to win a million dollars on the golf course. While she dodges charges of having someone shot and killed off of it. Shari’s Shot is another great read, and a book that’s hard to put down right after you pick it up and start on page one. For more in the series of the Prairie Bluffs Golf Course series, please visit www.authorjamesross.com. The best series of golf suspense books on the market, that also includes Opur’s Blade, Pabby’s Score, Tuey’s Course, Finish Line, Lifetime Loser. Printed by Xlibris, 359 pages and cost is $29.66 hard cover, $17.99 paperback.