THE TINLEY PARK GOLF EXPO, sponsored by Beggars Pizza, tee’s off this Friday Feb. 12th at Noon, the show runs all weekend at the Tinley Park Convention Center. On Friday stop in for just the $5 dollar admission rate, fee admission for active military. Stay clicked in for our story on the show this coming Thursday. The Tinley Park Convention Center is located near Rt.80 and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park. For more information you can visit Tinleyparkgolfexpo.com The Gog Blog will see you there this Friday.          _____________________________________________________________________

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. Standing on the newly renovated Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort, home of the Valspar Championship.

I feel like golf season is now well underway. I couldn’t play in the Eskimo Open at Cog Hill on Jan. 3rd, so my first round of the year waited until Jan. 24th in Santee South Carolina, on the Santee National Golf Course. Which by the way is a pretty darn good golf course, that doesn’t have a high green fee. The same course in Chicago would have a north of $100 tab on it.

17 days working my way towards the annual PGA Merchandise show, and then a week plus working my home.

It was an outstanding trip that lit the fire to what I hope is a great year for golf, both on and off the golf course. That is not just for me, but for everyone who enjoys the worlds greatest game.

The West Baden Hotel at the French Lick Resort in southern Indiana. Home of the LPGA Legends Tour. Frenchlick.com.

           The Halfway House located at 555. S. York Road in Elmhurst is open daily for the best in local simulator golf, play over 90 courses from around the world. Call (331)-642-8050 to reserve your tee time today, Halfwayhousegolf.com. MCQ’s dome located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is open daily for golf, horses, and great food and drink. Take a lesson from the Mistwood golf professionals, or watch tonight’s Blackhawks game in an official Blackhawks bar. Call (630)-739-7600 to enjoy it all, McQ’s open daily at 8 AM.             ______________________________________________________________________

Day 1 sent me towards Southern Indiana and the French Lick Resort. No the golf courses weren’t open and the temperature was only 32 degrees. There was some snow, but the golf courses were visible and not completely snow covered. I was hoping somebody could lite up those Volcano bunkers on the Pete Dye Course, but it wasn’t to be. The casino was hot enough for me to win enough at today’s prices to get 2 free tankfuls of gas. See Frenchlick.com and book your getaway today.

Yes, that’s it. Magnolia Drive at Augusta National. Detour’s can work out.

Day 2, I got shut down in Corbin Kentucky, due to the snow storm. had to bunk up in a Marriott for the night, because Kentucky didn’t have a great snow plowing plan.

Day 3, Opening day on Pinehurst No.8 gets snowed out. My detour takes me somewhere new, through Augusta GA. I take the tourist route around ANGC and get some pictures. I’m thinking, why can’t it be Masters week.

Day 4, arrive in Santee South Carolina. If your looking for golf that is both affordable, but has quality as well. Try Santee, it’s not on the ocean, so it doesn’t charge on the ocean prices. Santee National is outstanding even though it’s only 49 degrees on this Sunny day. But I’m playing golf and my outdoor golf season is underway for 2016.

Day 5, play Lake Merion in Santee and hit the road to Florida, the PGA show starts in 1 Day.

Day 6, I’ve arrived at the winter getaway of BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm and dig in for show, Ziehm has been working the travel side of Florida since his arrival in late November of last year, he has recent posts on Florida golf at Lenziehmongolf.com. Demo day at the Orange County Golf Center launches show week, and I start visiting equipment companies. New clubs by Callaway, Wilson and Titleist catch my eye, hitting a Titleist 915 driver with a Fujikura Speeder shaft is like watching the golf ball take off like it’s been shot out of cannon. I need a speeder shaft in my driver.

With the Fujikura Speeder Shaft and a Titleist 915 driver at Demo Day

Day 7, is Day 1 on the convention floor, moving around all day running into contacts and people form the industry up around the press room.

Streamsong is on the move with a new course going up by Gil Hanse, it will be the Black Course. Streamsong is on the move and the PR team from the Northbrook based Kemper Sports team was spreading the word on Florida’s new hot golf destination.

My first lap around the floor, I ran into my pro-am partner from the Illinois Women’s Open at Mistwood, McKenzie Lyng working in a booth. I’ll have a story from that meeting coming up soon.

Day 8, was another full day on the floor, with time being spent both with equipment an apparel. Our story on Antigua outerwear with VP Pam Miller is already posted. Time flew by that day, and I didn’t get to stop at every booth I wanted to, but all in all a full show where almost too much goes on at once. That night I stopped at the Folds of Honor Event at the House of Blues, always good to see Major Ed Pulido of the foundation who is such an inspiration to everyone. He still golfs even after losing half of his left leg in Iraq.

Day 9, off to the Tampa area and checking in at the Innisbrook Resort. It was nice catching up with former KemperSports VP Doug Schmidt, who is now in sales at Innisbrook. Innisbrook was one of the highlights of the trip, and playing the redone Copperhead course was great. I’ll have a full story on Innisbrook in the days ahead, a must stay and play if your heading Florida way.

Day 10, played the Island Course at Innisbrook, followed up by visit to Packard’s Steakhouse at the Copperhead Clubhouse. Packard’s was named for golf architect Larry Packard who designed the Innisbrook courses.

Day 11, Played Copperhead, with 3 great guys I was paired up with. Had a great time at the resort before checking out. Seeing the Valspar trophy and the wall of fame area of past champions, that included defending champion Jordan Spieth, and our locals like Luke Donald and Kevin Streelman.

Jordan Spieth photo and the Valspar trophy at Innisbrook.

Day 12, drove back to the Orlando area, too bad golf didn’t work out that day, but maybe next time. But a steak dinner talking golf with BIG partner Len Ziehm always a delight.

Day 13, drove down to Boynton Beach Florida and a great day at the famed Pinetree Golf Club.

It was nice catching up with World Golf Hall of Famer Lee Trevino who pulled into the club right in front of me. Lee and I recalled his visit to the Rosemont Golf Show last year, I think he’d like to come back again. Enjoyed a nice round of golf with Jerry Rich owner of Rich Harvest Farms. Rich didn’t have much to say about his departure from the LPGA International Crown that RHF was supposed to host this summer. But it’s become apparent that both the Rich family and the LPGA had different visions, on how to grow this outstanding new international event in women’s golf.

Day 14, after a night near the PGA Hall of Fame and Village in Port St. Lucie, I drove up to Hilton Head island. I walked 6 holes on the Sea Pines tournament course at Harbor Town before sunset, including 16-17-18 with Western Golf Association board member Augie Tonne who arranged an outstanding tour. If you haven’t been to Sea Pines, it’s a must as well. Dinner at the British Open Pub on the island is a treat as well.

A rain out at Palmetto Dunes Resort prevented me from playing the George Fazio Course.

Day 15, after being rained out for golf at the George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort on HHI, Tonne was nice enough to extend the Sea Pines tour, this time with a trip through the famed lighthouse behind the 18th green.

That along with a tour of new clubhouse and players lounge and locker room at the Heritage Tournament was a neat day in itself. I met John Ferrell the Director of Golf at the Sea Pines Resort, he will join us when Golfers on Golf Radio returns in April.

Day 16, I’m now in Charlotte after a change in plans on the way home. The city is pumped for the Panthers and the super bowl in just 48 hours. The NBA All-Star game is there in February of 2017, then the PGA Championship in August of 2017 as well. I golf on the Ballantyne Hotel and resort course. A pretty course located in between several buildings of an office complex. It’s hard to believe how it all fits in. It’s only 40 degrees out when I tee off, but it’s the last round for a while so I decide to play. I’ll take my six pars in 18 holes and head home to Chicago.

Day 17, arrive home at 12:15 Am after the 13 hour drive from Charlotte. But the golf experiences and six rounds of golf have me ready to go for 2016. Now I can’t wait to play back here in Chicago when the remaining snow is gone, and the temps warm up. Until then, see you at the shows and in the domes. I’ll be writing plenty more on the show and the trip in the next couple of weeks. RS

    McWethy’s Tavern at Mistwood Golf Club is now open all year round, so even when Mistwood the golf course is closed, you can still dine and enjoy the game at McWethy’s Tavern on Renwick Road in Romeoville. McWethy’s is booking it’s Great Hall for banquets, weddings and more. When the temperature warms up, visit McWethy’s Tavern before or after golf. McWethy’s Tavern is the new hot spot in Romeoville, so join owner Jim McWethy (above photo) and learn about the history of McWethy’s Tavern and see the coat of arms. McWethystavern.com or call (815)-254-7001 for reservations.  _____________________________________________________________________

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 USGA Executive Director Mike Davis (L) and outgoing USGA President Tom O’Toole (R).

The United States Golf Association wins the “Back to the Chicago Future” contest, with it’s announcement over the weekend that the inaugural U.S. Sr. Women’s Open will be played at the Chicago Golf Club in July of 2018.

I congratulate the outgoing USGA President Tom O’Toole, Executive Director Mike Davis, and all of the USGA committee members for getting it done.

A tip of the cap to the CGC for taking on the newest U.S. Open to join the championship list at the USGA.

The clubhouse at the famous and historic Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton. The Charles Blair Macdonald statue is bottom left.

I do have to admit, it probably took a great sell job by O’Toole to get Chicago Golf to buy into hosting the event, because in the clubs first 124 years while they have hosted 11 other USGA championships, most of them were over a 100 years ago.

The most recent one, was the 2005 Walker Cup matches won by the United States over Great Britain and Ireland (GBI).

But it is the first one of these Sr. Women’s Open Championships, and only one course can be “the first” in hosting a new championship.

The Tinley Park Golf Expo, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at the Tinley Park Convention Center near Rt. 80 and Harlem Avenue. Friday $5 admissions See Tinleyparkgolfexpo.com for more information on who will be exhibiting.

Last summer at the U.S. Amateur that was conducted at Olympia Fields, BIG 3 partner Tim Cronin and I teamed up to interview President O’Toole.

During the time we spent with him, O’Toole mentioned the day before he had golfed at Chicago Golf. In front of him I joked to Cronin, take note of that, O’Toole spotted at CGC, 2025 U.S. Open to the Chicago Golf Club.

Well Okay, I was off about 7 years and it’s certainly a different U.S. Open than the one I was referring to at the time. Just as I was off 1 year, about the U.S. Sr. Women’s Open landing at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Pinehurst. I suspected they would get the first one, after bringing the U.S. Women’s Open to the Pinehurst Resort in 2014. Davis admitted to me he made a courtesy call to Pine Needles owner Peggy Kirk Bell, to tell her the Women’s Open was coming back to Pinehurst but not to her property. I suggested to him they could make it up to her down the road, and Davis suggested that’s probably what would happen.

ONE THING about this announcement that has raised some eyebrows, is the timing of it. With the July dates of 12-15, it falls about 30 days or less behind the KPMG/LPGA PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes.

There are those who wonder if the market will support to major women’s events in 30 days only about 30 miles apart. I feel it will. I’m also hoping that it’s not the same week as the John Deere Classic, the JDC is too good of an event to pass up.

The younger gals and the over 50 set, both have their own following. But I suspect the opportunity to walk the grounds of Chicago Golf, and see the first 18 hole course in person. Will draw as many spectators as the USGA and CGC will let in.

LAST SUMMER I wrote it was time for the PGA and USGA to get back in the Chicago market. BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm who has been covering golf in the Chicago for 45 years, said he could not remember there ever being a time, where a USGA event was not on the schedule for Chicago at some point in the future. Fortunately that being the case, only lasted for just over 5 months.

So both organizations are back, both with ladies events. That fact is not being lost on some male golfers I have heard from. There is concern about 4 women’s majors in town in three years, and now not one but two Web.com events in the state just six weeks apart for the next three years. Some male fans see the flood of ladies events, and what they call minor league men’s events pouring into the state, disappointing. We’re Chicago the second biggest market and that’s all we get, so they say.

WELL NO IT ISN’T, the BMW will still be here in 2017 at Conway Farms, and in 2019 at Medinah. Those too will be great events. It might be amateur golf, but I’m excited to see the Men’s and Women’s NCAA National Championship’s coming to Rich Harvest Farms in 2017, here’s hoping Mike Small and Illini get that national championship this year, and if not, then at Rich Harvest Farms in 2017.

I’m glad the Chicago golf calendar is starting to fill up again, it was looking pretty bleak for a while. Don’t get me wrong, I’d enjoy a men’s U.S. Open or PGA back in town or another Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club in 2028. A BMW Championship that is at least here, 3 years out of every 4, if not 4 of 4.

But at least for now, the golf pendulum is starting to swing back the right way. Golf fans should be very thankful for that. Thanks USGA, glad your back, and special thanks to the Chicago Golf Club for taking them in. RS

  JIM MCWETHY holds the menu to McWethy’s Tavern, the restaurant in the new Mistwood Golf Club clubhouse on Renwick Road in Romeoville. Open year round, and now taking orders for banquets and more. See Mcwethystavern.com or call (815)-254-7001. McQ’s Dome for indoor golf, sports bar restaurant, and OTB horse racing wagers. See Mcqsdome.com or call (630)-739-7600. THE TINLEY PARK golf expo tee’s off this Friday at noon, Friday admission is only $5. Stay clicked in for more show details as the week goes on, and visit Tinleyparkgolfexpo.com. At the Tinley Park Convention Center. ______________________________________________________________________

  Standing in front of the USGA Museum in Far Hills New Jersey. The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Visit the USGA website at USGA.org.

The Chicago Golf Club Clubhouse in Wheaton, with the CB Macdonald statue.

They’re back and just in time. The Chicago area had run out of championships hosted by the USGA, when the final putt fell at Olympia Fields last August and the U.S. Amateur had concluded.

It had been years or more like decades, since there was not a USGA championship on the schedule to be played in Chicago.

That has now changed. The first club back on the schedule to host a USGA Championship is, the historic Chicago Golf Club located in Wheaton.

The Charles Blair Macdonald statue at the Chicago Golf Club.

The Chicago Golf Club will make history again, as it hosts the first U.S Opens Sr. Open in 2018. The USGA also announced that Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Pinehurst, will host the second championship in 2019.

The new championship will be open to professional females, and amateur females with handicap index that does not exceed 7.4, who have reached their 50th birthday as of the first day of the championship.

“The USGA is proud to realize it’s vision of hosting national championships for players of all age demographics, and we are thrilled that the first two editions of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be contested at two of the most respected courses in the United States,” said USGA President Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., who announced the establishment of the U.S Senior Women’s Open in February of 2015. “We hope that this championship will inspire generations of female golfers to continue competing at the highest level long into their careers.”

The scorecard at the Chicago Golf Club

The format for the championship will be that of a U.S. Open. It will be walking only, and a 72-hole stroke play competition over over four consecutive days. The field will be cut after 36 holes to the top 60 players including ties. The prize money for the championship will be announced at a later date.

The field of 120 players will be determined, by qualifying at sectional sites, or through an exemption category. Details of that will be announced at a later date. The date for the 2018 Championship is July 12-15. The date for the 2019 championship is still TBD.

“As a founding member of the USGA, Chicago Golf Club is honored to support the USGA’s newest championship by hosting the inaugural U.S. Sr. Women’s Open, ” said Brad Kinsey, president of the Chicago Golf Club. “We look forward to making this our 12th USGA Championship, an exceptional event for the players and spectators alike.”

The Chicago Golf Club hosted it’s first two championships in 1897-the U.S. Open won by Joe Lloyd and the U.S. Amateur won by H.J. Wigham. It then hosted the 1900 U.S. Open by by Harry Vardon. John J. McDermott became the first american winner of the U.S. Open when he won at Chicago Golf in 1911. Most recently the club hosted the Walker Cup Matches in 2005, won by the United States.

The only USGA women’s championship held at the club was the 1903 Women’s Amateur. For more information please visit USGA.org.

 THE HALFWAY HOUSE located at 555 S. York Road in Elmhurst is your place for indoor simulator golf, in a fun atmosphere. A full food & beverage menu to enjoy while you play over 90 courses from around the world. There are specials almost every day, so visit Halfwayhousegolf.com to find out what’s happening that day. Half price beer all day long on Thursdays. Call (331)-642-8050 to book a tee time. Next door to HBJones.  ______________________________________________________________________

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. At the George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort on Hilton Head Island.

If your a golfer and you have traveled several hundred and or over a thousand miles to play golf, there isn’t anything much more disappointing than to be at the course while the rain is coming down in buckets.

Much was the case during a recent visit to the George Fazio golf course, at the Palmetto Dunes Resort on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

It didn’t take long before the course was closed for the day, and golf was not to be played.

The Fazio Course was designed by George Fazio and not his nephew Tom Fazio, who has done plenty of work in South Carolina (and many more places himself).

Behind the 18th green, one of the toughest on the course.

With the rain coming down it was hard to see much of the golf course, but the 18th hole (left) is one of the toughest on the golf course.

It plays like the other holes from six sets of tee’s, but the tee’s on the tips weigh in at 462 yards, par 4 and is the No.2 handicap hole.

The staff at Palmetto Dunes that knows the three courses on the property, that also include the Robert Trent Jones course and the Arthur Hills course will tell you that the Fazio course has the best greens of three. Why that is however, seems to remain a secret.

The Palmetto Dunes Resort is no secret, popular among golfers on and off the golf course. Fantastic lodging, food and beverage, tennis and more. For more information call (800)-827-3006, Fazio pro shop is (843)-686-9139. Online see PalmettoDunes.com.

 The Tinley Park Golf Expo starts this coming Friday at Noon with $5 admission on opening day. The show runs over the weekend, stay clicked in here all week for more details about the show, that is bigger and better than in past years. Come see the Mistwood booth at the Tinley Park Golf Show and learn more about both McWethy’s Tavern now open all year round at Mistwood, and MCQ’s Sports Dome part of McWethy Golf located in Bolingbrook. See Mistwoodgc.com or Mcqsdome.com for more details.

   LINKS & TEE’S GOLF is one of the few year round golf facilities in the Chicago area, this multiple award winning facility in the winter season has the golf dome is open for all of your golfing needs. Lessons, group events, ladies night and more. Including this Saturdays annual open house that has prizes, contests, equipment companies and more. The event is hosted by Steve Kashul from the Golf Scene TV show on Comcast Sportsnet. For more information visit addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275.                _____________________________________________________________________

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 the new Fujikura Speeder shaft at demo day during the PGA Merchandise Show.

There are several organizations across the country that are working our military veterans, and the first organization that brought veterans and golf together was the Folds of Honor.

After the Gulf War, and then the war on terrorism after 9-11, our veterans started to come home with injuries that would stay with some of them for life.

Families of veterans needed help, and Major Dan Rooney a combat pilot and a golf professional decided he wanted to make a difference.

It all started with a golf outing in Michigan that raised over $6,500 dollars, this past year the foundation Rooney started raised over $6.5 million dollars over Patriot Day weekend (Labor day weekend).

Folds of Honor gave out over 2,600 scholarships to families of military members that totaled over $13,000,000.

Major Ed Pulido a real american hero who lost his leg below the knee, is the spokesman and VP of Public Relations for Folds of Honor.

Click here to hear the interview with Major Ed Pulido of the Folds of Honor Foundation.

For more information on Patriot Day Weekend, the Patriot Cup or the Folds of Honor Foundation, please visit Foldsofhonor.org

  THE HALFWAY HOUSE located at 555 S.York Road in Elmhurst, is your place for indoor simulator golf, play over 90 courses from around the world. You can get lessons from their teaching professionals, while enjoying your favorite foods and beverages off the menu. Check out the daily specials, Thursdays is half price beer day, so visit the Halfway House, it’s more than just a hot dog to go. Halfwayhousegolf.com Or you can call (331)-642-8050, today open from Noon until 9 PM, Ladies Lunch Weds. is 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.

With more from the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show all month long, stay clicked in for all the news in the golf world.

For more than a couple years the 2016 LPGA International Crown was headed to Rich Harvest Farm in Sugar Grove. Now it isn’t, instead the Merit Club is on the tee in tournament golf again and that is a good thing.

During the PGA show I spoke with the LPGA Chief of Communications and Chicago area native Kraig Kann.

Neither Kann or the LPGA still has much to say about their partnership with Jerry Rich and Rich Harvest Farms coming to an end, but Kann promises the media blitz for an exciting 2016 LPGA UL International Crown is about to begin.

Click here to hear our interview with LPGA Director of Communications Kraig Kann.

The International Crown is really the first tee off for women’s golf in Chicago over the next few years, with the 2017 LPGA/PGA KPMG Women’s Golf Championship coming to town at Olympia Fields in 2017, and Kemper Lakes in 2018.

The International Crown moves to Korea in 2018.

   LINKS & TEE’S the award winning year-round golf facility, invites everyone to this Saturday’s Open House hosted by Steve Kashul from the Golf Scene TV Show, for more details see addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275 see you there. The Halfway House at 555 S. York Rd in Elmhurst is the place to go for simulator golf, over 90 courses from around the world, and try the menu from HB Jones located next store when playing, visit Halfwayhousegolf.com to see the daily specials or (331)-642-8050.    _____________________________________________________________________

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 18th tee of the Island Course at the Innisbrook Resort. Visit Innisbrookgolfresort.com.

Illinois Coach Mike Small and Illinois are gearing up for the spring part of their golf season, and possible national championship.Photo courtesy of University of Illinois.

Mike Small has it going in Champaign, the Illini are #1 as they head into the spring part of their season.

The team will commute back and forth to Florida to play in a series of events leading up to the B1G Ten Championship and the NCAA Championships.

At the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando the Gog Blog caught up with Small, and talked Illinois Athletics, Illinois Golf, and Mike Small the golfer who just might like some time on the champions tour, after hopefully getting that NCAA Championship ring.

Click here to hear our interview with Mike Small, on Illini Golf and University of Illinois Sports.

Small talks about the Illinois golf practice facility that is becoming the envy of some other college golf coaches.

 THE TINLEY PARK GOLF EXPO IS JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY, are you ready to get your golf season rolling. If you haven’t picked up your clubs yet, the Tinley Park Golf Show sponsored by Beggars Pizza is the way to do it. $5 Friday admission, the show tee’s off at Noon, see Tinleyparkgolfexpo.com. McQs Golf Dome & Sports Bar is rolling with activity for the winter season, the golf balls are flying, the OTB has the horses now running, and the sports bar is packed with Blackhawks fans on game night. The Mistwood golf staff is teaching at McQs all winter long, so head to McQ’son Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook, visit Mcqsdome.com for more information. MCWETHYS TAVERN is now open full-time, even though Mistwood GC is closed for the winter. Come see the new clubhouse that will be a hot spot when outdoor golf season gets rolling. On Renwick Rd. ______________________________________________________________________

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 Copperhead at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor Florida.

I will have the updated pictures from yesterdays round on Copperhead in the days ahead, but I will post one down below.

I am fresh off a weekend at Innisbrook resort in Palm Harbor Florida, and it’s safe to say that Innisbrook is back. But I might add, that I’m not sure it was ever gone.

But Copperhead the home of Valspar Tournament on the PGA Tour, at least through 2020 after a new five-year deal, is a great tour course that you can play.

The opening tee shot on the First Hole at Copperhead.

Copperhead has just reopened on December 8th, from a 7 month renovation that has paid off.

White bunker sand used last year in the bunkers, got moved to the greens during renovation and the bunkers again got more new white sand.

A few trees got removed, and as a result the course is more playable for members and resort guests. It won’t be easier for the PGA Tour players.

I played the Island Course as well at Innisbrook, and while it has some really good holes, I got spoiled playing Copperhead after the new renovation, and would like to see the Island Course get the same treatment Copperhead got. Some renovation work there might not be a bad thing. What I saw of the resorts North and South courses, showed them to be looking good and in great condition.

Copperhead does need some grow-in yet, to be done both in the fairways and on the greens. But it appears all should be good by the time the pro’s arrive in March. Resort owner Sheila Johnson has things moving in the right direction both at Innisbrook, and at the other Salamander Resort properties in Florida and Virginia. For more information on Innisbrook, see Innisbrookgolfresort.com.

At the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

THE PGA SHOW in Orlando was another success in my mind. The exhibitors minus Nike were out in force and over 42,000 people were in attendance according to the PGA.

I remember my first PGA show back in the late 1990’s, when it was said that some 25,000 people were there. When I returned to the show 4 years ago, the PGA said over 35,000 people were there. Now just a few years later, the show is even bigger, it doesn’t seem to stop growing. So much for the sport of golf being dead or dying.

I have already started posting stories on the products I came in contact with, and will have plenty more in the next few weeks. See my weekend stories on both Antigua outerwear and Oofos foot recovery shoes. I have great interviews with Illinois Golf Coach Mike Small, and LPGA Director of Communications Kraig Kann speaking on how the LPGA is moving forward with the LPGA International Crown, that will now be played at the Merit Club in July.

                      The Halfway House 555 S.York Road in Elmhurst, Simulator golf at it’s best,play over 90 courses from around the world. Halfwayhousegolf.com.

I’ll loop through Florida for a few days before heading home from South Carolina later this week. I hope the snow is gone by the time I hit Illinois, I love our golf domes but I’m ready now for the outdoor golf season. RS