THE HALFWAY HOUSE is your place for simulator golf, play over 90 courses world wide and test your game. Located next to HB Jones at 555 S. York Rd in Elmhurst the Halfway House has daily specials, and is the perfect place for golf as a single or in groups. Make your tee time today at Halfwayhousegolf.com or call (331)-642-8050. McQs Dome is open for golf, horse racing or fun in the sports bar complete with great BBQ. Until Mistwood Golf Club opens in April, why not take lessons from the Mistwood Golf staff at MCQ’s, they can also fit you for new clubs. Go to Mcqsdome.com for details ______________________________________________________________________

The GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the Olympia Fields South Course.

When you look outside today the in Chicagoland area, it gives you the feeling that the old NHL Hockey ad had back years ago, when the league was shown on the USA Network.

You can feel it, getting stronger, getting louder, the atmosphere building. NHL Hockey, Feel the Thunder.

Today it’s more like, you can feel it getting warmer, being sunny, drying up, the snow melting away. Right now it’s, get out the clubs, outdoor golf see the ball fly.

Mistwood Golf Club opening soon, McWethy’s Tavern OPEN NOW. See McWethystavern.com open year round, along with the Great Hall, open dates filling fast. Mistwoodgc.com

Today is not the end of it. Tomorrow it gets warmer,Mid-60’s, and Wednesday even better. After a quick dip on Thursday and Friday, back in the 60’s on the weekend.

The golf courses are opening. Cog Hill in Lemont courses #1 and #3 actually stay open all year. St. Andrews in West Chicago has an open course.

Maple Meadows in Wood Dale has opened as of today, and Oak Meadows will remain closed for 2016 and reopen next after the renovation is complete. Up in Lake County in Vernon Hills White Deer Run is open as of today. Foxford Hills in Cary has opened today as well.

I credit those who have opened the doors already, hopefully those courses are dry enough to sustain play this early in the season. If your favorite course is closed or you are not ready to head outside just yet, the golf domes are still open and will be until the end of the month. The turf outside probably does need a good week or two of some warm weather to dry out, but the frost line should be under five feet in many places and that is good.

Several other courses might be open by the weekend, or even next week if this week stays good. As of now some reports say there is no snow in the forecast up until the first day of spring in about 12 days. It’s a start.

BEST OF LUCK to the #1 Fighting Illini, Mike Smalls men’s golf team is in for a challenge this week as many of the top 50 programs are in the battle just outside of Las Vegas.

So get ready everyone, outdoor golf season is coming soon. The Gog Blog is back tomorrow with a look at Johnny Millers visit last week to Medinah Country Club and new glove he is endorsing. RS

  CHARLES SIMS Director of Links & Tee’s Golf holds the facilities latest award just received at the 2016 PGA Show in Orlando. Links & tee’s is a year round facility, so until the weather warms up, drop by the golf dome on Lake Avenue in Addison. For more information visit Addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275. The Halfway House is your home for simulator golf, located at 555 S. York Road in Elmhurst next to HB Jones, the Halfway House has lessons, leagues and daily specials, half price beer on Thursdays, you can’t beat that. Play over 90 courses world wide and book your tee time today at Halfwayhousegolf.com or call (331)-642-8050. Play as a single or as a group.    _____________________________________________________________________

The GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Yes Michigan for your golf trip this summer.

Boyne Highlands main lodge.

Yes Michigan anytime in the summer for great golf.

This summer and the year of 2016 is a special season for Michigan golf and the properties that make up Boyne Golf and it’s golf courses.

There are multiple anniversaries coming up this year and Boyne is planning some great ways for everyone to enjoy them.

The Par 5, 13th hole on the Hills Course at Boyne Highlands Resort.

Boyne Highlands resort has three courses, the Heather Course, the Hills Course, and the Donald Ross course.

Robert Trent Jones designed the Heather Course, Arthur Hills the Hills Course, and the Donald Ross Course, well no it wasn’t designed by the great Donald himself.

But credit the resort management staff for seeing some of the best Ross courses around the country, and creating a tribute course to Ross that really gives you the feel of Donald Ross style golf.

Boyne has more than one resort in Michigan,more than one golf course too, formore hear our interview below.

Click here to hear an interview with Josh Awon of the Boyne Resorts.

Boyne Golf, three resorts, 10 courses, one destination. For more information on Boyne Golf please visit BOYNEgolf.com or call (866)-991-0256.

See Mcqsdome.com stop by on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook.

The McQ’s Dome located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is your place for indoor golf, playing the ponies and getting some great food and drink in the sports bar. Including some of the best BBQ in the area.

MCQ’s is part of McWethy Golf that also includes the Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. Mistwood is home of the Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open.

While the snow is still on the ground for a few more hours anyway, and Mistwood Golf Club is not open for the season until April. Get over and practice your game in the dome at MCQ’s. The Mistwood Golf Staff is there and giving lessons all winter long.

Did you know ? That McQ’s is an official Blackhawks Bar, so when your ready to head out on the town and enjoy some live NHL hockey head to MCQ’s.

Over at Mistwood even though the golf course is closed, the new McWethy’s Tavern is open all year round. Come and enjoy a great menu in a mixture of golf and a fine dining atmosphere. In addition to the restaurant, the “Great Hall” banquet room is filling fast for the summer ahead. Get your special event booked now before it fills up. For more information See Mcqsdome.com, Mistwoodgc.com and McWethystavern.com.                _____________________________________________________________________

The GOG Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

At the recent Chicago Golf Show Golfers on Golf Caught up with Carrie Williams the new Executive Director of the Illinois PGA.

Williams is now settling into her first year as executive director after replacing Michael Miller who left for the Arizona PGA Section after 26 years at the helm.

Two weeks ago Williams announced that the Illinois Open would be moving to it’s third venue in three years with it’s return to Royal Fox and Royal Hawks in St. Charles. In speaking with Williams she was asked about the new Illinois Open venue and other IPGA events and programs.

Carrie Williams

Those events included the other IPGA major championships, the Match Play Championship, the Illinois PGA Section Championship, and the IPGA Players Championship.

2016 is the centennial year for the PGA of America and how will that affect the Illinois PGA  Section.

Williams speaks on the Drive and Chip and Putt contest and gives you some information that you might not know in regards to the Illinois Junior Golf license plate program.

Click here to hear the interview with IPGA Executive Director Carrie Williams.

For more information on the Illinois PGA, please visit IPGA.com.

  THE HALFWAY HOUSE, at 555 S. York Road in Elmhurst next to HB Jones is the place for indoor simulator golf, daily specials including today Friday Gamble event. You can play over 90 courses from around the world. So play as a single, bring your foursome, get a lesson or join a league. Book your tee time today at (331)-642-8050 ro online at Halfwayhousegolf.com. THE AWARD WINNING LINKS & TEE’S is one of the few year round golf facilities in the Chicago area, come for lessons from the staff of teaching professionals, or just get your swing ready for the outdoor season ahead. Call Links & Tee’s at (630)-233-7275 or online visit Addisonparks.org. The dome is open.       ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. At Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in South Hampton NY.

In another great piece of news for the golf industry in the Chicago area, the Prairie Landing Golf Club in West Chicago has a new lease on life.

The club has just received word that it will not be closing this year or even anytime soon.

Reported here last fall was the POSSIBILITY that Prairie Landing would close at some point in 2016 or shortly beyond.

That is no longer true. A plan to bring a new business facility onto the land where Prairie Landing is located, is now off the table and that company is staying put in it’s current location. Prairie Landing plans to be a golf course for many years to come.

  The Prairie Landing Clubhouse in West Chicago. The 2nd hole at Prairie Landing, with new chipping area on side of green.

Click here to hear the interview with JR Starnes the Golf Operations Manager at Prairie Landing, on the future of the golf course.

Prairie Landing is located at 2325 Longest Drive in West Chicago. Call (630)-208-7630 for more information, or visit Prairielanding.com.

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Out in front of the Greg Martin renovation project at Oak Meadows in Addison.

 CHARLES SIMS Director of Golf for Links & Tee’s Golf in Addison holds the latest award the facility has earned at the recent PGA show. Links & Tee’s is one of the few Chicago area year round-golf facilities. So come out and enjoy the comfort of the golf dome as you prepare your game for the summer ahead. For more information visit Addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275. The Halfway House is your home for indoor simulator golf, take your pick of playing over 90 courses from around the world. Daily specials, lessons, leagues and more. Come by yourself, or bring a foursome but call today and book your tee time at (331)-642-8050 or online at Halfwayhousegolf.com.      _____________________________________________________________________

The University of Illinois Golf Team at their practice facility in Champaign.

The Illinois Men’s golf team is off and running for the spring golf season, and try to capture their first NCAA championship come May.

Illinois heads into the spring ranked #1 in the country and coach Mike Small is getting prepared for the campaign ahead of them.

Illinois is no longer just that up north school, but a program that goes places now with a target on their back as other schools try to measure up to the Fighting Illini.

Step 1 in the spring was to take part in the Louisiana Classic at the Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette. Illinois jumped out to a nice lead after the first round, but had to hang on at the end to defeat the 45th ranked Kansas Jayhawks by 1 shot. 4 shots back was 33rd ranked Texas A & M.

“We were very fortunate to win today,” head coach Mike Small said. “It was back and forth on the entire back nine and our three seniors and sophomore Nick Hardy made solid pars on the last hole, which is a very difficult hole. They all played the last three holes even par and played the last five holes in 1 under par which is a big statement for them. Kansas put the pressure on us from the very start and we didn’t respond as well as we needed to. It was their tournament to win, and at the end the course was very difficult, but solid play on the last three holes helped us pull it out.”

Sr. Thomas Detry finished in second place with a six under par score and Sr. Cahrlie Danielson was third at five under par. Sophomore Dylan Meyer finished at 1 under par for a 9th place finish. Sophomore Nick Hardy was T-13 and Sr. Alex Burge was 28th.

This next week Illinois travels to the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters in Las Vegas.

   THE HALFWAY HOUSE at 555 S. York Road in Elmhurst is the place for indoor simulator golf, come enjoy golf while dining with friends or competing on over 90 courses from around the world. Daily specials, leagues, lessons and more. Visit Haflwayhousegolf.com or call (331)-642-8050. LINKS & TEE’S GOLF is located on Lake Street in Addison. This award winning golf facility is one of the year round places to play golf or work on your game. Right now the golf dome is open and ready for you to stop in and start getting your swing ready for the outdoor season. For more information see Addisonparks.org or call (630)-233-7275, ready for your golf game all year long.       ______________________________________________________________________

The GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

I’m not sure why we couldn’t even make it to opening day around town for most of the golf courses, before the Daily Herald turned loose their so-called tax-watch dog Jake Griffin for another broadside on the golf industry.

You see, for some reason ever since Griffin got assigned to look in on the renovation project at the Mt. Prospect golf course, Griffin has been taking shots at the golf industry.

He might have some numbers from various park district’s that are supported by tax-payer dollars, but for some reason he continues to miss the big picture on the golf scene.

McWethy’s Tavern at Mistwood Golf Club, is open all year round even when the course is closed. Try McWethy’s tonight, much more than just a golf course bar and grill. McWethystavern.com or call (815)-254-7001

Griffin is just the writer of the story, he does not create the headlines, so the title “Taxpayers Are Losing at Golf” which is misleading should not be blamed on him.

Writers quite often get blamed for headlines they had nothing to do with.

But he does have a reputation for running with the negative quote, instead of the 8 to 10 positive ones that people give him during interviews.

Griffin’s story claims that more tax payer funded golf courses are losing money, instead of making it. That might or might not be true. I know several more tax payer funded courses that are making money that weren’t listed in the story, and Griffin did pick courses from several counties and not just his home base of DuPage County.

Figures are presented in different ways, and they are not laid out for the readers of his story. There are courses that made money, but might have had a one-time charge for a special expense or in several cases renovations.

More often than not, the tax payer funded golf courses are paying for other services and facilities that park districts provide that are always money losers.

You want to see money losers, look at the following services. Swimming pools, all the parks lose money on pools and that’s a given, they are money losers from the day they open until when they close. Baseball and Softball fields, yes some money comes in, and more goes out, you can add football and soccer to the list as well. Dog parks, like pools are among the biggest money losers park districts have to deal with.

General parks, just used for picnics, cookouts, running or for people to lay out in and get a sun-tan. How do those places get paid for, simple parks are quite often taking the profits from the golf course to pay for all the money losers they have. In many cases, golf is the only thing that helps park districts make a profit on any of the services they provide.

McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook, hit the golf ball and then watch the Blackhawks game there tonight. Mcqsdome.com.

What’s also misleading is the fact that Griffin suggests that if golf courses don’t have a large banquet facility they have no chance of making money.

Again not true. More often than not, that’s how courses end up losing money, even though food and beverage is an important part of any golf course, public or private.

Most people that look for golf courses to be the site of a wedding or some other big celebrations, use private country clubs or big time public golf courses, but are privately owned facilities like Cog Hill, Mistwood or Cantigny.

Griffin’s story shows that most of the clubs losing money are not losing all that much, and amounts are very small compared to other park district facilities or provided services.

Golfers upgrade their equipment almost every year. New shirts, hats, golf balls, clubs and bags. They like seeing their courses upgraded too, and the ones that made improvements or have done renovations, are seeing a big bump in business.

There is an old saying in business, you have to spend money to make money. Courses that are not doing that, are finding out the hard way when they look at their bottom line.

But I’ll agree with Griffin on the fact that courses to do need to have more people playing golf, and if his story gets a few more people out to the golf course and off the first tee, then I’ll tip the cap or golf visor in his direction. RS.

     A SIX PACK FROM THE NEW MCWETHY’S TAVERN, the word is getting out and the newest dining experience in the western suburbs is already a success. McWethy’s Tavern located in Mistwood Golf Club, is open year round even when the course is closed. Mistwood Golf Club will be reopening for the 2016 golf season in April. Enjoy the wide-ranging menu that mixes golf into a fine dining atmosphere. There is no need to wait for the outdoor golf season to get to McWethy’s Tavern. So go enjoy McWethy’s Tavern at Mistwood Golf Club by calling (815)-254-7001 or go to Mcwethystavern.com.  _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedn and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the tee at Lochenheath Golf Club, Grand Traverse Michigan.

This past weekend the Chicago Golf Show got thousands of area golfers fired up for the 2016 golf season.

Whether it was visiting local courses like Mistwood in Romeoville, Shepherds Crook in Zion, Cog Hill in Lemont, or the newly renovated Arlington Lakes in Arlington Hts., traveling to resorts like French Lick in Indiana, Boyne or Grand Traverse in Michigan, Kohler or Erin Hills in Wisconsin there was much to get excited about.

At least 60 show patrons were seen carrying new clubs out the door, another 10 had new golf bags and that was what I saw while just walking in on Saturday.

 The LPGA International Crown moves to Merit Club in July of 2016, and this summers tournaments were part of the show.

The 2016 Sr. PGA will be played for the third time at the Harbor Shores Golf Club on Memorial Day weekend

Not only was the Sr. PGA Championship from Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor Michigan present with the booth at the show, so was the new Champions Tour event to be played in Madison/Verona Wisconsin that will have Steve Stricker as the chairman.

Erin Hills that will host the 2017 U.S Open, that finally returns to the Midwest, had a replica US Open trophy there in the booth with them.

There are not many U.S. Open courses that anyone can play. So why not make a run up to Erin Hills this summer and play the 2017 U.S. Open course, they have already sold over 7,000 tee times for the year. Erinhills.com.

Declan Cooney (L) and his staff operate the Bridges Golf Tour that plays many of Chicago’s top public courses.

Declan Cooney and the Bridges Golf Tour is working it’s way around the area for local players, along with the Golfweek Amateur Tour headed up by Rob McGuire.

On the main stage was some of the local Illinois PGA professionals including three-time IPGA teacher of the year award winner Kevin Weeks.

Weeks and some of the other professionals work with some former Chicago Bears players including Superbowl champion Emery Moorehead on his golf game.

   The mini-golf course part of the Illinois PGA Village was created by pro’s Hans Larson of Westmoreland CC, and Patrick Lynch of Cantigny. Trey Van Dyck now teaching at Cog Hill created a putting zone area that popular with show patrons (L). Former Illinois PGA teacher of the year Chuck Lynch (M) from the White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville has created Swingtrak, a training aid that is catch on quickly among the teaching professionals and golf students that have tried it. Swingtrak.com. Former Illinois Open Champion Dino Lucchesi (R), now has a practice facility in Grayslake, and off the course is showing the folks from Wisconsin that Illinois, is where you you find the best Bratwurst.

If you went did you try the long putt contest, I saw 2 people make it. The 85 foot putt is uphill and breaks left to right at the end. I hoep everyone who was there picked up there FREE GOLF courtesy of GolfVisions, you can’t beat free golf.

It’s to bad the snow is back today, but that means another great week in the domes or the simulators at places the Halfway House in Elmhurst at 555 S. York Road. Next week the 60 degree temps return. The Gog Blog returns tomorrow. The Chicago Golf Show returns next year, be there. RS