WITH CALLAWAY GOLF CEO CHIP BREWER, our interview with Brewer ran yesterday here on this site, ICYMI, scroll down for a replay. MCQ’s Dome was hoping on Saturday with Callaway Demo Day in swing. McQ’s in Bolingbrook (630)-739-7600.    ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG , by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Facebook, and Linkedin, welcome to Talamore.

The votes have been cast and the winners are known. The National Golf Course Owners Association, Course of the Year Award for the Village of Pinehurst area chapter goes to the Talamore Golf Resort, and the Talamore Golf Club. This award comes just two years after the course underwent a major renovation.

Talamore’s partner located across the street the Mid-South Club designed by Arnold Palmer and now called the King’s Club at Mid-South, has also had a restoration and green conversion project completed in the last couple of years, in all the total work done comes to over 6 million dollars in improvements.

Talamore’s new sodwall bunkers.

“The greens restoration is nothing short of a watershed event,” says General Manager Matt Hauser. “It’s incredible, all of the greens had shrunk to oval shaped. “We now have fingers and approach area’s that we never knew existed. The opportunity for many unique pin placements is making the courses even more fun and challenging.

At Talamore there was more than just an upgrade on the greens. All through the golf course there was better golf cart access added to the course, with an additonal 75 bunkers removed from the golf course. Talamore has had clubhouse improvements that include an expanded bar, and enclosed rear-area with new comfortable seating, in an atmosphere of of unique rustic old-time feel.

The par 4, 5th hole on the Kings Course at Mid-South

The Kings Course at Mid-South has had some clubhouse work done as well. The back porch was enclosed and a new bar was added with indoor and outdoor seating, and big screen TV’s for sporting events and other major television programming. On the main floor, new furniture was added along with new flooring, to give the facility a newer feel.

Club members can have their children enjoy a “Kids Area”, complete with many things that kids of today enjoy and make up their daily routine.

Overnight lodging at Mid-South is about as good as it gets anywhere at golf facilities.

While there are many golf options in the Pinehurst North Carolina area, the Talamore and Mid South golf resort properties rate among the highest in the area.

They are two excellent golf options, with plenty of nice options off the golf course.

Talamore is still the home of the llama’s who are seen in their home midway through the back nine. For more information on Talamore and the Mid-South Club and or membership opportunites, please visit TalamoreGolfResort.com.

  DAN PHILLIPS IS BACK teaching at Mistwood GC and McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook, for more information see MCQsDome.com, today is the Callaway Wedge Clinic at MCQ’s, followed by Callaway Demo Day until 3 PM. THE NEW MACK DADDY Wedges by designer Roger Cleveland of Callaway, try them today at MCQ’s Dome. #itsthegrind        ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Facebook, and Linkedin. With the Big Boss Callaway CEO Chip Brewer.

HE IS A MAN on the move and so is his company Callaway Golf. CEO Chip Brewer might tell you he is not a visionary, he will tell you he just surrounds himself with good people, but for someone who just a few years ago was working in Schaumburg Illinois, Brewer is now in California in the heart of golf club design and testing land.

Brewer has had an interesting road to the top spot of Callaway Golf, through other golf companie. But the road he has put Callaway Golf on is one that is not only good for Callaway, it’s good for golf in general, and for you the golfer.

The NEW Callaway Rogue Driver

These days Brewer has a lot to be beaming about. The Callaway Epic Driver that came out last year, was so good and so well received, that it outsold every other driver in America last year, in every month of 2017.

In spite of it’s numbers, that didn’t stop Callaway from coming out with something better in 2018, ROGUE.

Rogue is not just a driver, it’s fairway woods, it’s irons, it’s a solid full line of clubs. Put them with a series of Mack Daddy Wedges, and a Sean Toulon or Odyssey Putter, and you have a set of clubs that stacks up against anything on the market.

It was Brewer’s approval of one of the most creative set of golf ads to ever hit the market, that got some people taking Callaway Golf a little more seriously. Who would have thought that a golf company would hook up with an aerospace company like Boeing. Yes, the airplane people. The end result was a driver that was more aero-dynamic than the golf world was used to seeing, it advanced club head speed to a new level.

The professional world of golf is aligning with Callaway, more staff players are coming on board like reigning Masters Champion Sergio Garcia who spent yesterday hanging out in the Callaway Corporate offices. Three of the top four rated amateurs coming out college this past year are wearing Callaway logo’s, something not lost on Brewer.

Click here to hear our interview with Callaway CEO Chip Brewer, who breaks down his path to the top seat at Callaway, who he is, the Boeing relationship, the amount of tour professionals joining Callaway, the Callaway impact at this years PGA Merchandise Show, a growing golf company and market share, while going Rogue.

During times when some golf companies have gone stale, or are pulling back on their product lines, Callaway golf is expanding and growing, and Chip Brewer is “The force” behind that.

THE BOYNE MONUMENT COURSE 1st hole (L) at Boyne Mountain, The Par 5 13th hole on the Hills Course at Boyne Highlands, for more information see Boynegolf.com    ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory to Boyne Golf in Michigan, and on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Twitter, With Callaway Golf Woods.

When you think Michigan Golf there are so many great places to go, but among those at the top of the list include the Boyne Properties. Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain and Bay Harbor are all winners.

Now Boyne Golf has added another winner to it’s famed Boyne Golf Academy, long time Michigan golf professional and Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Jeff Roth.

Roth a Michigan native has won more than 70 professional tournaments in his lifetime, and competed in 19 major golf championships. Roth has won 15 Michigan PGA Majors, in his time as a Michigan PGA member that started in 1979.

Jeff Roth playing in the Michigan Tournament of Champions

“I have experienced up-close the Boyne Golf operation over the years and to now be able to bring my knowledge and experience to help Boyne guests become better golfers is something I am truly excited about,” said Roth. “Boyne has been a leader in Michigan golf for as long as I have been a professional.”

Roth has a long experience in teaching the game, he works with all golfers from juniors up through adults and both men and women.

“Jeff has been one of the best players and PGA professionals in the state ofMichigan and we have seen first-hand with him winning our Tournament of Champions five times,” says Bernie Friedrich, Boyne Vice President of Golf Operations. “Jeff has been a member of our Boyne family for years and now we have a wonderful opportunity to tap into his knowledge as an instructor for our Boyne Golf Academy.”

Boyne Golf Academy has been one of the top rated golf schools since 1986. The two golf academy’s are located on the Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highland resorts. Both schools offer instruction from highly rated teachers, and offer improvements in various ways, from a technical side, to improving a golfers body through training and workouts.

The three Boyne Resort properties that also include the highly rated Bay Harbor and the inn at Bay Harbor, and the Crooked Tree Golf Club across the street from Bay Harbor, provide Boyne golf guests 10 golf courses to pick from.

For more information on Boyne properties, Boyne Golf and or scheduling instruction time with Jeff Roth, please visit BoyneGolf.com.

   THE NEW MACK DADDY CALLAWAY WEDGES BY Designer Roger Cleveland, a must addition to your bag, they compliment the Rogue Line of clubs. Callawaygolf.com ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @gogBlogguy, Linkedin and Facebook at Demo day with the new Callaway Rogue Driver

Do you bet on golf ? many golfers do in one way or another.

The famed $2 Nassau, closest to the pin for a buck, or a beer. So much per hole, a skins game, Bingo, Bango, Bongo.

Those are on the course bets, what about off the golf course, pools on who wins the Masters are almost as popular as pools on the Super Bowl or the Men’s NCAA basketball tournament.

The gaming capital of America, Las Vegas Nevada has taken notice, and you can bet, they don’t miss a bet.

So early into the PGA Tour Golf season, Vegas is putting out golf bets and the line of bets you can make on golf is getting longer.

It’s no longer about betting on just one tournament, even though Masters week especially is getting pretty strong, it’s about betting on golf over the course of a season. Now on the books, sports books that is, are bets that keep fans involved long term, almost like being part of a fantasy league.

Odd’s to win a major is a newer bet, that has caught on with golf fans, and it gives those bettors four chances to win. Pick a player and if they win one of the four majors you win, the bad side is of they win more than one major, you only get paid one time.

Another full year bet is the chance to bet on who will win the Fed Ex Cup point race.

What has changed in the last two years or so, is the decreasing odds on the so-called favorites. Unless you want to bet big bucks, you won’t win much betting on Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. The surprise is that now, up and comers like Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama are only 3-1 and 3 1/2 to 1 and they have never won a major.

The bet to win a major has become popular with betting golfers, but if all the players who can win or might win, even though they have not won a major continue to shrink, the popularity of this bet could fade.

What’s really amazing, is that Tiger Woods in spite of how much action could be placed on the declining former winner, Woods is just 8-1 on winning the Masters, and 5-1 on winning a major. Woods for years has had a nickname in Vegas, “suckerbet”, and only people with money to burn or waste still bet him. It’s been 10 years since Woods has won a major (2008 US Open), and 13 years (yes 13 years) since he won a Masters.

It is surprising that players like Jason Day are 20-1 to win the Masters, but only 3-1 to win a major. Anyone at 20-1 on the Masters should be no lower than 6 or 7-1 on the four majors bet.

Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson are your favorites to win the Fed Ex Cup Point race at 7-1, with Jon Rahm right behind at 8-1.

If you looking for bets where you can win some money try these. Phil Mickelson who is playing better again is 12-1 on a major and 18-1 on the Masters. Day is 20-1 on the Masters, Ricky Fowler is 12-1 on the Masters, but only 3 1/2 to 1 on a major. 2017 BMW Championship winner at Conway Farms Marc Leishman, is 10-1 on a major.

A few notes on our local players or guys with Illinois ties to win a major. Luke Donald and Steve Stricker are 80-1, Kevin Streelman is 100-1. Former U of I standout Thomas Pieters is only 10-1, former Northwestern Golfer David Lipsky who has had success in the Far East, is 150-1. Current John Deere Classic Champion Bryson DeChambeau is at 25-1 to win a major and 100-1 to win the Masters. Former John Deere Classic champion and 2nd place finisher at the U.S. Open at Erin Hills in 2017 Brian Harman is 20-1 to win a major.

Do remember odds change as the season goes on, and all it takes is a win or two in PGA Tour events to see a players odds drop, so don’t be afraid to jump in on the action ASAP, if you want to bet.

 TIME TO GO ROGUE, The Callaway Golf line of clubs is taking the golf world by storm, the professionals are switching and you should too, see Callawaygolf.com. On Saturday morning at McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook from 9-11 AM a Callaway Wedge Clinic see the Mcqs website for sign up and cost, then Demo day from 11-3 Pm. See Mqsdome.com    ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Director of Creation and Content, RORY SPEARS. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, facebook, and Linkedin. With the Callaway woods at Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan.

During the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show recently held in Orlando, among the new exhibitors on the floor was a product called NextLinks.

What us Nextlinks ?

It is among the latest pieces of indoor golf technology, that showcases golf gaming and will revolutionize your indoor golf experience regardless of your skill level.

The hope is that the experience will be so great, that it helps attract new players to the game, and early indications are that it will. Experienced golfers should have a true-to-golf gaming experience.

NEXTLINKS is the idea of David Shultz a technologist who has spent time at General Electric (GE) as an engineer, he worked with the US Navy in avonic systems on the A-6 and F-18 aircraft, later as a team member with Boeing while at GE on the 787 project.

In the spring of 2015, Shultz took his passion for golf and started to work on a better indoor golf experience, and created NextLinks.

NextLinks continues to evolve the next generation golf entertainment experience in their new development lab in downtown Santa Ana, Calif., on Monday, July 10, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, /Sullivan Photography)

The Nextlinks golf experience is one where golfers can blend together simulator play, and then use realistic short game shots, and then putt on putting greens.

Golfers will putt from spots that are designated on the green by a laser spotlight.

NextLinks is a concept were venue owners with 850 square feet to 100,000 can license this golf platform. NextLinks is now positioned to expand and be sustainable on a global scale.

The first NextLinks facility has now opened in Santa Ana California, along with a major project getting underway in the Indian Wells Resort in Palm Springs California. There will be more openings at various golf courses, resorts, casino’s and entertainment venues in the next few months.

To inquire about NextLinks Golf or learn more about designer David Schultz, get more information by visiting Nextlinksgolf.com.

 MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB in Romeoville is getting ready for the another season of golf, come play the award winning Mistwood this summer, and enjoy McWethy’s Tavern before or after your round, Mistwoodgc.com. McQ’s Dome has become the premier golf dome in the Chicago area, Golf OTB Horse racing, and one of the best golf grills in the Chicagoland area. This Saturday is a Callaway day at McQ’s, details at mcqsdome.com ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook, and Linkedin. On the 18th hole at Streamsong Black by Gil Hanse.

IT’S NEWS TIME, or Showtime and there is plenty of it.

First on the tee, are the in town golf shows, and the first one starts this Friday at the Lake County Fairgrounds and the doors open at Noon. This is year two for the Northern Illinois Golf Expo, check it out. it will be bigger than last year.

Then the following week is the Chicago Golf Show that will take place at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Sink the long putt, and maybe win a spot in the KPMG/Women’s PGA Championship Pro-am at Kemper Lakes

Show dates are Feb. 23-24-25 and show hours start at Noon on Friday, and the presenting sponsor is the famed French Lick Resort. Tickets can now be purchased at Chicagogolfshow.com.

There will be free golf lessons, deals on equipment, and chances to win prizes, and plenty of golf destination booths to check out.

Show hours are from Noon to 7 pm on Friday, 9:30 Am to 6 Pm on Saturday, and from 9:30 to 4 Pm on Sunday. This year marks the 35th year of golf show. The French Lick Resort is having a drawing for 2 nights, 2 rooms and unlimited golf on their three golf courses. Peter Longo the King of Clubs will put on a “trick-shot” artist show, and IPGA teacher of the year will take to the main stage for insight on how to improve your game.

Visit PGATOUR.com

The PGA Tour announced that it’s charity donations from it’s various tours amounted to $180 million dollars in 2017. The Western Golf Association announced the BMW Championship  last year raised $2.6 million dollars for the Evans Scholars Foundation, that puts caddies through college. For more information on the PGA Tour and it’s charity work, please visit PGATour.com.

For further information on the Western Golf Association (WGA), please see WGAESF.org

This week’s PGA Tour event is in Los Angeles area at the famed Riviera Country Club.

TPT SHAFTS that are involved with instructor David Ledbetter and are designed in Switzerland, have earned another winner on the PGA Tour, with Jason Day’s win at the Farmers Insurance event. Justin Rose won with TPT shafts late in 2017 in the Far East. TPT has also announced a price drop on it’s shafts on all 11 models to $499. “We know e have found a way to make a better shaft,” said Sebastian Sebayang, Director of TPT Golf. “Reducing the price $200 is a risk but with our customers in mind it was an easy one to take. We feel it’s our duty to make our product available to as many golfers as possible.”

The new TPT 15-LKP-LT-LW shaft was released at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show last month, for more information visit Tptgolf.com.

The Par 3, 12th hole at Blackberry Oaks, home of the Chad Johansen Golf Academy where Kids Rule !

BLACKBERRY OAKS in Bristol home of the Blackberry Amateur, June 23-24 (save the date) sponsored by Wilson Golf and Michelob Ultra.

Legendary Illinois PGA Professional Chad Johansen, and known inventor of the Perfect Putting Aid, is having both Winter Golf Clincis and will have junior golf programs all summer long. Kids Do Rule, at Blackberry Oaks.

Registration is now underway for the CJGA Summer Junior Golf League, the plan is to have four-teams of 12 player per team. In addition there are summer junior golf camps, the CJGA junior golf tour, CJGA junior golf coaching programs, parent junior golf championship For more information visit Chadjohansen.com or call BBO’s at (630)-553-7170.

BEN HOGAN golf company is now offering both a trade up program and a No-Charge Customization options on Ft. Worth Irons and VKTR Hybrids. For more information on the Ben Hogan full line of clubs visit, BenHoganGolf.com.

DATELINE PINEHURST-As reported previously here, it’s now official that famed  course architect Tom Fazio has bought in on his designed property Forest Creek. The property has two Top 100 courses by a national publication. fazio and two of the clubs members bought the property and the undeveloped 112 home lots. The Colony 9 Group will spend at least two-million dollars in improvements on the two courses. For more information on the new look Forest Creek, see Forestcreekgolfclub.com.

The First Tee of Greater Chicago

The First Tee of Greater Chicago needs you to register by Feb. 19th to take part in some special Saturdays in March at the two PGA Tour Superstores in Downers Grove and in Schaumburg. On Saturdays March 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 9-11 Am, there will weekly contests, golf instruction, you can learn about junior golf apparel, and information on junior golf leagues. Sign up is found at info@thefirstteegreaterchicago.org.

Follow the First Tee of Greater Chicago for other special events coming up through the 2018 year ahead.

the KPMG Women’s PGA returns to the are in late June at the Kemper Lakes Golf Club.

The 2018 Women’s PGA stroke play championship was just held at the PGA Village Golf Club in Port St. Lucie Florida.

Lisa Grimes a professional from Minnesota and the Director of Instruction at the Alexandria Golf Club was a three shot winner, over PGA of America National Vice President Suzy Whaley. By winning the championship grimes earned a spot into the field at Kemper Lakes for this Junes KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Grimes shot 67-70 and then held on with a final round 76 to win the event. grimes admitted to playing protective golf in the final round when she started the day with a six-shot lead. Grimes won a first place check of $2,200.

THE PGA OF AMERICA has announced that in 2018, golf clinics for women will be held in 12 locations around the country, starting on March 12th in Los Angeles. LPGA Legends Tour ofunder Jane Blaylock will host the clinics. Blaylock was a 27 time winner on the PGA Tour. On June 25th the circuit will visit Westmoreland CC in Wilmette. To signup or learn more information visit PGAGolfClincisForWomen.com.

THE PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW has announced that AFTERSHOKZ was voted the Top Buyers Choice at this years show. Aftershokz is an open ear wireless head phone designed for use on the golf course, more information at Aftershokz.com. The other winner was Belyn Key LLC a ladies lifestyle apparel company, see information at belynkey.com.

Is it time to take your game Rogue ? if so see Callawaygolf.com

SWING BY SWING a golf media and marketing firm has released results on it’s annual equipment survey, voted on by many of it’s 4.5 million Golf APP users. In drivers SxS says that Taylor made has 35% of the market, and leads rising second place finisher Callaway who is at 22%. SxS also reports that Taylor Made is the leader in market share with Irons at 22%, narrowly beating out Callaway who is at 20%. News from SxS is found on various social media sites.

THE GCSAA, The Golf Course Superintendents of America association has named Olde Florida Golf Club superintendent Darren Davis, president of the association for a 1-year term. The Tallahassee Florida native earned his degree in turf grass management at Penn State.

Jack Nicklaus (R) here at Ferry Point, is stepping back from his duties at the Jack Nicklaus Corporation

The Greatest Golfer of All Time Jack Nicklaus, has announced that he will take a reduced role in his Jack Nicklaus companies.

Nicklaus says he is in fine health, but wants to spend more time doing other things. This plan was created 10 years ago says the Golden Bear and now Executive Chairman Howard Mitstein will lead the company going forward.

Nicklaus will make sure the company is still successful and respected going forward, but he wants to spend more time on fundraising and children’s healthcare.

At 78, Nicklaus also wants to work with various organizations that are promoting Grow-The-Game initiatives. Nicklaus says his wife Barbara has spent many years supporting his goals, and he wishes to support a few of her ideas and causes that she is active in. For more details visit Nicklaus.com.

MORE GOG BLOG NEWS COMING UP, THIS WEEK, stay clicked in. RS

  GOING ROGUE the new driver and line of clubs by Callaway Golf, see Callaway Golf in full swing at MCQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook on Saturday morning. Mcqsdome.com. Learn more on Callaway Golf during this event. See McqsDome @Twitter for current details.  _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. With a Rogue Driver at demo day, during the 2018 PGA Show.

Pebble Beach never lets us down, it’s great scenery and better golf from one of the most iconic courses in the world.

Pebble Beach was the best PGA Tour event of 2018, no doubt, no question. The best field you could ask for, a nice upgrade on celebrities that made viewing very enjoyable. Bill Murray is still fun watch and always will be. A big congratulations to Ted Potter Jr. on his win, and to Kevin Streelman our local native on his win in the pro-am with NFL professional Larry Fitzgerald.

Phil Mickelson, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson all tied for second place. Streelman finished in 6th place and fellow Wilson Staff player Troy Merritt finished in 8th place. This week it is off to Riviera, a place where six college players will play for a spot in the field of this weeks event today. One player in the challenge is Doug Ghim of the University of Texas and Arlington Heights. We wish him the best, in getting in the field and getting the best of the course that he almost won the 2017 U.S. Amateur on last August.

THE TINLEY PARK GOLF EXPO, was this last weekend and the weather probably cost show owners Joe Copeland and Gregg Tengerstrom some show goers. But as has been the pattern, the show gets better every year. It was good to see booths from Mistwood, McQ’s Dome, Cog Hill, Balmoral Woods, Tullymore, Old Oak and a few others there this year. I am anxious to see who Joe and Gregg have lined up for their Lake County show this coming weekend, at the Lake County Fairgrounds that starts on Friday.

I attended the show on Friday, getting their later than normal due to bad weather and bad roads. What was nice, was to see one major equipment company in attendance and that was Callaway Golf, that had Chicago area main rep Paul Schlimm in the house. Where was everybody else ? Hello locals like Wilson, and Tour Edge, other power players like Titleist, Taylor Made and Ping, nowhere to be found. I guess everyone in the equipment business is conceding to the power of Rogue in 2018, and the Chrome Soft golf ball.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, I found the claim put out by Titleist in their press release and on their ad during the final round of Pebble Beach yesterday to be quite false. BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm and I each started our round on the Dye Course at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie with a sleeve of the new Titleist Tour Soft golf balls. Len had better luck with them than I did. I lost all three of mine within 12 holes.

To be honest the Tour Soft felt like a Pinnacle to me, a ball that has always felt like a rock. The ball flight wasn’t right, but I had some success with Tour Soft around the greens. What I had with Tour Soft was zero distance off the tee. I played the last six holes with the Callaway Chrome ball and immediately gained 25-30 yards off the tee, and a better feel on my fairway shots. Chrome Soft feels better off the face of a Titleist Scotty Cameron Putter than Tour Soft does. I thank the folks at Titleist for giving me a few sleeves of the new ball to try out, but I think Titleist needs to go back to the drawing board on this one.

If I can recommend one thing to all golfers for the year ahead, spend the early part of the golf season checking out different golf balls. I spent many years playing Titleist’s Pro V1X and thought nothing would ever beat it. Well no other ball has beat it yet, but the Callaway Chrome Soft X is just as good. A few years back Callaway golf balls were in a car trailing Pro V’s by the length of the home stretch in a horse race. Now both balls are neck and neck as they come to the finish line in my books. I think golfers should ask themselves this question, if you can get the same ball in terms of performance, and the Callaway Chrome ball is about 8-9 dollars cheaper per dozen, which ball should you buy. Yeah, go Callaway and used the extra money in the 19th hole. With the progress Callaway is making in the golf ball world, they could roll past Titleist by 2019.

THIS COMING SATURDAY at McQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook, the premier golf dome in the Chicago area, is a Callaway Wedge clinic and demo day. I suggest if you have not hit the new Rogue club line, stop in and do that, it might be a game changer for you.

THIS WEEK I have an interview with Callaway Golf CEO Chip Brewer on the tee sheet, stay tuned for that, I expect it to be one, you will want to hear.

CONDOLENCES to friends and family of long time radio broadcaster Al Wester, who was the voice of Westwood One radio for years, Wester was 93. When I covered my first golf majors in the late 1980’s at Medinah, Wester had a radio booth behind me, but the glass booths didn’t stop me from hearing Wester’s booming voice when he was on the air. I felt important at a young age sitting in front of Wester, who was quite a name at the time.

BIG 3 PARTNER LEN ZIEHM  has a few features up on his website from the past week. At Lenziehmongolf.com you can catch up on what’s new with Florida resident (now) Jeff Sluman Champions Tour player. Sluman sold his Hinsdale home and now resides in Florida full time. Ziehm also found Lance Ten Broeck who at 62, is splitting time playing on the Champions Tour, and caddying for Ernie Els.

B1G TEN GOLF NEWS, Men’s match play championship results from down in Florida saw Purdue win the championship. Some up’s and downs for #1 seed Illinois that got beat by Wisconsin and Indiana. The Hoosiers who ranked at the bottom of the Big Ten last year, seem to be making strides in the spring season of this year. Illinois had a big win over Northwestern, but sixth place is not where Coach Mike Small expects to be in a Big Ten meet. Illini Senior Dylan Meyer received a sponsors exemption to play in the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour next month at the Innisbrook resort in Palm Harbor Florida.

The Gog Blog returns tomorrow, stay clicked in. RS

THE NEW SCOTTY CAMERON 2018 SELECT PUTTERS, there are seven new models for the year ahead, see Scottycameron.com for details. THE NEW TITLEIST  SOFT Golf Ball, available in White or High Optic Yellow, see Titleist.com for details.        _____________________________________________________________________

The even faster Titleist Velocity golf ball, new for 2018. Available in three exciting colors.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, on Facebook and on Linkedin.

Titleist has redesigned it’s Velocity golf ball to add more speed and distance on every shot. It’s new colors include VISI-White, Velocity Orange, and Velocity-Pink.

Titleist Velocity golf balls are now available in pro shops and retail golf stores.

The Velocity has had it’s core reengineered with a softer high-speed core and the Titleist cover blend, that creates a low spin and quicker ball speed off the tee for more distance. Velocity’s aerodynamics produce a high ball flight on all shots, that allows for more distance and stopping the ball on the green and closer to the hole.

“Everything we do with Velocity is to generate speed and distance,” says Michael Mahoney, Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball Marketing. “When we spoke to Velocity golfers at the beginning of the development process, they told us they wanted even more distance, especially off the tee. Our R&D team responded with new core technology and the fastest cover of any Titleist golf ball on the market, to give them that advantage.”

The new Velocity has a new 328 tetrahedral dimple design, that helps create a higher ball speed and lower spin for even more distance. The ball numbers now include, 00,22,77,99. These numbers were based on their popularity among the members of Team Titleist. You can sign up for Team Titleiest at Titleist.com at any time.

Michael Fish, Titleist Golf Ball Product Manager feels that the new improvements and colors will make the game of golf more enjoyable for the golfers that play Velocity. The cost of the new Velocity golf balls will be $26.99 a dozen, and should be in your favorite pro shop as of late January.

TITLEIST GOLF GEAR for 2018 is now available. Do you need Titleist golf gear to make your set of Titleist products complete. Titleist now has the 2018 line of golf bags, golf gloves, golf hats and visors, golf outerwear, and travel or business style bags. Visit Titleist.com for more information or to see the full line of products you can order.

  MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB’s booth at the Tinley Park Golf Expo, Mistwood professionals are giving free golf lessons at the show all days. Mistwoodgc.com. THE NEW SM7″S by Bob Vokey coming soon to a pro shop near year. Please visit Titleist.com or Vokey.com. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content, follow Rory to Innisbrook’s North Course, and on Twitter @GogBlogGuy Linkedin and Facebook.

TITLEIST-ACUSHNET has announced new products for 2018.

The new golf ball for 2018 is the Titleist Tour Soft golf ball. It replaces the NXT Tour ball that has been taken off the market. Tour soft is now available in white or high-optic yellow.

Titleist feels that golfers looking for a better feel golf ball, will find the Tour Soft golf ball will deliver what they are looking for. The Tour Soft has the largest core ever engineered into a Titleist Golf Ball, with an ultra thin cover to provide the golfer with a responsive feel, and a fast ball speed for commanding distance, and improvement on one’s short game.

The new dimple pattern designed at Titleist Ball Plant 2 is the 342 cuboctahedron dimple design. Titleist Vice President of Golf Ball Marketing Michael Mahoney feels, the new ball is the longest ball in the category and is a great break through from the Titleist R&D department. The ball is now available in pro shops, and sells for $34.99 per dozen.

Click here to hear our interview with Frederick Waddell Sr. Manager of Golf Ball Product Management, talk about the new Titleist Tour Soft golf ball.

The new Titleist Tour Soft Golf balls, in white and Bright optic Yellow.

Titleist putting guru, Scotty Cameron has created the next generation of his select putters for 2018.

The improvement in the putters come from what is being called a new four-way sole balancing technology. The new line of select putters will hit your local pro shops on March 30th.

The new putter face inlays come from either the 303 stainless steel, or the 6061 aircraft-grade aluminium with stainless steel bodies for superior balance, sound and feel.

THE NEW SCOTTY CAMERON 2018 Select Putters.

This select line now includes seven tour validated modern blade and mid-mallet models. The Select Laguna joins the Scotty classic select Newport, Newport 2, and new Newport 2.5 blade styles.

The Fastback and Squareback are back with a new style mid-mallet offering. Closing out the new additions is the heel shafted mid-mallet Newport 3.

From a SIGHT standpoint. Contours and sight cues were refined to enhance the alignment opportunities and instill confidence. Scotty thinned the topline appearance by giving a slight rounded radius. The SOUND and feel have changed due to a 30 percent more vibration dampening material connecting face inlays with the putter bodies. Professionals and top amateur players will get feedback on distance control and understanding of mishits. SOLE, a new first from Scotty here, as he has introduced a four-way balanced sole design, for a quicker set up and easier alignment at address. The balance point of each 2018 Select putter’s sole has been shifted forward to allow for the weight of the shaft and grip, and their impact at address.

“Everything I have learned from refining and redesigning Newport-Style putters over the last two decades has gone into this 2018 Select line,” Cameron said. “I always try to raise the bar by incorporating new materials, milling and manufacturing techniques. I am at the point with the Select line that now I’m hyper-focused on the finest details. Tour players pick up on details that most people don’t but those details can make a big difference in how a putter performs.”

Scotty Cameron (L) at the PGA Merchandise Show-File Photo

The new Scotty Cameron Select line of putters will be in Titleist authorized pro shops world wide on March 30th. the first 500 putters will be available at $399.00.

Smaller double-milled “cherry dots” on the heel and sole-inspired by Scotty’s familiar three bright red dot theme-with simplified, engraved typography represents this modern refined line of Cameron putters.

The Black and Silver Matador-mid-sized grips are featured to provide a bigger and larger grip, while maintaining a solid and comfortable feel. More information online at Scottycameron.com/2018-select.

ACUSHNET HOLDINGS CORP-ACQUIRES, LINKS & KINGS, designer of handcrafted Leather Golf Products.

Links and Kings a Utah based company known for luxury leather products has been acquired by Acushnet Holdings Corp. Links and King founded by Adam Heindorff a skilled craftsman, and with a passion for golf, has created leather products in both a timeless and modern styles.

Those products include, head covers,belts, travel bags and scorecard holders. The company will continue to operate from it’s location in Alpine Utah, where Heindorff and his team of master craftsmen will continue to hand cut and stitch the product line. Both Links and Kings, and Acushnet Holdings are excited about the new partnership.

More on Titleist gear and new golf balls coming up tomorrow.

   THE TINLEY PARK GOLF EXPO IS OPEN all weekend long. MCQS DOME part of Mistwood Golf, is rolling with excitement all winter long. Chicago’s premier indoor golf dome, complete with an OTB for horse race wagering, bar and grill complete with a new menu. Golf club fittings, lessons and more. See Mcqsdome.com or call (630)-739-7600. ______________________________________________________________________

THE TINLEY PARK CONVENTION CENTER, home of the Tinley Park Golf Expo running this weekend.

THE GOG BLOG by Director of Content Rory Spears.

Yesterday was the opening of the Tinley Park Golf Expo, that runs all of this weekend as well. For golf show owners Joe Copeland and Gregg Tengerstrom who run a nice show, they deserved a better fate.

It was nice for me to arrive about 2:45 pm and find quite a few cars in the parking lot, more than I expected to find, since Mother Nature was awful, and left roads in terrible condition. My drive south on Rt. 355 was terrible, as the toll road was not plowed south of 75th street all the way to I-80. The city of Tinley Park plows were out around the convention center and doing a great job.

   THE NEW CALLAWAY ROGUE DRIVER, can be hit at the Tinley Park Golf Expo, one of the hot spots was the Mistwood Golf booth, across the from McQ’s Dome booth in the center of the show floor. Live TV golf action from Pebble Beach in the Mistwood booth.

Some of the other things to check out at the show, are golf booths from the Chicago District Golf Association, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, Tullymore Golf in Michigan, Old Oak, Balmoral Woods. A few of the area private clubs had booths, with information on memberships and special events.

Do you need clubs? These days I recommend that everyone get fitted for new clubs, but if your looking for specials, there was some used stock and or new clubs that were being closed out for great prices. Needs shoes or a new golf bag, there were great prices on those items found on the show floor.

Lessons, free ones. Always a good idea. The lesson area has the Mistwood Golf Club professionals in the hitting bays offering free lessons. On the back wall there is an area to test hit clubs, including the new Callaway Rogue line, a must check out for any golfer considering new clubs in 2018.

The Tinley Park Golf Expo runs today and tomorrow, next Friday and the weekend, Copeland and Tengerstrom take their show on the road to the north burbs and Lake County at the Lake County Fairgrounds. For the Northern Illinois Golf Show. More details in the week ahead.