JAY BAUER and LISA COPELAND are two customers enjoying the Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. You can join them and try out Toptracer the newest in technology from Topgolf. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600.

Customer Jay Bauer talks about why he uses the Mistwood Golf Dome all winter long.

Customer Jeff Copeland talks about his daughter Lisa a 2017 finalist at Augusta National for Drive, Chip and Putt, and why they both love Mistwood where she learned the game since the age of just five years old under the guidance of the Mistwood Staff.   _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Linkedin or Facebook. Outside the historic Belvedere Clubhouse in Michigan.

The historic Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix Michigan is proud to welcome the 2019 U.S. Hickory Open from June 20-23.

The club has hosted a major championship of the Society of Hickory Golfers every year since 2006, is looking forward to hosting the major of hickory majors.

“Belvedere members embrace the event,” says Ernie Ernst, chairman of the U.S. Hickory Selection Committee who hails from Neenah Wisconsin. “They shut down the course for three days allowing us to compete with complete access. That’s unheard of almost anywhere else for a hickory tournament. Belvedere caused a real buzz when the application first came out. It was clear you better get online early or you would not get in, and then registration did fill up in just two days, which is almost unheard of.”

A Belvedere hickory group putts out.

The U.S. Hickory Open normally attracts a field of players that use pre-1935 hickory shafted shafted clubs or authentic replica hickory clubs.

Belevedere is the only club in the USA, that has some 44 hickory club players. The players dress in apparel of the era including knickers, ties and jackets as they celebrate the game from the 1910 to 1930’s era.

Dennis “Marty” Joy II, the clubs head professional says Belvedere is excited to host the open. “Here at Belvedere we have the most hickory society golfers of any club in the country. We have 44 members who play with hickory golf clubs. Many of our members will be playing in the open.”

The club released a video by sportscaster-club member Mike Tirico welcoming golfers from around the country. Some conservative estimates says that there are over 3,000 golfers worldwide who play with nothing but hickory golf clubs, and there is evidence that the number is growing every year.

    The first hole at Belvedere (L) opening tee shot, (R) from green back towards the clubhouse.

Belvedere was opened in 1925 and was designed by a famed architect of the era, Willie Watson. It has hosted some 40 Michigan Amateur Championships and will host the Michigan Amateur again in 2025 celebrating the championships centennial year. Belvedere does allow some public play, and to find out about teeing it up on this historic golf course, please visit, belevederegolfclub.com or call (231)-547-2611. To learn more about the Society of Hickory Golfers see hickorygolfers.com.

 ARE YOU READY FOR THIS…before you know it, the outdoor season will be here so why not get tuned up during the indoor golf season on the simulators in the lower level of the Schaumburg Golf Club on Roselle road in Schaumburg. Play PGA Tour Courses and Ryder Cup venue’s all winter long. Call the course and get your tee time today at (847)-885-9000, for information and a full list of available courses schaumburggolf.com.  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and Linkedin or Facebook. At the Dormie Club.

IT’S PART OF THE PINEHURST golf scene, but in just a small way. It’s not far (about 15 minutes) from the all the activities of downtown Pinehurst and Southern Pines.

But West End, North Carolina is really just a suburb of Pinehurst. But it is where you find the next chapter of work done by architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in the Pinehurst area. It’s where you find a nice piece of rolling terrain in the sandy foothills of North Carolina. As you drive on Rt. 211 in between the “pines” of Pinehurst, the Pinehurst resort, the Pinewild development, the Mid Pines and Pine Needles of Southern Pines, and all the other pines of the area, you will find a drug store from a major national chain, you make a turn and head off between the homes and the churches, then just keep going until it gets a little more remote, and that is where you will find the Dormie Club.

Bill Coore (L) and Ben Crenshaw (R)

When you arrive at the club you will find that nothing is over stated, in fact it’s the same touch that Coore and Crenshaw have applied at places like Mike Keiser’s Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley. It’s the kind of touch that Coore and Crenshaw will apply to another course waiting to reopen in the Pinehurst area, The Pit that the Pinehurst resort will have Coore and Crenshaw redo one of these years, and probably rename it Pinehurst 10 or 11. In the meantime, the Dormie Club just slowly ages like a good beverage.

It’s the type of course that Keiser and golfers that love his properties would like. Not much in the terms of cart paths, walking friendly, interesting greens, and the kind of course that allows one to get lost from the hustle and bustle of a fast-paced society.

  A lone sign in the tall pines marks the entrance to the Dormie Club, (R) the approach on the 18th hole with a small cottage, complete with a fireplace, in the woods behind the green that currently serves as the clubhouse. A new clubhouse is expected to be built in the soon future.

The clubs logo is simple and understated, and not much different from the famed Coore and Crenshaw design on Long Island, Friar’s Head. It’s just a flag stick with a red flag, nothing more, nothing less.

The massive bunker in the middle of the uphill par 5, 17th hole.

The course opened to rave reviews in 2010, it received several top mentions from Golfweek, including a nod on the best “new” course list.

Before long GW had it in it’s Top 100 modern course list. If you ask Coore about the types of courses that he and Crenshaw design, he will tell you that there are certain types of land that just work for him and Crenshaw. Dormie Club is that type of property which is right in the wheelhouse of C&C design.

The elevation change tops out around 110 feet, and the rolling sand hills surround three natural lakes, with inspirations from the Scottish Highlands. The course is shaped with Bermuda Fairways that surround bent grass greens. While there are some reachable par 4’s, that are some bunkers that require one to think their way around them or suffer the consequences. There is a reverse-Redan par 3 hole, that can play 241 yards-good luck.

Dormie Club’s Short Par 3, 113 yards from the tips

While some courses will talk at length about their “short par 4’s”, the Dormie Club can brag about it’s “short par 3”.

Not much different from the “shortie” than Coore and Crenshaw created on the Red Course at Streamsong, is the par 3, 12th hole that you need to blast your drive a whopping 113 yards from the back tees.

Which is a nice break after playing the long  par 5, 10th hole that is 653 yards all the way back. When it comes to golf at the Dormie Club, it’s golf that is right in front of you, keep it between the trees, out of Ben and Bill’s sandy bunkers, and test your putting on the subtleties of Dormie’s greens.

The Dormie Club over the past decade has bounced back and forth from private to public and back again through ownership changes, until now settling in as part of the Dormie Network. For further information on the Dormie Club, and the expanding Dormie Network of clubs, visit dormienetwork.com/dormieclub. The club is located at 6033 Beulah Hill Church Road, West End, NC. (910)-215-4587.

  MISTWOOD GOLF DOME and the SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB are your homes for indoor golf during the remainder of the winter golf season. In the dome at Mistwood you can enjoy the new Toptracer technology that allows for several ways to enjoy the dome. Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook (630)-739-7600 On the lower level of the Schaumburg Clubhouse is the latest in the world of simulator golf, play Top 100 golf courses and a few of the recent or upcoming Ryder Cup venues. 401 N. Roselle Road, or call (847)-885-9000.     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy Linkedin and Facebook. With the Bear, at the start of the Bear Trap at this weeks Honda Classic.

The Illinois PGA Section has announced it’s Special Award winners for 2018.

At the top of the list is the Illinois PGA professional of the year award, which goes to Chris “Gumby” Gumbach of the River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst.

Gumbach (46) has worked at River Forest for 25 years, after growing up in Binghamton NY. In 1993 Gumbach in interned at Itasca Country Club, then returned to Illinois after graduation from New Mexico State to work for Terry Russell at River Forest, and has been at the club ever since.

“I’m very humbled and honored to be recognized by my peers as the Illinois Section Golf Professional of the Year,” said Gumbach. “This is certainly not a solo effort and I have a number of people including my parents, family, friends, members, mentors and fellow golf professionals to thank for their support an encouragement over the years. I really enjoy the game and the camaraderie being involved in all aspects it brings. My passion for the game and the desire to be engaged has been the driving force during my career.”

In 2013 Gumbach was elected the 25th IPGA Section President, he was the IPGA Section Assistant Professional of the Year and is now the only Illinois section professional to win the assistants and PGA Professional of the year awards. One of his biggest contributions to the section, is raising contributions for the sections Birdies for Charity Event, that has raised over $1.5 million dollars over eight years for local children’s charities.

Gumbach and the other award winners will be honored at a special ceremony on March 11th, at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge Illinois, sponsored by EZ-GO Elite Professionals.

The remaining winners are.

Claire Castetter, Onwentsia Club-Assistant Professional of the Year.                                 Mike Carbray, Butterfield Country Club-Teacher of the Year.                                             Mark Krizic, Ridge Country Club-Player Development Award                                             Lance Olson, Champaign Country Club, Youth Player Development Award.                     Paul Betteridge, Pekin Country Club-Bill Strausbaugh Award                                             Nick Papadakas, Onwensia Club-Horton Smith Award.                                                     Harland Kilbourn, PGA Life Member-Bill Heald Career Achievement Award                     Shaun McElroy, North Shore Country Club-Merchandiser of the Year-Private Club.         Jon Parsons, Schaumburg Golf Club-Merchandiser of the Year-Public Course.               Lloyd McWilliams, Rockford Park District-Distinguished Service Award.

“We are privileged to have such an outstanding group of PGA Professionals in the Illinois PGA Section that are dedicated to growing the game for everyone from the junior player to the weekend player to the elite player,” said Carrie Williams, executive director of the Illinois PGA Section. “And this year’s Special Award winners exemplify all the PGA of America has to offer as the experts in the business of the game of golf.”

For more information on the IPGA Section special awards, visit IPGA.com.

  THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB has the latest in golf simulators so enjoy can enjoy golf all year round. Why wait until the snow melts and temps hit 45 or higher to get that first round of the year in. Go play TPC Sawgrass before the pro’s do in a few weeks for the Players Championship. Visit Schaumburggolf.com or call (847)-885-9000 #teetimes  ______________________________________________________________________

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

SHOWTIME is in the books. The PGA merchandise show is behind us, and now so is the only golf show left in Chicago.

This past weekend there was many golfers who had just had cabin fever up to you know where. Global Freezing is has been taking it’s toll, and now it seems like another week of not so great warming temperatures are not coming.

This past Friday saw a crowded house in the Donald Stephens Convention Center, in fact so I’m told the busiest Friday in show history. Based on the amount of people I saw walking around, that would be hard to argue. I did return on Saturday and the large gathering of patrons had returned. Yes patrons, I have to start getting my Masters week lingo going, as the Masters is only some 40 days away.

The Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is your place for winter golf dome practice. Mistwoodgolfdome.com (630)-739-7600 while there try McWethy’s Sportsbar.

What was good to see was the large amount of courses from not just the Midwest, but in from the warm weather southeast part part of the country.

But the presence from the southwest seemed to be lacking, other than Las Vegas. But with the all pictures online of late showing Phoenix and Scottsdale golf courses with 3 inches of snow on them, there was a brief patch of Arizona not being the place to be.

I spoke with BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm this morning, as he was rolling into the Honda Classic. The big story there is who is not playing, that includes many of the top names that live right near the golf course. Apparently the fallout of the new PGA Tour schedule has some players taking different weeks off. Len will have a story in the next day or so in the Morning Read.

BACK TO THE CHICAGO GOLF SHOW…and again I tested out the Wilson D7 Irons and found them to my liking, they are one of the top new irons on the market. Callaway Golf’s Epic Flash Driver is taking the world by storm, as tours from around the world are all seeing more players use the Flash.

LAST WEDNESDAY I made the trip up to the new Milwaukee Bucks Fiserv Arena, which is a nice venue, a little more cozy than the United Center since it does not have as many sky-boxes. Which is where the PGA of America made the announcement on Steve Stricker being named 2020 Ryder Cup Captain for Team USA. I had a feeling all along he would be the choice, and he will do a good job win or lose at Whistling Straits in September of next year. But let’s hope he wins. U-S-A !

THE FIRST ISSUE of Chicagoland Golf is out, my story on the new Topgolf coming to Schaumburg is in the paper, pick it up at your favorite club, or golf retail store. It’s a great place to promote your golf course, or golf product. I’ll be writing about Stricker being named captain in April.

THIS SATURDAY Callaway/Odyssey will have a putter demo day from 10-2 at the Downers Grove PGA Tour Store. If you have ever wondered about putter fitting, this is a chance to see the new technology that Callaway is using for a proper putter fit. Speaking of Callaway, it was nice to come home from the show on Friday night and find the big black box from Callaway with my new Mack Daddy Wedges in it. Always a great feeling to see new clubs show up.

I am slowly flipping my golf bag with newer products, as even clubs that are 4-5 years old are behind the times. #getfitted #getnewclubs #enjoythegamemore.

THE ILLINI Men’s golf team rallied for a second place finish in Louisiana yesterday, losing out to McNeese State. Illinois had multiple players in the Top 10 including Bryan Baumgarten, Tommy Kuhl and Michael Feagles. As a result of his play, Baumgarten has been named Big Ten Men’s Golfer of the Week.

MONDAY AFTER THE MASTERS…in Myrtle Beach the annual Hootie and the Blowfish Pro-am, always a fun event, for tickets see HootieGolf.com.

ON THE HEAL QUICKLY LIST- The Golf Scene’s Steve Kashul is on the mend after shoulder surgery, that will keep him off the golf course until the end May, get well Steve.

CONGRATS TO PGA PROFESSIONAL Mike Weiler who has landed on his feet in Wisconsin at the Elkhorn Country Club after a stint at Wynstone in Barrington.

CONGRATS TO NEW Preserve at Oak Meadows head golf professional Jamie Nieto on both the new job, and his recent engagement to Lauren Bernacki.

EQUIPMENT NOTE, It’s been a nice recent run for Srixon with several tournament wins, including a sweep on the men’s tours a week back. J.B. Holmes on the PGA Tour at Riveria, Ryan Fox on the European Tour in Australia, Miguel Angel-Jimenez in Naples on the Champions Tour, and Martin Trainer this past weekend in Puerto Rico opposite the WBC Mexico event.

IT WAS NICE TO SEE former Bears Kicker Robbie Gould having a booth at the golf show, show-goers lined up wishing him well and begging him to comeback to the Bears. Gould has his own golf company these days, and I’ll have story with him soon on his company Eventlify. See more now at eventlify.com.

FINALLY how about the shout-out to IPGA professional of the year, Chris Gumbach of the River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst, by Blackhawks TV-Play-by-Play guy Pat Foley during the Blackhawks-Colorado Avalanche game. “Gumby” got quite the recognition from Foley who also wished Gumbach good luck on turning his student Patrick Kane into a 3-handicap someday. Foley said if that happens, Gumbach should win teacher of the year in the IPGA Section.

The Gog Blog will return tomorrow. RS

TWO GREAT INDOOR GOLF FACILITIES that allow you to play golf all year long, even here in Chicago. The Mistwood Golf Dome located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook, and the Schaumburg Golf Club on Roselle Road in Schaumburg. Test out the Mistwood Golf Dome, get a round in on the simulators in Schaumburg. Call Mistwood (630)-739-7600 and call Schaumburg Golf Club at (847)-885-9000. Get your game ready for summer.     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. Back in a Flash, with the Callaway Epic Flash, in the Mistwood Golf Dome.

YES THIS IS THE LATE EDITION, busy weekend with the golf show that flew by in a flash, and our local sports teams. The Gog Blog Speaks Out returns tomorrow, with more thoughts on Chicago’s only golf show.

For our news column, we start with the Fighting Illini men’s golf team in the hunt in Louisiana in the final round of the Louisiana Classic tournament in Lafayette LA. In windy conditions the Illini sit in third place as a team, but Fr. Tommy Kuhl is playing as a individual and leads the tournament, but his score does not count for the team score in the championship. Tough break for the Illini. Full wrap up tomorrow here on the site.

THE FLOWER HOLE at Sentry World in Stevens Point Wis. Home of the 2019 USGA Junior Girls Championship.

SentryWorld in Stevens Point Wisconsin, has announced that the course will open for the season on Friday May 3rd weather permitting.

SentryWorld will also hold two Callaway golf equipment demo days, coming up on Saturday March 30th from 10 Am until 2 Pm, and on Wednesday June 5th from 4-7 Pm. Come check out the full line of Callaway Clubs including the new Epic Flash Driver and Fairway Metals.

The USGA comes to town with the 2019 U.S. Junior Girls Championship from July 22-27, volunteers are needed. For tee times and more see Sentryworld.com.

DuPage Golf has three golf courses, the Preserve at oak Meadows, Maple Meadows and Green Meadows, see Dupagegolf.com

Golf season is right around the corner at DuPage Golf, and the three DuPage Forest Preserve District Golf Courses.

There are still some limited spaces for permanent tee times at both courses The Preserve and Maple Meadows.

This year there is a new perk for permanent tee time holders. Come out during the week, Mon-Thurs, and you and your foursome receive a discount on that days green fees. See all the details at DuPagegolf.com.

Topgolf opens in Myrtle Beach South Carolina

This past Friday Myrtle Beach opened it’s doors the new Topgolf. The three level 53,000 square foot venue, and the companies 53rd location in the world.

Schaumburg Illinois will open in late summer 2019.

“We are thrilled to finally open the door to South Carolina’s first Topgolf venue,” said Topgolf Myrtle Beach Director of Operations Jeff Kowalski. “Topgolf is everyone’s game and we are looking forward to serving the best possible experience for our Topgolf guests. The new location is 2850 Robert M. Grissom Parkway, and over 350 associates have been hired for the new location. More details at topgolf.com.

Click here to hear our interview with Top Golf Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Andrew McCauley, on Topgolf, the new Schaumburg Topgolf location, and Toptracer range technology, now in place at the Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook.

TOPGOLF is now hiring in Greenville S.C. for another new location that will open later this spring, some 350 jobs are available. See Topgolf.com

MORE ON MYRTLE BEACH…

The 9th hole at Tidewater Golf Club in Myrtle Beach SC.

When one talks about the best golf courses in the Myrtle Beach, which name keeps coming up.

That would be Tidewater Golf Club that has repeatedly ended up on or near the top of every credible list of top Myrtle Beach Golf Courses.

The Tidewater Golf Course has several stunning holes, with great views along holes 3,4,12, and 13.

In 2014 Tidewater underwent a renovation of it’s greens that have left the course in outstanding condition. For more details on how to golf one of the top courses in Myrtle Beach see Tidewatergolf.com.

MORE MYRTLE BEACH PART 2…MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com has unveiled a new package-The Founders Group-All Inclusive. This package allows golfers to pick from 22 of the Myrtle Beach area golf courses, including the Grand Dunes Golf Resort (as featured by Golfers on Golf.com last month) TPC Myrtle Beach, and Kings North at MB National. The package includes range balls, lunch and 2 draft beers per day. For a full list of courses, see the website listed above or call (866)-694-2448.

THE NEW AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN”S AMATEUR that will be contested for the first time April 3-6, has invited to it’s field Tristyn Nowlin from the U of ILL (second place at last summers WWGA Women’s Amateur and the Illinois Women’s Open both played at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeville), and Stephanie Lau from the University of Northwestern’s Women’s Golf Team.

The field of 72 of the top women’s players from around the world will compete in the 36 hole event of stroke play, with the first 36 holes coming at the Island and Bluff nines at the Championship Retreat Golf Club in Augusta on April 3-4. The low 30 players will advance to a practice round on April 5th at Augusta National Golf Club, with the final round being played on the Masters Tournament course ANGC on Saturday April 6th, with NBC Sports showing three hours of Live final round coverage from 3-6 PM EST.

The champion if she remains an amateur gets a five year exemption back into the field, and exemption into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open, the Women’s British Open and a 1-year exemption into any USGA, R&A, and PGA of America amateur championships.

A WELL DONE to one of our fellow golf media brothers. AP’s Doug Ferguson (55) becomes the third AP golf writer to be awarded the 2019 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism. Ferguson the 30th winner of the award will be honored at the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) dinner in Augusta GA. on April 11th.

The US Open trophy on the 15th hole at Erin Hills, host of the 2017 US Open.

ERIN HILLS that hosted the 2017 U.S. Open, and two other previous USGA Championships has announced new for 2019 an extended putting green just off to the right of the courses first tee.

The large putting green can be seen on the Erin Hills website in a animation view.

Once finished an opened for play at a date to be named yet this summer, Erin Hills will add lights so the contests and the games and bets can go on all night night long. Check out Erinhills.com for rates and special dates for the summer ahead.

JOIN BRIAN MCCASKEY and Liberty Auto Center Care for a fundraiser supporting Brain Cancer and the Ross K.MacNeill at Knollwood Golf Club in Lake Forest, on March 8th, from 7 to 11 PM.

CHAD JOHANSEN’S BLACKBERRY OAKS, is gearing up for a busy summer starting on April 14th with the BBO 4-man scramble. Sign up is underway for the Blackberry Oaks Amateur coming in June. Visit Blackberryoaks.com for details.

CHAMBERS BAY home of the 2015 U.S. Open will reopen in April after a renovation of the greens and other parts of the golf course, for tee times see Chambersbyagolf.com.

WHITTAKER WOODS Exit 1 in Michigan, is in the running to win a contest sponsored by the newspaper the Times of Northwest Indiana. If Your love WW, place a vote for them on the contest website.

THE GOG BLOG RETURNS TOMORROW-RS.

 THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB on Roselle Road in Schaumburg, has year round golf waiting for you. Enjoy the simulator bays in the clubhouse at get a shot at TPC Sawgrass before the pro’s do this year at the Players Championship next month. The Schaumbug Golf Club will be opening the Baer Nine this summer from renovation so be ready for opening day. Call (847)-885-9000 or see schaumburggolf.com for tee times.     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Linkedin or Facebook. With the Ryder Cup.

When the Ryder Cup Matches tee off in September of 2020. Team USA will have Wisconsin native Steve Stricker at the helm.

Stricker has won both on the PGA Tour, and the PGA Champions Tour, and been part of a winning Ryder Cup team in 2008 at Valhalla, will have his team ready to go in his home state.

The reaction to Stricker has been a positive one from PGA President Suzy Whaley and Kohler Company President David Kohler. Kohler Company owns the American Club resort and venue Whistling Straits, designed by Pete Dye.

Click here to hear interviews with Suzy Whaley President of the PGA of America, and David Kohler CEO of Kohler Company.

PGA President Suzy Whaley, with Team USA Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker, with the Ryder Cup at Fiserv Arena in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

For Team Europe, Irishman and three-time major champion winner Padraig Harrington was selected captain of Team Europe in January.

One of Stricker’s first moves as captain was to appoint 2018 Team USA captain Jim Furyk as one of his vice-captains.

The first event for players to earn 2020 Ryder Cup points was this past weekend at the WGC Championship that was played in Mexico and won by Dustin Johnson. Rory McIlroy who plays great at Whistling Straits and is expected to lead Team Europe in 2020, was second behind Johnson.

For more information on Ryder Cup point standings, tickets, applying to work as a volunteer, please visit Rydercup.com.

 GREENER DAYS ARE COMING are you ready. The Schaumburg Golf Club at 401 N. Roselle Road, can have you ready for the summer season ahead. Come and play the clubs simulators on the lower level of the clubhouse and enjoy food and beverage from Chandlers Chophouse while you do. Call (847)-885-9000 and book your tee time today.  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. On the 18th at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort. Home of the Sr. LPGA Championship.

THE ONLY REMAINING GOLF SHOW in town is here. It starts today at the Donald Stephens Convention Center on River Road in Rosemont.

THE DOORS WILL OPEN AT 12 NOON.

The Show runs through Sunday, check out Chicagogolfshow.com for the shows hours.

The French Lick Resort is the title sponsor and is giving away via a drawing, the chance to win a free weekend with golf that is valued at over $3,000. Frenchlick.com.

GolfVisions is giving away FREE golf again this year, come pick up a free round. You can win other prizes that will come in handy during the season ahead.

Former Bears Kicker Robbie Gould is on the main stage Saturday and Sunday at 10 AM, come watch him hit straight shots between the uprights. The Illinois PGA will be giving free lessons and there are clubs from Wilson, Tour Edge and Callaway that you can test out. The destination golf properties will be there, and can get you set up for a spring, summer, fall or maybe even next winter’s getaway.

  THE FRENCH LICK RESORT is the Title Sponsor. While at the show visit the Mistwood Golf Dome and Mistwood Golf Club booth.

  Erin Hills has a booth at the show, stop by and learn about the new large putting green by the first tee. Publisher Val Russell invites you to pickup a copy of Chicagoland Golf at the GC booth.

The Illinois PGA will giving free golf lessons.

The tournaments that are coming to town with have booths, like the BMW Championship that will be played at Medinah Country Club in August. You can win free tickets for the final round on Sunday.

Certain properties will have their own prize giveaways. There is no other show in town this year, if you love golf this is the place to be over the next three days. Trick shot artist Peter Longo is performing every day at the show.

Parking is right across the street in the parking garage, and you can take the access bridge that is heated right to the show’s entrance.

Don’t forget, the long putt contest is back, and you can when prizes by making the putt. Chicagogolfshow.com for more details. I’ll see you at the show.

 THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB Located at 401 N. Roselle Road is now a year round golf facility, with the addition of it’s simulator bays on the lower level of the main clubhouse. Come play TPC Sawgrass home of the Players Championship before the pro’s do on tour next month. Opening day at the Schaumburg Golf Club is just a little more than six weeks away, be ready for the golf season ahead. Call (847)-885-9000.      ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. On the National Course at Reynolds at Lake Oconee, Greensboro GA.

We’ve heard the phrase before, ahead of it’s time, or a person who is called a visionary.

In the case of the Tobacco Road golf course in Sanford North Carolina, and designer Mike Strantz both phrases are true.

If you haven’t taken a trip to the Pinehurst area, you need to. While the golf in Pinehurst and Southern Pines area is really good. Do save one day for a little side trip about 30 minutes out of town from Pinehurst to Sanford. It’s worth it.

If you have ever heard someone talk about Tobacco Road, odds are they tell you it’s a golf course that falls into the love it or hate it category. When the course first opened in 1998 the style was different than what many golfers were used to, there was blind shots and a few greens with unique undulations in them. People really had to wonder what Strantz was thinking.

Welcome to the opening tee shot at Tobacco Road, oh the mounds, well the extra dirt had to go somewhere.

Some of those golfers today are probably still wondering if they never went back, and gave the course a second chance.

But if you travel around the country to play golf, and you have played places that were built after Tobacco Road, like Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley and or Streamsong to name a few, Tobacco Road won’t seem so different.

If Strantz who cut his teeth in the golf design business under Tom Fazio, before taking a look at the works and books of Alister MacKenzie, had built Tobacco Road for a facility under the eye of say Mike Keiser, it would have had instead credibility.

“I don’t care if people think my courses are too hard,”-Mike Strantz named the Golf World 1998 Golf Course Architect of the year.

 The Clubhouse at Tobacco Road gives the feeling up being a slightly upgraded log cabin. (R) the par 3, third hole that plays 152 yards from the tips.

Strantz design of Tobacco Road isn’t really hard, but it’s challenging. The yardage runs from 6,557 all the way back, to 4,296 from the front tees. There are five sets of tee’s, all come from the theme of the tobacco farm the golf course was built on.

Strantz did a nice job of working the elevation change into the holes on the golf, like on the par 5, 18th hole.

There is more elevation change than one might think they would find on a farm. Strantz takes advantage of that through out his design.

He even incorporates the tools of the day from the farm, in the design as his tee markers.

The Ripper iron is the front marker, with the Disc one set of tee’s back. Followed by the Plow, then the Points, and the Cultivator disc is all the way back.

While the course has it’s fair share of sand, there are no bunkers on the course. In all sandy area’s you may ground your club, smooth your lie, and remove any stones or foreign objects that might impede your swing. You just can’t improve your position.

While it took some 17 years, the course broke through with several national awards from various national golf publications in 2015.

The par 5, 13th hole often leads to a tucked pin, that is partially hidden from approaching golfers.

More good news for golfers is that there is no Out-of-Bounds on the golf course, and water rarely shows up at all.

So if your golf travels take you to North Carolina, in the Pinehurst area, who not take a side-trip to Tobacco Road. It’s destination golf, from before many of our current day new destination golf facilities were even built.

Longtime Director of Golf Operations Chris Brown knows the golf course inside and out, and be a wealth of knowledge if you seek him out before you hit your first tee shot. Tobacco Road is located at 442 Tobacco Road in Sanford NC. call and make tee times at (877)-775-1940 or visit online Tobaccoroadgolf.com.

 THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is now open daily until 10 PM. Come check out Toptracer and see what all the excitement is about. Then you need to enjoy McWethy’s Sportsbar, see mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600 THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is now year round golf with the simulator bays full of Top 100 Golf Courses, and Ryder Cup venues like Whistling Straits home of the 2020 Ryder Cup. See Schaumburggolf.com or call for your tee time at (847)-885-9000. #SGC ____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. With the Ryder Cup.

TEAM USA GOT IT’S MAN. If anyone can win in Wisconsin, it’s Steve Stricker. He is now the 29th man to captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Stricker who wears Wisconsin on his sleeve, knows the badger state inside and out. He now has the job of getting the Ryder Cup back to the USA, and getting it away from those pesky team Europe types. The team collide in Haven/Kohler Wiscosnin September 22-27 in 2020, on the Whistling Straits golf links.

Stricker played in his first Ryder Cup in 2008 at Valhalla, a rare win in recent by the Team USA. But was part of losing teams in 2010 and at Medinah in 2012. Stricker served as a vice-captain on the winning 2016 team at Hazeltine. Stricker played on five President’s Cup teams, and was the winning captain in 2017. Team Europe appointed Padraig Harrington from Ireland as it’s captain in January.

2020 Team USA Captain Steve Stricker, with PGA of America President Suzy Whaley and the Ryder Cup at Fiserv Arena  in Milwaukee.

Stricker in route back from a golf event to the hotel with his brother-in-law in the desert, get s a call from Whaley with the news in December. Then he has to keep the secret for over two months, that in the end isn’t much of a secret at all.

Stricker (51) wasted no time in announcing Jim Furyk as a vice-captain for his team. Furyk was the losing Ryder Cup captain this past year in Paris.

Works starts immediately for Stricker since players can earn Ryder Cup points this week at the WGC-Event in Mexico. The first eight players will be selected on their points, and be announced after the 2020 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields. The final four players will be captains picks that will be announced after the conclusion of the Tour Championship on Tuesday September 1st.

Click here to hear the post press conference media session with Steve Stricker 2020 Team USA Ryder Cup Captain.

For more information on the Ryder Cup and to follow the points race please visit RyderCup.com or on social media channels.

 THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is now a year round facility. The clubs simulators allow golfers to golf in comfort and enjoy Top 100 courses and Ryder Cup venues. Call the Schaumburg Golf Club at (847)-885-9000 to book your tee time. THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME is a top 100 club fitting location in the nation, and now the only dome home to Toptracer. Come see what all the excitement is about, and while there enjoy the food and drink in McWethy’s Sports Bar. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or (630)-739-7600. _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. At the National Golf Course at Reynolds of Lake Oconee in Greensboro GA.

At ONE POINT in time, it was all about running, jogging, working out, prepping for marathons, and other forms of distance running.

But some six years back, New Balance athletic shoes decide to go in a different direction. Instead of down the paths, and the streets, it’s time to go down the fairways of golf courses everywhere.

Distance running can be compared to distance walking, when one walks the fairways carrying a bag, or walking with a caddie.

But then one thing is for sure. New Balance is bringing a new level of comfort, support and soothing fit to a stroll on the links. New Balance has brought over some of it’s technologies used on running shoes, baseball or footballs shoes, to create a better golf shoe.

The new New Balance Striker Line of shoes.

This year the main addition to the New Balance golf shoe line is the Striker Line (MSRP $119.95) that comes complete with the new insert of what’s called CUSH+.

CUSH+ is an insole foam compound, that creates a level of comfort with 7-8 millimeters of cushioning. CUSH+ not only gives your feet something that is comfortable, but the support needed in places that wear quickly on the traditional golf shoe.

Click here to hear the interview with Perry Reynolds, Product Manager for New Balance Golf Shoes,on the additions to the New Balance line of golf shoes for 2019.

While there is more than one line of New Balance golf shoes, 2019 features the newly commissioned Striker Line. Striker is a microfiber leather upper with ultralight FantomFit support. The spikes are a 7 Champ Slim-Lok pattern, Zarma Tour Cleat System. The CUSH+ insole for complete comfort. It has a 2 year waterproof warranty, and weighs only 12.4 oz.

Color patters include White/Grey, a Grey/Blue or the Black/Red. All of the Striker Line is now available where you shop for shoes. For more information on Striker, or the NB Tour or Minimus Tour lines from New Balance please visit Newbalance.com.

New Balance lines of golf shoes are now complete with both spikes and spike-less models of golf shoes.