THE TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW IS BACK IN 2020, with return dates of Feb. 7-8-9. Doors open at Noon on Friday with a $5.00 dollar admission. Weekend days are $10.00 so order tickets now at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net, see the equipment companies, enjoy contests, win prizes and more. THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME is ready for you to bring your game indoors for the remainder of the winter season. Enjoy Toptracer and McWethy’s Sportsbar while your there hitting balls, or watching the big game on Sunday. Mistwood golf Dome is on Rt.53 in Bolingbrook call (630)-739-7600 for details.  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and or Linkedin and Facebook. With Jim Richerson of Troon Golf and VP of the PGA of America.

IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to catch up with the big bosses of the golf world.

At the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Golfers on Golf had a chance to speak with PGA of America Vice President Jim Richerson.

Richerson the former director of golf at Destination Kohler in Wisconsin, talks about the PGA of America in a Ryder Cup year, going back to his old stomping grounds in Kohler Wisconsin.

Richerson will assume the role of PGA of America President later this year, after the Ryder Cup is over, at the PGA’s annual meetings.

Click here to hear the interview with PGA of America Vice President Jim Richerson.

Richerson speaks on some of the plans for tournaments at the new PGA of America headquarters, now under construction in Frisco Texas, the PGA Show and more. Plus if you need help with your golf game, go see a PGA of America golf professional, it will only your fun and enjoy in the game of golf.

THE GOG BLOG-by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and LinkedIn or Facebook and Instagram. The Tinley Park Golf Show Feb.7-8-9. Doors open at Noon on the 7th. Buy tickets now online at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net. $5.00 on Friday, $10.00 on the weekend.

THE PODCAST of the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

The review by the Hall of Famer Len Ziehm, of Len Ziehm on Golf, and Rory Spears of Golfers on Golf.

Live or maybe a Memorex recording, from the Len Ziehm recording studio’s in beautiful Port St. Lucie Florida.

Len and Rory both attended the 2020 PGA Show last week in Orlando. Both were at the cold and windy demo day on the driving range at the Orange County Golf Center. Then both spent two full days walking the Orange County Convention Center floor checking out all the golf products.

Who had a great show, who didn’t. What did Len and Rory find that got their interest.

What was amazing is how the show keeps growing. It was just a few years ago the show hit 40,000 badges extended to show-goers. This year a record breaking 43,800+ attendees has badges to attend the show.

Click here to here the Podcast of Rory Spears and Len Ziehm recap the biggest show in golf. “A golf business major.”

THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME on Rt.53 in Bolingbrook, is your winter home for golf in Chicago. Checkout both Toptracer and McWethy’s Sports Bar a place for great food and beverage, and to watch all the sports action. See Mistwoodgolfdome.com, get your game tuned up by the Mistwood professional staff while your there.

RORY and LEN enjoy some Pinehurst Brewery “Lateral Hazard Brew” made in Pinehurst, while recording the podcast in PGA Village. Try some, there is NO Penalty.

THE TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW returns in 2020, Feb. 7-8-9, with the doors opening at Noon on the 7th, Friday admission is $5.00, $10.00 on the weekend. You can buy tickets now at Tinleyparkconventionccenter.net. Contests, prizes and chance to win $500.00 for a closest to the pin shot.

THE GOG BLOG-BY RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and or LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram @Rorygolf18

REPORTING FROM-Palm Harbor Florida and the Innisbrook Resort, home of the Copperhead Golf Course and the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour, March 16-23.

IT’S THE TREND in destination properties, keep up or get left behind. Golf Course renovations, practice area improvements, spa additions or improvements, casino or sports book gaming. Improved rooms and common area’s, more places to enjoy food and beverage. A new bar or a brew pub.

In recent years the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor Florida has been making upgrades across the board.

Managing Director Mike Williams with the support of owner Sheila Johnson, President of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, have been making upgrades across the board at Innisbrook. If you need a getaway, love golf or tennis, are due for some spa time, or need the perfect location to conduct business in a small scale, or larger conference format, Innisbrook is the place for you.

Welcome to Innisbrook, part of the Salamander Hotel and Resort chain. Innisbrookgolfresort.com

The resorts premier golf course, Copperhead, home of the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour has recently undergone renovations that has the tour and professionals buzzing.

It started with a bunker renovation and the popular white tour edge sand being added.

Then a re-grassing of the greens, and improvements on the tee’s and to the tree’s that saw trimming and removal to open up site lines, and to give golfers more playability to shape their shots around the golf course. Then the greens were redone on the resorts North and South golf course, where golfers are enjoying some true rolls on their putts well struck.

All the rooms have been newly renovated.

Improvements have not stopped at just golf courses, a major room renovation has left the guests buzzing on the new look. With the resorts decor and aging charm fading, Innisbrook has put on a new face that everyone will enjoy.

The room improvements include, new colorful carpeting, fully upgraded furniture and beds. Lighting with style and kitchens that sparkle with stainless steel products.

A newly remodeled kitchen in the Innisbrook rooms.

If you want to watch a show or the big game in your room, you can now watch it on brand new big screen televisions. Gone are the days of small televisions in the living room or bedrooms.

The bathrooms, have all new sinks, toilets, showers and bathtubs. All the showers and bathtubs have your robe waiting for you when you done.

The full size walk-in closets give you enough room to store everything you brought along during your stay.

THE MASTER BEDROOM and the newly remodeled bathrooms, are part of the room renovations at Innisbrook.

Click here to hear the interviews with Innisbrook Managing Director Mike Williams and Director of Golf Bobby Barnes.

Bobby Barnes Director of Golf (L), and Mike Williams Managing Director (R), have Innisbrook moving forward.

No destination resort property is complete without a restaurant of fine dining. Packard’s Steakhouse in the Copperhead Clubhouse gives guests just that.

In addition to a juicy steak that hits the spot after a day on the golf course, Packards (named after Larry Packard the designer of all four Innisbrook golf courses) has a full menu that includes seafood, soups and salads, and a full bar with an extensive wine menu.

Group seating is always available at Packard’s.

While Innisbrook has been the home to business conferences for years, the newly redone conference and banquet area’s are ready for your next big meeting or special event. Hospitality and fun make up Innisbrook Resort, just minutes North of Tampa Florida.

If your looking to improve your golf game, the golf professional staff offers daily clinics, lessons and golf schools for groups. Play golf where the PGA Tour professionals play, tee it up on Copperhead at Innisbrook.

So why not enjoy both business and fun in sunny Florida at Innisbrook Resort, if you haven’t had a recent visit to Innisbrook, it’s time to return and enjoy all the new upgrades. See Innisbrookgolfresort.com or call (888)-794-8627.

DON’T FORGET to get your game tuned up before your trip to Innisbrook, in the Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt.53 in Bolingbrook, home of Toptracer and McWethy’s Sportbar. See Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600.

TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW-FEB 7-8-9. Doors open at Noon on the 7th, Friday admission is just $5.00, $10.00 on the weekend. Prizes, contests and more. Buy tickets at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net.

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS.

REPORTING FROM INNISBROOK RESORT in Palm Harbor Florida.

IT WAS QUITE a week in Orlando at the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. There was plenty to see, and even more to do. But when it all wrapped up, there were some winners and losers. Regardless, the 2020 golf season is in full swing, now the weather just needs to keep improving.

WINNERS, the following products really were show stoppers, and get the gold medal for launching a new golf product or products.

ON THE equipment side the winners are, Tour Edge Golf from Batavia Illinois. The little golf company from Batavia isn’t so little anymore. Owner and President David Glod, back-stopped by marketing wiz Jon Claffey started the week by putting on one of the best events of the week.

The Tour Edge Golf Monday outing at Lake Nona, has become a must invite especially for golf media types. It’s a great way to start show week, and in addition to Tour Edge, several other companies partner with Tour Edge, trying to get their product, usually a newer product, on the map with the help of attending media. While most of the other companies that were there have good products, it was the beginning of a week where Tour Edge seemed to have a presence just about everywhere. Tour Edge’s slogan of “Pound for Pound nothing else compares” is packing some punch, and it’s a punch that is landing.

YOU COULD TELL it’s a Ryder Cup year. The Ryder Cup coming to Whistling Straits, part of Destination Kohler this September. Golfers on Golf show host and Director of Content Rory Spears, in the Ryder Cup booth. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

I SPENT YESTERDAY testing out my Exotic 220 3-Wood, on the Innisbrook double-sided practice range, and was just crushing it. It has a great feel and really launches the golf ball. Innisbrook PR Director Ramona Herald had the same success, when trying out the club. Tour Edge products do work well for the ladies.

Golfers are taking notice of Tour Edge, and they should be. The Tour Edge supporters include several members of the PGA Champions Tour who are winning with Tour Edge products and appear in the commercials that will run during 2020. The feeling that Tour Edge produced this past week, is that they took a step up in the equipment world, and I agree in full that they did just that.

CALLAWAY GOLF, the new Mavrik driver and Mavrik club line of fairway woods, hybrids, and irons, offer options that fit a variety of players. Based on the traffic in the Callaway booth, and amount of pro’s meeting with the Callaway sales team, the wave of growth Callaway has had under the Rogue Line, and Epic Flash, will continue under Mavrik and the new line of Jaws wedges. See the full product line at the Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook, home of Toptracer and McWethy’s Sportsbar. (630)-739-7600. Tune up your game all winter long in the Mistwood Golf Dome.

TITLEIST had some buzz around it’s new line of Bob Vokey wedges the SM8’s. They are solid, and I’ll have a feature with the wizard of wedges himself in the days ahead. The big upgrade on the Titleist ball front is it’s AVX ball, I’ll test the ones I got before heading back north next weekend, and report back.

CBD or CB5 was one of the big movers at the show, folks selling this stuff and strains like the cannon beach cookies strain are popping up everywhere, almost like weeds in a garden. It’s so popular, I had no idea! Everyone was using it. Next time I think I’ll get in on the action too. The tour players are using it, and pro shops have it on display, and I hear it’s selling well. Some even visit this website to top up their supply. I’ll check out the samples that I have from the show at the moment just to see how well they work. For now, I think I’ll do some research into CBD and the various products that can be found using many sites online similar to buymellow.com/ and others that can offer various CBD derived products. The products normally found on display in the pro shops are normally oils and tinctures as they seem to be the most common items bought, however, I know CBD is a compound found within cannabis, therefore, I might look at these high cbd strains in Canada to see how similar products are benefitting consumers. I’ll then take to testing some of the samples of various CBD products I have.

BEEF JERKY had a strong presence at the show in more than one booth, including the First Tee energy bar booth, where piles of jerky were getting taste tested. The First Tee Bar, now comes in the form of beef jerky. A market that’s also expanding quickly due to good taste and a low sugar content in the product. Golfers who need a snack during the round, are warming up to beef jerky.

Susan Hess, owner of the Prospect Heights IL. based Golftini, golf apparel for the ladies.

LADIES CLOTHING, if your from Illinois and want to support a local company, then try Golftini owned by Susan Hess, who spent last year moving her operation from New Jersey to Prospect Heights. Golftini is a colorful line of women’s apparel, that has on the course and off the course options. I’ll have a feature with Hess in the days ahead. So stay clicked in to learn more about Golftini.

WHERE THE SHOW DID NOT GO AS PLANNED, those companies at demo day who were on the wrong side of the Orange County Golf Center’s driving range. With cold temperatures and a strong wind, those who visited Wilson Golf got a face full of cold air.

The Wilson Golf product line is as strong as it’s been in years, especially with their irons, and the improved DUO golf ball that has some distance to it. Hopefully next year it’s much warmer at demo day, or the folks at Wilson get a tail wind to show off their clubs. I took the Wilson distance challenge, three swings with a Pro V1x vs three swings with a DUO golf ball into a net, with distance stats recorded. The DUO’s I hit beat Pro V1x by 1.6 yards.

TAYLOR MADE did not show up again this year. Some TaylorMade staff professionals I met weren’t happy. Is this business decision a smart one, good question and time will tell. But in the meantime, show going TaylorMade fans were spending their time checking out Callaway, Titleist, Ping, Bridgestone, Tour Edge and Wilson.

IN THE MEANTIME I’ve moved over to the Tampa area to spend a few days at the Innisbrook Resort, home the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, that starts on March 16th. I played Copperhead yesterday and the golf course is in great shape, the tour pro’s will be thrilled when they arrive in 7 weeks or so. The bunkers are so good, even I had four great greenside bunker shots, that let me get up and down for pars. I’m not sure what version of the white sand they put in Copperhead’s bunkers 3 years ago, but I’d like to see more of it at other courses I play at.

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, home of the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, and a recent major rooms renovation, that has Innisbrook with a fresh new look. Golf, Tennis and business, see Innisbrookgolfresort.com

Better yet are the Innisbrook room renovations. What an incredible job has been done by GM Mike Williams and ownership. The previous decor was showing it’s age, and the charm was wearing off. The new look to the rooms is really good. Kitchens with new stainless products, and counter tops. Nice comfortable and colorful living room furniture, with big screen TV’s in the living room and the bedrooms are a delight. Colorful Florida style carpeting plus redone and re-tiled bathrooms are really stylish. Your robe awaits at the showers and the bath tubs.

So whether it’s golf you enjoy, relaxation time in the Salamander Spa, tennis, or need business conference space, Innisbrook is a great place to go. Plus while your here, don’t forget to eat at Packard’s Steakhouse (named for the late golf architect Larry Packard who designed Innisbrook’s four golf courses) in the Copperhead Clubhouse. More than just the steaks, are really good.

FROM INNISBROOK, our travels will hit Port St. Lucie and a visit with BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm, our PGA Show review podcast will post later in the week. Plus Lenziehmongolf.com has just posted a recap of some Florida LPGA Golf. Stay clicked in. RS

   THE TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW is BACK in 2020, with the doors opening on Friday Feb. 7th at Noon, the show runs through Sunday the 9th. Come see equipment companies like Batavia based Tour Edge Golf, enter the contests and compete for prizes. Admission $5 dollars on Friday $10 on the weekends. You can purchase your tickets today by visiting Tinleyparkconventionccenter.net. Meet the golf courses. #golf     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, LinkedIn or Facebook and Instagram. Reporting from Palm Harbor Florida, and from the Innisbrook Golf Resort, home of the Copperhead Golf Course.

Callaway wedge designer Roger Cleveland poses with his new Jaws line of wedges at the PGA Show.

SOMEWHERE you can just hear the music, it’s getting faster and it’s getting louder.

But the music that Callaway’s new line of wedges is playing, will be music to the ears of golfers, who need approach shots to check up by the flagstick, or to release from bunkers around the green.

Roger Cleveland the Callaway wedge designer has not rested on his laurels from the PM-4’s or Mack Daddy designed wedges, that came out with rave reviews just over a year ago.

The new Jaws wedges are little more sleeker than previous Callaway wedges.

The Jaws wedges have a different weight dispersion pattern than in Callaway’s previous models.

Jaws wedges a slimmer and sleeker, while cutting through sand and rough like a knife and without issues.

The cutting and milling process is more refined on golf clubs than it ever was, and that does not just apply to drivers and putters. You can figure in the irons and wedges as well.

Click here to hear the interview with Callaway wedge designer Roger Cleveland.

You can now order the Jaws wedges through Callaway.com or through your local pro shop or golf retail store. Learn more about Jaws wedges by visiting Callawaygolf.com.

THE TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW RETURNS IN 2020, Feb. 7-8-9 with the door opening at Noon on Friday the 7th, when admission is only $5.00. Admission is $10.00 on the weekends. Prizes, contests and more. You can order tickets for the show today at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net. THE AWARD WINNING MISTWOOD GOLF DOME was honored again at this weeks PGA Show in Orlando by the GRAA. Mistwood is the home of both Toptracer and McWethy’s Sports Bar, the best food and beverage operation at any dome in town. Located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. Call (630)-739-7600. _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and or LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. The Gog Blog is still reporting from Orlando Florida. But moves the operation to Innisbrook resort near Tampa tomorrow.

EDITORS NOTE: CBD and CB5 are wellness products that are really starting to sweep the nation. The products had a strong presence at this year’s PGA Show. I have not yet tried CBD or CB5, but have several samples from the show and will check them out in the days and weeks ahead. Should they be of some benefit to me, I might then start to look into websites such as https://cannaunion.com/product-category/cbd-vaping/ that can enable me to research further into CBD and the various products available in today’s market. RS

RICK WEISSMAN is the co-founder of High Falls Hemp from High Falls NY.

WHAT IS CBD? – It’s a craze that is working its way through golf and other sports.

It’s a way to feel better. It comes from cannabis and can get rid of the aches and pains, inflammation or joints and other issues that your body deals with on any given day.

Since the legalization of CBD, medical cannabis and recreational cannabis, there have been many startups who sell cbd and cannabis products, many of whom will have used this marketing guide for cannabis to help to get them started. One of those companies is High Falls Hemp; a company that is not just the middle man, offering to sell you products. High Falls Hemp located in the Hudson Valley of New York, grows their own Hemp and sells directly to you.

Click here to here the interview with High Falls Hemp Co-Founder and CEO Rick Weissman.

Weissman gave up Wall Street and along with his wife Tricia who serves as the companies COO, they manage 13 acres of Hemp farms spread out through four locations.

What is CBD take a look on how and where it can help you.

CBD is coming out various forms, so when you ask the question, do I drink it, take it like pill, or rub it on, the answer is really “D”, all of the above. It all depends on how you want to consume/use it. Something that is gaining prevalence in the CBD industry is water-soluble CBD. Choosing CBD that’s made to dissolve in water from sites like https://trycaliper.com/blog/water-soluble-cbd/ gives you lots of options in taking it, and it may even ensure that your body absorbs it better. This is because the oil most people commonly use doesn’t mix well with the water that makes up most of our body, which means only as little as 6% of CBD can be absorbed! This is part of the reason why people are looking at alternative ways of taking CBD to oil. For those who want to ease into it, they can look at products such as CBD gummies from EDO CBD as a starting point, then work their way through other ways that may appeal.

The Tincture style is squirted under your tongue, some times in flavors to help cover up something that overall is not known to “taste great”, it might not be “less filling” either.

But the option is there to rub the product on, like you would deodorant, in areas you have experienced pain before, or are experiencing from a round of golf, or even during a round of golf. CDB products are known to work quickly and in only 5 minutes.

The High Falls Hemp CBD products and information.

It has apparently become a crazy on the PGA Tour, and the PGA Champions Tour.

What’s making the rounds is a video of Phil Mickelson on You-Tube titled Masters 2019, where Phil squirts something in his mouth between holes. What this is, is believed to be a CBD product.

Bubba Watson is among players who have endorsement deals with a CBD company. If your looking to learn more about CBD, and your tired of taking Advils, and Aleve’s. CBD could be an option for you.

To learn more about Hemp and CBD, you should visit Highfallshempny.com The website does a great job of explaining what you should know about CBD products, before and after you use them. Hopefully this product helps you enjoy and play the game of golf even more.

THE TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW returns on Feb. 7th and runs through Sunday the 9th. Buy tickets now at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net Friday Admission is just $5.00, and $10.00 on the weekends, games, prizes and more. See the new clubs and visit with the golf courses.

THE GOG BLOG-By Rory Spears, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and FBook

BILL SCHMEDES III has created a new training iron that should help your game.

You might not know Bill Schmedes III around the country, but golfers sure do in the State of New Jersey.

Schmedes III has been rated one of the best new teachers in America by Golf Digest (2016-2019).

Schmedes III teaches at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township NJ., and Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains NJ.

“I am pleased to introduce the Impact Press training iron to the large audience of PGA professionals and instructors at the PGA Show,” said Schmedes III, inventor and owner of the Impact press training iron. “The Impact Press training iron will help golfers of all ages and abilities, not only to improve their impact position but more importantly improve key components prior to impact. The result provides golfers with improved contact, better ball control and a tour caliber impact position.

The Impact Press Iron will retail for $99.00

Click here to hear the interview with Bill Schmedes III on the new Impact Press training iron.

Schmedes III has a long list of awards from various publications and golf organizations for his teaching abilities.

The Impact Press training Iron. With the color bars shown.

The Impact Press Iron has two indicators, a red indicator built into the Hosel of the club, and a green indicator across the top of the club above the clubface. By using the two colors to align your grip and stance, golfers will have a better impact at contact during their swing. This system gets the hands pushing forward at impact.

What that brings to a golfers swing is an improved low point of your swing, improved loft at impact, improved contact, which leads to better ball control of your shot.

Schmedes created the club while working on the practice tee with one of his students, then he hand built the first club and immediately saw the improvement the club was expected to deliver. At that point Schmedes decided to move forward in producing the club on a bigger scale. The club allows for “fixes” in several area’s of the golf swing, before the swing is even made. The Impact Press Iron, allows golfers to just react by looking at the color lines, without having to think through a major process of adjustment.

The website ImpactPressGolf.com is up and running currently in a limited capacity, will go fully operational and start taking orders on February 1st of 2020. So get your hands and wrists in the right place, and don’t doom your next shot to failure, before you even hit the ball. Practice with the Impact Press training iron, and watch your game improve.

The Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook, is Chicago’s home for indoor golf all winter long.

Mistwood Golf Dome has done it again. The MGD received several national awards from the, Golf Range Association of America at the this weeks PGA Merchandise Show (GRAA).

Mistwood Golf Dome is the home for Toptracer seen during PGA Tour broadcasts on network television. It is also home to McWethy’s Sportsbar, the best food and beverage operation at any indoor golf facility in the Chicago area. Learn more and meet the instruction staff by visiting Mistwoodgolfdome.com or by calling (630)-739-7600.

  THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME HAS BEEN HONORED AGAIN-at this weeks PGA Show in Orlando by the GRAA-Golf Range’s Association of America. The Mistwood Golf Dome won for a 7th time Top 50 public range. For a third time Top 50 Stand Alone Range. 2019 Winner for Top Range Innovations. Mistwood Golf Dome is your home for Toptracer, and McWethy’s Sportsbar. Located on Rt.53 in Bolingbrook, see details at Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600. Part of Mistwood Golf Club. _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram. With the Ryder Cup at the PGA Show in Orlando.

REPORTING FROM ORLANDO FL.

Editors Note: this story begins a series of stories on various products from the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. We hope you enjoy them, as you prepare for your 2020 golf season. RS

ARE YOU READY-FOR ARGOLF

This putter company that started in France, and is for now in Jupiter Florida is growing. No longer is it just putters, but it’s as of 2019, Irons too.

ARGOLF President and CEO Olivier Colas shows of his new line of Irons at the PGA Show

Olivier Colas along with his brother, were avid golfers in the home country of France. But they worked in another industry.

At one point they decided that their love of golf should have them working in the golf business. After making some putters and giving them to friends, Colas said the feedback from his friends was not only good, but they , encouraged him to take his love of the game further, and start building golf clubs. A decision Colas doesn’t regret and plenty of golfers in both America and France are he followed his dreams.

President and CEO Olivier Colas, presents one of his many putter designs.

Colas says there are not enough golfers yet, in France to support what he wants to do in golf, so the logical decision was to bring his golf business to America.

Currently his fitting studio’s are in Jupiter Florida, but ARGOLF has outgrown it’s space and will be moving in 2020. Stay tuned.

Colas has had a love of planes, especially fight jets since he was a child, so he has incorporated some of the metals used in airplanes into his clubs. Which is why you will find a line of F-18 Irons under the ARGOLF brand name.

The backdrop on ARGOLF

Touring professionals have found the feel of ARGOLF putters, and have added them into their golf bags.

Lucas Glover is one of those players using an ARGOLF putter, Glover won the 2009 U.S. Open on Bethpage Black in Long Island New York.

Tim Petrovic who is playing on the PGA Champions Tour is now using an ARGOLF putter on tour.

Click here to hear the interview with ARGOLF President and CEO Olivier Colas.

Colas doesn’t seem ready yet to jump into the world of fairway metals, but for now if your looking to play with clubs like the pro’s use, do visit Argolf.com. and see their full line of putters and irons.

DON’T FORGET the Tinley Park Golf Show returns on Feb.7-8-9 to the Tinley Park Convention Center, tickets on sale now at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net. Doors open at Noon on Friday the 7th with admission at $5.00. $10.00 on the weekend. There will be contests, prizes and more. Get tickets today and be ready for the 2020 golf season.

  THE TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW IS BACK ON FEB. 7-8-9 at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Doors open Friday the 7th at Noon, Friday admission is just $5.00, $10.00 on the weekend. There will be games, contests, prizes, equipment companies, and the 19th hole bar, where you can watch the PGA Tour action from Pebble Beach. Order your tickets today at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME is you place for golf while the winter season is here. Mistwood Golf Dome is the home of Toptracer and McWethy’s Sportsbar, the best golf dome food and beverage operation in town. For more details see Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600  _____________________________________________________________________

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

Mike Johnson (L) and Mike Stachura (R) from Golf Digest Magazine at demo day.

ON A DAY that was very cold, and very windy, two guys in charge of a “Hot-List” made the rounds of the PGA Show Demo Day at the Orange County Golf Center near Orlando Florida.

Mike and Mike in the afternoon will never be confused with an old ESPN radio show, because they have the attention of golfers and golf equipment makers everywhere.

In fact their interview with Golfers on Golf was delayed, because of the immediate outpouring their “Hot List” in Golf Digest Magazine receives.

What’s amazing is that when a list comes out and someone doesn’t make it, or doesn’t get the rating they expect, they start complaining, whether it’s justified or not. It just goes with the territory. So it took the “Mike’s” some extra time to work through the reaction as they made the rounds of talking about the 2020 the list with the media.

But Golf Digest Equipment Editors Mike Johnson and Mike Stachura know what to expect by now when the “Hot List” hits the streets. Especially when that list comes out during the PGA Merchandise Show, and equipment companies are getting their scores and ratings, as they sit in the middle of expensive exhibit in the Orange County Convention Center.

Our session with them, was not to discuss the ratings, specific companies, and the scores, but to learn more about the process, and what trends they are seeing in the industry. During our interview below, not edited, is what the Mike’s are seeing in the equipment world. It was their option to mention companies by name when needed.

Click here to hear the interview with Golf Digest Equipment Editors Mike Johnson and Mike Stachura.

Stachura calls the Hot List maybe the most important thing the magazine does all year, and the biggest service it gives the subscribers and golfers who read Golf Digest.

Based on our observations, on what golf companies are doing, and spending to build better golf clubs, golf balls, and golf products in general, Stachura might be right on how important to golfers everywhere, this issue of Golf Digest really is. Go pick up a copy while it’s “hot”.

Or visit www.golfdigest.com/hot-list#golf-clubs see who’s hot today.

THE TINLEY PARK GOLF SHOW RETURNS-FEB. 7-8-9. Doors open at Noon on the 7th, Friday admission is only $5.00, weekend days $10.00. Buy your tickets now online at Tinleyparkconventioncenter.net Contests, prizes and more.

THE 2020 PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW IS UNDERWAY, and Demo Day was loaded with new hot clubs, on a cold and windy day.

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

(Reporting from Orlando)

Demo Day was a cold day, as the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show got off to a chili start. With temperatures in the 50’s, and a very cold wind blowing hard, some demo day goers didn’t last very long.

It was no doubt a tough break for companies showing off their products, especially new ones. For those on the ring-of-range, driving range that is if your product needed some media attention, hopefully you have a booth the next three days in the convention center.

The wind was so strong that if you had a tail wind at your end of the range, you could brag about how far your clubs hit the golf ball. For Chicago based Wilson Golf, your space had people hitting your product right into the teeth of the wind. A yardage loser no doubt.

Wilson Golf President and GM Tim Clarke (L) visited in studio with Golfers on Golf in studio last June.

A yardage gainer is the new and improved Wilson DUO golf ball, that is a low-compression golf ball.

Wilson is making at serious effort to debunk a media story from 2019, that said Wilson’s DUO ball didn’t go very far, because of it’s low compression.

So Clarke and Wilson set out to prove that story wrong. The DUO ball challenge had golfers hitting 3-Titleist Pro-V1’s, and then hitting 3-DUO balls to see which ball went further. I took the test, and my three DUO’s hit with a Wilson D7-7 Iron, went on average, just over 1 yard further than a Pro-V1. Clarke admits the DUO won’t win every time, but it will at times beat out the No.1 ball in golf. I spoke with Clarke about the DUO golf ball and everything else Wilson Golf, and below is our interview from today at demo day.

Click here to hear our interview with Wilson Golf President and GM Tim Clarke.

Clarke has been kind enough to commit to a return visit in studio with Golfers on Golf this summer, and will try to recruit some of his staff players to join us. Stay clicked in for the details on when that will happen.

AFTER WILSON my travels took me to Callaway, then Titleist, followed by Tour Edge, and past the Ping booth, that had a John Deere tractor with a 355 pound Ping putter attached to the front end. Show attendees had a chance to sink the same putt, I made last summer at TPC Deere Run.

AT CALLAWAY the lines were long to hit the new Mavrik Driver, Mavrik Fairway Woods, Mavrik Irons. Callaway appears to have hit another home run with it’s new equipment. I have now hit the Mavrik twice. Once at St. Andrews in 28 degree weather, today in 53 degree weather, with a strong cross wind. The club felt good, and the results of both distance and ball flight were even better.

The new Callaway Jaws wedges by Roger Cleveland are really good. They are a little thinner and sleeker than the Mack-Daddy wedges. The groove patterns are really precise, offering up better spin so your shots around the cup, stay there.

TITLEIST is working hard to get me time tomorrow with Bob Vokey to discuss his new SM8 wedges, I’ll offer more on them after my interview with Vokey.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME in Bolingbrook, is your winter home for golf in the Chicago area. It’s also home to Toptracer and McWethy’s Sportsbar. Enjoy it all today, call (630)-739-7600 for more information. Keep your golf season going all year round at the Mistwood Golf Dome.

BATAVIA BASED Tour Edge Golf had a long line of folks visiting their piece of the range, and not just because they gave away a glass of free beer. There wasn’t many in the beer line, with temperatures where they were, not everyone needed a cold one. But the Tour Edge Exotics are hot, and the new Wingman putter is very good. I watched a few folks who were trying out Wingman, make putt-after-putt on the practice green.

THE GOLF DIGEST HOT LIST for golf clubs and technology came out today. The two “Mikes” were making the interview rounds, so I caught up with Mike Johnson and Mike Stachura. My interview with them on their views of the equipment industry, and who got the Gold Medals and who didn’t will be along shortly.

IT’S back to the Orange County Convention Center tomorrow, and warmer surroundings. RS