NOT READY FOR OUTDOOR GOLF SEASON YET-There is still time to get golf ready by taking your game inside to the Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook. The Dome is home to Toptracer and McWethy’s Sportsbar. Learn more at Mistwoodgolfdome.com      _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and On LinkedIn or Facebook. the ESI Flag at the Glen Club.

THE WGA AND THE EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL is looking for a few good men and women, who can sign up to be volunteers.

If you would like to see the future stars of the PGA Tour up close, from May 20-24 you can do that tournament week. Defending Champion Scottie Scheffler is now playing on the PGA Tour.

The tournament is looking for 400 volunteers at this time to work at least three shifts during the week.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and must work at least three shifts during the week. Shifts do run from 5-7 hours in length, and they must purchase one of the volunteers packages for $55.00. The package is valued at $300.00.

The Evans Scholars Invitational will be held again this year at the Glen Club in Glenview. The course is located just off of Patriot Drive, in between Lake Avenue and Willow Road. Parking is nearby.

For your $55.00 dollars you receive, one Peter Millar golf shirt. One Evans Scholar Invitational hat or visor. One Volunteer Credential, valid for entry all week. An invitation to the volunteer party. Food and beverage all week while you are working. You can be part of volunteer golf day.

Since certain positions do fill up quickly, volunteers are encouraged to sign up by mid-March.  The Korn-Ferry Tour holds 28 tournaments in 20 states and is also played in four countries outside of the United States. Korn-Ferry tour members are fighting for the 50 PGA Tour cards that are available for the following year.

For more information on the Evans Scholars Invitational and how to sign up to be a volunteer, visit Evansscholarsinvitational.com.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is your home for March spring season golf. If it’s still a little wet and cool to take your game outside, get your spring training done inside with Toptracer. Then go watch our teams in McWethy’s Sports Bar and enjoy the best food and beverage found at any indoor golf facility in the Chicago area. For more information go to Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600 #golf.   _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS. Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or Linkedin and Facebook. At Payne’s Valley in Ridgedale Mo.

BIG CEDAR RESORT has announced that it’s newest golf course, Payne’s Valley will open this Friday March 6th for limited preview play.

The course is named in honor of the late Payne Stewart, a native of Southwest Missouri. The course is being designed by Tiger Woods design firm, TGR.

“We are excited to give golf fans a taste of the truly remarkable experience we are creating here in the Ozarks,” said owner Johnny Morris. “Payne’s Valley marks the fifth golf course at Big Cedar Lodge, helping to solidify it as America’s next great golf destination. We are confident Payne’s Valley will be a truly remarkable and memorable experience for all golfers, and we can’t wait to share it with the public.”

Payne’s Valley par 4, 4th hole.

When preview play opens, golfers will be able to play 13 holes.

The 19th hole cut out of the rock croppings over the 18th hole. The hole will be one used to settle bets, and is designed by Morris. From there, like on the resorts par 3, Top of The Rock Course, golfers return to the clubhouse through a cave.

Payne’s Valley preview golf is $195.00 per person, which does include a golf cart and access to the Ozark National Course range. The price includes on-course snacks. Guests of Big Cedar can get a replay rate for only $130.00. Junior golfers are welcome for only $55.00.

The rock area where the par 3, 19th hole will be built. The hole will be designed by Big Cedar and Bass Pro Shop owner Johnny Morris.

Big Cedar Lodge is located in the heartland of the Ozark Mountains, in Ridgeland Missouri which is just south of Branson.

The 4600+ acre resort attracts over 1.5 million guests on a annual basis.

Payne’s Valley will be the fifth golf course that is a part of Big Cedar.

The resorts most recently opened golf course Ozark National, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw has received numerous awards. It’s been very well received by golfers and reviews from numerous media outlets.

To book a tee-time during the preview phase, please call Big Cedar at (800)-225-6343. Calls are now being accepted. Payne’s Valley is expected to have all 18 holes open this fall. For more information on the resort, see Bigcedar.com.

  MISTWOOD GOLF DOME-RT. 53 IN BOLINGBROOK-Home to Toptracer and the McWethy’s Sports Bar. Learn more at Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600. This Thursday 4-8 Pm FREE Callaway Fittings-30 minute appointments, book now.   _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Welcome to the Bear Trap.

WELCOME TO THE BEAR TRAP, and what a week it was. But before I add some breakdown of the Honda Classic, there is something I must address.

Seriously, the biggest non-story and non-golf story of the week, was Tiger on a conference call revealing part of his menu for the Masters Champions Dinner.

You really have to wonder why, people especially golf writers waste time on stuff like this. Then Woods admits he hasn’t decided on the desert yet. Oh my !!! Call the pastry chef. Good God.

What failed to come out of the conference call is that 1. Woods back is back having issues. Which led to No Mexico (can’t blame Woods for not playing there), no Honda, and now no Bay Hill. 2. Woods has fallen out of the Top 10 in the World Golf rankings for the first time in 11 months. 3. Woods has fallen from 2 to 8, in the Ryder Cup point standings, and almost off the list of automatic spots on the Team USA. Perhaps he is relying on Steve Stricker to make him a captains pick. Steve #don’t do it.

THE HONDA quite a finish, then there really wasn’t one. The drama melted away when both Tommy Fleetwood and Brendan Steele went splash on 18, trying to get home in 2 on the par 5. Make the easy birdie, and head to a playoff. I know the object is to win the tournament, but if getting home in two poses that much risk, don’t lose the tournament on the second shot of a par 5 hole. Sungjae Im won his first PGA Tour event with his interesting golf swing. Im takes it back halfway very-slowly. Then hits the gas pedal and goes after it. It was nice to see Luke Donald play well, and for Wilson Golf to have three players start the weekend in the Top 15. Brendan Steele, Gary Woodland, and Kevin Streelman, too bad none of them won.

PAUL AZINGER has opened up a Twitter war with some Euro’s making a comment about Tommy Fleetwood not winning on the PGA Tour yet. To make a long story short, it’s amazing what gets people in a snit about people apparently getting disrespected. There are some folks in golf, players and non-players that need to chill, get off of Twitter and go play.

THE CHICAGO GOLF SHOW was this past weekend. When I arrived on Friday 20 minutes until the doors opened, there were long lines waiting to get in, and buy tickets. But what I found surprising, was hearing from multiple people over the course of three days, that they did not think the show was crowded. Maybe the weekends nice weather played a roll.

I was asked about some regular courses that have had booths there in the past, not being there this year. What people need to remember, is that there are more and more of these indoor golf shows popping up in the winter months up north. Courses and resorts can’t go to them all. There are two shows here in town, a couple in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and the list goes on. The cost of traveling to these shows add up. Some dates do conflict, so you pick one show and go. Some properties are alternating year-to-year which show they go to.

In my opinion, what made these shows popular years back when they first started on the golf scene, was that they gave things away. Sure the show have prizes, but it’s not the same. Many of the courses do nothing but hand out literature and try to get your email address. What more of them should do. Is take some of the merchandise that did not sell in the pro shop the previous year, and use it for prizes at the various golf shows.

GOOD NEWS-some area courses have opened this week, including Foxford Hills in Cary, and Blackberry Oaks in Bristol. Maple Meadows in Addison, Popular Creek in Hoffman Estates, Fox Run in Elk Grove, Village Links in Glen Ellyn open on Thursday. Pine Meadow in Mundelein opens March 13th.

THE GOLF CHANNEL is moving it’s studios out of Orlando Florida, and north to that hotbed of golf, Stamford Ct.. Yes it’s true, and it will happen over the next year or so. What it means for their employees and the overall operation remains to be seen.

The Gog Blog is back all week. RS,

  THE CHICAGO GOLF SHOW wraps up today, but there is still time to get out there. The final putt drops at 4 pm. River Road in Rosemont, stop in and say hello to the group at show sponsor-the French Lick Resort-Frenchlick.com. Need tickets for the show, you can get them right outside the door. Who’s there see Chicagogolfshow.com #golfseason ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Golfers on Golf Radio Returns April 4 at 10 Am. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.

The Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook

The Mistwood Golf Dome located on Rt. 53, in Bolingbrook is open daily and is the home for winter golf in the Chicago area.

The Mistwood Golf Dome is  home to Toptracer technology, and home to McWethy’s Sportsbar the best food and beverage in any golf dome in town. The Mistwood Golf Dome has the Mistwood Golf professionals there every day for lessons and club fittings. Details at Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600. See the Mistwood booth at the Chicago Golf Show today. Mistwood Golf Club has memberships available, and you can now sign up for permanent tee times on the weekend. Mistwoodgolf.com or call (815)-254-3333.

ILLINOIS MEN’S TEAM MEMBER Sr. Giovanni Tadiotto, finished third in Hawaii at the John Burns intercollegiate. His score was 210 (-6). Tadiotto earned the Men’s Player of the Week from the Big Ten. Congrats-Gio.

THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP that will be played from August 18-23 at the Olympia Fields Country Club, is still in need of about 700 volunteers to add to it’s list of the 1,300+ already signed up. See BMW Championship.com and click on the tab volunteers

SOUTHSIDE GOLFERS or in fact golfers from everywhere are welcome to join the 2020 Southside Golf Tour for the summer ahead. There are 10 events, and then a week of playoffs, followed by the tour championship on September 12th at Harborside International. Some of the courses you can play over the season include, Old Oak that’s first on the tee between late March and early April.

Then it’s Ravisloe CC, Glenwoodie, George Dunne, Tuckaway, Seven Bridges, Orchard Valley, Cinder Ridge, Calumet CC, Palmira G & CC, Heritage Bluffs, and then Harborside. Visit Southsidegolftour.com for details.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO VISIT PINEHURST. Now with the opening of the North and South Bar at the renovated Manor Inn, so many recent upgrades in Pinehurst, enjoy them all. Pinehurst.com.

PINE MEADOW GOLF CLUB in Mundelein part of Jemsek Golf has announced they will open for the season on March 13th, weather permitting. They will hold a 2-man scramble on March 28th, and 4-man scramble on April 4th. For more information call the club at (847)-566-GOLF (4653).

DALLAS BASED TOPGOLF has announced the newest location for a Topgolf facility to be built, will be in Wichita Kansas. With a new single level style to the design. More details at Topgolf.com.

THE CASA DE CAMPO RESORT & VILLAS has announced it will join the World Amateur Handicap Championship Team, as title sponsor of the Pairs Competition. Pairs-team winners get 4 days three nights. The Carribean Resort is known for courses like Teeth of the Dog, by Hall of Fame architect the late Pete Dye.

Registration is now open for the World Amateur Championship (August 31- Sept 4) in Myrtle Beach SC.

THE SALAMANDER HALF MOON BAY RESORT-18 holes by Robert Trent Jones in Jamica has now reopened. Salamanderhotels.com

THE GOG BLOG RETURNS ON MONDAY…RS