PINE MEADOW INTRODUCES NEW RANGE YARDAGE APP

  INDOORS AND OUTDOORS the Schaumburg Golf Club is open for the season ahead. So get the clubs out and head to 401 North Roselle and hit the range, the putting green and all 27 holes for a great day of golf. Chilly day, rainy day, take it inside as the three simulators are open. So book a time at SchaumburgGolf.com or call (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter-X @gogBlogGuy and connect-LinkedIn/Instagram/FBook

The NEW Pine Meadow driving range distance App.

The NEW Pine Meadow Golf Club driving range App is here.

Very simply added to your phone.

So no Trackman-No Toptracer, no problem.

Come and get the yardages you need in one very simple way.

Pine Meadow also has some pro shop deals for you. So do you need a golf bag, all bags in the pro shop are 15% off right now.

Why wait until the end of the year to get a new golf bag. So now you can use a new bag all year long.

The Spring Scramble is coming. But better yet, do you need golf balls. Pine Meadow has the buy 4 dozen get 1 dozen free.

Best of luck to GM/Head golf professional Dennis Johnsen. Johnsen will retire at the end of the year, after 50 years in the golf business. Best wishes for a great final year.

PinemeadowGC.com or call Pine Meadow at (847)-566-4653 (GOLF).

MONAHAN MEETS THE MEDIA AT THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

  THE TIME IS CHANGING as the summer season approaches at the Schaumburg Golf Club at 401 North Roselle Road. So while the simulators are open, the outdoor version of Schaumburg Golf Club all 27 holes are also open. So tee it up at the Schaumburg Golf Club, Chandlers Chophouse is now open. SchaumburgGolf.com (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter-X @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Instagram.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

JAY MONAHAN has spoke to the media at the Players Championship.

He spoke for 59 minutes claim multiple media outlets.

But did what say make any sense, or even sound legit. Because his comments come in a week, that his leadership was challenged by multiple PGA Tour players, including the reigning Fed Ex Cup champion Viktor Hovland.

Monahan used the word-fans plenty of times. Saying the tour is working on giving them a better experience. What wasn’t mentioned at how much more of price increase would that experience cost. But what was interesting, is the feedback fans have been giving the tour. Because the fans don’t like the television coverage. Which means to much coverage of certain players. But that issue is changing as Tiger Woods plays less tournament golf. Because as golf fans increase their golf wagering, or partake in golf fantasy leagues. The need to see the fans favorite players, or the players they have gambled on. Monahan says fans want to see golf from historic venues they have enjoyed for year, and how current players stack up with the results of the past.

The Shack in Glenview has opened their new simulators, including one with theatre stadium seating. The golf season is longer at The Shack Indoor Golf Club-1717 Chestnut in Glenview. (847)-904-2905.

REGARDING LIV and a merger than has been on the table since last summer, he says things are progressing. Well how is that true, as deadline after deadline to wrap things up continues to pass, without a solution.

But Monahan did say it’s important to continue to talk with the Saudi’s about concluding a deal. Because both sides want to “quiet the noise.” But right now most of the noise seems to be coming from his own camp.

LAB GOLF PUTTERS the new DF3 now available in PGA Tour stores.

MONAHAN HAS THE issue of getting money back to the PGA Tour’s investment group SSG, but how is that going to happen. Monahan summed it up this way “networks”. But can TV pay more at this point, sponsors have dropped from the tour. Honda is gone, Wells Fargo is leaving, more tournament sponsors could leave unless things change.

MONAHAN WOULD NOT GO to deep into where the talks are going with the PIF, but did say they are moving forward as they get to know each other better.  Monahan also added that a deal with PIF is in the best interest of the growing game of golf.

SO CAN BOTH SIDES comes together and finish a deal that works for all. So can the players who left for LIV come back, if so how is that done. Monahan says things will take time, but how much time.

MISTWOOD GOLF FITTING TEAM WINS AWARD FROM PING GOLF

  THE SHELL IS COOKING AT THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME-Oliva is pouring drinks at the new bar in the shell (L). Golfers are getting ready for the outdoor season ahead on Toptracer golf. McWethys Sports Bar in the dome, your home for all the college basketball tournament games you want to see. Mistwoodgolfdome.com (630)-739-7600.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF FITTING TEAM L-R Eric Russel, Matt Carter and Scott Hogan.

MISTWOOD GOLF FITTING TEAM

Has been named a 2024 Ping Golf Power Fitter.

The credit goes to Eric Russell, Matt Carter and Scott Hogan, for their fitting work in the dome and in the Mistwood Golf Club Performance Center.

Statement from Ping Golf.

“All the winners fit every club in the bag and participate in on-going fitting certification through PING Academy (the company’s online education platform) and other hands-on training opportunities. They are also experts in PING products technology and custom club-building process. As importantly they understand a custom fitting is the beginning of a relationship with golfers.”

THIS WEEK at the Players Championship, statistics show that Fujikura shafts are the No.1 shaft on the woods that players are using at TPC Sawgrass.

MORE FROM MISTWOOD-Registration is now open for the April 6th “Pick Your Pin Scramble” this event sells out-so sign up quickly.

MISTWOOD is currently running the 4 for 3 golf balls sale. So enjoy selecting golf balls from Titleist, Callaway and TaylorMade.

Mistwood has not yet announced an opening day for Mistwood Golf Club, TBD with weather the main factor in announcing when the course will open.

So learn more about Mistwood Golf at Mistwoodgc.com or Mistwoodgolfdome.com.

HERITAGE OAKS OFFERS FITTING DAYS & GOLF BALL SALES

  THE SHACK IS NOW A BIGGER SHACK. Owner Nick Larkin has added four new simulators and a putting green. So get ready for the outdoor season ahead by warming up in the Shack, 1717 Chestnut Ave. Glenview. (847)-904-2905 TheShackgolfclub.com

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

HERITAGE OAKS at 3535 Dundee Road in Northbrook has both indoor simulators open and the outside driving range open. Course openings are still to be determined, but hopeful for later this month pending the weather.

BUT BETTER NEWS as the outdoor season approaches, next week Heritage Oaks has two fitting days scheduled.

Mistwood Golf Dome-Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook open daily until 10 Pm. Lessons, Club fittings and Toptracer. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600.

TITLEIST ON MARCH 20th will be at the Oaks-schedule an appointment today.

PING COMES IN on March 21st, your $60.00 fitting fee will be applied to any equipment purchase. Book your appointment today.

Heritage Oaks is now having sign up for spring instruction classes, plus a reminder that the Acorn Grill is open Tuesday through Sunday. Taco Tuesday’s, Wings on Wednesday’s and Fish on Friday specials are all happening now.

GOLF BALL SPECIALS-Buy 4 dozen golf balls, pay for three. The four for three golf ball sale is on. See head golf professional John Billiter for more details

HeritageOaksGC.com or call the pro shop at (847)-291-2351.

THE GOG BLOG SPEAKS OUT-THE PLAYERS & BAD RANKINGS

  TIMES ARE CHANGING at the Schaumburg Golf Club. The indoor simulators are open, outdoor 27 holes are now open. Chandlers Chophouse is now open. So why not open your golf season at 401 North Roselle Road-SchaumburgGolf.com or (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram

RORY SPEARS on the 10th hole of Pinehurst #10. Opening on April 3rd.

PLAYERS WEEK-

So who will the players be, and on this course the focus will be on the par-3 17th.

But Pete and Alice Dye left us more than the island Green 17th, they left us one difficult golf course. The thought of pot bunkers come to mind.

Scottie Scheffler comes in on a roll, but can he win back to back. Can Rory McIlroy turn it up a notch this week, after a dismal showing at Bay Hill. But what about the other names on the PGA Tour, Jordan Spieth, 2023 Fed Ex Cup winner Victor Hovland, Wyndham Clark, Will Zalatoris, who has game this week. Maybe just maybe Scheffler becomes this years Jon Rahm with a stack of victories.

GET WARMED UP indoors for the outdoor season coming soon. The Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is open daily until 10 Pm. Toptracer golf, lessons, club fittings and McWethy’s Sports Bar. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or (630)-739-7600.

TOMORROW PGA TOUR COMMISSIONER FOR NOW-Jay Monahan will address the media and the players about the status of the PGAT, this should be interesting. Because I wonder how many media questions he will actually answer. But it would really be fun to be the fly-on-the-wall when the meeting with the tour players tees off.

NBC has the weekend coverage, with the alumni broadcasting team back on board for the 50th Players Championship. It will be great to hear Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch back  working in the trenches.

SPEAKING OF NBC-just who is posting the ratings of the NBC Golf Pass group. Because while it’s nice to have various ratings panels, the NBC Golf Pass ones for the State of Illinois are horrible. Great tracks have been left out, average ones are somehow on the list. So if your a golfer who enjoys playing the top rated golf courses, just don’t both using the NBC-GP list just brutal.

FOUR FOR THREE so do you need golf balls, and this time of year who doesn’t. Several courses are selling Titleist, Callaway and Taylormade golf balls in the buy four dozen, get charged for three dozen. Add Heritage Oaks Golf Club in Northbrook and Pine Meadow GC in Mundelein to the list of clubs running the promotion.

The Shack Indoor Golf Club at 1717 Chestnut Ave. in Glenview open daily, and now with seven simulators AND a putting green. (847)-904-2905.

SPEAKING OF TAYLORMADE they have sued Costco for infringements of TM designs, that TM says are being used in the new Kirkland Irons. Kirkland Irons just came on the market a few weeks ago, and sold out quickly at $499.00  per-set. So stay tuned.

The week ahead has a few good weather days coming up, so get out and play. It will be a bit cooler by the weekend. But hopefully any clubs selling green beer-will have it cold for St. Patrick’s Day.

AS FOR COURSES OPENING-I suspect that a few more courses will open by late next week. Stay clicked-in right here to see who that might be. RS

SPEARS PODCAST SERIES 2024-VOL. 1 CATCHING UP WITH CASEY

NICK LARKIN stands in The Shack located in Glenview at 1717 Chestnut Ave. See more at www.TheShackGolfClub.com Three new simulators and a new putting green.

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf, follow Rory on Twitter-X @GogBlogGuy or Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram.

Casey Brozek the new Medinah Country Club Director of Golf, talks about returning to Illinois from Florida by joining Medinah Country Club.

HE’S BACK !

Seven years after he left for the warmer pastures of the Sunshine State of Florida, Casey Brozek returns back to where he started from-the State of Illinois and the Illinois PGA Section.

Brozek is reversing he trend of seeing Illinois PGA Section professionals departing for warmer pastures, mostly Florida by coming back to Illinois.

Golfers on Golf spoke with Brozek about the decision to return to Illinois. Plus what the next three years at Medinah Country Club look like. Because 2024 will see the reopening of Medinah #3 from renovation. 2025 Medinah celebrates it’s 100th anniversary and Centennial.

2026 bring the Presidents Cup, and a chance for the USA to finally win a major team championship at Medinah Country Club. Some 14 years after the shocking loss in the 2021 Ryder Cup to Team Europe.

Brozek is a former IPGA Section President (during the 2012 Ryder Cup year). So might he consider running for national office at the PGA or America. All this and more as Illinois welcomes Brozek to Medinah and back to the Land of Lincoln.

CLICK HERE to hear Catching up with Casey (Brozek) Medinah Country Club’s new Director of Golf.

Thanks for listening-RORY

CABOT CITRUS FARMS OPENS IT’S ONLINE SHOPPING STORE

  THE SEASON’S ARE CHANGING at the Schaumburg Golf Club 401 North Roselle Road in Schaumburg. So right now all 27 outdoor holes are open. Indoors all three simulators are open, so is Chandlers Chophouse. So now you can play the SGC both indoors and outdoors. Book a tee time at SchaumburgGolf.com or call (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect at LinkedIn and Facebook.

The golf shirts are here in the Cabot Citrus Farms golf shop.

CABOT CITRUS FARMS

CCF is open and golfers are finding their way to the newest golf property in the country.

Newest yes-even though the courses were built on the grounds of a former golf property.

But nothing at the new Cabot Citrus Farms, resembles the old Worldwoods golf property.

  CABOT CITRUS FARMS is still under construction, but it’s coming together very quickly.

But with Mothers day and Fathers day coming up in less than three months, now is the time to start shopping for the golfers in your life. So the other option is, why not spoil yourself. Plenty of good options to pick from.

The CCF online store is Shop.CabotCitrusFarms.com. Golf is underway, with preview play now happening. But you can sign up and try to get tee times for the later months of this year.

The Karoo Course is open, so is the Squeeze and the Wedge. The other 18 hole course called “The Roost” opens later this year. But more information at Cabotcitrusfarms.com.

NBC BRINGS BACK MALTBIE & KOCH FOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

  SQAIRZ GOLF SHOES VISITS THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME in Bolingbrook on Rt. 53. The simulators and the bar in the shell are new this season, but open while you enjoy the dome and McWethy’s Sports Bar. Mistwood Golf Dome will now be hosting upcoming Mizuno and Cleveland demo days and Scoring clinics. But you must sign up in advance. THE NEW VOKEY SM 10’s are now in pro shops like Mistwood Golf Club. See Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome (630)-739-7600 #SaucemadnessisBack.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Instagram/FBook.

2021 Players Championship champion Rory McIlroy with the trophy.

NBC is ramping up for next weeks Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Because this years edition is the 50th playing of the championship.

Sadly course designers Pete and Alice Dye have passed away. But it wasn’t too late for NBC to bring back announcers and course reporter Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch as part of the networks broadcast team.

The Shack Indoor Golf Club 1717 Chestnut in Glenview. 4 new simulators including one with theatre style seating. Book a bay today. (847)-904-2905 and come try out the new putting green.

NBC’s Dan Hicks will be joined in the TV booth with Kevin Kisner as the analyst.

But during Round 2 on Friday, Kisner will team up with Smylie Kaufman, and the two will call “Happy Hour” from alongside the the 17th hole.

The Par-3 Island Green.

NBC Announced they were happy with Kisner’s work earlier in the year during the Phoenix Open.

THE GOLF CHANNEL and NBC will wall-to-wall coverage of the Players Championship all week long.

MAPLE MEADOWS & MOUNT PROSPECT TO OPEN TUESDAY 12TH.

  THE SEASON’S ARE CHANGING at the Schaumburg Golf Club 401 North Roselle Road. So it’s time to take it inside or outside-where either way you can play the Schaumburg Golf Club. IN THE SIMUALTORS or on THE Golf Course-the SGC is open for play. So book your time inside or out at SchaumburgGolf.com or (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter (X) @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Facebook.

  MAPLE MEADOWS OPENS TUESDAY MARCH 12TH.

DuPage Golf has announced that Maple Meadows will open next Tuesday march 12th for the 2024 golf season.

Maple Meadows that will begin renovation work by architect Greg Martin in late 2025-all permits approved permitting, is the first DuPage Golf Course Course to open for the year.

The 2024 schedule for DuPage Golf as of now is Green Meadows March 22nd-weather permitting. The Preserve at Oak Meadows will be around April 1st-again if the weather does cooperate. So visit DuPagegolf.com for more information.

  THE MT. PROSPECT GOLF CLUB will open fully for the 2024 summer golf season this coming Tuesday March 12th. So be ready to play on Tuesday at 600 S. See Gwun Ave. in Mt. Prospect-call for tee times at (847)-259-4200.

But you can see more openings right here as Golfers on Golf gets the notices from the golf courses. The Gog Blog returns tomorrow. RS

FOUR FOR THREE-TIME TO STOCK UP ON GOLF BALLS

  THE SHACK OWNER NICK LARKIN has expanded the product, and the golf season has gotten longer, and now bigger. What was once four simulators is now seven, and there is a putting green. Don’t forget it’s Bay Hill week and Arnie is always at the bar in The Shack. TheShackGolfClub.com or call (847)-904-2905 Book a hitting bay today.

Arnold Palmer is at the bar in The Shack Golf Club 1717 Chestnut Ave, in Glenview. (847)-904-2905 Arnold Palmer invite the Golf Channel and NBC. Luke Donald to serve as analyst in the booth.

FOUR FOR THREE.

YES that normally means a par for birdie in an outing, glad you got a shot on this hole.

But as the summer golf season arrives up north, and new season begins, it is time to stock up on supply’s.

So forget about all the golf balls you left in your golf bag from last October or November, and get fresh new ones to start the season ahead.

Companies such as Callaway, Taylormade, and Titleist are offering the early season buy four dozen golf balls and get one dozen free special.

The new Callaway Chrome Tour Golf ball. Callawaygolf.com.

So clubs such as the Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville have deals in the pro shop.

Cog Hill Golf Club in Palos Park has deals.

Blackberry Oaks in Bristol, stop by and see Chad Johansen, the 2023 Callaway staff professional of the year, for specials on Callaway Golf products.

So the major golf companies do have other lines of golf balls. Some of those golf balls are on sale at the discretion of the club, and what balls they have in inventory.

Callaway Golf balls can be purchased for special prices online at Callawaygolf.com.

  THE FITTING TEAM at Mistwood Golf Dome and Golf Club-L-R Eric, Scott and Matt, see MistwoodGolfdome.com. (R) EVERYTHING IS OPEN at the Schaumburg Golf club on Roselle Road in Schaumburg-27 outdoor holes and three simulators indoors. So head out to the SchaumburgGolfClub.com or call the pro shop at (847)-885-9000.

BUT MORE AREA COURSES are opening-details tomorrow. RS