THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME located on Bolingbrook Drive (Rt.83) in Bolingbrook is open daily until 10 Pm. So now with 2025 underway, it’s time to get a lesson before the winter golf trip, and start getting fit for any new clubs you might add to the bag in 2025. In addition to Toptracer Golf, there is McWethy’s Sports Bar where you can catch all the games, and enjoy some award winning chicken wings, burgers and more. So book a hitting bay today at Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600 #MGD

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter-X @GogBlogGuy or on LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram Rory putting in Bettinardi’s Studio B in Oak Brook IL.

WOW-THAT’S REALLY LOW !

Hidecki Matsuyama the blew the lid off low-scoring records in professional golf.

Matsuyama scorched the Kapalua Resorts Plantation Course for 35 under par over four days, to walk away with the PGA Tour’s season opening event The Sentry Championship.

The Sentry is no longer the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Because to increase field size, which had dropped into the 20 player range. The PGA Tour made the event players who won on tour the previous year, and or anyone in the top 50 players not already qualified.

Collin Morikawa shot a measly 32 under par and had no chance of winning. I’m sure by Sunday night Morikawa who didn’t win 2024, has to be wondering what it will take to carry home a trophy in 2025.

The Shack Golf Club-1717 Chestnut Ave in Glenview. 7 simulators and a putting green. Plus you can always join Arnie at the Bar. Book a bay, take a lesson, or get fitted for new clubs. The ShackGolfClub.com or call (847)-904-2905.

IS PLANTATION THAT EASY OF A GOLF COURSE. Actually no it isn’t. But there are some wide fairways on a few holes. I have logged some 20 rounds on Plantation, and it the Trade winds or Kona winds are strong, it’s brutal. The course can be a real golf ball eater, if your off-line or get blown around too much. The winds were not a factor this past week at The Sentry.

ONE YEAR I lost a dozen balls over two rounds on Plantation. So I would have gone back to Chicago with an empty golf ball pouch on my bag, if Kapalua VP-the late Gary Planos had not sent me home with a dozen special logoed balls from a cabinet in the back of his office.

WHAT I WILL DO is look for the C&C team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in Florida at the PGA Show. I can only imagine their reaction to the low scores posted this past week. Crenshaw might say something like, 35 under par over four days is a game I am not familiar with.

The Schaumburg Golf Club 401 North Roselle Road, has three simulators open for play. Enjoy the comfort’s of indoor golf all winter long at Schaumburg Golf Club. The pro shop and Chandlers Chophouse are also open. See more at Schaumburggolf.com or call (847)-885-9000

TITLEIST HAS ANNOUNCED that the new Pro-V1 and Pro-V1x golf ball is coming out at the end of the month. It should be great. But it’s not the ball used by Matsuyma at Kapalua this week. So how about this, what did he use. The new Srixon Z-Star XV Ball available January 24th, at a cost of $49.99 a dozen. But I still wonder how many dozen’s of these balls pro shops will order. MIZUNO has launched new irons, the JPX 925 series, I’m wondering what their impact will be on the market.

THE TGL GOLF LEAGUE-starts tomorrow on ESPN. So what is TGL. Well it’s an indoor simulator like dome, with room for 1200 fans. It’s location is down in Florida, near where many of the PGA Tour players live. So it should be an easy drive over to compete.

TGL-Tomorrows Golf League, is the Rory McIlroy & Tiger Woods project where the original bubble got wrecked by a storm. This one is located on the campus of Palm Beach State College. Six teams with 3-players each will battle it out over the next two months to determine a winner. I’m curious to see what the golfing public will think of this latest venture. The television ratings should be interesting.

MORE NEWS-LIV Golfers Phil Mickelson now has his own YouTube Channel. Which is interesting, but what kind of content will “Lefty” provide. I can’t believe it will be a bunch of gambling or stock market tips.

THE BETTINARDI TIKI HIVE will be open tomorrow (Tuesday Jan. 7) at 10 Am CST. So do you need some Hawaiian flavor in your golf game. So to learn more visit bettinardi.com.

2025 has started, so let’s get the ball rolling. I can’t believe it’s only 9 days until departure day for the PGA Merchandise Show. The Gog Blog returns this week. RS.

  THE SHACK GOLF CLUB has extended Chicago’s golf season. Located at 1717 Chestnut Ave. in Glenview, The Shack now has seven simulators and a putting green. It’s a place where Arnie will always join you at the bar. So with top dates filling up quickly, book your bay today and start hitting the ball. TheShackGolfClub.com or call (847)-904-2905. Lessons and club fittings are available, try out Bettinardi Putters.

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Content and creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter-X @GogBlogGuy or connect at LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram In the fitting tent at Heritage Oaks GC in Northbrook.

HAPPY NEW YEAR…

I HOPE YOURS is off to a great start.

HERE at Golfers on Golf, I’m not so lucky. Because digging out of a 5 day brutal illness, is no way to start the season.

Have you ever hit your opening tee shot Out-of-Bounds. Then some joker yells “that’s two.” A joker who deserves a shot in the chops with 56 degree wedge.

But none the less, I feel like the opening days of the 2025 year or golf season have been brutal. Because I have no interest in being back on the “DL.” With the PGA Show 3 weeks away, I don’t want to be on the “IR.” I don’t want to be hitting 4 off the first tee box either. But it sure feels like that’s exactly where I am. So I am starting to feel better, so I’m back here on the forum. I will try to get caught up, but I’m running at a pace that averages out to slow play.

OKAY ENOUGH ABOUT ME… now some other golf topics.

THE PGA TOUR IS UNDERWAY with the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, my old Hawaiian haunt. I have played about 20 rounds on the Plantation Course, which is a fun golf course. Almost as much fun as blasting a long iron past Mark Rolfing’s fishing poles that hang out behind his house on the resorts Bay Course. Chris Kirk is the defending champ, but didn’t have the best 2024 season after winning the season opener in 2024. I don’t expect him to repeat. Sahith Theegala last year’s runner-up, Justin Thomas or Collin Morikawa have a better chance of winning this year.

SOME OF THE BIG NEWS to start the season, is that Max Homa has bolted from Titleist to join Cobra-Puma. Homa could use a spark in his game after a sluggish 2024, and will need one to make this years Ryder Cup team. Homa has brought in a new swing coach to go along with new clubs, new clothes and new shoes.

VICTOR HOVLAND the 2023 BMW Champion at Olympia Fields broke his toe while banging his foot on his bed while sleeping. So Hovland is taping up the toe as much as possible and taking some drugs. But as each round goes on-his limping is starting to show.

THE GOLF WORLD/MEDIA WORLD has been hit hard by some year-end passing’s. USA today writer Steve Dimeglio (63) lost his two year fight with cancer earlier today, only a couple of weeks after Geoff Babineau (62) passed away from natural causes.

DAN BAKER (58) of the PGA of America, who was very involved with the upcoming PGA Merchandise Show, was killed in a car accident last month, in route home from volunteering at a season ending LPGA event in Naples Florida.

THE NEW CALLAWAY CLUBS-ELYTE Woods and Irons are getting strong reviews. I can’t wait to test them out vs my Paradyms. May the best model win. Demo day at the PGA Show should be much more exciting now, I’m also hearing that Elyte with the right Fujikura Shafts can be a real dynamite combination.

TITLEIST GOLF has announced the new PRO V1 golf ball is coming out at the end of show week.

Locally Oak Brook Terrace based Zero Friction products has announced a return to the PGA Show.

NOW I just need to get healthy, I’m getting pumped for the show. But coming soon, my list of 10 courses I want to play in 2025, add them to your list as well. RS

  THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME on Bolingbrook Drive in Bolingbrook. So get a start on 2025 by taking your game & clubs to the Mistwood Golf Dome. (630)-739-7600 #MGD

   OWNER NICK LARKIN invites golfers to enjoy the warmth of the winter golf season at TheShackgolfclub.com at 1717 Chestnut Ave. in Glenview. Call (847)-904-2905 #SGC

   THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB 401 North Roselle Road Schaumburg IL. Check in for three simulators located right below Chandlers Chophouse (847)-885-9000.

                          Happy New Year from Ed Stevenson (L)-Rory Spears (M) and the IPGA Hall of Famer Len Ziehm.

Golfers on Golf is the longest running golf show in Chicago broadcasting history, and four-time national award winner. Entering it’s 35th season on radio, while Golfersongolf.com enters it’s 16th season. So stay with us all year for the best in Chicagoland Golf and beyond.

2025 is here, it’s drive time. Let’s go.