THE NEW CLUBHOUSE at the Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison (L) is really taking shape. (R) Sportsman’s Golf Club in Northbrook has it’s new clubhouse going up quickly. Golfers on Golf has more on Sportsman’s renovation coming up this week.         _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. On the new 1st tee at the Sportsman’s Golf and Country Club in Northbrook. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or friend him on Facebook and connect on LinkedIn.

LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER.

So some might think that golf season is over. But it’s not.

There are plenty of courses still open, and because a week from today should be upper 50’s (so says the 10 day forecast), that could make a good final day for outdoor golf.

Good news is that the Mistwood Golf Dome has opened in Bolingbrook. With restrictions in place, like calling first to make your reservation for a hitting stall.

I’m not sure if it will be nice enough to play up and around Christmas, like many of us did last year. But fingers crossed, because that would be fun.

OVER THE WEEKEND I learned that the Village of Bloomingdale is expected to close on the land that was the golf course at Indian Lakes Resort. The course has been closed for a few years, and the deal would have the village getting the 188 acres of land where the golf course sits. In addition, the village would be purchasing an additional 15 acres on the South Side of Shick Road. Making the total purchase 203 acres.

The demand from local homeowners to the community to keep out a housing developer that wanted to build homes on the land, was successful. The land will be kept as “open space”, which is good to hear. But will the golf course get restored. That would be a great move by the community if they did just that. A solid golf course with good golf facilities there, could be the beginning of something special. Because it would be a great place for tournaments with the Indian Lakes Resort hotel right next door.

As part of the purchase, a building that is a conference center would be torn down. This land purchase does not include the hotel. But down the road, who knows what could happen on that front. It would be nice to see a course renovation project begin in 2021, on the former Blackhawk Trace golf course in Bloomingdale.

THE RACE IS ON for several area clubhouse projects that are trying to advance far enough, so that work can continue inside during the winter months. The Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison is the furthest along. Sportsman’s in Northbrook is making progress quickly, with Fox Run in Elk Grove still wrapping up foundation work.

WITH THE SEMI-DECENT weather we have had of late, the renovation work at Settlers Hill in Batavia is making progress. I’m hoping to see more this week. Settlers Hill will be closed in 2021 for renovation, and should reopen mid-summer of 2022. Architect Greg Martin is in charge of the renovation.

During the week ahead, the (Len) Ziehm & Spears podcast series Volume 37 will return.

Len and I will talk more about holiday golf gifts, and golf travel ideas for 2021. Is it safe to do so, maybe it’s safer than you think. So don’t be afraid to go somewhere warm this winter.

I’m also adding features from visits I had to the Wisconsin Dells, Flossmoor Country Club and a tour I did last week at Sportsman’s in Northbrook.

THE BUFFALO GROVE GOLF DOME at 801 McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove has opened for the season as of today.

Today is Cyber Monday, still plenty of golf shopping deals to be had today. Do grab them up while you still can.

The Gog Blog returns tomorrow. RS