THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME-Complete with a new shell for the 2020-2021 and beyond golf seasons. The dome is open, but hitting time reservations are currently needed. Lessons and club fittings are available. For details Mistwoodgolfdome.com.      _____________________________________________________________________

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

THE FINAL FEW DAYS OF 2020 is upon us, but will the jump into 2021 be much better.

I think we should all hope it has to be.

The year ahead could be off to a slow start, until most people have their Covid shots.

But for now the good thing about the year ahead, is that the first golf outing of 2021 is THIS SUNDAY. Because the Eskimo Open at Cog Hill is on the tee.

The Bears-Packer game is now pushed to 3:25. So plenty of time to get your 18 holes in, and finish in time to see the entire game.

About 200 golfers are already signed up, and it appears there won’t be large amounts of snow on the ground. Coghillgolf.com or call (866)-264-4455 (COG-HILL). Home of the honey. So have you had Cog Hill honey, made by honey bees at Cog Hill. I gave some out as Christmas gifts and the feedback reports are all positive.

AND an even bigger thumbs-up came back from the Erin Hills Pilsner I gave as gifts to family and friends. Currently Erin Hills is closed and out of stock on it’s beer for 2020.  Because somebody bought out the remaining stock a few weeks back. I wonder who-LOL.

IF YOU NEED A GIFT or want to spend a gift card. Here are two great idea’s that got two thumbs-up from friends and family, I gave these items out as gifts over Christmas.

So coming up on the week ahead. I’ll have more on my fall trip to the Wisconsin Dells. Plus on New Years Eve, I’ll wrap up 2020. Because in spite of the virus, it was an amazing year for golf.

SO DID YOU get clubs for Christmas, or gift cards to go get clubs. If so, are you in the now what to do. First thing is. If you have time off this week or next. Go test out clubs before you buy. Plenty of places to go do that. I don’t have any schedules yet on demo days from the golf domes or equipment companies.

But there is plenty of new equipment that came out in the last 90 days for you to go hit. Do so. Because there is everything from drivers to putters to test out. IF someone bought you clubs without telling you in advance, don’t be afraid to return them if you need to. Club fitting, whether it’s at the Mistwood Golf Dome in Bolingbrook, Club Champion, PGA Tour Store or your local club, is still the best way to go.

As the real part of winter approaches, is it time to get away now. Or are you ready to plan that spring trip with friends or family. I will have more thoughts on travel within the next week. DO NOT get scared into staying home, because the state wants you to, and threatens you with quarantine rules.

I AM really excited for our friend golf architect Ray Hearn from Holland Michigan. Ray has plenty of projects going on for next year, which means there is more great golf ahead for golfers who will play courses with his designs. I see some trips to Michigan ahead. Locally Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville is a Hearn design, open to the public. For more information see my story from last weekend on Ray Hearn.

THE LOCAL RENOVATION’S continue in 2021 at the Olympia Fields Country Club. With the South Course seeing 9 holes getting done in 21, and the other nine in 2022.  But when it’s all done, the South Course could be missing a bunch of trees.

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE of days, I’ll have some stories on the Wisconsin Dells area. And it’s still not too late to book a New Years Eve stay. RS.