SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB at 401 N. Roselle Road has the simulators open and you can play the Schaumburg Golf Club on them. So you don’t need to wait for the snow to melt, golf today at the Schaumburg Golf Club. Schaumburggolf.com or (847)-885-9000
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. At the Crossing, on the Cradle in Pinehurst. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on Facebook or LinkedIn.
THE SUNDAY NEWS COLUMN IS BACK-ON SUPER SUNDAY.
OUR PARTNER in podcasting Len Ziehm has been following the LPGA Tour around Florida. So he has posted several columns recently on his site LenZiehmongolf.com.
ZIEHM & SPEARS return this coming week with Podcast Series 2022-Vol. 3. So stay tuned for our look at golf travel, it’s back with the Northern States still in the cold of winter.
Up north golfers are headed south.
FROM THE ILLINOIS PGA-The annual Birdies for Charity event in September of 2021, now has the final totals in. Illinois PGA professionals raised $412,000 for the Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities, and the Children’s JDF. This years event was held at the Oak Park Country Club. In all 999 birdies were made. TJ Sullivan (Golf-Tec Oak Brook) made the most money $50,000 with 36 birdies. Brian Carroll made the most birdies with 45, he raised over $8,000 dollars. Tito’s Vodka chipped-in with a $6,000 dollar donation. More details at IPGA.com.
THE WISCONSIN PGA SECTION has announced it’s award winners for 2021. Jim Lombardo of Erin Hills (Golfers on Golf sponsor) won the Merchandiser of the Year Award for Resort Properties. But more details at WPGA.com.
THE CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATION (CDGA) has announced that sign-up is underway for 2022 Social Competitions as of January 31st. See more at CDGA.org.
Short Game in the Mistwood Golf Dome.
THERE WILL BE a Cleveland Wedge fitting session this Thursday Feb. 17th from 2 to 3:30 PM.
Cost for the session is $160.00, and you will receive a wedge for your fee. But there is also a discount for any additional wedge purchases.
But sign up quickly because the session will sell out. Learn more at Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600.
DON’T FORGET that Valentines Day is Monday. But it’s not too late to book a reservation for McWethy’s Tavern at Mistwood Golf Club on Renwick Road in Romeoville. But get all the details at McWethysTavern.com.
DALLAS BASED TOPGOLF has announced a late 2022 opening for it’s newest venue in Glasgow, Scotland.
BLACKBERRY OAKS in Bristol has announced it’s Spring Scramble for Sunday April 24th, and the annual Blackberry AM on June 25th and 26th, now with a $1,000.00 first prize. Yes and that includes amateurs, says the USGA. Sign up at Blackberryoaks.com or call BBO at (630)-553-7170. Feb. 15th Chad Johansen summer junior golf academy sign ups begin.
MUNDELEIN BASED GolfVisions is hiring both fulltime and part time season golf jobs for the season ahead. So apply at hiringmanager@golfvisions.net.
COG HILL IS HOSTING a Toptracer night on Pinehurst #2 on Friday March 4th. So sign up at CogHillgolf.com or call (866)-COG-HILL.
THE FALL 2022 COLLECTION for Golftini Wear-Mrs. Brightside has been announced. Learn more at Golftiniwear.com.
WILLOWBROOK BASED CLUB CHAMPION has announced a record breaking year in 2021. The company has announced a 58% increase in sales, and over 90,000 fittings for the year. So learn how to book your fitting in 2022 at Clubchampiongolf.com.
University of Illinois Men’s team golfer Adrien Dumont de Chassart was named to the Ben Hogan NCAA Player of the Year, watch list.
Northwestern University Women’s Golf Team member Kelly Sim is the Big Ten Women’s Player of the week. Sim was 3-0 in the Big Ten Women’s Match Play championship, on the Island course at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor Florida. Northwestern won the championship, that had 10 of the 14 Big Ten schools participating.
KENOSHA COUNTY Golf Courses are hiring for the 2022 golf season. So for details call (262)-697-4653.Because Petrifying Springs and Brighton Dale Links both have positions open for the golf season ahead. Kenoshacountygolf.com.
The Tanto stainless steel and titanium divot repair tool.
TANTO’S PREMIUM DIVOT TOOL are now available. Tanto’s divot is made from stainless steel and titanium.
Currently you can order the product online from tantousa.com.
Tanto was founded in 2019 by Joe Caiola and Josh Leahy, both are avid golfers and entrepreneurs with a shared passion for product development.
The first Tanto divot tool the Classic T ($44.99) featured blades of high quality stainless steel, and the forks are black titanium powder coating. But new from Tanto is the Tanto Mini ($39.99) which is 30% smaller and comes in four colors (Lime, Red, Orange, Olive). So to keep MINI compact the belt clip was removed for pocket storage.
But Tanto has now added the Tanto RP2 divot tool ($49.99) that comes in multiple colors. But also adds a bottle opener and magnetic ball marker. Tantousa.com or Golf Galaxy Stores this spring.
The Cleveland RTX Black Satin Finish Wedges.
CLEVELAND GOLF has announced that the RTX Full Faced Wedges, in Black Satin were launched in the USA, as of Jan. 25th.
But Black Satin RTX Wedges which have popular with customers in the past, so the tradition continues.
Haley Wian, Business Planning Manager at Cleveland Golf says, “by reducing glare and providing sleek look at address, the Black Satin finish delivers maximum performance and short game confidence.”
But with UltiZip grooves covering the entire clubface, your wedge shots will have optimal spin. Because of the new High-Toe profile, the club can slide under the ball with confidence for the player.
Pricing is $159.99 for steel shafts, and $169.99 for graphite shafts. Lofts are 50-64 degrees except for 62. But to learn more see Clevelandgolf.com.
The Vokey SM9 Wedges Available March 11th.
TITLIEST BOB VOKEY have announced the launch of the SM9 Wedges.
So Titliest feels that these wedges represent the three keys needed in wedge play.
Shot versatility, distance and trajectory control, along with maximum spin. But as a result Bob has created the “ultimate in optionality” across the categories, and has brought the most complete lineup of loft, grind and bounce combinations. The Vokey wedge has been the most played wedge on the PGA Tour since 2004.
“It sounds simple. But having the correct wedge and knowing when to use it has a driect impact on scoring performance,” says Vokey. “So the most important thing for golfers at every level is to know when and where to use the variety of wedges in their bag.”
THE NEW SM9 wedges have a total of 23 different models, with lofts ranging from 46* to 62* for precision fitting. SM9’s are available in Tour Chrome, Brushed Steel, and Jet Black-with Raw as a custom option. Stamping options are available. So pre-order as soon as this week (Feb. 17) and in stores by March 11, 2022. MAP $179.00
Titleist staff players are using the wedges on tour. Cameron Smith won the Sentry TOC at Kapalua with the new wedges in his bag. So learn more at Vokey.com & Titleist.com.
The new Srixon Q-Star Tour Ball-Now Available.
SRIXON LAUNCHES the New Q-Star golf ball as of January 26th.
But this 4th edition of the Q-Star is the softest edition of the ball to date.
Because this new Q-Star is calibrated to work for moderate swing speed golfers, who are looking for more distance and spin of a tour caliber ball.
Q-Star comes with a longer side stamp to help golfers align those crucial putts. Plus Q-Stars 338 dimple pattern provides better ball flight in all weather conditions. So learn more at Srixon.com
The Gog Blog returns tomorrow. RS