INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING at the General Clubhouse. Isn’t it time for your visit to Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in beautiful Galena, EagleRidge.com  The New Spa opens  on July 13th. The General Golf Course celebrated it’s 25th birthday last Wednesday.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn or Facebook. In the WNDZ Am 750 studio.

THE NV5 INVITATIONAL is in the books. But there was quite a finish.

A three hole playoff was needed for Harry Hall to defeat Northbrook’s, Nick Hardy.

Hall hadn’t won in a while, Hardy hadn’t played in a while. Hall made a ten foot birdie on the par 3 17th at the Glen Club to seal the win, after Hardy made par.

But the fact Hardy was playing at all, much less shooting 22 under par for the week, is amazing.

NICK HARDY had been off the golf course for a month with a dislocated tendon in his left wrist. Hardy felt the “pop” while playing in the New Orleans PGA Tour stop over a month back. Hardy got clearance from the doctor to play this past week. But as he arrived at the Glen Club to start the week, he still didn’t know if he could go come Thursday’s 6:40 Am tee time.

But once he knew he could play, he went all out. That all-out effort almost won him the NV5 Invitational, most years 22 under par would get the job done. So maybe next year, meanwhile Hardy gears up for U.S. Open Sectional qualifying in Ohio. Here’s hoping he makes it into Brookline.

Patrick Flavin of Highwood Illinois.

PATRICK FLAVIN is just getting better all the time.

This week playing on a sponsors exemption proved he deserved it, finishing at 9 under par for the week.

IT’S been a tough year for Flavin with the schedule he has, or doesn’t from week to week. Flavin has been on the Korn Ferry Tour, that is the weeks he isn’t on the PGA Tour, or the Latino American Tour, or going through a Monday qualifier to play somewhere.

It was almost unfortunate he had a sponsors exemption the week he could have been at U.S. Open qualifying. So it was one or the other. But he thanked the sponsor by showing up at that tournament early in the week. Thankful he had a tournament to play that week. But it meant there would be no chance to play at The Country Club next month.

CLICK HERE to hear the post tournament interview with Patrick Flavin.

WHAT’S REALLY great to see is Flavin starting to post scores 3 to 4 shots under par per round. A few years back Flavin would shoot 2 or 3 under on a good day, these days Flavin has advanced past that level, his professional game is kicking into overdrive.

I’M REALLY IMPRESSED with the improved course conditions at Fyre Lake Golf Club in Sherrard Illinois. IPGA professional Mark Krizic is really whipping the lake into shape. But the course is getting back on track, and if your headed down to play TPC Deere Run, make it a 36 hole trip. Go play Fyre Lake.

WHAT’S Concerning me is some of the stories I’m starting to see about hardships in the golf industry. Professionals struggling to stay in the business, Superintendents trying to find enough workers, food and beverage operations always short-staffed, while the bar and tables seem full. Golfers on Golf will have more to say on this topic in the weeks ahead. In the meantime-check out the special report in The Global Golf Post, about worker shortages and more in the golf industry.

THE GOG BLOG returns tomorrow. RS