Building an award winning tradition in Chicago area golf domes. Links & Tee’s Golf Dome on Lake Street in Addison, is open daily. Come by and check out the new tee mats and other area’s of the dome. Friday night is country night, wear in your cowboy hat for a discount on your hitting time. Call Links & Tee’s at (630)-233-7275 or online at Addisonparks.org.

By: Rory Spears Editor and Director of Content, follow Rory on FB,Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

The 2015 PGA merchandise show was held in late January in Orlando. Day 1 is the demo day at the Orange County Golf Center full size circular driving range. Then days 2-3 and 4 are at the Orlando Convention Center.

With the Tinley Park Golf Show behind us, and the Chicago Golf Show with special guest Lee Trevino approaching Feb. 27-28 & March 1st. The Gog Blog will fill the gap until show time in Rosemont with what I found in Orlando. The shoe, gloves, balls, clubs and more. Stay clicked in and learn what’s headed to your golf stores and pro shops in 2015. First up is demo day on the range, including a BIG 3 partner Interview with Wilson Golf Gm Tim Clarke. I hope you enjoy our stories in the days ahead. RS

Wilson Golf GM Tim Clarke holds the Wilson DUO golf ball at demo day during the PGA merchandise show.

Day one of the PGA Merchandise show is the demo day at the range of the Orange County Golf Center just outside Orlando.

All of the equipment makers have their section of the big circular range and it’s a chance for the pro’s and other attendees to hit the golf ball.

During the first day BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm and myself caught up with Clarke at the Wilson area.

2014 was the centennial year for Wilson golf and it was success. Several tour players have now signed to play Wilson products, and recent sales of their DUO golf ball and the remake of their famous 8802 putter were a huge hit. Not mention some of the new lines of Wilson’s clubs and accessories.

Click here to the interview with Wilson Golf’s GM Tim Clarke,conducted by Len Ziehm and Rory Spears.

Tee’m up. Upper left the set up at Taylor Made, where one of the leading makers of metal woods had lines of golfers and pro’s trying out their drivers, fairway woods and Hybrid clubs. Upper right at Callaway reps show off the line new of fairway woods and other products. Bottom left the Titleist fitting area. ( I was fitted for the new 915 driver more on that in the days ahead.) This area was crowded with golfers looking to hit the the new 915 line of drivers, fairway woods and hybrids. FootJoy had out it’s line of shoes and new gloves, that now come in more colors than ever.

The DNA Golf shoe that FootJoy put on the market last year was a big success, at one point last summer so many pairs of shoes were sold that FootJoy had a 90 day back order wait time. DNA continues to improve and offer more colors and variety in 2015.

Golf board was making the rounds at demo day and the show.

One of the new products this year was the Golf Board. Maryville of Des Plaines golf professional Juan Espejo, takes one for a spin around the range at demo day. Based on his reaction he seems to approve on what golf board has to offer. visit golfboard.com for more information.

At the range the GRAA Golf Range Association of America had it’s space, and it’s staff offered information about operating ranges and practice facilities.

The GRAA handed out it’s award’s to the top range facilities around the country during the show. Among the award winners where the Links & Tee’s Golf facility in Addison. Congrats to Director Charles Sims who accepted the award for Links & Tee’s. The Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Dome was also a winner, Congrats to Director Kristy Vik who accepted the award on behalf of Buffalo Grove.

The upcoming days will have more about the PGA show, as the Chicago area leads into it’s own show upcoming in Rosemont Feb. 27-28 and March 1st.