THE STONEDRIFT SPA at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa, is getting ready to finally open. (R) ER-Resort owner Mark Klausner. So follow all the details by visiting Eagleridge.com

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

With new Callaway Rogue Fairway woods in the Mistwood Golf Performance Center. Photo by Eric Russell.

JUST IN TIME.

MY NEW CALLAWAY Rogue ST fairway woods have landed from the Callaway plant.

They came late last week, and the early birthday presents arrived in time for the Heritage Oaks Golf Club team championship I played in with partner Patrick Crampton a fellow Heritage Oaks staffer. Second place wasn’t bad on the Low-gross side.

I did not hit the fairway woods as often as expected with Crampton bombing his drives. But when I did, they went long and straight. It did take several years to get new Callaway fairway woods, that could out perform my Callaway Steelhead fairway woods from 2017. But the Rogue ST’s proved they could do just that. #Lockandload

So I am anxious to get back on the course in a round of golf where I am playing solo, and I can hit the Rogue ST 3 & 5 woods more often. Because they are really good clubs.

OWGR and the MAJORS FOR NOW. It is really getting tiring listening to all the reports of the latest lawsuits being filed between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. I’m not totally sure why PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan choose this path to move forward on. But maybe someday cooler heads will prevail.

For now the OWGR World Ranking points are important. But if the system continues to not rank the world’s best players, they will soon become insignificant and worthless. There does seem to be some conflicts of interest as to who is sitting on the OWGR board. So maybe some resignations should be forth coming, or add Greg Norman to the board.

MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, the Masters, and the golf organizations that currently run the major championships still seem stuck on who should be able to be in their fields. It’s pretty simple really, anyone that is a past champion-where that applies, or anyone who qualifies, where that applies.

Because if the major tournaments won’t let in the best players, or players who have previously earned exemptions, they will no longer be considered majors. Because they will become minors.

I’M GLAD TO SEE THAT RORY MCILROY is back being #1 after his win last week in South Carolina. Personally I think it’s always good when a Rory is #1.

LOCALLY word is that long time Libertyville based golf architect Rick Jacobson is easing into retirement. Jacobson will finish what’s currently on his table, and head off to warmer pastures. Jacobson’s last major local project will be the Winnetka Park District course. The course is expected to close on November 1st, and might not be reopened until summer of 2024. Stay tuned. ALSO at Winnetka, word is Northbrook based KemperSports will be running the facility starting next week.

BATAVIA BASED GOLF ARCHITECT GREG MARTIN has announced he will begin master planning for the Village Links Golf Club in Glen Ellyn. But there is no announcement yet as to when any work might start at the 27 hole facility, which is due for a tune-up.

THE GRUMBLING CONTINUES from several local IPGA professionals about the treatment or lack of it, at the sections last major championship, The Players Championship at the Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe. Come-on LSCC, course maintenance happening during play in the second round. Please do rough-cut mowing and bunker work before a round starts, or after it’s over. The IPGA and our Illinois section professionals deserve better.

I’M HOPEFUL that Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa, will finally get it’s new state-of-the art spa open next week as now planned. Because supply chain issues on some products have already caused a delay of over 100 days.

The Gog Blog will return this week. RS