THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME IS OPEN and the Mistwood Golf Course is now closed for the season. But the famed Mistwood Honey is available in McWethy’s Tavern in Romeoville. Some honey “could” make it’s way to McWethy’s Sportsbar in Bolingbrook at the dome. So stay tuned. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome (630)-739-7600.
***SPECIAL EDITION*** of The Gog Blog Speaks Out-by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn or Facebook.
Rory Spears at his home club Heritage Oaks Golf Club in Northbrook Illinois, with the new Callaway Rogue ST driver and Brava BGT Golf Shaft.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING TALK is starting to drive the fairways of life.
Golf properties and everyone else for that matter, is talking Black Friday sales.
MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB is having it’s annual Black Friday Sale at the Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, with the doors opening at 7 AM.
But before you start thinking about what to get your favorite golfer next week or in December, I wanted to put out a few thoughts from year of observations while working Outdoor Operations at Heritage Oaks Golf Club over the last 7+ months.
So if your thinking that buying someone new clubs is too expensive, and it might be. There are plenty of other options if your budget doesn’t work for a new $600+driver.
I will have upcoming features on great golf gifts over the next few weeks, so do stay tuned in or clicked in.
What I saw at times this summer was amazing, and there are plenty of golfers who need some help with golf accessories other than clubs.
APPAREL IS UP FIRST-if your favorite golfer heads out to play every day with that U.S. Open hat from Torrey Pines it’s time for a change. Especially if it’s from 2008 when Tiger beat Rocco Mediate in the playoff. Yes I did see someone still wearing a 2008 U.S. Open hat on a regular basis this summer. Will someone “please” buy him a new hat.
SHIRTS-always a great idea. If your regular foursome member is still wearing the 2012 Ryder Cup shirt from Medinah-please order them something new. The BMW Championship is a great event run by the Western Golf Association (WGA). But shirts from the 2015 championship at Conway Farms have had their day. The championship is back at Olympia Fields in 2023-load up on the clocktower logos from OFCC.
TOWELS-I saw someone who had a washrag from their bathroom clipped to their bag not long ago. Seriously a wash rag from your bathroom as your golf towel. Please will someone get this person a real golf towel from a nice course. Heritage Oaks has nice ones, so do many other courses.
SHOES-I saw some golf shoes that looked like they came from a Waste Management dumpster. Not only were the spikes down to the sole, but the sides weren’t looking very waterproof at this stage of their life. Shoes are always a great option, with or without spikes. I am now wearing Sqairz golf shoes which are outstanding. But there are other good brands as well. It’s not fun watching golfers trying to swing fast that do not have a good pair golf shoes with spikes on their feet.
GOLF BAGS-I saw more people who couldn’t lift their bags out of their trunks because they are so heavy. Because as somebody who carried my fair-share of golf bags this summer. What in the name of lead weights are you putting in your bag. First-up the legal limit on clubs is 14, not 16 or 18. There is NO NEED to stuff your bag full of 200-300 golf balls. 36 handicappers don’t lose that many on courses overloaded with water and wetland area’s.
IF YOUR LUGGING in alcohol or a 12 pack of soda in your bag. Please stop, most all courses sell Gatorade or Powerade for those really hot days. Maybe it’s time for a new bag, a lightweight bag. Especially if the stand on your carry bag doesn’t work.
HEAD COVERS-head covers these days are like Rodney Dangerfield-they get no respect. Heritage Oaks had hundreds of lost head covers that nobody claimed, came back to look for or even called the pro shop about. If I sold every head cover in our lost and found for $1, I could afford to take a foursome to Pebble Beach. Go buy your golfer a holiday head cover-they might need one-or two or three.
BAG TAGS-I saw some of the worst looking bag tags on bags this summer. So if you have the round plastic one from the 2014 health care outing. Cut it off already, along with the other three from courses like Concrete Fairways GC and Way too many Trees Golf Links. Nobody cares that you played there. Get rid of ugly bag tags, and get a nice metal one from a good course. Get you name engraved on it and go from there.
GOLF GLOVES-if your glove looks, smells and feels like it has been through a several rainstorms and too many long practice range sessions. Buy a new glove, the holes in the palms of the gloves show it belongs in the garbage can.
GOLF BALLS I saw and found more left behind golf balls in carts, to fill up 55 gallon garbage cans. I found plenty of golf balls that top name golf companies used to make, like back in 2006. But why are you first getting rid of them now, it shouldn’t take a tree or cart path scuff to finally leave it in the cart after your done playing. I think most golfers need a dozen new golf balls. So new golf balls make a great gift.
GOLF UMBRELLA’S I saw far too many umbrellas that were worthless in light drizzles, much less the heavy stuff. If your favorite golfer doesn’t stay home every time a green patch appears on their weather APP, they might need an umbrella.
GOLF SLACKS-if your golf pants have more holes in them, than a misguided teenager trying to make a fashion statement, get some new pants.
BUY A BALL RETRIVER for those who play plenty of golf at courses with far too much water on them.
THE AIRLINES ARE BRUTAL on golf bag travel covers, which is why I bought a new one this fall. Just in time for that next trip to Florida, or somewhere warm this winter.
THESE ARE A FEW thoughts, I will have more before December 25th arrives. RS