THE HALFWAY HOUSE is the Chicagoland area’s place to go for indoor simulator golf, enjoy lessons, leagues and playing against your friends on over 90 courses from around the world. Daily specials include half-priced beer on Thursdays. So book your tee time today at (331)-642-8050 or visit Halfwayhousegolf.com. LINKS & TEE’S on Lake Street in Addison is your year round golf facility and just received yet another GRAA award for being one of the top facilities in the country. As the snow falls this week get to Links & Tee’s and get your game ready for summer, call (630)-233-7275 or online see Addisonparks.org. MCQ’s Dome in Bolingbrook is ready for your golf game, ready for you to play the ponies, or enjoy the Blackhawks in the sports bar. Warm weather is just around the corner so get your golf game in shape at McQ’s, then watch the Kentucky Derby preview races. Visit MCQsdome.com or call (630)-739-7600 today. ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the 11th hole at Calusa Pines in Naples Florida.

All it takes is a golf show, even and indoor one to get the golf juices flowing in people who love the game.

This past weekend was no different with the annual Chicago Golf Show in Rosemont at the Donald Stephens Convention Center.

When the doors opened on Friday, there was a long line waiting to get in. The first three and half hours it was hard to even get around the show because there was so many patrons lining the fairways or walkways between the booths.

I was temped a few times about asking some stragglers if I could “play through” but by 4 o’clock things had thinned out. I returned on Saturday from Noon until 5 PM to find show crowed again. By the time time I walked from the parking garage to the floor of the show, I passed some 60 people who had bought new club or more. Then there was a dozen more who had new golf bags over their shoulder. Hope for another great golf season is was in the air on Saturday.

Bob Stevens from Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, show off the new “Lighthouse putter”. Look closely golfers, that is not just two lighthouses in picture. Our look at Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island South Carolina coming in the days ahead.

Temperatures on Saturday jumped into the mid-50’s and had show goers ready to hit the course or the range right then and there.

Then on Sunday while some people were glued to the TV’s early to see the Blackhawks and the Captials play, many others hit the golf show after seeing it was 64 outside.

That craving for outdoor golf was really running high from the golfers.

Several of the local courses were there, especially the good ones like Mistwood, Shepherd’s Crook, Cog Hill, and the newly renovated by architect Mike Benkusky Arlington Lakes Golf Club that will reopen on July 1st of this summer.

The resorts were out in force like the French Lick Resort in Indiana, and many more from Michigan and Wisconsin. They are ready for your spring golf trip right now to get you going for the summer ahead.

Tomorrow, I’ll recap more of the show, stay tuned for part 2 of the Chicago Golf Show. While the snow is falling again now, next week the 60’s are back are so will some outdoor golf. RS