A SIX PACK FROM THE NEW MCWETHY’S TAVERN, the word is getting out and the newest dining experience in the western suburbs is already a success. McWethy’s Tavern located in Mistwood Golf Club, is open year round even when the course is closed. Mistwood Golf Club will be reopening for the 2016 golf season in April. Enjoy the wide-ranging menu that mixes golf into a fine dining atmosphere. There is no need to wait for the outdoor golf season to get to McWethy’s Tavern. So go enjoy McWethy’s Tavern at Mistwood Golf Club by calling (815)-254-7001 or go to Mcwethystavern.com.  _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedn and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the tee at Lochenheath Golf Club, Grand Traverse Michigan.

This past weekend the Chicago Golf Show got thousands of area golfers fired up for the 2016 golf season.

Whether it was visiting local courses like Mistwood in Romeoville, Shepherds Crook in Zion, Cog Hill in Lemont, or the newly renovated Arlington Lakes in Arlington Hts., traveling to resorts like French Lick in Indiana, Boyne or Grand Traverse in Michigan, Kohler or Erin Hills in Wisconsin there was much to get excited about.

At least 60 show patrons were seen carrying new clubs out the door, another 10 had new golf bags and that was what I saw while just walking in on Saturday.

 The LPGA International Crown moves to Merit Club in July of 2016, and this summers tournaments were part of the show.

The 2016 Sr. PGA will be played for the third time at the Harbor Shores Golf Club on Memorial Day weekend

Not only was the Sr. PGA Championship from Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor Michigan present with the booth at the show, so was the new Champions Tour event to be played in Madison/Verona Wisconsin that will have Steve Stricker as the chairman.

Erin Hills that will host the 2017 U.S Open, that finally returns to the Midwest, had a replica US Open trophy there in the booth with them.

There are not many U.S. Open courses that anyone can play. So why not make a run up to Erin Hills this summer and play the 2017 U.S. Open course, they have already sold over 7,000 tee times for the year. Erinhills.com.

Declan Cooney (L) and his staff operate the Bridges Golf Tour that plays many of Chicago’s top public courses.

Declan Cooney and the Bridges Golf Tour is working it’s way around the area for local players, along with the Golfweek Amateur Tour headed up by Rob McGuire.

On the main stage was some of the local Illinois PGA professionals including three-time IPGA teacher of the year award winner Kevin Weeks.

Weeks and some of the other professionals work with some former Chicago Bears players including Superbowl champion Emery Moorehead on his golf game.

   The mini-golf course part of the Illinois PGA Village was created by pro’s Hans Larson of Westmoreland CC, and Patrick Lynch of Cantigny. Trey Van Dyck now teaching at Cog Hill created a putting zone area that popular with show patrons (L). Former Illinois PGA teacher of the year Chuck Lynch (M) from the White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville has created Swingtrak, a training aid that is catch on quickly among the teaching professionals and golf students that have tried it. Swingtrak.com. Former Illinois Open Champion Dino Lucchesi (R), now has a practice facility in Grayslake, and off the course is showing the folks from Wisconsin that Illinois, is where you you find the best Bratwurst.

If you went did you try the long putt contest, I saw 2 people make it. The 85 foot putt is uphill and breaks left to right at the end. I hoep everyone who was there picked up there FREE GOLF courtesy of GolfVisions, you can’t beat free golf.

It’s to bad the snow is back today, but that means another great week in the domes or the simulators at places the Halfway House in Elmhurst at 555 S. York Road. Next week the 60 degree temps return. The Gog Blog returns tomorrow. The Chicago Golf Show returns next year, be there. RS