THE HALFWAY HOUSE is your place for simulator golf, play over 90 courses world wide and test your game. Located next to HB Jones at 555 S. York Rd in Elmhurst the Halfway House has daily specials, and is the perfect place for golf as a single or in groups. Make your tee time today at Halfwayhousegolf.com or call (331)-642-8050. McQs Dome is open for golf, horse racing or fun in the sports bar complete with great BBQ. Until Mistwood Golf Club opens in April, why not take lessons from the Mistwood Golf staff at MCQ’s, they can also fit you for new clubs. Go to Mcqsdome.com for details ______________________________________________________________________

The GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. On the Olympia Fields South Course.

When you look outside today the in Chicagoland area, it gives you the feeling that the old NHL Hockey ad had back years ago, when the league was shown on the USA Network.

You can feel it, getting stronger, getting louder, the atmosphere building. NHL Hockey, Feel the Thunder.

Today it’s more like, you can feel it getting warmer, being sunny, drying up, the snow melting away. Right now it’s, get out the clubs, outdoor golf see the ball fly.

Mistwood Golf Club opening soon, McWethy’s Tavern OPEN NOW. See McWethystavern.com open year round, along with the Great Hall, open dates filling fast. Mistwoodgc.com

Today is not the end of it. Tomorrow it gets warmer,Mid-60’s, and Wednesday even better. After a quick dip on Thursday and Friday, back in the 60’s on the weekend.

The golf courses are opening. Cog Hill in Lemont courses #1 and #3 actually stay open all year. St. Andrews in West Chicago has an open course.

Maple Meadows in Wood Dale has opened as of today, and Oak Meadows will remain closed for 2016 and reopen next after the renovation is complete. Up in Lake County in Vernon Hills White Deer Run is open as of today. Foxford Hills in Cary has opened today as well.

I credit those who have opened the doors already, hopefully those courses are dry enough to sustain play this early in the season. If your favorite course is closed or you are not ready to head outside just yet, the golf domes are still open and will be until the end of the month. The turf outside probably does need a good week or two of some warm weather to dry out, but the frost line should be under five feet in many places and that is good.

Several other courses might be open by the weekend, or even next week if this week stays good. As of now some reports say there is no snow in the forecast up until the first day of spring in about 12 days. It’s a start.

BEST OF LUCK to the #1 Fighting Illini, Mike Smalls men’s golf team is in for a challenge this week as many of the top 50 programs are in the battle just outside of Las Vegas.

So get ready everyone, outdoor golf season is coming soon. The Gog Blog is back tomorrow with a look at Johnny Millers visit last week to Medinah Country Club and new glove he is endorsing. RS