SPRING is coming but it’s not here yet, so in the meantime why not enjoy the comforts of Chicago’s Top Indoor golf simulator facility The Halfway House at 555 S. York Rd. in Elmhurst, where you can play over 90 courses from around the world. The Halfway House has daily specials, lessons from pro’s and leagues to join. So why not enjoy one of those high dollar courses, for a lot less by playing them at the Halfway House. Call now (331)-642-8050 or online at Halfwayhousegolf.com. LINKS & TEE’S on Lake Street in Addison is a year round award winning golf facility. The outdoor course and range are not open yet, but the golf dome is. So stay warm and dry in your final tune ups for the great days outside ahead, call Links & Tee’s at (630)233-7275 or see Addisonparks.org. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor Florida. Follow Rory’s Travel’s on facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

The weekend saw a mix in weather and just enough change to show the best is still yet to come.

I know the need to get outside is starting to get in everyone’s system, yeah mine too. But if you want to get your get right before you go outside, you still might wish to practice indoors.

Award  winning domes like Links & Tee’s in Addison, MCQ’s dome in Bolingbrook or simulator golf like at the Halfway House in Elmhurst are all good options. With Sunday’s rain and cooler temps the courses that are open might play a little soggy this week. So don’t be afraid to give them a little time to dry out and firm up. If your really ready to play outside in some drier conditions, take advantage of spring break and head south or southwest.

If your headed southwest to see spring training baseball there are plenty of good courses around the Phoenix area. If your heading southeast there are even more to pick from. I have posted stories in the last few days about Innisbrook, Santee South Carolina and Charlotte North Carolina. Nothing wrong with any of those places.

The opening hole on Copperhead home of the Valspar Championship, that concluded yesterday at the Innisbrook Resort.

Did you watch any of the TV coverage from the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook this past week. If so you saw the Innisbrook resort which is really on the come back trail under owner Sheila Johnson who has put some money back into the property. Valspar extended it’s contract with the tour and resort into 2020, which shows how great golf at Innisbrook is being received. For the second straight year the championship had record crowds.

It shows, and not only on the Copperhead Course but around the property. The Tampa area is a great place to spend the spring, and Innisbrook is a great place for golf and many other activities. See my story on Innisbrook from a few days back for more details. I enjoyed my weekend stay right after the PGA Show in January and you will too if you visit. Copperhead is a PGA Tour course you can play, take advantage of that by visiting visitinnisbrook.com or calling (800)-456-2000.

Santee National, Par 5 second hole. Santee South Carolina

On my way to Florida I stopped off in Santee South Carolina for the first time, and found some great golf off the coast in South Carolina. Don’t get me wrong I love Myrtle Beach, the Charleston area and Hilton Head Island, but was surprised how good the golf was a bit inland. Santee is about 55-60 miles northwest of Charleston, and worth the drive our from Charleston to visit.

I was impressed by Santee National and villas just off the first tee, I opened my 2016 golf season there after getting snowed out on Pinehurst #8, and while No.8 is a great course I have no complaints after playing Santee National. If you want some quality golf away from the water, try Santee by visiting GolfSantee.com.

The 18th Hole at the Ballantyne Golf & Resort in Charlotte NC.

Charlotte North Carolina just might be more of a golf destination than most golfers think.

Due to scheduling I had time to only play one golf course while in town, and had to do it on a 40 degree day.

I had played Ballantyne Country Club 4 years ago, but got to play the resort course at the Ballantyne Hotel this time. The course is not bad for being squeezed in around a business complex, but have several holes that have a true North Carolina feel to them. If business brings you to Charlotte consider Ballantyne. While I was in Charlotte I stayed at the best Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites I have ever stayed in, which was located on McDowell Street. The suites were excellent and comfortable and the staff was always ready to go the extra mile. The Fairfield Marriott is located near the NASCAR Hall of Fame and not far from the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers home stadium.

My good friend Ray Roth formerly of Mt. Prospect and Barrington, now of Charlotte took me to a great Italian Restaurant called Mama Ricotta’s near the Marriott. Make sure if your going for dinner you get there early enough before the line to get a table gets too long. I highly recommend the Lasagna.

So if your ready for outdoor golf in warm weather, Innisbrook Resort north of Tampa Florida, Santee South Carolina and Charlotte North Carolina are all good options. Feel free to check them out.

Veteran golf scribe Len Ziehm playing the Conservatory Golf Club in Florida.

BIG 3 Partner Len Ziehm has the Ziehm machine on the road again as he works his way back towards Chi-Town.

Visit Lenziehmongolf.com to see his travel notebook, and reports on the World Golf Hall of Fame, Amelia island, and Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Ziehm reports he is now in route to Myrtle Beach South Carolina, and will have another report in a few days.

Ziehm’s weekly column in the Arlington Heights based Daily Herald, returns at the end of the month and runs into October this fall.

I TOOK a tour around the Arlington Lakes Golf Course in Arlington Heights this past week, the course reopens on July 1st from renovation. The clubhouse will open a little sooner from it’s renovation work. Arlington Lakes will be a fun sporty course with 3 and 6 hole short loops for those without the time for 9 or 18. So put ALGC on your schedule for this July. In Arlington Hts. play the best 9-hole Par 3 course in town the Nickol Knoll golf club on (Walter) Payton’s Hill, play 9 holes in 90 minutes and always fun. The course is expected to be open by next weekend.

Here in town lets hope to get some dry out days later this week, so our courses start to firm up for the summer ahead. RS