COMING MAY 19-24 The Women’s National Championships, followed by the Men’s National Championships May 26-31 both championships played at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, and hosted by Northern Illinois University. Go to NCAA.com/tickets and get your tickets today. Tickets are well priced and you get close to the action, parking of course is free. Come see the professionals of tomorrow before they play on major tours. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to Sand Valley, and on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

It’s come a long way since I made my second visit to Sand Valley in the picture to the left.

In fact the previous November, Gary Damato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentennial and I were the first golf writers to visit Sand Valley.

There were no tree’s cleared on that first visit, and it took a good sized four wheel drive pick up truck to drive the property. No car could have made it around back then.

It wasn’t much better on the second visit, but there was a place to park the cars a little closer. Some 600 acres had been cleared at that point, and Bill Coore was making regular visits to stake out the first 18 holes.

 The Par 3, 5th hole (L) and the Par 4, 9th hole (R), at Sand Valley designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

While there was some preview play last summer, the official Grand Opening for Sand Valley will be on May 2nd. There is a contest being held so that some lucky golfer will get the chance to tee it up on opening day, with the special guests that are invited.

The information to enter the contest is found at woobox.com/umfefp so take a shot at having to hit shots at Sand Valley in Wisconsin on opening day.

While you are there, you can look at the work being done on the second course by David Kidd. Whether you play or not on May 2nd, put Sand Valley on your bucket list for the summer of 2017, you will be glad you did.

    SNOW OR NO SNOW IT’S GOLF SEASON at the Schaumburg Golf Club located at 401 N. Roselle Road in Schaumburg, the new simulators are open for play. Call and get a tee time at (847)-885-9000. If your dome ready, head out to McQ’s Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook, golf, horse racing and great food. Call (630)-739-1592 or mcqsdome.com.