MIKE MANDAKAS’ ELEVATION GOLF is now open in Willowbrook, lessons, fittings, simulator play and more see Elevationus.com. (R) CALLAWAY Golf 2018 coming soon. pictured above, the Roger Cleveland, Mack Daddy Callaway wedges. Callawaygolf.com ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Director of Content Rory Spears. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE that just one week ago, it was 66 degrees and I was playing outdoor golf at DuPage Golf’s Maple Meadows.

Today my furnace just kicked in again as it’s only 38 degrees outside. Yes it is dome season or it’s indoor golf facility season at places like True Spec Golf in Highland Park, or Elevation Golf located in Willowbrook.

What those places have showed me in the last couple of months, is that there is really a reliable way to get properly fitted for the clubs that will help you play your best golf on the course. If your thinking new clubs this winter, do not hesitate to check out either of those places before buying. You should make sure family members get you a fitting, instead of buying you clubs off the rack at a golf store this holiday season. It’s a smart way to spend your money.

THE TIGER TRAP, I get it that it’s the slow season for golf on TV, but the big circus over Tiger Woods playing in a silly-season event was no big deal. The golf media needs to learn to not fall back into the Tiger Trap that haunted golf for years. Golf is not just about Woods. There is no player in the history of the sport that has brought “more shame to the game” than Woods. For those of you that like to call him “The Goat” (greatest of all time), you need serious help. Get over it now, Woods is not and never will be The Goat, but has a chance to continue to be “a goat” when it comes to golf and life in general.

As you look at years old numbers on participation in the sport of golf, or TV viewing numbers, you can see the drop in them coming from back in “Woods hey-day” of the sport. It’s hard not to laugh when these days someone is quick to say “well he moves the needle”. Yeah well what needle is he moving, and in what direction is he moving it in.

It was shocking to see the Hero Outing get mentioned with only Woods score being given. On day three here in Chicago, at least WBBM radio’s Rick Gregg finally mentioned the great golf, LEADER Charlie Hoffman was playing. On Sunday night CBS 2’s Megan Mawicke finally announced Rickie Fowler had won. At least Rick and Megan got the story right, can’t say much for many other media types who ignored the real major story line.

The Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee is not jumping on the Woods bandwagon and now “The Shark” Greg Norman is agreeing with Chamblee. As Woods prepares later this month to turn 42, and coming off his latest back surgery (there have been several) along with multiple knee surgeries and other injuries. It’s hard to believe there is still enough in the tank to make a run against the stars of today’s game like Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and a few others.

2018 marks 13 years since his last Masters win, 12 years since last British Open win, 11 years since last PGA Championship win, 10 years since last U.S. Open win.

In all reality, the next chance Woods has to win a major, is when he turns 50 and goes to the Champions Tour, if he elects to do that. His 9th place finish in a field of 18 players, half of them on vacation during the Hero event, doesn’t show us much at all. The fact Woods moved up several hundred spots in the World Golf rankings from that outing is a laugh, and even Spieth wasted no time getting on Twitter to poke fun at the situation.

I’m looking forward to 2018 and the tournaments coming to the Chicago area and the Midwest. I’m not looking forward to a 2018 golf season, that’s all Tiger-Tiger-Tiger. Been there, done that, won’t do it again, time to move forward.

USGA and R&A finally rule on call in’s for rule violations. It’s about time. As of now there are no more call in’s accepted from television viewers for rules violations. This was long overdue and golf can move forward without controversies coming from what viewers see at home. Details are still unfolding, and I will post more in another story, likely after the USGA put’s out an official statement on the new rule.

The Gog Blog returns this week. Go buy golf presents for everyone in your favorite foursome in the holiday season we are currently enjoying. RS