THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB at 401 N. Roselle Road is a now a year round golf facility, and has upgraded it’s simulator bays to include courses like TPC Sawgrass (R) and the 2018 and 2020 Ryder Cup venues. Chandlers Chophouse is located right upstairs so enjoy great food while golfing. Schaumburggolf.com or (847)-885-9000.        _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. In the 18th fairway on the Mid Pines Golf Course.

THE 2019 GOLF SEASON IS UNDERWAY, and that’s a start. After heading south and east from the French Lick Resort, Pinehurst North Carolina has been the next stop.

This year I did not drive into Pinehurst right after a blizzard dumped 4-5 inches of snow on the ground. But the rain and cold temperatures have been a hassle, but I’m playing golf. I have six rounds in the books, and two more to go, before I leave town. Which I will do before the weekend and early next week before weather gets cold and rainy again.

There is so much going here in Pinehurst and the surrounding communities it’s hard to believe. For years this sleepy little part of North Carolina didn’t change much, that is no longer true. It’s more than just golf course renovations or golf related changes, so if your headed this way to play, or take in the two big golf events in 2019, your in for some fun.

Those two big golf tournaments are both USGA related. First on the tee in May from the 16th to the 19th is the U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Pine Needles, and then in August the U.S. Amateur at the Pinehurst Resort, on courses #2 and the recently renovated #4 by Gil Hanse.  I get a shot at #4 today, so I’ll see how that turned out and report back.

The weather has not been great, in fact if I was at home I probably would not have played due to the low 35-45 degree temperatures. Yesterday while on Pinehurst 2, the sun did come out the last 5 holes and temps jumped up to a balmy 53. That has been the warmest yet. Today will be better and that can’t come fast enough.

The Mistwood Golf Dome, Chicago’s premier golf done is now open daily until 10 PM, come check out Toptracer and McWethy’s Sportsbar. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600

While golf at the Pinehurst Resort is outstanding, there are other options that are very good as well.

I went back to where my golf experience started in Pinehurst some 22 years ago, with a round on Mid Pines, an old classic Donald Ross course that’s really good especially after a renovation of a few years back. The Mid Pines Hotel is having work done and the property is improving across the board. Across the street Pine Needles is looking outstanding already with the U.S. Sr. Women’s Open only 4 months away. The ladies enjoyed the Chicago Golf Club last July, and they will enjoy a return to Pine Needles this May, that also has it’s fourth U.S. Women’s Open coming up in just a few years.

The Talamore Resort that includes Talamore and the Mid South Club is another winner and provides two great stay and play options. Another thing is the home building going up around both courses, don’t let articles that say buying a home on a golf course is a bad investment fool you. The home are going up at both Talamore and Mid South and there are no shortage of buyers.

I had a chance to play the Coore-Crenshaw design of the Dormie Club, that has a little bit of the scruffy look that golfers who enjoy Mike Keiser properties would enjoy. I’ll have a full story on the Dormie Club in the days ahead.

Pinehurst Resort is continuing to evolve. The new steam plant brewery is crowded every night, table waits can be 30-45 minutes but it’s worth the wait. The Cradle, the Gil Hanse 789 yard par 3 course is nothing short of fun. Complete with one of the more unique beverage carts you will ever see, and a few rocks in the love grass that serve as covers for the speakers that play music add a great touch. As I tee’d off on the third hole I found Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir playing through out the course, very good indeed.

The Cradle is the resorts tenth course, unofficially it’s Pinehurst #10, but No. 10 only has nine holes. Pinehurst that is known as the Home of American Golf or the Cradle of American Golf, really has something going with this fun short course.

If you love golf, then Pinehurst is the place for you. Or even if you don’t. I did meet a couple from Naperville that just moved to Pinehurst, sold their house in Illinois and just moved. They don’t even play golf, they just loved the area. It’s hard not to. RS