THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB 401 N. Roselle Road, invites you to be part of their year round golf season. Not only are the simulators open from 9 Am to 8 Pm daily, with new courses to pick from. But the pro shop is running a 40% sale on apparel in the pro shop. So stop by and pick out a holiday gift, and call the pro shop at (847)-885-9000 to book simulator tee times. Learn about the course renovation at Schaumburggolf.com.    _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Linkedin or Facebook. In the pro shop at Maple Meadows in Wood Dale.

ONE AND DONE, I just wish it was more. But outdoor golf in December, in the Chicago area is always a good thing.

I wanted to play one more outdoor round this year, before the temperatures and snow fall closed all the courses for good. I made it.

Maple Meadows in Wood Dale, part of DuPage Golf is still open weather permitting. So last week I tee’d off when it was 39 degrees and sunny, but 44 when I was done. I closed out the round on the par 4, 18th hole, by hitting driver-wedge to 18 feet and making par. One of the six pars I made on that windy day. That was good enough to call it a season from the golf outdoor standpoint. Now, I will take it inside to the Mistwood Golf Dome from here, until I’m off to the PGA Show in Orlando Florida in Jaunary.

BTW-As much as I enjoy Maple Meadows, I think it would be great if once the clubhouse is done and up and running at The Preserve at Oak Meadows, that DuPage Golf and the DCFPD would turn architect Greg Martin loose at Maple Meadows. A nice tune up could be done for far-less $$$$ than the Preserve project. The Preserve and Maple Meadows after renovation would create a dynamic 36 hole, 1-2 punch. PS, DuPage Golf has it’s holidays giftcards for sale, and if you order right now through the 20th, you get a bonus. Details at Dupagegolf.com.

Did you enjoy your outdoor season, is it over yet. Are you still wanting one more day outside on the links in town this year, I don’t blame you if you do, but the temperatures will be dropping starting tomorrow. Not sure we will see 50 again before 2020.

I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND the Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) Holiday Gathering last Friday. Where I learned that Jerry Rich of Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, and Mike Keiser of Keiser Golf/ Bandon Dunes/ Sand Valley and other golf projects, were both awarded Life-Time Achievement Awards from the CDGA. Congratulations to both, who unfortunately were out of town. Keith Rich GM at Rich Harvest Farms accepted for his dad, and Josh Lesnick President of Kemper Sports, and the first GM at Bandon Dunes accepted for Mike Keiser.

As a writer for the CDGA Magazine, I’m excited as anyone to see how the magazine will turn out this year, with the changes. The long time agreement to publish the magazine with Golfweek has expired and editor Rich Skyzinski retired. John Deere Classic communications boss Barry Cronin, of the Park Ridge based Cronin Communications is the new editor. Great Golf Resorts that publishes other area golf publications, jumps in on the layout and advertising and sales side.

THE NORTHBROOK PARK DISTRICT will have an open house this Saturday from 1-3 PM, to allow golfers to learn more about the course improvements coming to Sportsman’s Country Club on Dundee Road in Northbrook. The club will also be getting a new clubhouse. There will be contests, and a year end sale in the pro shop.

I TOOK A TOUR of the new Western Golf Association (WGA) offices in the Glen Area of Glenview. The WGA gets a well done, for bringing it’s entire operation together under one roof. See my story from last Friday to see photos of the facility and get all the details on the move.

HENRIK STENSON won the Hero World Championship outing this past week, edging out Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed and 15 other players who made up the HUGE field of 18 players. Reed got into a rules controversy, when his take away from an unkept waste bunker-crater saw his wedge touch sand. It cost him two shots and a chance in the playoff with Stenson. For some reason there was a big outcry about this. It’s been suggested that the outcry was only because Reed was involved. Several “Letters to Editor” of national publications, suggested the media-outcry should have been the same when Tiger Woods was caught on video with violations at the Masters and the BMW Championship (Woods was penalized at both tournaments). But he did not report the violations to rules officials at either tournament.

SPEAKING OF WOODS, he serves as Playing Captain at this weeks Presidents Cup down under in Australia, that Team USA is expected to win by a landslide. Let’s see if they do.

EAGLE RIDGE RESORT in Galena, still has Cyber Monday Sales running, and DuPage Golf has it’s holiday gift specials available. Jump online and check them out.

OUR BIG 3 Partner Len Ziehm of lenziehmongolf.com has returned with another travel column.

THE KORN-FERRY TOUR holds it’s final stage of Q-School this week, among those in the field include Northbrooks Nick Hardy, Highwoods Patrick Flavin, Jordan Hahn of Spring Grove, Brad Hopfinger from Chicgo, Andy Pope of Glen Ellyn-Now Orlando, Vince India of Deerfield, Shane Smith from Godfrey. Dawson Armstrong the 2015 Western Amateur Champion from Tennessee has qualfied for the field. Good luck everyone. Top 40 players earn tour cards, until the first shuffle.

SCOTTY CAMERON has new Phantom X putter out later this week, more details to follow. The Gog Blog returns this week-maybe tomorrow. Stay clicked in. RS