THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is now open daily until 10 PM. Now complete with Toptracer range technology, McWethy’s Sportsbar and the OTB that will have you ready for Derby Day in just over 75 days. Get fitted for clubs by fitters that run one of the Top 100 fitting locations in America. Right now you can get a special price on fitting and don’t forget the Mistwood trade-in deal on your old clubs. The Callway Epic Flash day is tomorrow from 8 AM until 2 PM. For details on everything at Mistwood and the Dome see Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600 #demoday _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin or Facebook. Lights, camera, Callaway, in the Mistwood Golf Dome, Callaway Day tomorrow from 8-2 hit the Flash.

DRIVE FOR SHOW AND PUTT FOR DOUGH, is the old saying.

This past week our features have shown you how to drive it, and put on that show, now it’s time to make some dough.

Can you putt ? do you need help with the right putter, do you need to find the right putter. The answer to those questions and more can be found by looking up what Callaway/Odyssey are doing in the world of putters for 2019.

What do you know about EXO the new line of putters from Odyssey. If you are looking for more details, let us get you started. EXO putters with the Stroke Lab Shafts are a combination of three new creations by Odyssey. EXO construction, White Hot Microhinge Insert, and Stroke Lab Weighting. The finished product is a line of high-tech  putters designed to help golfers sink more putts.

Click here to hear Austie Rollinson the Chief Designer of Odyssey Putters speak to what’s new on the Odyssey Putter Line for 2019.

Odyssey Chief putter designer Austie Rollinson holds a new mallet putter from Odyssey at the PGA Merchandise Show.

EXO available for pre-order on March 15th, is maximum forgiveness on a smoother stroke. The construction allows for more weight to be distributed around the perimeter, which gives the golfer an increased MOI for better speed control and accuracy. The EXO Seven or Seven S, or Rossie putters have all received top ratings, including five stars on the Seven S and Rossie.

Stroke Lab Shaft Weighting should increase your performance on the green, along with the Face-balanced and Toe-Hang options to fit your stroke.

The EXO is not all that’s new for the year ahead, you can also see the new Stroke Lab putters, and the Redball putters, or O-Works. Several options to pick from in weighting and design on all of the putters. To learn more about Callaway/Odyssey putters please visit Odysseygolf.com

REYNOLDS AT LAKE OCONEE, Six golf courses, by five great architects, four marina’s and three choices, resort guest, membership or homeowner, do you have Georgia on Your Mind ? Reynoldslakeoconee.com THE SCHAUMBURGGOLF.COM can show you the way to enjoy year round golf at the Schaumburg Golf Club, simulators bays are open today, go play, be ready for the opening of nine more hole renovated holes about July 1st this summer, The Baer Nine is waiting for you, have your game ready to go. Now more Top 100 courses than ever before, and Ryder Cup venues (847)-885-9000.    ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. With Roger Cleveland designer of Callaway Wedges.

WHEN ROGER CLEVELAND talks, people listen. Especially these days when it comes to wedges.

Cleveland the founder of Cleveland Golf, left the name behind and moved on to Callaway Golf, where he has designed clubs for years for players like Phil Mickelson and Annika Sorenstam.

His latest line of wedges the PM’s initialed after you know who bring yet another level of technology to the clubs that are the first key to any short game success.

Out of the sand, out of the rough, off the tight lie in the fairway, need a green side flop, a long bunker shot, an up and down from the deep hay, something you can bump and run with when that’s what the shot calls for. How about a club that will back up the ball with some spin, on fast greens, or real fast greens.

52-54-56-58-60 or more the new Mack Daddy wedges can get you dialed in, so that next putt is a little easier to make.

CALLAWAY WEDGES on Display at Demo Day were a popular attraction. Callaway wedge designer Roger Cleveland shows off the Mack Daddy’s int he convention center.

What makes Mack Daddy so good that even players like “Lefty” are using them when not using wedges with his PM design involved.

Click here to hear the latest on wedges and wedge design by Callaway wedge lead designer Roger Cleveland.

If your grooves are worn down, and you are not getting spin from them, it’s time for new wedges. If you hit too many line drives that sail over the green from inside of 100 yards, the bounce on your wedges needs to be dialed in. Can get out of the rough, can get out of the bunkers, go get fitted, and get new wedges. The short game is the key to the scoring game, get yours dialed in and lower your scores and handicap.

For more information on Callaway products and Callaway wedges by Roger Cleveland. Visit Callawaygolf.com.

 THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB at 401 Roselle Road in Schaumburg is now a year round facility. Be ready for when outdoor golf season arrives, including the opening of the renovated Baer Nine around July 1st, by playing golf all winter long. The simulators have new Top 100 rated courses including Le Golf National in Paris, home of the 2018 Ryder Cup, and Whistling Straits in Kohler/Haven Wiscosnin home of the 2020 Ryder Cup. Book a simulator time at (847)-885-9000 or visit Schaumburgolf.com #golfallyear    ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Linkedin or Facebook. With the new Callaway Epic Flash Driver, at the Brad Brewer Academy in Orlando.

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE DRIVER, or the golf ball, or the wedges, putters, golf bags or shoes.

Callaway Golf has launched a new set of Irons, that like the Epic Flash Driver or the ERC Soft Golf ball, you can now purchase in pro shops and golf retails stores around the country.

Are you ready for a new set of Irons, with much of the focus this at the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show on Drivers and Putters, the irons have somewhat been lost in the shadows.

But Callaway has created a set of irons called the Apex Irons, that will give you some extra distance off the club face.

Steven Sourigno Callaway Golf Product Manager

The new Callaway Forged Distance Iron is the only iron to earn 20 of 20 stars in the Golf Digest Hot List for equipment (matching the Epic Flash Driver that was the only driver to earn the same rating from GD).

What makes the Apex so good, well because it’s everything a golfer looks for when ripping an iron off the fairway or off the tee box, on a par 3, or when solid accuracy is needed.

From a technology standpoint, the Apex Iron is the best iron that Callaway has ever designed.

Click here to hear the interview with Steven Sourigno, Callaway Irons Golf Product manager, and learn more about the new Callaway Apex Irons.

If your looking for more distance from your irons, with a better feel at impact, better ball flight and trajectory, then it’s time that you test out the new Callaway Apex Irons. Find out what all the new technology can bring to your game. Visit Callawaygolf.com and if your thinking about purchasing a new set of Irons, please remember that like with all new clubs, do get fitted. Mistwood Golf Dome is rated a Top 100 fitting location in the country, and has a Callaway Golf Day coming up this Saturday morning starting at 8 AM.

 THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME open every day until 10 PM, come out this Saturday morning for Callaway’s Epic Flash demo day running until 2 PM. After hitting the new Flash, stay for lunch in McWethy’s Sportsbar, the best food service at any dome in the the Chicago area. Located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. See Mistwoodgolfdome.com or you can call (630)-739-7600. Mistwood and Mistwood Golf Dome are rated a Top 100 Club Fitting location in the country by the staff at Golf Digest Magazine. #getfittedfornewclubs ______________________________________________________________________

Golfersongolf.com THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory @GogBlogGuy, and on Linkedin or Facebook. In the 18th fairway at Mid-Pines, by Donald Ross, in Southern Pines NC. with Callaway 3-5 Wood steelhead clubs. Photo by Mid-Pines staffer Ross Hutchinson.

FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE. How can that be possible, but it is.

The new Callaway Epic Flash Driver, with the new Flash-face technology.

It’s so fast that Barry Allen would have trouble keeping up with it, okay maybe that’s a stretch since the Flash himself can really move.

But the Epic is back and Callaway says it’s better than before. The Epic Flash Driver has moves, and the ball once you hit it moves even faster. Which = more speed to more distance, and more yardage.

With the Epic Flash Driver, and showing the new target on the Flash face of the club. (photo by Larry Spalla)

The “Flash Face” technology is an improvement to what has been the “jailbreak” technology that was included in the first Epic Driver, and then the Rogue Driver of last year.

Evan Gibbs, Callaway’s Director of R&D for Woods, says that the Boeing team that Callaway worked with in the past, was not involved in the new Epic Flash, but much of what was learned from the time spent with the “airplane people” was used in the creation of the Epic Flash.

Evan Gibbs Director of R&D for Callaway’s wood clubs, holds a new Epic Flash driver in the Callaway booth at the PGA merchandise show.

Callaway added what they call Artificial Intelligence in the creation of the Epic Flash, the first known time that this has been part of the design of a golf club.

“AI” connected with machine learning, gave Callaway the option to create some 15,000 Prototypes of the club. On the average, a new driver by other companies might have 6 or 7 Prototypes before entering into production. 15,000 faces of iterations were studied before the Flash Face that would be the face of the driver was decided upon by Callaway.

Options, for all of you with a “need for speed”.

The face of the new Epic Flash driver, has the target, or sweet spot put right on the face, so you will know if you hit it, or not.

Players that are hitting it, include Callaway professional tour staff player Xander Schauffele who put the Flash Driver in play the first of week of the PGA Tour 2019 season. Schauffele then went on to shoot 62 in the final round of the Sentry Insurance Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, and win the championship. The winning with Epic Flash has not stopped there. This past weekend at Pebble Beach, Phil Mickelson rallied in the final round to defeat Paul Casey and win the title, helping make Phil a front runner for this years U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in June.

Click here to hear the interview with Evan Gibbs, the Callaway Director of R&D for Woods.

For more information on the new Callaway Epic Flash driver, visit Callawaygolf.com.

TIRED OF THE OUTDOOR WINTER SEASON IN CHICAGO, it’s now time to take the game indoors, to be ready for the outdoor season. The simulators at the Schaumburg Golf Club are a great way to play some Top 100 and Ryder Cup Courses. Golf in short sleeves, while enjoying the food and beverage of Chandlers Chophouse right upstairs, Schaumburg should have 18 of it’s 27 holes renovated an opened for play by July 1st., so be ready when the course is ready. Go hit it inside now. Schaumburggolf.com or do call (847)-885-9000 and make your tee time today. DO YOU WANT TO LET IT FLY, if your ready for some ball flight head to the home of Toptracer, where you can play the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links, while in the Mistwood Golfdome, located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. Now open daily until 10 PM. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or (630)-793-7600.    ____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Linkedin and Facebook. With the Callaway Epic Flash Driver at the Brad Brewer Academy in Orlando Florida.

THE 2019 PGA SHOW has been over for a couple of weeks, but the good news all the sights and sounds from the show are still coming out here for the time being.

I still have plenty of interviews to share, stories to tell, and pictures to post from the week that started golf for the current year. I will keep you going with many things golf, until you can attend the Chicago Golf Show Feb. 22-24 at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Visit Chicagogolfshow.com and order your tickets today, and take advantage of various discounts being offered.

This coming Saturday at the Mistwood Golf Dome from 8 Am until 2 Pm is a Callaway Day, where you can come and hit the new Epic Flash Driver. If you have any thoughts of being better or longer off the tee this year, the Epic Flash is the perfect way to start.

In a year where new drivers are on the market, the Epic Flash is one of the good ones. The new Titleist TS-2 and TS-3 metals might be the best driver they have designed in a while, and the new Wilson Cortex that won the Driver vs Driver 2 program, sold out it’s first run and has helped Wilson have a resurgence in golf sales. PGA Champions Tour players are warming up with Batavia based Tour Edge Exotics, six top Champions Tour as both of Chicago’s golf club companies are on the move in the right direction.

During my time at the show, I spoke with several of the design leaders at Callaway and Odyssey and will have their stories in the week ahead. CEO Chip Brewer has the company moving in the right direction, and little-by-little Callaway’s numbers keep growing on all the tours, just look closely. Callaway staffer Phil Mickelson just have a big win at Pebble Beach this past weekend, and he is using the new ERC Callaway Soft Golf Ball with the three alignment lines. I have hit the ball and it’s good. It flew well in the 35-45 degree weather I played in, during my recent week in Pinehurst. The new wedges that Phil created with Callaway Wedge designer Roger Cleveland, have a good feel to them as well. I haven’t really tested the Callaway Iron line yet, but they are on the hit list.

Before I wrap it up, a few thoughts. One of the best things I have seen written on the proposed Chicago South Shore Lake Front golf project, was just written by Golf Chicago Magazine Founder Bill Daniels, in this past Sundays SwingU Clubhouse-The Truth about Tigers Chicago Golf Course is really well done. Do check it out, to find out what’s really going on with the project, and some of the Chicago style-politics behind the scene.

I liked the recent poll that suggested when college coaches are helping their players fill out their summer tournament schedules, they are suggesting the top places to play are the Women’s Western Amateur National Amateur Championship, and the Western Amateur. The WGA junior championship for boys was at the top of the list too, and that will be played at Rich Harvest Farms this June. the Women’s Western Amateur hits the ground at Royal Melbourne C.C. designed by the late Bob Spence (Greg Norman).

The Gog Blog returns later tonight. RS

  THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook, is Chicago’s premier indoor golf dome. Now complete with Toptracer technology, the Mistwood Golf Dome is also home to McWethy’s Sportsbar, the best dining experience at any dome in the Chicago area. Play the ponies in the OTB and be ready for derby day that is less than 90 days away. See mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600. THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB has become a year round facility with the addition of it’s simulator bays in the basement. Located on Roselle Road near Woodfield Mall. Schaumburg has added new Top 100 and Ryder Cup courses. Call (847)-885-9000 or Schaumburggolf.com. #golf      _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by RORY SPEARS. Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin or Facebook. On the 17th green at the Ocean Course of the Hammock Beach Resort.

THE BIG TEN MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP went to the Buckeyes of Ohio State. Who thumped Illinois the #1 seed in the semi-finals and earn a chance to play #10 Maryland in the finals. Earlier in the championship, Maryland knocked off #2 Northwestern, that did not play well in the matches.

Ohio State had Illinois down 5-1 late in the match, but Illinois rallied to lose by only a 3.5-2.5 score. Illinois won it’s third place match over Nebraska by a score of 5-1.

Northwestern that entered the matches with a #2 seed, never got going. Losing all three of it’s matches, to Maryland, then Purdue, and finally Michigan State.

THE DORMIE NETWORK  has acquired the Lester George designed Ballyhack Golf Club. The club that fits into the Blue Ridge Mountains near Roanoke Virginia, and rolls through some 400 acres. George calls the property, “the prettiest piece of land in the entire Shenandoah Valley for a golf course. It has that Scottish Highlands look, and it just intrigued me.”

George known for his work at the acclaimed Kinloch Golf Club near Richmond, needed a while to line up the investors, then purchase the land. George pieced together some two dozen routing’s so that his partners had options to look at. The work began in 2007, and opened in 2009 as the economy went down the drain.

Now entering year four as part of the Dormie Network, improvements continue to be made on this course that has matured into the original vision. For more information on Ballyhack or the Dormie Network, visit Dormienetwork.com, and see what membership can offer to various golf destinations.

THE FIRST TEE of The Quad Cities hires it’s first Executive Director, Sara Cross. Cross has a background in Sports Management, from Northern Illinois University, and had worked previously with the Boy Scouts of America. For more information on the First Tee Program of the Quad Cities Area, see thefirstteequadcities.org.

FOXFORD HILLS in Cary will host it’s 16th annual Night-Golf Event “Pars Under The Stars on Friday May 10th starting at 5 PM, and the event runs through 10 PM. $280 per foursome, includes golf/cart, glow in the dark golf balls, dinner Italian Choices, dessert an raffle prizes. To register call the golf shop at (847)-639-0400.

KEMPERSPORTS has announced that Jody Graham as been promoted to Vice President of Business Development for the company’s eastern region. He will lead KSM’s growth strategy for the portfolio if it’s managed properties, that includes public, private and resort courses. Graham has more than 25 years of experience in the golf industry, and is entering his fifth year with KSM.

 THE FRENCH LICK HOTEL is ready to welcome you or your group to the heart of Southern Indiana. Enjoy courses by Pete Dye, Donald Ross,and Tom Bendelow, while you stay in one of two classic and historic hotels. Plan your play and stay and don’t forget to enjoy onsite gaming in the resorts spacious casino. Visit Frenchlick.com today. THE ARLINGTON LAKES Golf Club is now taking permanent tee times for the 2019 golf season, or booking dates for your golf outing. Sign up at (847)-577-3030 Ahpd.org  _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. DETAILS coming soon about the return of Golfers on Golf Radio for the 2019 season, starting earlier than ever before. No April fools, we will be Marching down the fairways and airways before you know it. Ed-Billy and Rory.

THE ILLINOIS PGA has announced it tournament schedule for the 2019 golf season.

In 2019 the 70th Illinois Open will tee off from August 5-7 at the permanent home of the Illinois Open, The Glen Club, and this years second course that is keep with mixing in one the Chicago area’s more classic venues, is the addition of Ridgemoor Country Club.

Ridgemoor underwent a renovation just a few years ago, so the course so prove to be a worthy challenge for this years contestants.

Another big change for 2019 is the addition of Ruth Lake Country Club to play host to the IPGA Section Championship, that breaks up the three course rota, that has just been Olympia Fields Country Club, Medinah Country Club, and Stonewall Orchard Golf Club for years.

Carrie Williams is the executive director of the Illinois PGA.

“We are thrilled to announce the 2019 Illinois PGA tournament schedule which includes two outstanding championship sites to host the 70th Illinois Open Championship,” said Carrie Williams, executive director of the Illinois PGA. “The Glen Club has been a longtime partner of the Illinois PGA and is home to our Section headquarters, and Ridgemoor,known as the city’s country club, will be a great addition. The two courses combined will provide challenging play for the championship field.”

The Illinois PGA tournament season tees off on April 8th with the Pro-Pro-Pro Scramble at the Harborside International-Port Course. The first IPGA Section major championship, the IPGA Match Play, will be contested at the Kemper Lakes Golf Club May 6-9. The Illinois PGA Assistants Championship is July 15th at Elgin Country Club. The Illinois PGA Senior Championship is August 12-13 at the Merit Club, The Illinois Senior Open Championship is September 16th and 17th at the Royal Fox Country Club, and the Illinois Super Senior Open Championship is October 8-9 at Makray Memorial G.C.

The starting field for the Illinois Open will be comprised at 264 players who will join the field by qualifying in one of the seven qualifying events held from June 24, through to July 31, in addition to those players who are exempt from qualifying.

Vince India is the 2018 Illinois Open champion.

Vince India is the defending Illinois Open Champion, but has said during an interview with 2019 Illinois Golf Hall of Fame nominee, Len Ziehm. That due to his promotion to the Web.com tour, is not planning on defending his Illinois Open title.

India who won the Illinois Open with a score of 202 (14 under par), is planning to play at the Glen Club this summer during the Evans Scholars Invitational on the Web.com tour. During the interview with Ziehm, India called the Evans Scholars event his Illinois Open for 2019.

The qualifiers for the Illinois Open are: #1 Calumet C.C. Monday June 24th, #2 Deerfield G.C. Wednesday June 26th, #3 Maple Meadows G.C. Wednesday July 3rd, #4 Deerpath G.C. Thursday July 11th, #5 Stone Creek G.C. Wednesday July 17th, #6 The Hawk C.C. Tuesday July 23rd, and the final qualifier is Willow Creek G.C. Wednesday July 31st.

 VISIT CHICAGO’S top indoor golf facilities the Mistwood Golf Dome,now open until 10 Pm daily located in Bolingbrook, Mistwoodgolfdome.com or the Schaumburg Golf Club at 401 N. Roselle Road. book your simulator tee time at (847)-885-9000 #allyeargolf

For more information on the Illinois PGA Section and it’s playing events for 2019, please visit IPGA.com.

IT’S YEAR ROUND GOLF at the Schaumburg Golf Club in the simulator bays on the lower level of the clubhouse. You can play several Top 100 golf courses and both the 2018 and 2020 Ryder Cup venues. Have Ryder Cup style match’s with the members of your favorite foursome, and have your game in shape when in less than 60 days it’s time to go back outside. Book your tee time at 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 on the 17th hole of the Ocean Course, home of the Big Ten Match Play Championship.

The spring slate of the college golf season kicks into gear with start of the Men’s Big Ten Match Play Golf Championship.

The matches return to two courses on the Northeast coast of Florida. Hammock Beach Resort that has two golf courses, the Ocean Course by Jack Nicklaus and the Conservatory Course designed by Tom Watson.

The Ocean Course reopened over a year ago, after being shutdown for a long renovated, after hurricane Matthew flooded the course with salt water that killed the grass. Jack Nicklaus and the Nicklaus design team renovated the course, and the Ocean Course has never looked better. The Conservatory Course survived the hurricane and the golf course that Watson designed, and made 17 site visits to while under construction is also ready for the championship. both courses play to a yardage of over 7,000 yards, but the Conservatory is longer at 7,706 while the Ocean Course is 7,201.

This year, all 14 Big Ten schools will participate, and in the first round, the top two seeds will have bye’s. Those schools are the top seeded Fighting Illini, and the second seeded Northwestern Wildcats.

The par 4, ninth hole on the Ocean Course.

“This event is very important to our team as we continue to evaluate our development,” said Illinois coach mike Small.”We want all of our players to grow as individuals so they are all clicking come championship time. With a match play format this week it is important to start the process. Match play exposes different strengths and weaknesses in a players game. This week should show what they are.”

Matches begin at 7 AM CST on Friday morning, as teams enter into a single elimination format. The championship matches will be played at 12:30 CST on Saturday afternoon.

Live scoring can be found at BirdieFire. Illinois recaps will be posted after the days action is complete at Fightingillini.com.

REYNOLDS AT LAKE OCONEE an emerging destination, located halfway between the site of this years Superbowl, and the Masters Tournament, it’s time for you to have Georgia on your mind Reynoldslakeoconee.com. THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME home of Toptracer technology, come see where all the winter golf action is happening. The Mistwood Golf Dome is located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. For more information on the Mistwood Golf Dome, visit Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600. While at the dome visit McWethy’s Sportsbar, Mistwood Golf Dome a Top 100 Club Fitting location.    ______________________________________________________________________

Golfersongolf.com The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. With Erin Hills very own Rich Tock at the Chicago Golf Show in Rosemont.

THE CHICAGO GOLF SHOW, Chicago’s only golf show in 2019, is back for another year from Feb. 22-24 at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

The Chicago Golf Show is great place to learn more about new equipment and apparel for 2019. If you are planning a getaway golf trip in the year ahead, the golf show is great place to get started on your planning. There are numerous properties at the show that can help plan your trip to golf away.

ARE YOU READY TO WIN ? The Chicago Golf Show’s presenting sponsor the French Lick Resort, in French Lick Indiana, is giving away a free Golf Foursome Weekend, (worth $3,200) drop by the French Lick Resort Booth #801 and enter for a chance to win.

  THE LONG PUTT Contest will allow one lucky winner to win (2) free VIP tickets to the 2019 BMW Championship at Medinah Country Club. The tickets are for Sunday and they are Green Coat Club tickets ($1,590 value). Championship week is August 13-18.

Everyone attending the show this year will again receive a free round of golf from GolfVisions. The show includes demo day area’s where you can hit the latest in clubs from companies like Callaway and Mizuno.

PLAY GOLF YEAR ROUND at the Schaumburg Golf Club at 401 N. Roselle Road minutes from Woodfield Mall. The simulators have several new Top 100 and Ryder Cup courses. Tee it up today and be ready for the spring and summer golf season. (847)-885-9000 to book your tee time.

Show-goers get Free golf lessons from Illinois PGA professionals, you can have your lesson in the long game area or on the putting green.

Please support show sponsors like the French Lick Resort, the BMW Championship, the PGA Tour Superstore, GolfVisions, Illinois Junior Golf and the Illinois PGA, all year round.

So come and enjoy Chicago’s only golf show Friday-Sunday Feb. 22-24 at the Donald Stephens Convention Center on River Road in Rosemont. For more information on ordering tickets in advance, see Chicagogolfshow.com.

 THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB at 401 N. Roselle Road has become a year-round golf facility, with the addition of it’s simulators in the lower level of the clubhouse. Now you can play the 2018 and 2020 Ryder Cup venues (R), or have matches against your foursome. While golfing, enjoy food and beverages from Chandlers Chophouse right upstairs. Be ready for the start of the outdoor golf season, by getting some rounds in today. Book simulator tee times at Schaumburggolf.com or call (847)-885-9000. #golf     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG, by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. On the 6th tee of the Ridge Nine of the National Course at Reynolds at Lake Oconee in Greensboro GA.

IT’S A NEW NAME and a new look, and the best is yet to come. If you have never heard of Reynolds at Lake Oconee, that’s because this community has moved forward from the days of being known as a plantation.

The new owners are putting a fresh face on Reynolds, and everyone that visits, joins, or makes their home in this community, are enjoying the benefits.

Reynolds opened in 1988, and while the visitors back in the early days loved the property, they would often add, “but it’s out in the middle of nowhere.”

Welcome to Reynolds at Lake Oconee.

Years ago, there was some truth to that statement. Not anymore. Long gone are the days where homeowners had to travel 25 minutes to the closest supermarket, and other stores of need. Your chain drugstores, fast food places are right down the street. One of the biggest Home Depot stores you will ever see, is just a couple of miles from the from the front entrance. Closer to the entrance is the St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital that opened in 2013.

Where is Reynolds at Lake Oconee ? It’s just south of Interstate 20 in Greensboro Georgia. Greensboro is halfway between Atlanta and Augusta Georgia (that town where green jackets get handed out in April), and both cities can be reached in one hour just by driving the speed limit. Under an hour if your foot has some lead in it.

Former Medinah Country Club Director of Golf Mike Scully, is the new General Manager of Reynolds at Lake Oconee.

Reynolds at Lake Oconee is not just a golf club, it’s not just a golf development, it’s community that has grown another community around it. There are over 12,000 acres of land that comprise Reynolds, and it’s said there is another 7,000+ acres of water. Reynolds owns all the land around the lake, so when you talk about the destination property Reynolds has become, you are speaking to one of the biggest properties anywhere in the country.

In between the homes and the newly built cottages on the property, there are six golf courses, four marina’s, (a third boat storage facility is under construction now) tennis courts, a cooking facility, several pools indoor and outdoor, the Sandy Creek outdoor activities station opened in 2017, complete with 20 clay-shooting stations and room for the archery buffs as well.

If your looking for a place stay while on property, there are multiple options, including the new four bedroom cottages that sit on the hill right next to the National Course’s practice area, and in between the Tavern Building and the Golf Shop. For those who enjoy a first class hotel setting, there is always the glamorous Ritz Carlton.

The new Cottage Row at the National

There are six golf courses on property, five of them are open to resort guests, one of the courses the Creek Club, by Jim Engh that opened in 2007 is reserved for member play.

The courses have been designed by a variety of the games best architects. Bob Cupp designed the first course in 1988, The Preserve. The first golf course built at Lake Oconee by Cupp in 1986 the Port Armor course, was then acquired by Reynolds in 2005 and then renamed the Landing Course.

The 18th hole on the Jack Nicklaus designed Great Waters golf course, now under renovation.

In 1992 the Jack Nicklaus design, The Great Waters Golf Course is opened for play. When asked about the golf course Nicklaus said, “Great Waters is an appropriate name for my course at Reynolds. Other than hole #10, water is either in play or visible through out the back nine.”

Currently “Jack is back” and the Great Waters course is under renovation, with an expected reopening date of November 1st of this year. Recently Nicklaus was asked if he could sum up, how Great Waters will look after the renovation is completed in one sentence. Nicklaus responded by saying, ” I can sum it up in one word-spectacular.” Golfers on the Great Waters Course when it reopens will enjoy views that did not exist previously, due to the removal of trees that have opened up new sight lines.

The ninth hole on the Ridge Nine of the National Course by Tom Fazio.

In 1996 the National Course by Tom Fazio opened, the National has three nines, called the Ridge, the Bluff and the Cove nines.

Fazio says the course might be called National, but another name could have been “The Natural”, because of how the course plays and flows through the hills  and ravines that run along the water.

The Rees Jones Oconee Course opened in 2002, Jones feels his classic course design, that kicks in on the back nine, makes it one of the best back nine’s you will play anywhere. If you are in need of some golf, but not too much, there is always the “Quick Six” routing at the Preserve. There are six holes that all play no longer than 130 yards, and can be played at most times in no more than one hour.

You will never go hungry at Reynolds on Lake Oconee. The Langer Steakhouse is right on property, the Eighty8 kitchen for breakfast (one of the best southern style breakfasts you will find) and cocktails can be enjoyed all day long while enjoying the Preserve Course that runs just off the back patio of the clubhouse. The Tavern Building at the National comes complete with a full menu, and pizza’s that even fans of both Chicago and New York style pizza will enjoy.

  A cozy fireplace with big screen televisions await those who select a cottage at the National Course for their stay. The Oconee Langer Steakhouse sits right on property and walking distance from the Ritz-Carlton.

For those who need work on their game or to be fitted for clubs, the Reynolds Kingdom of Golf is right on property. (R) The new tavern Building at the National Course is a popular hangout for food and beverages.

Reynolds at Lake Oconee has a new General Manager in former Medinah Country Club Director of Golf Mike Scully, who arrived in Georgia after an almost six year run at Desert Mountain in Arizona. Scully is still settling in at Reynolds, but is already looking at the entire operation, and how to make the guest, the member, and the home owner experience even better in the days ahead.

If you are looking for a new golf destination, golf membership or home location, visit Reynolds at Lake Oconee, in Greensboro Georgia. More information can be found at Reynoldslakeoconee.com or by calling (800)-852-5885.