THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME, on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is your home for winter golf. The golf dome is now complete withToptracer, and the professional staff has been rated in Golf Digests Top 100 club fitting locations in America. The Sports Bar, is now called McWethy’s Sports Bar and has been refinished and the menu has been updated. The new staff adition is longtime LPGA Professional Nicole Jeray, ladies it’s lesson time. The closing time is now 10 PM daily, see Mistwoodgolfdome.com or (630)-739-7600. Ariel photo of the Mistwood Golf Dome provided by Dave Lockhart and Golf 360.    _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook, Linkedin. Architect Keith Foster overlooks a green during renovation at the Baltimore Country Club. (photo by Rory Spears)

***A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE GOG BLOG SPEAKS OUT***

Very rarely is there a story I don’t look forward to writing on this site, but this is one of those times.

The last time this happened was a few years ago, when I arrived at Day 1 of the convention center at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, and learned that sports and golf media writer from the Daily Herald Mike Spellman, a good friend, had been found dead in his home. That hit me like a ton of bricks, like the following story about golf architect Keith Foster.

This is me standing in the 18th fairway on the Wissahickon Course at the Philadelphia Country Club, renovated by Foster. I had just hit a poor approach shot into the green, and wasted my 302 yard drive down the center of the fairway.

I received an email on Wednesday night from a newspaper editor in  Virginia, asking to use a photo from this website of Foster. I assumed it was because they were doing a story on Foster about the renovation work he is doing at Congressional Country Club.

The editor then informed me that Foster was in “hot-water” and was facing 5 years in a federal jail, and then forwarded the press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ). A jaw-dopping moment then occured.

I’ve known Foster since he was at the grand opening at my former club, Shepherd’s Crook in Zion, that Foster designed in the late 1990’s. Foster made a quick impression on me when he showed up in a cart on the 6th tee box, introducted himself and said he would inform our group on how to play the hole.

At that point I suggested he show us how to play the hole, and handed him my driver, with my golfball already tee’d up. Foster lined up with my right-handed driver, and said “this doesn’t look right”, with that he stepped to the lefthanded side of the ball, inverted the driver face and crushed one about 280 down the center of the fairway. Applause all-around, as Foster said,” that’s how you play the hole.” I didn’t know he was left-handed.

Keith Foster sits in his antique store the Outpost, now closed.

When Foster and I next crossed paths, it was at Southern Hills CC, home of the 2001 U.S. Open on media day. He had renovated the course and was discussing the course improvements with the national media. I had questions about the design at Shepherd’s Crook, so we had lunch together that day and got caught up on golf.

Shortly afterwards I was the first reporter who contacted Foster about his work at Colonial Country Club, when Annika Sorenstam was going to play in the PGA Tour event there. I ran the interview and later the Chicago Sun-Times called me asking to use his quotes, where he predicted Sorenstam would miss the cut by 2-4 shots. She missed the cut by 3 shots.

As Fosters work list continued to grow, I would visit his courses around the country when I traveled. I have played over 20 Keith Foster original designs, renovated golf courses, and courses he is scheduled to work on, all of them are very well done. I have greatly enjoyed every Foster golf course I have ever played. In fact, one PGA Tour caddie, who works for a major championship winner, and has caddied all over the world on every continent, said he has seen courses designed by every known designer in the game. The caddie told me that there is not a better bunker guy, in golf course architecture than Keith Foster. I agree 100% with that.

The Pittsburgh Field Club, first hole.

In fact, when I rated courses for a national publication, I often suggested that other raters come for a visit and see the great work he was doing. As a result, some courses got more rater visits, and jumped up higher in the Top 100, or even made it into Top 100 lists.

When I last looked, Foster had some 11 courses he had worked on, on one Top 100 list. Whether you played one of the classic course restorations he did, or some of the new construction course he designed, you played some pretty good golf courses.  

(L) The 18th hole at Sands Point on Long Island, (R) The par 3,12th hole at The Knollwood Club in Lake Forest Illinois, are both Foster renovations.

The South Course at Olympia Fields (L), and the par 3, 4th hole at Baltimore Country Club (R). Baltimore CC was a recent Foster project, and OFCC South is an upcoming scheduled project.

Fosters work in Illinois really started at Shepherd’s Crook, it continued in Elgin with the first phase of the Highlands of Elgin, that was finished years later by Foster’s former assistant Art Schaupeter. Highlands of Elgin is a Top 10 Municipal Course on Golfweeks Top 50 list.

Foster returned to renovate the Knollwood Club in Lake Forest. Foster convinced the club to go with the now popular white “tour edge” pro-angle sand, almost before any club in area was using it. After the Illinois PGA held a section event at Knollwood, the pro’s left calling Knollwood “Mini-Augusta”, and went back to their clubs suggesting that white sand could be the way to go. If your now enjoying the white sand in the bunker craze that’s been sweeping the area, thank Foster.

More recently, Foster was just hired this fall by Olympia Fields Country Club to renovate or do restorations on both the North and South Golf Courses (OFCC-just awarded WGA PGA Tour event in 2020 on the North Course). It’s my understanding that Foster would be doing more work on the South Course, and his plan for the South Course is outstanding, and loved by the restoration committee and the clubs board. Now the question is, will he get to do it. I don’t know if Olympia Fields will stick with Foster or not at this point, but here’s hoping they wait until the judge makes his ruling first.

Foster has been cooperating with federal authorties and plead guilty in a plea-deal for violating the Lacey Act, of selling and transporting between $250,000 and $500,000 dollars worth or products made from endangered species, and other wildlife. Records of imports of the products were falsified to bring them through customs. A “client” Foster was dealing with, turned out to be an undercover agent wearing “a wire” for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Foster has forfeited over $275,000 dollars made from sales of the items brought into the country in 2017, and over 100 items were seized by authorities from his store, The Outpost, now closed. No part of his golf design and architecture business is under investiagtion by authorities, or will be.

Foster will be sentenced on March 9th, 2019 in federal court in Virginia. How much time he might serve is a good question. Normally in federal cases offenders do not get the maximum time possible, especially first time offenders like Foster. Apparently Foster has been cooporating with authorities all along since being charged, and it’s expected that the judge invovled, will take that into account.

Foster invited me on several occasions to come visit him in Virginia to see his design studios, and see the Outpost. I never made it there due to some last minute changes in travel plans during a trip out east. I was disapointed when he told me earlier this year the Outpost was closing due to his golf business, that again was getting extremely busy.

The Outpost was active in supporting a variety of area charities in the 6 years it was open. I picked Foster up at O’Hare airport one day in route to a site visit in the area, and we talked as much about the Outpost as we did golf course work. Foster told me stories about the golf antique’s that were for sale, acquired on trips through Scotland, Ireland and other parts of Europe.

I have reached out to people who know Foster very well, and they are all surprised by this turn of events. While Foster obviously made some bad decisions with this part of business, overall he is a good person. I’ve known that for 20 years. Rumors are flying on what courses will still work with him, and what courses might walk-away from doing business with him. I hope they wait until the judge drops down his ruling. I’m hoping for Probation in this case, and come March, hopefully this case will have run it’s course. RS

  THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME is now open daily until 10 PM. The new installation of Toptracer technology has the dome buzzing with excitement. Come see why junior golfers like Lisa Copeland (age-10) have made it to Augusta National and the finals of Drive, Chip and Putt, by spending five years working on her game at Mistwood and the Mistwood Dome. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600 on Rt. 53 Bolingbrook

JEFF COPELAND (Lisa’s dad) talks about how his daughter has advanced in golf by working with the Mistwood Golf professional staff, and the Mistwood Golf experience.      ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook and Linkedin. In the booth at the BMW Championship at Conway Farms.

*****BREAKING NEWS*****

THE BIG 3 golf media partnership of Golfers on Golf, Len Ziehm on Golf, and Tim Cronin’s Illinois Golfer are the first media outlets to report that the Western Golf Association (WGA) is building a new headquarters in Glenview Illinois.

Multiple sources confirmed the new offices, as the WGA has out-grown it’s longtime offices in Golf, and now Oak Brook Illinois. As a result, the decision was made to bring the WGA under one roof.

Ground has been broken at the new location for the WGA offices in Glenview.

The WGA has made no secret of trying to increase the number of caddies of up to 1,000 Evans Scholars per year, attending college by the year 2020. As the number of scholars grows, so does the size and the operation of the WGA-Evans Scholars Foundation.

WGA officials were unavailable for comment, but the location of the offices was confirmed by the Village of Glenview, and other sources.

In 2019, the WGA will have it’s annual PGA Tour event back in the Chicago area, when the BMW Championship is played at Medinah Country Club in August.

The foundation area for the new WGA offices is being dug-out, and a security fence sits around the property that borders up to Patriot Drive (on the right), in the area of Glenview known as “The Glen”. The WGA property sits just south of Willow Road.

The WGA in 2019, will have a second area championship, The Evans Scholars Championship that is a Web.com Tour event. It will be played from May 23-26, and will be held at the Glen Club, that’s located only two blocks away from the site of the new offices. The Glen Club is operated by KemperSports Management, and serves as home to the Illinois PGA, the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame, and the Illinois Open Championship. The Glen Club does have a caddie program.

There is no announced date for the WGA to move into the new facility, but the WGA is expected to make announcement on the project in early 2019. The 2019 WGA Junior Championship, will be played in June at Jerry Rich’s, Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. The 2019 Western Amateur will return to the Point O’Woods Country Club in Benton Harbor Michigan. For more information on WGA Championships, and the Evans Scholars college scholarship program, please visit wgaesf.org.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME is your home for the Chicago winter golf season. Now open until10 PM daily, the Mistwood Golf Dome and remodeled McWethys Sportsbar are a greatplace to enjoy the newly installed Toptracer technology, and great food and beverage while watching the Bears and the college football bowl games. The horse racing season never ends in the MGD-OTB. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or (630)-739-7600 ______________________________________________________________________

Click here to listen to an interview with Chris Ioriatti (above Left with Dan Phillips) on club fitting in the Mistwood Golf Dome. Mistwood has been named a Top 100 fitting facility by Golf Digest. The Mistwood Golf Dome is located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Facebook, or Linkedin. The Long Putt Contest at the Chicago Golf Show.

THE CHICAGO GOLF SHOW will be held from Feb. 22-24 at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The show again this year is sponsored by one of the great golf destinations in the world, The French Lick Resort.

The 2019 Chicago Golf Show is the 36th annual show. You can attend the show on Saturday or Sunday if you act quickly or by January 6th, and get your tickets.

A reduced rate of only $28 dollars for FOUR tickets, is down from $44.

  Junior Golfers enjoy the minature golf course set up by the Ilinois PGA Section, while adult golfers enjoy free golf lessons given by Illinois PGA Section professionals during the show.

Sponsors for the 2019 Chicago Golf Show include the French Lick Resort, the Illinois PGA, the BMW Championship, Golfvisions, the Illinois Junior Golf Association and the PGA Tour Superstore (now open in Vernon Hills).

You can order tickets at Chicagogolfshow.com. Get your weekend deal by Jan. 6th.

 THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME, on RT. 53 in Bolingbrook, is your Chicagoland area home for winter golf. The dome now complete with Toptracer technology, and the newly redone McWethy’s Sportsbar, allows golfers to practice, play, and enjoy great food and beverage. The OTB has the horses running, for those who would like a little gaming action. For more information visit mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600. #Golf

Click here and listen to an interview with Freedom Golf Instructor Bruce Buhrandt on the Mistwood Golf Dome experience, and why you need to make it your next stop for golf.     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. On the links at Bay Harbor, Michigan, in Greg Norman Slacks and a Anitigua Golf Shirt.

Mike Scully is on the move again, and this time it’s Southeast of the Chicago area.

After a great run Southwest of Chicago in Arizona for six years, Scully now finds himself at, Reynolds at Lake Oconee, in Greensboro Georgia ( 75 miles east of Atlanta).

Reynolds at Lake Oconee (formerly known as Reynolds Plantation) continues to grow as a community, a private club and a resort destination all rolled into one.

The entire property is over 12,000 acres, that wind around water-ways and six championship golf courses. They were designed by architects like Jack Nicklaus, Jim Engh, Bob Cupp, Tom Fazio and Rees Jones. The property includes the Reynolds Kingdom of Golf, presented by TaylorMade. The Great Waters course by Nicklaus is currently undergoing a full renovation.

Former Medinah Country Club Director of Golf Mike Scully, is now the General Manager of the 12,000 acre property, Reynolds at Lake Oconee in Georgia.

For Scully the new job add’s more to his title. Unlike at Medinah where he was the director of golf, he has emerged to oversee more than just golf, but the entire property as the general manager.

Reynolds at Lake Oconee has six golf courses, but has a full list of other activities to take part in. Do you enjoying fishing or boating. Hiking or running the trails, and or improving your skills in the kitchen or on the grill. Those are some of things that residents, guests and members can do.

For those of you who like to shoot, the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds provides options from Clays to Air-pistols and rifles.

When you stay at Reynolds, guests have several options to enjoy. They include Five-Star treatment at the Ritz-Carlton, that has 251 rooms and suites, and for even more relaxtion, why not visit Ritz-spa for hours and treatments Southern-style. There is also a salon and full fitness center. Homes, condominiums, and cottages are other lodging possibilities.

Click here, to listen to an interview with new Reynolds at Lake Oconee General Manager, Mike Scully.

The beautiful views of Lake Oconee are endless.

Golf Magazine still has two of Reynolds courses ranked in the Top 100 courses in America. Four courses are ranked in the Top 10 courses in Georgia.

Golf has been a major part of the property since, Cupp’s Landing Course, was the first to open back in 1986.

The 16 acre Taylor Made, Kingdom of Golf is one of two facilties world-wide. It is a premier venue for practice, lessons, club fitting, and offers an experience to imporve your all-around game.

To enjoy time on the Reynolds at Lake Oconee, please visit reynoldslakeoconee.com, if you wish more information on golf. See reynoldslakeoconee.com/golf. You can call (800)-852-5885 to speak with a reservation specialist.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME, and the SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB have helped make Chicago a year round-golf town. In the dome or in the simulator, golf in the winter has never been so fun. Mistwoodgolf.com or Schaumburggolf.com, golfers you are a winner either way. Games, lessons, fittings, food and beverage and more.#golfallyear.    _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook At Glen Dornach in Myrtle Beach SC.

ARE YOU READY FOR A SPRING ELITE golf package. If so, it’s time to check out Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.

This plan is anchored by the Tidewater Golf Club, but includes Arrowhead Country Club, Prestweick Country Club, Arcadian Shores, and the Jones Course at Sea Trail.

Spring Elite can be done as a, three to a five night trip, based upon the needs of the group.

Tidewater has holes along the Intracoastal Waterway, with distant views of the Atlantic Ocean. Tidewater has been ranked as one of the Top 100 Public Courses in America.  Prestwick a P.B. Dye design, is part of trip that includes, Arrowhead Country Club by Raymond Floyd, and Rees Jones first design Arcadian Shores that had both a renovation, and new clubhouse built in 2017. For more details on the Spring Elite package, see TidewaterGolf.com.

Topgolf is coming to Myrtle Beach.

Topgolf has announced that it is coming to Myrtle Beach, and it will open early next year.

Audtions begin for the some 350 jobs that were posted online for the new facility.

“Not only is Myrtle Beach one of the top golf destinations in America, but it will soon become one of the top Topgolf destinations as well,” said Topgolf Myrtle Beach Director of Operations Jeff Kowalski. “We couldn’t be more excited to hire some associates, and get their careers off and running.” See Topgolf.com/careers.

THE DUSTIN JOHNSON World Junior Amateur has announced it’s field for the fourth annual championship, that will be played from March 1-3 at TPC Myrtle Beach.

“Dustin wants to create the best junior championship in the world, and we certainly have taken another step toward fulling that goal this year,” said Scott Tomasello, Golf Tourism Solutions Director. “This year the field is on par with the best junior tournaments in the country, and they will be tested by TPC Myrtle Beach, one of America’s premier golf courses.”

The field of 90 golfers (66 boys and 24 girls) will feature the return of the defending champions Michael Brennan (Leesburg VA.) and Alexa Pano (Lake Worth Tx.). Brennan made eagle on the final hole to win the championship in 2017.

Three spots are yet to be filled, but will be from a Feb. 9th qualfier. For more information see WorldJuniorGolfChampionship.com.

If your ready to golf in Myrtle Beach, visit Myrtlebeachgolfholiday.com.

 THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME is in full swing, and new member of the professional staff Nicole Jeray (R), a long time member of the LPGA Tour is on board. Ladies are you ready to take up golf, juniors are you ready to grow in the sport. Well now you can work with one of the best women’s golfers to ever come out of the Chicago area, and a distinguished alumni of Northern Illinois University. Visit Mistwoodgolfdome.com online or please call (630)-739-7600. The Mistwood Golf Dome is on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook.

Click here to listen to an interview with new Mistwood Golf’s teaching professional Nicole Jeray, Chicago’s longtime member of the LPGA Tour, and currently with the LPGA Legends Tour. Nicole talks about Mistwood, improving her game while working with the Mistwood professional staff. Her golf game on tour and more.

Geting a leg up, in southern Indiana on the Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort. The FLR New Years Bash-See Frenchlick.com, THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation, Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook.

The holidays aren’t just coming, they are here.

Most of the holiday parties have been held by now. The offices are starting to close down, including the Illinois PGA Section office, that is expected to tell us more about the 2019 Illinois Open before they shut down for 2018.

If you are still in need to shop for that favorite golfer in your life, or the regular members of your favorite foursome, there is still time to do it.

My co-host on Golfers on Golf Radio Ed Stevenson invites golfers and shoppers to come get a DuPage Golf gift card, they will be on sale thought Sunday. In addition Maple Meadows part of the DuPage Golf network of courses, is open weather permitting until Sunday. Most of the course has no snow on it, so it’s very playable. We have some 40+ sunny days ahead this week, so maybe one more round outside ? See DuPagegolf.com for more information.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE B1G TEN GOLF SCENE…Ohio State is reporting that Sr. Jaclyn Lee of the women’s golf team has decided to forego her final semester this coming spring, as she has qualfied for the LPGA Tour through Q-School.

The men’s and women’s golf program at the University of Iowa, has received a gift of $500,000 from former letterman Brad Heinrichs. Heinrichs thanked Iowa for helping him prepare for the success in business he has today, and the money will be used to renovate the varisity practice area at the Hoak Family Golf Complex. The gift from Heinrichs will honor the late Mike and Mary McCarty, who were big supporters of Iowa Golf. The practice area will be named for the McCarty’s. Heinrichs was a member of the Iowa Golf team from 1992-1996.

CURRENT ILLINOIS OPEN Champion Vince India tells our BIG 3 Partner Len Ziehm, that he is unlikely to defend his title come August, due to his new status on the Web.com Tour. India is looking forward to the Western Golf Associations (WGA) new event on the Web.com Tour, and will play in that event at the Glen Club. “That will be my Illinois Open, ” said India. Full story at Lenziehmongolf.com.

CALLAWAY GOLF will have new products coming out for 2019, including the new Epic Flash Driver. The Callaway publicity launch for all that’s new in 2019 starts about January 4th, so stay clicked in right here.

SPEAKING OF CLUBS..a reminder to anyone thinking of getting someone clubs for the holidays. Do not just blindly go pick some up in the store or pro shop, without making sure that golfer has been fitted first. Have them see a PGA professional to get all the right spec’s. You can also purchase fittings for your favorite golfer, that can be as important as the clubs themselves.

I am very impressed with the Mistwood Golf Dome club trade-in policy. It’s almost like trading in your old car for a better deal on a new car. Mistwood will give you Mistwood credit for purchasing new clubs. It is a great deal. Mistwoodgolfdome.com.

If your not sure on what to buy a golfer, ask them or the sales people. There are plenty of options besides golf clubs, if that is not the way you want to go. Other options include, a round of golf, shirts or slacks/shorts, a golf glove, shoes, caps, club head covers, golf towles, or golf balls to name a few things.

FRENCH LICK RESORT is having a big New Years Eve bash, visit Frenchlick.com for details.

Former Medinah Country Club head golf professional Mike Scully, chats with us on his new job in Georgia coming up this week. RS

  THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME, located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. (R) Mistwood Golf professionals Chris Ioriatti and Dan Phillips in the hitting bays at the dome, that are now open until 10 PM daily. Come experience Toptracer and see why it’s what your winter golf sessions should be. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600 #mcwethysSB

Click here to hear an interview with Dan Phillips, on the new look Mistwood Golf Dome

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. On the bridge into the holidays with DuPagegolf.com and the Preserve at Oak Meadows.

Registration has now OPENED, for the Eskimo Open at Cog Hill on January 6th, for the first golf outing in the Chicago area in 2019. Coghillgolf.com or call (866)-COG-HILL. Tee times are from 7 Am to 11 Am on courses #1 and #3.

DID YOU KNOW that getting new golf clubs, is like getting a new car, but the experience of getting clubs is easier.

That’s right, now at Mistwood Golf, and the Mistwood Golf Dome, getting new clubs has never been so simple.

Bring Mistwood your old golf clubs, get Mistwood credit, and buy new clubs at a great price. Mistwoodgolfdome.com, or call Eric Russell Performance Center and Fitting Specialist at (630)-739-7600.

Hitting in the simulators at the Schaumburg Golf Club

If you would like to tee it up at several Top 100 courses and a few Ryder Cup venues all-winter long. Check out the Schaumburg Golf Club on Roselle Road in Schaumburg, just minutes from Woodfield Mall.

The renovated basement in the clubhouse that sits beneath Chandlers Chop House, is home to three state-of-the-art simulator bays.

Golf and practice sessions are only $40 per hour, for up to four golfers.

The bays are complete with camera’s for lessons, and other technology to monitor your swing, and information for club fittings. Chandlers opens at 4 PM, and simulator hours are 9 Am to 8 Pm-December through March. Details at Schaumburggolf.com or call the proshop at (847)-885-9000. Stop in now and pick up holiday gift cards for your favorite golfer, they can be used for golf, lessons or merchandise.

Frenchlick.com

The French Lick Resort is ready for the holiday season, and is hosting an exciting New Years Eve Party.

Right now you can send the gift of the holidays through a French Lick Resort E-gift card. Send that thoughtful gift right on line.

French Lick Resort E-gift cards can be used to redeem golf, spa visits, horse back riding, merchandise & apparel in the gift shops and more. Frenchlick.com.

THE BLACK KNIGHT-Gary Player has announced a club management and operations service group. Black Knight Management strategies are created around the members and the community, as they provide a 360 degree management style with expertise. The Black Knight Management Group specializes in digitally connecting with younger affluent customers, attracting them to golf and a membership lifestyle.

Details at GaryPlayer.com or Black Knight International 22 S. Main Street Greenville South Carolina, 29601-4872.

DuPageGolf.com has Maple Meadows Open for golf (weather permitting) through Dec. 23rd, and the pro shop is open daily 9-4 through the 23rd for gift cards or merchandise purchases. Green Meadows and the Preserve at Oak Meadows are closed for 2018.

GUSTBUSTER one of the strongest umbrella’s on the market, asks you, do you need a new umbrella for those bad weather days. Gustbuster umbrella’s can withstand 60 MPH winds. (888)-GUSTBUSTERS or see online gustbuster.com for styles and colors.

THE GOG BLOG RETURNS ON MONDAY…RS

THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME one of the Top 100 fitting locations in America per Golf Digest. Mistwood Golf professionals Chris Ioriatti (L) and Dan Phillips (R) are two of the members on the Mistwood teaching staff, Ioriatti along with Eric Russell make up the backbone of the Mistwood club fitting team. The Mistwood Golf Dome is now open daily until 10 PM, and the club fitting special is running through Feb. 28th. Experience why your new club or clubs need to be fitted at the Mistwood Golf Dome. Located on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook, the dome is complete with an upgraded McWethy’s Sportsbar, the best Food and Beverage operation at any Chicagoarea indoor golf facility. The OTB has the horses running year round for those who would like some golf & gaming action all in one stop. See Mistwoodgolfdome.com for details or call (630)-739-7600 #mistwoodgolf

Click here and listen to an interview with Chris Ioriatti on club fitting at Mistwood Golf.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. On the 18th of the Pete Dye Golf Course at the French Lick Resort. New Years Eve celebration  see Frenchlick.com

Master Wedge Creator Bob Vokey is now offering a tour grinding experience to golfers with the announcement of his new HandGround program through Vokey.com.

If your a golfer that’s looking for custom-made characteristics like heel-relief, the sqaured-up leading edge, or the Vokey tour-grind. This new HandGround program is what your looking for.

Bob Vokey himself has spent the last year training two new grinders, on the work he has done with tour players for over two decades.

Vokey will be personally overseeing this new process, that’s located inside the Titleist Golf Club headquarters in Carlsbad California. At times he will be hand grinding orders himself.

“This process takes me back to my roots,” said Vokey. “One player at a time, one wedge at a time, crafting the sole to the players exact specifications.”

Bob Vokey, grinds away in his studio.

The HandGround process is available on all SM7 raw models, that is the main preference of tour players around the world.

Performance adjustments include, Pre-Worn Leading Edge. Smooth Grind Lines, Heel Relief, Training Edge Relief.

Wedge Profile Adjustments include. Semi-Square Leading Edge, Thin Top-Line, Tour Grind, that smooths all profile lines and slight reduces profile sizes.

HANDGROUND SETS-With F,K, and L grind Wedges, golfers have options to make specific grind selections. For prices and full details on the program see Vokey.com.

  The Mistwood Golf Dome is open until 10 PM daily. Now powered by Toptracer, you can enjoy several new features while you hit golf balls in the dome. The bar and grill, has been redone and includes an updated menu, and more big screen televisions so you can follow all the action. The OTB has the horses running for all of you looking for some gaming action. Mistwood Golf Club and Mistwood Golf Dome are now a Top 100 in the country club fitting location, and they a running a great fitting program between now and the end of February. For details visit Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600.

Click to hear Mistwood Owner Jim McWethy (above right) on dome improvements, and his decision to add Toptracer to the Mistwood Golf Dome, on RT. 53 in Bolingbrook.

Lights-camera-action. The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. With Peak Vision sunglasses, a great holiday present for golfers. Peakvision.com

THE GOLF SCENE hosted by Steve Kashul is running the first showing of it’s winter edition, tomorrow night (Sunday) on NBC Sports Chicago, at 5 PM.

The Golf Scene produced by Tom Miller is in it’s 25th year.

During the winter edition show, Steve will be announcing details on a new giveaway, that includes a Las Vegas Golf Trip for four people.

The trip includes, 3 days/ 2-night stay, two foursomes at the Las Vegas National GC, included is lodging at the Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino, and more.

             This edition of the Golf Scene will review other indoor facilties for golf an instruction, and includes new equipment from Cleveland Golf and the PGA Tour Superstore. This Golf Scene winter edition will run at various times in December and January. Watch local listings or check out The Golf Scene’s Facebook page for times and listings, along with information on the Golf Scene’s contests.

  THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME is making golf a year-round sport in Chicago. The dome is now complete with Toptracer technology. What is Toptracer, Mistwood Director of Golf Andy Mickelson explains below. McWethy’s Sports Bar is revamped with an updated menu. The OTB has the horses running and is a part of the Trifecta that makes up the Mistwood Golf Dome, that’s now open daily until 10 PM Mistwoodgolfdome.com

Click here to hear more on Toptracer and the Mistwood golf dome from Andy Mickelson

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION… The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin and Facebook. In the Mistwood Golf Dome.

Tomorrow night GOLF 360 returns on NBC Sports Chicago. Thenew holiday episode will un 10 times in the month of December.

Host and former Chicago Bear Patrick Mannelly, takes you through features that will get your clubs out of the closet, and out to the golf dome, or on your way to a warm weather destination down south.

But first, get warmed up here at the Mistwood Golf Dome, that includes the new Toptracer technology. The Mistwood Golf Dome is located in Bolingbrook, on Rt. 53 and open to 10 PM daily.

Golf 360 produced by Dave Lockhart

Travel to Batavia and visit Tour Edge Golf and see the release of the EXS Exotics line.

Travel further and to a warmer destination when you see the golf options in a feature on the Dominican Republic.

A look at the golf product company right here in our own backyard-Zero Friction Golf in Oakbrook Terrace.

Then be off to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to visit with the greatets golfers of all-time Jack Nicklaus and his Quivira Golf Club. First show tomorrow Saturday Dec. 15, 6:30 PM.