THE NCAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS AT RICH HARVEST FARMS MAY 19-31. Two final fours in two weeks. Tickets on sale NOW. Visit NCAA.com/Tickets. Hosted by NIU. _____________________________________________________________________

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO RETURNS SATURDAY APRIL 15TH AT 9 AM, JOIN US.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on facebook, linkedin and twitter @gogblogguy and to the French Lick Resort, presenting sponsor of Golfers on Golf Radio.

It’s always good to talk about courses that are just plain fun to go play. St. Georges Golf and Country Club is one of those places.

The club is not one of those mamoth giants that’s 7,500 yards from the back tee’s. It’s a whopping 6,232 and it’s the golf course you could want, and maybe the most fun you will have on a golf course under 6,300 yards.

On a day here in Chicago where the outdoor golf season is just starting for the year, and things are cool outside and or a bit wet from the all rain of the past week, I look back on two courses from my Long Island trip of a few years back that never made it as stories on this site. So today and Tuesday in Part 2, there will be stories of inspiration to get our local golfers excited about being on the course again this year. By Wednesday of this week, the sights and sounds from Augusta National will take over getting golfers back out to play.

The Par 3 15th hole at St. Georges Golf and Country Club, 164 yards from the tips.

St. Georges Golf and Country Club opened for play in 1917 and is celebrating it’s centennial this year.

The course was designed by an architect not well known, except by those who really study golf history by the name of Devereux Emmet, who had spent some time with the famed C.B. MacDonald and was now getting a chance to build a course on his own.

The toughest hole might be the second hole a 574 yard par 5, that’s ranked as the #1 handicap hole. The #2 handicap hole is the par 4, 13th hole that plays 450 yards.

  The par 4, 408 yard third hole that plays downhill on the approach shot (L), the par 5, 18th hole, 535 yard dogleg left that takes golfers into the clubhouse.

St. George’s is not a long course but takes advantage of the land, the rolling property and uses a mix of defenses to keep the course challenging but fun. Whether the landing area is little tight on some holes, or pin placements are tucked, St. Georges gives every golfer the feeling they can post a good score on every hole.

Hit around the fescue in places, hit it downhill, hit it uphill, keep it between the trees and make a few twisting putts and have a great time. St. George’s is a course that has stood the test of time and shows all golfers you don’t need a long course to have a great course. Go play.

Golfweek magazine has rated St. Georges in it’s Top 100 classic courses.

    THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S NCAA National Golf Championships are coming to Rich Harvest Farms from May 19-31. The Women are on the tee May 19-24, and the Men are up from May 25-31. Tickets on Sale NOW, at NCAA.com/tickets. Starting sooner is Golfers on Golf Radio on Saturday April 15th at 9 AM, golf talk radio while your awake to hear it, stay tuned for details on our new station, pumping wattage into your cottage.   ______________________________________________________________________

 GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO presented by the French Lick Resort, home of the Pete Dye Golf Course NOW OPEN for the season, and celebrating the 100th and centennial year of golf on the Donald Ross Golf Course, and the new Sr. LPGA Championship. Frenchlick.com for more details and information. The GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor&Director of Content, Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter @GogBlogGuy. ______________________________________________________________________

Coghillgolf.com Dubsdread under restoration

It’s been several years since the “Open Doctor” Rees Jones came to Lemont, in hopes of helping Cog Hill and it’s famed Dubsdread Course #4 land the U.S. Open.

Unfortunately for the Jemsek family and the golfers of Chicago who love Cog Hill so much, the Jones restoration of “Dubs” failed to bring in that U.S. Open.

In fact, it helped drive away the BMW Championship that was a semi-regular at the golf course, when several tour professionals came forward and said they didn’t like it.

Then BMW was upfront and admitted, they were looking for other neighborhoods to sell their cars in and the championship hasn’t been back since. The good news is that the Jemseks have not quit trying to bring top level championship golf back to Cog Hill.

“We are full speed ahead trying to land a tournament,” says owner Frank Jemsek.

The Par 3, 6th hole on Dubsdread with the old brown sand (L), and the Par 3, 2nd hole with the new ProAngle white sand (R).

In an attempt to bring top amateur or professional championship golf back to Cog Hill, the Jemseks are improving Cog 4, with some course changes and the new white sand, called ProAngle, that is in play at the Augusta National Golf Club. Home of this weeks Masters Tournament. Additionally, it’s what’s in the bunkers at Muirfield Village in Ohio, where the Memeroial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus is contested.

  The Par 5, 9th hole has the new ProAngle sand in place around around the green (L), while the sand has just been dropped in on the greenside bunker right of the 18th green (R).

The new Cart-Park to the right of the Par 3, 14th green.

Cog Hill Superintendent Chris Flick and his crew have just started putting the new sand into the bunkers, and are now starting to work it into place.

“As a result of the work we are pushing the opening of Course #4 back two weeks later than normal,” says Jemsek.

Cog 4 will open for the season on Saturday April 22nd. Jemsek says that Flick will have the greenside bunkers done by the 22nd, but that fairway work will still be ongoing after opening day.

“As it stands now the project will be completed by early May,” said Jemsek. “We intend to complete fairway bunker work, one bunker per hole, at a time to create the least amount of customer disruption.”

The other work on course 4 includes, some safe guard railings next to cart paths on a few holes that are made of wood. On the 14th hole, a cart-park has been created for easier access to the green, and to stop wear and tear on the grass near the cart path route, on the way to the 15th hole tee boxes.

In addition 11 sand bunkers are getting taken out, including one on the right side of the fairway on the first hole that hurt golfers hitting long straight tee shots. One that Jemsek admits he wasn’t a fan of anyway. Some of the other removals include to the front and right of the 2nd green, and in front of the 8th green on the right side.

For further information on Cog Hill and Dubsdread course #4 improvements, please visit Coghillgolf.com or call (866)-Cog-Hill.

THE NCAA MEN’S AND WOMEN’S NATIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS at Rich Harvest Farms, May 19-31. Tickets NOW ON SALE at Ncaa.com/tickets. The championship is hosted by Northern Illinois University. #Wellpricedtickets #freeparking

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO RETURNS SATURDAY APRIL 15TH AT 9 AM. NEW STATION TBA THIS COMING WEEK.

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to Rich Havrest Farms in Sugar Grove for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships, and on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter at GogBlogGuy.

THE PGA TOUR has announced that Distance measuring devices will be tested at select events on various tours. Those tours are the Web.com Tour, Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada, and the PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

Each of the three tours will allow distance measuring devices by players or caddies at four consecutive tournaments including the Monday qualifiers.

One of the tournaments on the Web.com Tour that will be allowed to test the distance finders will be the Chicago area Rust-Oleum Championship to be played at the Ivanhoe Country Club in Mundelein. For the events on the three tours, the PGA Tour will temporarily enact a Local Rule in accordance with Decision 14-3/0.5 of The R&A/USGA Rules of Golf, which stipulates the device can be used to measure distance only (use of functions to measure slope, elevation wind will not be allowed).

        The Rust Oleum Championship at Ivanhoe Country Club this June 5-11. Tickets are now on sale at Rustoleumchampionship.com.

“For years there has been significant discussion and debate on whether distance measuring devices would have a positive or negative impact on compitition at the highest levels of golf,” said Andy Pazder, Chief Tournaments and Competitions Officer of the PGA Tour. “The only way we can accurately assess their impact is to conduct an actual test during offical competition on one or more of our tours. We look forward to seeing how these tests will go and carefully evaluating the use of the devices over those weeks. Our evaluation will consider the impact on pace of play, optics and any other effects they might have on the competition.”

Once the test and comprehensive evalution is completed, the PGA Tour will share the results with it’s Player Advisory Council on all of it’s Tours for additional review discussion.

The PGA Tour is now co-sanctioning more than 130 tournaments on it’s six glboal wide professional tours. For more information on the distance finder testing program and the effects of it on tour, please visit PGATour.com or stay clicked in to this website.

THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S NCAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS AT RICH HARVEST FARMS in Sugar Grove IL. coming May 19-31. The Women on the tee first, and then the Men starting on May 26th, two final fours in two weeks. Well priced tickets on sale now, for up close to action access and FREE Parking, purchase at NCAA.com/tickets.    ____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS   Editor and Director Content.               Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @gogBlogguy. With Erin Hills Professional Rich Tock

The 117th U.S. Open Championship is coming this June 12-18 at the Erin Hills Golf Club in Erin Wisconsin.

Now in advance of the championship there are new ways for you to see Erin Hills the home site of the championship.

VIDEO’s of the course hole-by-hole have begun to play on Erinhills.com. Each week there will be new addtions and before championship week, you will be able to see all 18 holes of the course.

Even if you have played the course before, here is a new way to see the course in these aerial footage video’s. Check out the first few holes today.

The new book on Erin Hills

The new book on Erin Hills is a book that incorporates the old book on Erin Hills and what June of 2017 will look like when the U.S. Open and the USGA take over Erin Wiscosnin for a week.

Long time Wisconsin golf writer Gary D’Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentenial, along with Paul Hundley one of the best still photographers in golf, have combined on this coffey table style book that will give you the inside of Erin Hills.

Now on sale $45.00, with a shipping date of late in April. Or if you are going to the championship, you can purchase a copy in the merchandise tent, at select times D’Amato and Hundley will be signing copies of the book in the tent, during open week.

The US Open Trophy overlooks the Par 4, 15th hole of Erin Hills.

TICKETS who needs two? or maybe more.

Well right now you can still purchase tickets to this years US Open online at USGA.org/tickets.

You can purchase tickets for both yourself or for corporate needs.

Ticket for the US Open of golf are muchbetter priced than most other major championships in sport. So why not get them today while they still last, the remaining tickets are going quickly so get them today.

Erin Hills will reopen for public play after the championship, and was recently rated the 44th Best Course in America by Golf Digest Magazine.

  THE NCAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS AT RICH HARVEST FARMS in Sugar Grove. Coming May 19th through the 31st, Tickets on Sale, NCAA.com/Tickets #RHF2017         ______________________________________________________________________

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO RETURNS SATURDAY APRIL 15TH AT 9 AM……..

 THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facbeook, Linkedin & Twitter @GogBlogGuy. (R) The Mistwood Performance Center.

The Callaway Golf Ball

Today Callaway Golf came to the Mistwood Performance Center, and with Callaway came an afternoon with an Epic style.

If you haven’t heard of the GBB Epic driver since it’s release ealy in the year, where have you been. Well tuned out of golf.

GBB (Great Big Bertha) Epic is hottest driver on the market and it’s results on and off the various professional tours is amazing. The pro’s under contract or not, are playing it and winning with it, amateurs regardless of handicap are getting a bump in distance off the tee. Some of them getting as much as 30 yards, the test results say.

The letters say it all EPIC, get ahead with Epic, and put a hat on it.

On the professional tours, wins are up for players using Epic, other players that haven’t won, are shooting lower scores, which mean more money and better status on tour.

WHAT IS EPIC. Callaway Golf explains it as such. Epic is a breakthrough in something called JAILBREAK TECHNOLOGY. What’s Jailbreak Technology ? It’s how the head of the driver reacts to the increase in ball speed and distance. At impact, the crown and sole of the driver want to expand and seperate, that will lower the energy rate. Jailbreak positions two 3g titanium bars behind the face of the club.

The Jailbreak look behind the new Callaway Epic Driver.

This Jailbreak titanium bar design, does stiffen the body and transfers more of the energy back to the face of the club, which in turn creates more speed and longer distance on each and every swing.

But Jailbreak and the two 3g titanium bars, don’t tell the entire story about Epic.

Interchangeable weights of 2g and 12g adjust the spin rate and the launch angle. You can put the 12g up front to lower spin, or in back for higher launch and higher MOI. The Epic is part 2 of Callaways more aerodynamic clubheads, that stem from Callaway’s connection with Boeing, yes that Boeing, The airplane people.

Remember the airplane people. They really started something.

Epic’s adjustable perimeter weighting, which now slides a 17g weight along a redesigned track, can help you fot Epic to your swing features. This can provide you with 21 yards shot-shape correction for better control and more distance when you need it.

Adding more distance these days can be a tricky concept, as many of the best drivers in golf and their clubheads, are up against the wall in limits set by the USGA. Which is why the shaft you put in your driver is more important than ever before.

Callaway now offers four high level of performance shafts in four weight classes. 40g, 50g, 60g, 70g, including Fujikura and Rogue. Add in the Callaway Face cup technology, the Ultra-light Triaxial Carbon Crown, variable adjustable weighting, and you will see why the new Callaway driver, is one of Epic design, and can make an Epic sized change in your game if you are open to putting one in your golf bag.

  The world of wedges was front and center at Callaway day, with world famous wedge designer Roger Cleveland in the house, to talk the Mack-Daddy and MD3’s.

Custom wedges are becoming the way golfers approach improving their short game, which is the key to lower scores. At Callaway you can create a personal touch to your wedges with a variety of stamping concepts, that include letters numbers and symbols.

What’s your color, Callaway wedges can be chrome or black. The Mack-Daddy 60 degree Lob-Wedge in chrome with personalized stamping is in the photo above.

Since the launch of the MD3’s, Cleveland has created more changes in the wedge line, one of the winner’s in the new designs are what’s up with the ladies line, where some of the new wedge creations are taking hold. If you wish to create your own set of custom wedges visit Callawaygolf.com/callawaycustoms.

Roger Clevelands new Mack-Daddy wedge will install a new level of confidence for golfers, especially around the green where they use wedges the most. To hear directly from Roger to visit Callawaygolf.com and watch the Mack-Daddy video with Roger. He sums it all up in less than two-minutes.

But tour inspired square toes, and a new straight leading edge on the .R. C-grind could be what’s needed for your game. A new lower leading edge should give your shots more stopping power on the green. The heads are in a 1025 carbon steel, and come in colors that pro and amateurs alike will love. (watch the video with Roger).

Callaway is making improvements to their irons, and has upgraded their lines in the putting world, with both Odyssey and the addition of Sean Toulon custom putters.

If your game is ready to try the products that made the biggest impact at this years PGA merchandise show, check out Callawaygolf.com, or visit your local golf professional or golf retail store.

    JUST OVER 50 DAYS UNTIL THE CHICAGO AREA’S FIRST BIG CHAMPIONSHIP IS HERE , The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championships arrive at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove on May 19th and the action continues until the awarding of the men’s title on May 31st. TICKETS ON SALE NOW at NCAA.Com/Tickets. Cheer on your school.    _____________________________________________________________________

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO-RETURNS SATURDAY MORNING APRIL 15TH, 9 AM.

At McQ’s Dome, the Blackhawks game on tonight vs Tampa Bay. The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on facebook, linkedin and twitter @gogblogguy.

AFTER A COLD and rainy weekend, golfers in the Chicago area are all looking forbetter weather to keep playing golf outside.

Many of the golf courses in the area are now open for the season, if you have questions on if your favorite club is open or not, please call or go online to check out if they are open.

SPEAKING OF OPEN, or in this case the Women’s U.S. Open, yet another group has hired a PR firm, and is going to try and move the U.S. Women’s Open away from Trump Bedminster. A note to both Color of Change, and Ultra Violet, Give It Up. It’s not going anywhere. One other thing, quit saying the LPGA needs to move the U.S.Open, the LPGA is not in charge of the U.S. Women’s Open, the USGA who is lead by a female president is.

Paul Schlimm of Callaway holds the new Callaway Epic Driver.

TOMORROW Callaway Golf will invade the Mistwood Performance Center , with a demo day for Illinois PGA golf professionals. The Gog Blog will be on hand to check out what is now happening with this fast moving golf company.

The new Epic Driver is already having good success on various professional tours, and that is not the only area where Callaway Golf is moving up in the industry. My full reports are testing out the new Callaway equipment starts tomorrow, both here and on social media sites.

The First Tee of Greater Chicago

TOMMY’S HONOR a new movie about Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris, will have it’s Chicago premier on April 13th.

The evening complete with auctions and a visit from actors in the movie, will serve as fundraiser for the First Tee of Greater Chicago.

You can now visit their website to purchase tickets to this exciting evening.

NOW LESS THAN 30 DAYS until the 2017 opening of Whistling Straits in Haven/Kohler Wisconsin. Tee times at Destinationkohler.com.

Chad Johansen at Blackberry Oaks

Former Nike guy and GM/Head Professional at Blackberry Oaks Chad Johansen is back and running a special Masters promotion.                                                                                Can you pick the winning professional and his winning score, if you can there is some free golf in it for you at Blackberry Oaks.

Visit Blackberryoaks.com for more details and to see other promotions. Are you ready for outdoor summer golf with a solid putting stroke, if not see Chad back in the putting lab at Blackberry Oaks, which is open for the season and carts are available.

THE US OPEN TROPHY AT ERIN HILLS, the US Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, coming this June.

WHAT’S THE BOOK ON ERIN HILLS, well you can find out by getting the new book on Erin Hills in time for the U.S. Open.

Check out our interview below with author Gary D’Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinnal.

Gary along with photgrapher Paul Hundley have captured many of the great moments in Erin Hills history, now over 10 years old.

For more on this coffey-table book, hear our interview with Gary (below).

Gary D’Amato on his new book about the hisotry of 2017 US Open Course Erin Hills.

LUKE DONALD has committed to play in the RBC heriatge Classic at Harbour Town the week after the Masters.

BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm has been filling up his notebook at Lenziehmongolf.com, see stories on the practice center at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie and more. Len’s columns in the A rlington Heights Daily Herald will be returning in the next week.

THE GOG BLOG returns during the day tomorrow from Mistwood.

             MAY 19-31 coming to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Golf Championships. It will be the Top 24 Women’s Programs in the country and the Top 30 men’s Programs fighting for the the national championship. See the future professional stars of various tours today, and see them up close. Free Parking and reasonable priced tickets. Why pay top dollar to sit in nose-bleed seats, come and enjoy the beautiful grounds of Rich Harvest Farms, in the fresh air, and move about as you please, instead of being confined to a small seat. Get tickets at NCAA.com/Tickets.     ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, EDITOR AND DIRECTOR OF CONTENT. You can follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

       ON TOP of the Arthur Hills Course (L) at Boyne Highlands Resort Main Lodge (R)

With summer coming soon, it’s time to think about going north and enjoying championship golf and more, long into the sunlight evenings of Northern Michigan.

One great way to to do that is, by booking a stay into a Boyne Resorts property. Boyne Resorts has three destination properties, within a 45 minute drive of each other. The three resorts have a combined 10 golf courses.

If your looking for a getaway, look into the “Great Escape Golf Vacation.” This plan started over 30 years ago is a great extended vacation, and make for a perfect trip whether it’s a couple or a group.

How about 5 nights lodging at Boyne Highlands Resort, with a welcome reception, gift package, with breakfasts and dinners daily. With your choice of golf courses to play. If you need more, get some Odawa Casino vouchers, spa treatments, or golf instruction. The Boyne Highlands has three courses right on property, that include the Donald Ross Memorial, the Arthur Hills Course and the Heather by Robert Trent Jones,and the Moor course is fun for all golfers. Crooked Tree Golf Club and the famed Bay Harbor Golf Club are all great golf courses, located not far from the Highlands Resort.

Boyne Mountain has two golf courses the Monument and the Alpine, and is home to the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa. The resort is known for being family friendly, and home to the Avalanche Bar indoor waterpark.

All of this can be built into your week long package. The Great Escape runs for 19 weeks starting May 7th through September 15th.

Cost starts at $895.00 per person, and for more information visit Boyne.com you can email info@boyne.com or you can call (844)-634-5315.

 THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OF DIVISION 1 COLLEGE GOLF coming to Sugar Grove and Rich Harvest Farms from May 19th through May 31st. Come root on your school or your alma mater. Tickets moving quickly at NCAA.com/Tickets. 1st green (R).  _____________________________________________________________________

Golfers on Golf and Rory Spears at mcQ’s Dome, follow Rory on facebook, Linkedin and twitter @gogblogguy. Tickets on sale for the NCAA National Championships at Rich Harvest Farms.

Titleist custom putter designer Scotty Cameron has created a new version of his classic Newport Putter.

This new style is a tear-drop shaped, heel shafted mid-mallet, that has both a look and feel that golfers should enjoy, especially if they are familiar with the feel and style of a Scotty Cameron putter.

The Newport 3 line of putters are now in retail golf stores and pro shops around the country.

With the addition of the Newport 3, Scotty has added a heel-shafted mid-mallet with a flow neck (3/4″ offest) for players who prefer a stronger toe-flow in their putting stroke.

Scotty Cameron Newport 3 Putter Scottycameron.com

Cameron has built a vibration dampening system, that connects the milled aluminium face inset, with a stainless-stell body, that creates a feel and feedback, that Scotty calls “soft, but solid.”

Cameron adds these thoughts on the new Newport 3.

“Fans of our classic, heel shafted mallets like the Del Mar 3.5 and the GOLO 3 will love the melt-into the ground, flowing lines of Newport 3. When you look at the entire Select family, the Newport 3 is the perfect, curvy small mallet that just fits in conceptually between the Newport 2 Notchback and the mallets. We’ve extended the methodology of our proven multi-material technology to include the aircraft grade aluminum inlay, which allows me to design more of the weight into the sculpted back flange, as well as get the sweet feel the inlay produces. The result is an extension to the Select family that pulls together the entire line.”

The grip is the Red Matador Mid-size grip developed to offer the comfort of a larger grip while giving the player the responsiveness and feel they are looking for. The finish is called “Silver-Mist” that projects a unique glass bead blast for a radiant, yet glare resistant, appearance. Tour inspired graphics mix the familiar three bright red translucent “cherry-bombs” with an engraved style that presents to this new high-tech line of Cameron putters.

Prices in authorized Titleist shops are $379 MAP ($410 MSRP). For more information visit Scottycameron.com or Titleist.com.

 THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S NCAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS, Two Final Fours in Two Weeks at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. Can the Illinois Men finally break through, can the Northwestern Women step up another notch, how about your alma mater. Support your school, see the pro’s of tomorrow, today, so you can say I saw them back when… NCAA.com/Tickets enjoy the action up close. #Richharvestfarms       ______________________________________________________________________

ON THE 18TH TEE BOX OF THE PRESERVE IN ADDISON, formerly known as Oak Meadows. Opening, day June of 2017. The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, follow Rory on facebook, linkedin and twitter @gogblogguy.

GOLF SEASON, two wonderful words that so many people love to hear.

It appears that the snow has left us for the next 8 months and golf season, real outdoor golf season is here. YAHOO!

The courses have been sending the word to us at Golfers on Golf about opening day, and that for many courses is today. The temperature as I look out my window is now 75 degrees.

If you haven’t already, get the clubs cleaned up and get ready for golf season, because it’s not coming it’s here. Even though this weekend might not be as warm or dry.

THE PRESERVE should open in June, but Maple Meadows and Green Meadows are open today, see DuPagegolf.com.

The Preserve formerly known as Oak Meadows is expected to open at some point in June, if Mother nature keeps cranking out days like today.

But the good news is that DuPage Golf is up and rolling for golf season. They have 27 holes of golf open as of today.

Ed Stevenson and his golf team have been hard at work getting all the golf properties ready for an exciting and fun season of golf.

IN WISCONSIN.. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms has opened as of today. Golfthebull.com Whistling Straits in Haven/Kohler will open in less than 30 days. Destinationkohler.com.

  THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is all open outside, 27 holes and the driving range. 401 N. Roselle Rd, call (847)-885-9000. GM/PRO Jon Parson welcomes all the golfers back to Schaumburg. After golf enjoy Chandlers Chop House in the main clubhouse.

   Arlington Lakes GM Tim Govern will open Arlington Lakes early next week, but one of Chicago Top Par 3 courses is now open today, Nickol Knoll home of Payton’s Hill on the Northside of Arlington Heights. AHPD.org for details.

RAVISLOE in South Suburban Homewood is now open as of Today.

  Director of Golf Brett Barcel has opened the Mt. Prospect Golf Club for the season, go enjoy this classic style golf course (847)-259-4200 MPPD.org for details.

Golf season is here, go enjoy. Golfers on Golf Radio returns Saturday April 15th 9AM.

 MCQ’s Dome is your place to get your game ready, warm weather will be here soon and you will need to go outside and play. So grab a lesson, get fitted for a new club or clubs so your golf ready when summer arrives. Mcqsdome.com or (630)-739-1592.

     SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB at 401 N. Roselle Road in Schaumburg has the latest and greatest in golf simulators, now you can play Top 100 courses from around the world, while dining at Chandlers Chop house right upstairs. So hit inside now, so your ready to hit it outside when warm weather arrives. Schaumburggolf.com (847)-885-9000 ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG BY RORY SPEARS, EDITOR & DIRECTOR OF CONTENT                 Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

                                                                                                                                                                    YOU HAVE HEARD of Driver vs Driver, the Wilson Golf reality show on the Golf Channel, now there is Golf Ball vs Golf Ball. This contest won’t be decided on the golf course, it will be decided in a court of law.

The golfball business has been competitive for a long time, and lawsuits are not new to this part of the golf industry. The latest battle is between Costco, and it’s golf brand the golfball Kirkland-Signature that it launched last year, and Acushnet Titleist, that uses the slogan “The #1 ball in Golf.”

That, Titleist is, not only in nationwide sales but on various professional tours. While Titleist has several types of golf balls. It’s top seller is the Pro-V1 and Pro V1x golf ball that is considered by most golfers and professionals, as the best ball on the market.

The biggest difference between the Costco ball and a Titleist Pro V model, is cost. At one point in 2016, you could buy a dozen Costco balls for $19.95, and through some promotions, get two dozen for $29.95. The Titleist Pro V line sells anywhere from the upper $30-something range to over $50, depending on where you buy the balls and whether the Pro V’s have a specific logo. Most of the year a dozen Pro V’s will cost you in most retail stores or pro shops, at just under $50.00 a dozen.

Currently, some golf courses in the Chicago area are doing a spring promotion with Titleist, one that has been run in previous years, where golfers get a FREE dozen Pro V’s with the purchase of three dozen Pro V’s at regular or full price.

The current legal battle stems from Titleists parent company Acushnet, sending Costco a “strong letter” saying Costco had violated certain Acushnet golf ball patent rights in selling the Kirkland-Signature golf ball. Costco has responsed with a lawsuit filed in Seattle against Acushnet-Titleist. Numerous golf media outlets have requested comment, but have not received any response from either side.

When Costco began selling the Kirkland Ball, and it began to receive strong reviews from those in the golf industry, the demand for Kirkland balls sky rocketed. Some reviews called their performance on the level of golfballs of the Pro V line.

Costco has no history in making golf balls like Titleist does, Costco bought Kirkland-Signature from an overseas company that makes balls for other golf companies, including Taylor Made.

While Costco for the time being has taken the Kirkland Signature golf balls off it’s website, it would like to start selling them again in the future. At what price is unclear.

Industry experts say that golf ball companies have applied for an extemely large amount of patents in recent years. Not only to protect what they already have, but to safe-guard themsleves and the path of where their R&D departments are taking them in the future.

Many in golf have thought for a while that at some point, a company will find a way to make a golf ball on the performance level of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x, and will be able to sell it for a cheaper price. Now we wonder, has that day arrived, and will the answer come from the U.S. court system instead of on the golf course.

Locally, Mistwood, Blackberry Oaks and Cog Hill have announced they are running the promotion of buy 3 dozen and get a 4th dozen of Pro V1’s or Pro V1x’s for No-Charge. Many other area courses will likely run the same promotion in the short future.