IN THE SIMULATOR or IN THE SHELL the Mistwood Golf Dome is rocking as golf and more is happening all week long and open everyday until 10 Pm. McWethy’s Sports Bar has Sauce madness happening as the tournament tip’s off. So now is the time to get your game tuned up for the outdoor season. Mistwoodgolfdome.com (630)-739-7600.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on X-Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-LinkedIn/Facebook/Insta-G.

The NEW Bonita Bay Club Performance Center-known as the Golf Lab.

THE BONITA BAY CLUB

The bounce back from Hurricane Ian continues.

Editor Note *** I visited the Bonita Bay Club in 2023, as it bounced back from a pounding it took from Hurricane Ian in 2022.

Because of the clubs 5 courses, only two were fully open. But the clubs other three courses, were partially closed, but combined into one 18 hole routing. During this clean up and repair phase, Bonita Bay Club the largest member-owned golf facility in Florida, continued to upgrade this world class golf and more facility. *** RS

Bonita Bay Club has built not one but two new golf performance center. A four-bay Golf Academy with the latest in golf technology for instruction and game improvement and fitness. But the second Golf Lab has two-bays. One for club fitting and repair, and the other is a putting studio. So the area can fit, build and customize clubs on-site.

The Shack Golf Club in Glenview has expanded. Have you seen the NEW simulator bays. If not now is the time to get your game ready for next month when all the clubs have opened. The new putting green has opened as well, and the food tastes better than ever. The Shack Indoor Golf Club where golf season just got longer and Arnold Palmer is always at the bar. (847)-904-2905 Book a hitting bay today.

“Our goal has been, and continues to be, to give members everything they need here at the club without having to go elsewhere,” said E.J. McDonnell, director of golf, Bonita Bay Club.

“Todays golfers love technology and everything they can learn about the game of golf and their equipment. We like to tout ‘Golf is King’ here and the new performance centers are proof of that.”

The Bonita Bay Golf Academy offers the newest camera and ground force-plate technology. One bay has a Zen Swing Stage, which can be tilted in different directions to practice uneven lies-something McDonnell says is a difficult phase of the game that is hard to teach or practice.

MORE PHASES of technology include Trackman and the Foresight GC Quad launch monitors, the golf fitness room has Technogym and TRX equipment.

With temps dropping this week. Step back into the warmth of the three simulators of the Schaumburg Golf Club at 401 North Roselle Road. HINT: you can still play the Schaumburg Golf Club indoors on the simulators. Book a bay at (847)-885-9000 while the outdoor season takes a few days off. Hungry-head upstairs to Chandlers Chophouse. SchaumburgGolf.com.

“We will use Trackman and Foresight GC Quad Launch monitors for club-fitting,” McDonnell says. “The full-service repair and build shop will allow us to do most repairs on site, plus some custom building of clubs.”

McDonnell who currently is ranked in the Top 10 of the World Senior Long Drive-Senior Division, has been long familiar with how technology can improve ones game.

“I use technology at every opportunity to improve my skills and diagnose the proper equipment,” McDonnell said. “We use Trackman and GC Quad for work on swing speed, smash factor, ball speed, spin, launch, face and club angles.”

The opening of the Golf Academy and Golf Lab are the latest additions to the clubs golf master plan. Last July the club started several amenities on both of the club’s two campuses. Improvements include work on it’s Sabal Course, and Naples Clubhouse, and practice facilities, over the 2,400 acre community.

Bonita Bay Club, that first opened in 1985, is a leading Platinum Club with the best offerings of member amenities. The club has five golf courses. Cypress and Sabal by Tom Fazio, with three courses that include Bay Island, Creekside and Marsh, designed by Arthur Hills.

But for more information on the Bonita Bay Club, please visit Bonitabayclub.net.

  INDOORS AND OUTDOORS the Schaumburg Golf Club is open for the season ahead. So get the clubs out and head to 401 North Roselle and hit the range, the putting green and all 27 holes for a great day of golf. Chilly day, rainy day, take it inside as the three simulators are open. So book a time at SchaumburgGolf.com or call (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter-X @gogBlogGuy and connect-LinkedIn/Instagram/FBook

The NEW Pine Meadow driving range distance App.

The NEW Pine Meadow Golf Club driving range App is here.

Very simply added to your phone.

So no Trackman-No Toptracer, no problem.

Come and get the yardages you need in one very simple way.

Pine Meadow also has some pro shop deals for you. So do you need a golf bag, all bags in the pro shop are 15% off right now.

Why wait until the end of the year to get a new golf bag. So now you can use a new bag all year long.

The Spring Scramble is coming. But better yet, do you need golf balls. Pine Meadow has the buy 4 dozen get 1 dozen free.

Best of luck to GM/Head golf professional Dennis Johnsen. Johnsen will retire at the end of the year, after 50 years in the golf business. Best wishes for a great final year.

PinemeadowGC.com or call Pine Meadow at (847)-566-4653 (GOLF).

  THE TIME IS CHANGING as the summer season approaches at the Schaumburg Golf Club at 401 North Roselle Road. So while the simulators are open, the outdoor version of Schaumburg Golf Club all 27 holes are also open. So tee it up at the Schaumburg Golf Club, Chandlers Chophouse is now open. SchaumburgGolf.com (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter-X @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Instagram.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

JAY MONAHAN has spoke to the media at the Players Championship.

He spoke for 59 minutes claim multiple media outlets.

But did what say make any sense, or even sound legit. Because his comments come in a week, that his leadership was challenged by multiple PGA Tour players, including the reigning Fed Ex Cup champion Viktor Hovland.

Monahan used the word-fans plenty of times. Saying the tour is working on giving them a better experience. What wasn’t mentioned at how much more of price increase would that experience cost. But what was interesting, is the feedback fans have been giving the tour. Because the fans don’t like the television coverage. Which means to much coverage of certain players. But that issue is changing as Tiger Woods plays less tournament golf. Because as golf fans increase their golf wagering, or partake in golf fantasy leagues. The need to see the fans favorite players, or the players they have gambled on. Monahan says fans want to see golf from historic venues they have enjoyed for year, and how current players stack up with the results of the past.

The Shack in Glenview has opened their new simulators, including one with theatre stadium seating. The golf season is longer at The Shack Indoor Golf Club-1717 Chestnut in Glenview. (847)-904-2905.

REGARDING LIV and a merger than has been on the table since last summer, he says things are progressing. Well how is that true, as deadline after deadline to wrap things up continues to pass, without a solution.

But Monahan did say it’s important to continue to talk with the Saudi’s about concluding a deal. Because both sides want to “quiet the noise.” But right now most of the noise seems to be coming from his own camp.

LAB GOLF PUTTERS the new DF3 now available in PGA Tour stores.

MONAHAN HAS THE issue of getting money back to the PGA Tour’s investment group SSG, but how is that going to happen. Monahan summed it up this way “networks”. But can TV pay more at this point, sponsors have dropped from the tour. Honda is gone, Wells Fargo is leaving, more tournament sponsors could leave unless things change.

MONAHAN WOULD NOT GO to deep into where the talks are going with the PIF, but did say they are moving forward as they get to know each other better.  Monahan also added that a deal with PIF is in the best interest of the growing game of golf.

SO CAN BOTH SIDES comes together and finish a deal that works for all. So can the players who left for LIV come back, if so how is that done. Monahan says things will take time, but how much time.

  THE SHELL IS COOKING AT THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME-Oliva is pouring drinks at the new bar in the shell (L). Golfers are getting ready for the outdoor season ahead on Toptracer golf. McWethys Sports Bar in the dome, your home for all the college basketball tournament games you want to see. Mistwoodgolfdome.com (630)-739-7600.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook.

THE MISTWOOD GOLF FITTING TEAM L-R Eric Russel, Matt Carter and Scott Hogan.

MISTWOOD GOLF FITTING TEAM

Has been named a 2024 Ping Golf Power Fitter.

The credit goes to Eric Russell, Matt Carter and Scott Hogan, for their fitting work in the dome and in the Mistwood Golf Club Performance Center.

Statement from Ping Golf.

“All the winners fit every club in the bag and participate in on-going fitting certification through PING Academy (the company’s online education platform) and other hands-on training opportunities. They are also experts in PING products technology and custom club-building process. As importantly they understand a custom fitting is the beginning of a relationship with golfers.”

THIS WEEK at the Players Championship, statistics show that Fujikura shafts are the No.1 shaft on the woods that players are using at TPC Sawgrass.

MORE FROM MISTWOOD-Registration is now open for the April 6th “Pick Your Pin Scramble” this event sells out-so sign up quickly.

MISTWOOD is currently running the 4 for 3 golf balls sale. So enjoy selecting golf balls from Titleist, Callaway and TaylorMade.

Mistwood has not yet announced an opening day for Mistwood Golf Club, TBD with weather the main factor in announcing when the course will open.

So learn more about Mistwood Golf at Mistwoodgc.com or Mistwoodgolfdome.com.

  THE SHACK IS NOW A BIGGER SHACK. Owner Nick Larkin has added four new simulators and a putting green. So get ready for the outdoor season ahead by warming up in the Shack, 1717 Chestnut Ave. Glenview. (847)-904-2905 TheShackgolfclub.com

THE GOG BLOG BY RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook.

HERITAGE OAKS at 3535 Dundee Road in Northbrook has both indoor simulators open and the outside driving range open. Course openings are still to be determined, but hopeful for later this month pending the weather.

BUT BETTER NEWS as the outdoor season approaches, next week Heritage Oaks has two fitting days scheduled.

Mistwood Golf Dome-Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook open daily until 10 Pm. Lessons, Club fittings and Toptracer. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome at (630)-739-7600.

TITLEIST ON MARCH 20th will be at the Oaks-schedule an appointment today.

PING COMES IN on March 21st, your $60.00 fitting fee will be applied to any equipment purchase. Book your appointment today.

Heritage Oaks is now having sign up for spring instruction classes, plus a reminder that the Acorn Grill is open Tuesday through Sunday. Taco Tuesday’s, Wings on Wednesday’s and Fish on Friday specials are all happening now.

GOLF BALL SPECIALS-Buy 4 dozen golf balls, pay for three. The four for three golf ball sale is on. See head golf professional John Billiter for more details

HeritageOaksGC.com or call the pro shop at (847)-291-2351.

  TIMES ARE CHANGING at the Schaumburg Golf Club. The indoor simulators are open, outdoor 27 holes are now open. Chandlers Chophouse is now open. So why not open your golf season at 401 North Roselle Road-SchaumburgGolf.com or (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect-Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram

RORY SPEARS on the 10th hole of Pinehurst #10. Opening on April 3rd.

PLAYERS WEEK-

So who will the players be, and on this course the focus will be on the par-3 17th.

But Pete and Alice Dye left us more than the island Green 17th, they left us one difficult golf course. The thought of pot bunkers come to mind.

Scottie Scheffler comes in on a roll, but can he win back to back. Can Rory McIlroy turn it up a notch this week, after a dismal showing at Bay Hill. But what about the other names on the PGA Tour, Jordan Spieth, 2023 Fed Ex Cup winner Victor Hovland, Wyndham Clark, Will Zalatoris, who has game this week. Maybe just maybe Scheffler becomes this years Jon Rahm with a stack of victories.

GET WARMED UP indoors for the outdoor season coming soon. The Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook is open daily until 10 Pm. Toptracer golf, lessons, club fittings and McWethy’s Sports Bar. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or (630)-739-7600.

TOMORROW PGA TOUR COMMISSIONER FOR NOW-Jay Monahan will address the media and the players about the status of the PGAT, this should be interesting. Because I wonder how many media questions he will actually answer. But it would really be fun to be the fly-on-the-wall when the meeting with the tour players tees off.

NBC has the weekend coverage, with the alumni broadcasting team back on board for the 50th Players Championship. It will be great to hear Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch back  working in the trenches.

SPEAKING OF NBC-just who is posting the ratings of the NBC Golf Pass group. Because while it’s nice to have various ratings panels, the NBC Golf Pass ones for the State of Illinois are horrible. Great tracks have been left out, average ones are somehow on the list. So if your a golfer who enjoys playing the top rated golf courses, just don’t both using the NBC-GP list just brutal.

FOUR FOR THREE so do you need golf balls, and this time of year who doesn’t. Several courses are selling Titleist, Callaway and Taylormade golf balls in the buy four dozen, get charged for three dozen. Add Heritage Oaks Golf Club in Northbrook and Pine Meadow GC in Mundelein to the list of clubs running the promotion.

The Shack Indoor Golf Club at 1717 Chestnut Ave. in Glenview open daily, and now with seven simulators AND a putting green. (847)-904-2905.

SPEAKING OF TAYLORMADE they have sued Costco for infringements of TM designs, that TM says are being used in the new Kirkland Irons. Kirkland Irons just came on the market a few weeks ago, and sold out quickly at $499.00  per-set. So stay tuned.

The week ahead has a few good weather days coming up, so get out and play. It will be a bit cooler by the weekend. But hopefully any clubs selling green beer-will have it cold for St. Patrick’s Day.

AS FOR COURSES OPENING-I suspect that a few more courses will open by late next week. Stay clicked-in right here to see who that might be. RS

NICK LARKIN stands in The Shack located in Glenview at 1717 Chestnut Ave. See more at www.TheShackGolfClub.com Three new simulators and a new putting green.

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf, follow Rory on Twitter-X @GogBlogGuy or Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram.

Casey Brozek the new Medinah Country Club Director of Golf, talks about returning to Illinois from Florida by joining Medinah Country Club.

HE’S BACK !

Seven years after he left for the warmer pastures of the Sunshine State of Florida, Casey Brozek returns back to where he started from-the State of Illinois and the Illinois PGA Section.

Brozek is reversing he trend of seeing Illinois PGA Section professionals departing for warmer pastures, mostly Florida by coming back to Illinois.

Golfers on Golf spoke with Brozek about the decision to return to Illinois. Plus what the next three years at Medinah Country Club look like. Because 2024 will see the reopening of Medinah #3 from renovation. 2025 Medinah celebrates it’s 100th anniversary and Centennial.

2026 bring the Presidents Cup, and a chance for the USA to finally win a major team championship at Medinah Country Club. Some 14 years after the shocking loss in the 2021 Ryder Cup to Team Europe.

Brozek is a former IPGA Section President (during the 2012 Ryder Cup year). So might he consider running for national office at the PGA or America. All this and more as Illinois welcomes Brozek to Medinah and back to the Land of Lincoln.

CLICK HERE to hear Catching up with Casey (Brozek) Medinah Country Club’s new Director of Golf.

Thanks for listening-RORY

  THE SEASON’S ARE CHANGING at the Schaumburg Golf Club 401 North Roselle Road in Schaumburg. So right now all 27 outdoor holes are open. Indoors all three simulators are open, so is Chandlers Chophouse. So now you can play the SGC both indoors and outdoors. Book a tee time at SchaumburgGolf.com or call (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect at LinkedIn and Facebook.

The golf shirts are here in the Cabot Citrus Farms golf shop.

CABOT CITRUS FARMS

CCF is open and golfers are finding their way to the newest golf property in the country.

Newest yes-even though the courses were built on the grounds of a former golf property.

But nothing at the new Cabot Citrus Farms, resembles the old Worldwoods golf property.

  CABOT CITRUS FARMS is still under construction, but it’s coming together very quickly.

But with Mothers day and Fathers day coming up in less than three months, now is the time to start shopping for the golfers in your life. So the other option is, why not spoil yourself. Plenty of good options to pick from.

The CCF online store is Shop.CabotCitrusFarms.com. Golf is underway, with preview play now happening. But you can sign up and try to get tee times for the later months of this year.

The Karoo Course is open, so is the Squeeze and the Wedge. The other 18 hole course called “The Roost” opens later this year. But more information at Cabotcitrusfarms.com.

  SQAIRZ GOLF SHOES VISITS THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME in Bolingbrook on Rt. 53. The simulators and the bar in the shell are new this season, but open while you enjoy the dome and McWethy’s Sports Bar. Mistwood Golf Dome will now be hosting upcoming Mizuno and Cleveland demo days and Scoring clinics. But you must sign up in advance. THE NEW VOKEY SM 10’s are now in pro shops like Mistwood Golf Club. See Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call the dome (630)-739-7600 #SaucemadnessisBack.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Instagram/FBook.

2021 Players Championship champion Rory McIlroy with the trophy.

NBC is ramping up for next weeks Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Because this years edition is the 50th playing of the championship.

Sadly course designers Pete and Alice Dye have passed away. But it wasn’t too late for NBC to bring back announcers and course reporter Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch as part of the networks broadcast team.

The Shack Indoor Golf Club 1717 Chestnut in Glenview. 4 new simulators including one with theatre style seating. Book a bay today. (847)-904-2905 and come try out the new putting green.

NBC’s Dan Hicks will be joined in the TV booth with Kevin Kisner as the analyst.

But during Round 2 on Friday, Kisner will team up with Smylie Kaufman, and the two will call “Happy Hour” from alongside the the 17th hole.

The Par-3 Island Green.

NBC Announced they were happy with Kisner’s work earlier in the year during the Phoenix Open.

THE GOLF CHANNEL and NBC will wall-to-wall coverage of the Players Championship all week long.

  THE SEASON’S ARE CHANGING at the Schaumburg Golf Club 401 North Roselle Road. So it’s time to take it inside or outside-where either way you can play the Schaumburg Golf Club. IN THE SIMUALTORS or on THE Golf Course-the SGC is open for play. So book your time inside or out at SchaumburgGolf.com or (847)-885-9000.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter (X) @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Facebook.

  MAPLE MEADOWS OPENS TUESDAY MARCH 12TH.

DuPage Golf has announced that Maple Meadows will open next Tuesday march 12th for the 2024 golf season.

Maple Meadows that will begin renovation work by architect Greg Martin in late 2025-all permits approved permitting, is the first DuPage Golf Course Course to open for the year.

The 2024 schedule for DuPage Golf as of now is Green Meadows March 22nd-weather permitting. The Preserve at Oak Meadows will be around April 1st-again if the weather does cooperate. So visit DuPagegolf.com for more information.

  THE MT. PROSPECT GOLF CLUB will open fully for the 2024 summer golf season this coming Tuesday March 12th. So be ready to play on Tuesday at 600 S. See Gwun Ave. in Mt. Prospect-call for tee times at (847)-259-4200.

But you can see more openings right here as Golfers on Golf gets the notices from the golf courses. The Gog Blog returns tomorrow. RS