I pray that your preparations for the holidays are going well. The Wilsons are gearing up for an exciting time to celebrate Christ’s birth. Our youngest son, Graham, will be baptized on the 23rd and then we plan lots of extended family time after that.

It is hard to believe that the 2013 season will begin soon after in Hawaii.

My off season has flown by quickly. It included a fun November day in Phoenix helping out Northwestern Mutual with a convention day where I did a “beat the pro” event on a par 3. Then I was like a kid at the PING factory trying out some new equipment. Most likely I will be putting the Anser line in play at Kapalua in regards to the Driver and hybrids.

Then it was fun to travel back to PGA West and participate in the media day for the upcoming Humana Challenge. The Clinton Foundation has partnered so well with Humana to make the event focus on health and wellness. It is refreshing to hear a group so passionate about leading people to better choices in regards to their eating and exercising. I also got a little practice in at Ironwood Country Club to get ready for 2013.

As for fun, Amy and I enjoyed a trip to New York City to catch a Letterman show and a Broadway show. After being in the thick of it in NYC, it was nice to come back to the “country,” that is Elmhurst.

Surprisingly there is still no snow in Chicago so I was able to get one last practice session in outside the other day at Butler National. It was a balmy 46 degrees, but it sure was good to see the ball fly in the air instead of just eight feet in front of me into a screen. Indoor simulator golf will probably be my preparation now as the temperatures are expected to dip below freezing, and I’m crossing my fingers for snow. There’s nothing like bundling up inside and then facing the elements to trek a few sleds up a 5% grade, only to cruise down it in 3 seconds. But the look on my kid’s faces, along with the snot, is totally worth the exhaustion.

Have a Merry Christmas and watch for me in Hawaii and the West Coast to start out the 2013 PGA TOUR season.

Mark Wilson