As far as I can figure out, I’ve been writing for TravelGolf.com longer than anyone else on staff – eight years now. Based on this experience, I want to reassure Stacy and Barry at the Golf for Beginners blog that their experience with the LPGA denying them tournament credentials is nothing personal.
The LPGA can just be added to the list of businesses and organizations that are utterly clueless about the Internet and its popularity among golfers.
I have covered the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open, the made-for-TV Tylenol Par-3 Shootout, and the Ford Seniors Championship. At one time I wanted to cover more professional events, but found the endless e-mails, faxes, and calls necessary to convince the powers that be that an Internet publisher was a legitimate news outlet to be more trouble than the events were worth.
Even golf courses were slow to come around to welcoming electronic media back in the day. I recall the first phone call I made to Kevin O’Brien, Director of Golf at the acclaimed St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Mich. After identifying myself and asking him to schedule a visit to review the course and interview him, he told me that I’d need to bring a portfolio of my work first, driving the 3 hours to the course beforehand to meet with him to explain to him exactly what I wanted to do and prove to him who I was.
Huh? I told him to forget it. That was 1999.
Fast forward two years, when St. Ives’s even more acclaimed sister course Tullymore opened. All of the sudden, I’m on the list of invited media for the gala media event.
At the event, O’Brien thanked me for attending. I mentioned our conversation two years earlier, and asked what the change of heart was. He apologized profusely (and sincerely), and admitted that in 1999, he didn’t know all that much about the Internet, and hadn’t realized how many golfers research golf courses and trips online.
Fast forward to today, and it appears that the none other than the LPGA STILL hasn’t figured out what this whiz-bang fad called the Internet is all about. Pathetic, really. As William K. Wolfrum points out, women’s professional golf stays alive due to a small core of fanatical fans – many of whom fanatically read our blogs for the latest news on their favorite players and events.
One would think that a tour that is struggling financially, and so far below the radar screens of mainstream sports fans that ESPN hardly mentions tournament results, would be thrilled with ink – electronic or not. Courses and resorts have figured out how important an Internet presence is for business. The LPGA is apparently not as bright.
So, Stacy and Barry, you’re not being picked on. This fact makes the LPGA’s Luddite ways no less frustrating, I know. But I predict that in a couple of years, the LPGA will be contacting you to provide credentials.
That is, if the LPGA isn’t hoisted by its own petard before then – that petard being its utterly astounding lack of self-promotion savvy.
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Comment feed for this post
Brandon Tucker:
Mark Nessmith:
Jason Scott Deegan:
The Accidental Golfer:
They need to reassess their priorities.
Can you believe that we're STILL receiving press releases from the powers that be as well as from Sybase directly?
Just this morning I received another email from Paul Rovnak asking, "Stacy: Is there a phone number I can call you at on Wednesday to discuss your application?"
What is going on here? Am I missing something?
Stacy does most of the communicating, however the ideas are from both of us.
Since you have already gone through this process and we are new at this, can you give us some tips so we don't repeat this rejection with the upcoming Open at the Foot.
We live and work just minutes away. Our papers have been turned in and we are awaiting confirmation.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Barry--For the US Women's Open, I found it easier to get credentials as a freelance writer for a Western Mass Golf Magazine, who had asked me to write several stories on the championship. I also wrote for TravelGolf.com (but not as much as I could have, since TG's editor at the time--who is no longer here and shall remain nameless--told me he didn't want more than one US Women's Open story!!). I know it was a cop-out to join up with a tradtional print magazine, but it was MUCH simpler.
So if you want to make sure of your access, I'd recommend something similar. However, if you want to fight the power, document your past articles/blogs/podcasts and cite hard readership (or hit) numbers. And tell the USGA that they're better and smarter than the LPGA.
Nice thought, but the internet is not going to help a sinking ship. Look at the product... What do they have to offer, the Asian Invasion and lesbians?
If I am corporate American, I am looking for straight, white, attractive American girls to sink my money in. Not Mo-Goo-Ping-Ling and a bunch of overweight, crew cut dykes...
Sadly, the feeder for the tour, college golf has the same coming along... Probably 50% or more of the college scene is gay and American schools are going abroad for talent...
As I said, a dying ship...
Yeah you're right bill, no one wants to sponsor non-white Michelle (Ping-Ping-Ding-Ling) Wie. She's destitute and living in your mama's trailer park...
***************
LOL !!!
LPGA has drama, it is not a sinking ship. Of course you have the talented and beautiful Wie, but the emergence of Webb and other new talents have stirred a lot of attentions.
Asian invasion, while not so media friendly, is a shot in the arm to the lazy American players. No more goofing around, it means hard work and serious business.
1. Michelle
2. Footloose
3. and fancy-free
4. Hey, that's illegal
5. Secure the perimeter
6. Somebody call the Gucci people
7. May the best man win
8. Simple Simon says:
9. Lift your right foot up
10. Who wants to go to the bathroom?
11. Signed, sealed, delivered
12. Having a Kodak moment
Wiesy is turning into a real "hottie". Love the dancing pics and the one where she stands a head taller than Choi.