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Friday, July 29, 2011

Legacy Golf Links, a Nicklaus Course

Legacy Golf Links
Four Stars
Jack Nicklaus II 1991
18 holes/Par 72 

Legacy Golf Links

Legacy Golf Links is proud to be one of only three courses in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area which has played host to a USGA National Championship. This Jack Nicklaus II design is a "must play" when visiting the Sandhills.

12615 U.S. Hwy. 15-501 South, P.O. Box 1158
Aberdeen, NC 28315
910-944-8825, 1-800-344-8825
Fax 910-944-9416
www.legacygolfnc.com

Welcome to Legacy Golf Links!

Legacy Golf Packages now offers beautiful rental condos and rental houses in the Village of Pinehurst!

Welcome to Legacy Golf Links...a Nicklaus Designed golf gem in the heart of the Sandhills of North Carolina!  The Sandhills region of NC includes the Village of Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen communities.  The Sandhills of NC is nicknamed the "Home of American Golf" by the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Sandhills of NC has been ranked as the #1 Golf Destination on the East Coast for "Best Quality Courses" by Golf Digest.  Golf is not just a game in the Sandhills, it is a part of the culture.  Golf  is very much a part of the areas history, tradition and industry.  Whether you are looking for a nice slow paced golf get away for two or a competitive golf outing with your buddies, the Sandhills of NC will have a golf package and golf course line up to fit your needs. We hope you find our website informative and helpful in learning more about Legacy Golf Links and the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area known as the Sandhills of North Carolina.

Chad's Tips for #1
Par 4 - 431 Yards
Favor the right side on this hole from start to finish.  Avoid the green side bunker on the left as you approach the green if you want to have a good chance of making par.


Chad's Tips for #8
Par 4 - 387 Yards




Don't let the yardage here fool you...this is a challenging hole from start to finish.  Again, big hitters keep the driver in your bag.  A straight shot off the tee is a must here.  Play an extra club into this green to avoid coming up short in the waste bunker.  Par is a good score on this hole.
 
Chad's Tips for #18 - "The Bear"
Par 4 - 459 Yards
Voted - "The best finishing hole in Moore County, NC"
by Pinehurst Magazine
If you've never played Legacy you will soon understand why this hole is called "The Bear".  In order to hit this par 4 in two shots you better give it your best off the tee.  If your tee shot doesn't clear the hill you will have a decision to make on your second shot.  If you go for the green make sure to hit an extra club.  If the pin is in the back right side of the green you need at least two extra clubs...trust me.  Once your on the green most putts will break back toward the lake.  Par is a great score on this hole!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

State Of The Golf Trip/ Talamore Golf Club

 As of the past trip, the core group of people have expressed some changes to get the whole old gang back together. So I have been looking into the Pinehurst/Sand Hills NC area, as there are about 30 courses there. There are some trade offs, closer to us, brand new courses vs more money, especially if we go in May, a little less night life, but Karaoke, corn hole and poker become more focused on.

Over the next few weeks I will start putting out reviews and information on the courses in the area, and will investigate some of our best options. I am also looking into Ocean City as a destination also, and that will be my next focus.



What Makes Talamore So Very Special...

In 1991, famed golf course architect Rees Jones linked his name forever with the great golf of the North Carolina Sandhills when he debuted Talamore Golf Club. Since receiving the designation as Best New Course in the South by Golf Digest, Talamore has been consistently ranked at the forefront for outstanding courses in the Village of Pinehurst area. Talamore’s clubhouse, pool and cabana are all conveniently located next to the Talamore Golf Villas, which were constructed shortly after the club’s opening. The Talamore Golf Villas have long been a favorite among golfers vacationing in the area for their wonderful amenities and panoramic views of the Resort Course’s signature finishing hole.

The second facility added to the Talamore Golf Resort was the Mid South Club, originally known as Pinehurst Plantation. A private club, Mid South features a fantastic layout designed by “The King” Arnold Palmer. In 2005, the Lodges at Mid South opened, offering the most well-appointed amenities in the Sandhills and giving the Resort over 200 rooms of luxurious and comfortable accommodations, most featuring expansive golf course views.

One Trip And You Become Family...

The Talamore Golf Resort has grown to be the premier golf vacation in the Sandhills. Over 90% of our customers repeat or refer new business. That is unheard of in the resort industry and is a tribute to Talamore’s unwavering commitment to the total customer experience.


A Sandhills Golfing Treasure...

mid south golf club
No ordinary golf course receives the kind of acclaim and international praise that has been given to Talamore's 18-hole course since it’s opening in 1991. Talamore has been ranked in the forefront of outstanding courses in the Village of Pinehurst area, an area which has been known for its golfing traditions for more than a century.

Talamore Golf Partners hired architect Rees Jones to bring his considerable talents back to Village of Pinehurst in order to design a course that would be visually striking and exceptionally enjoyable. The result was a 7,020 yard course that was ranked in the top five new courses in America upon its opening in 1992 by Golf Digest.

According to Rees Jones: "This is a position course. Length isn't going to benefit the long hitter. What I'm trying to do is require thinking. I don't want to take the drive golfout of the golfer's hands, but what I want him to have to think about whether he wants to use it. You have to manufacture golf shots and make them happen. Strategy is an important key to a successful round of golf here. My hope is that golfers will enjoy this dimension of the game. Talamore is intended to capture the best of classic golf in the Village of Pinehurst area. The site has a spirit that's unmistakable: one that allowed for a remarkable diversity of features. There's a challenge in the course that's meant to add to the enjoyment of the game. After all, golf is supposed to be fun."

Talamore was also made famous by instituting the first llama caddy program. Availability is limited to have one of these precious animals escort you around the links. It certainly makes for an unforgettable day.

Talamore's Awards and National Recognition


  • Best New Golf Course in the South - Golf Digest
  • Top 5 New Courses - Golf Digest
  • Voted top 4 courses in North Carolina - Golf Digest
  • One of America’s Best Courses - Golfweek
  • Top 10 Courses in the Pinehurst Area - Pinehurst Magazine
  • North Carolina Golf Course of the Year - National Golf Course Owners Assoc.
  • Top 100 Courses in America - GolfLink.com


Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Beacon Ridge Golf & Country Club: Pinehurst NC

Beacon Ridge Golf  & CC
Four Stars
Gene Hamm 1988
18 holes/Par 72 

Beacon Ridge Golf & Country Club

This classic layout provides a traditional Village of Pinehurst area challenge to golfers of every ability. Whether you live nearby, are on business or planning your next golf vacation, if you truly love traditional golf, visit Beacon Ridge, a uniquely satisfying golf experience.

Discover the Beauty of Beacon Ridge

Located just minutes from the beautiful Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina, Beacon Ridge Golf & Country Club was designed by renowned course architect Gene Hamm. One of the prettiest and well manicured golf courses in the Sandhills region of North Carolina, Beacon Ridge is a favorite with locals as well as the numerous golf visitors, the Pinehurst area attracts each year.

Beacon Ridge also boasts the largest lake in Moore County, Lake Auman. Lake Auman is three miles long and two miles wide, and the earthen dam on the south side is the largest of its kind east of the Mississippi.

Course Details

The Beacon Ridge course is a par 72, 6494 yard championship golf course featuring rolling fairways and splendid greens and recently was awarded Golf Digest's coveted Four-Star Rating. The Beacon Ridge clubhouse, a Mt. Vernon style manor,overlooking the Beacon Ridge course layout, features spaciously comfortable facilities and a gracious, relaxed style.

Experience the challenge of traditional Village of Pinehurst area golf when you tee it up at Beacon Ridge Golf and County Club. This classic layout provides a challenge to golfers of every ability as it meanders through the towering pines and rolling mounds of the North Carolina Sandhills.

Everyone who truly loves traditional golf must play Beacon Ridge. Find out for yourself why Golf Digest magazine awarded Beacon Ridge their coveted 4 Star Rating. 
  • Penncross Bentgrass greens; Bermuda fairways and tees.
  • Par 72 with each nine returning to the clubhouse
  • A uniquely satisfying golfing experience awaits everyone who decides to play Beacon Ridge.
Score Card
 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Truth Part 3

The Truth Part 3

Post image for The Truth Part 3
In Part 1 of this series I discussed how golf companies use traditional advertising, watered down tests, and giveaways to manipulate content and ensure that nearly everything you read about those companies and their products is overwhelmingly positive. In Part 2 I detailed the consequences that result from less than universally positive content. I showed you some of the tricks reviewers use to make sure everyone stays happy, and I explained how something as fundamental as maintaining relationships with your contacts can influence what gets published.

Part 3

In this 3rd and final installment I’ll show you how the big money grab is slowly squeezing out the smaller OEMs and even the inventors and start-ups with an unfortunate combination of great products and shallow pockets. Finally, I’ll let you know what you can do to determine whether what you’re reading is unfiltered content, or just cleverly disguised advertising.

Picking on the Little Guy

Most on our side of the industry learn pretty quickly that golf’s biggest names are willing to spend golf’s biggest bucks to make sure their products get plenty of exposure. In our free market economy it’s hard to argue that a company shouldn’t benefit from all the advertising it can afford. It helps the big guys sell product (lots, and lots of product), and the advertising revenue helps keep the golf sites in business. It also happens to provide some of the site owners with an opportunity to make a very comfortable living. Along the way readers get exposure to all the latest gear, and a lucky few actually benefit from the giveaways. The problem is that when monetization becomes the end-game those who can’t afford to play quickly get squeezed out.
The reality is that for many media outlets, Pay-To-Play has become vital to the way business is conducted. As much as golf is a hobby or a passion for many of you, it’s very much a business. If some content is bought and paid for (either directly or through advertising), why shouldn’t nearly all content be?

We think big bucks make for big bullies. The biggest names in golf shouldn’t be able to reduce the little guy to insignificance simply because they can outspend him. If we took that approach our readers would miss out on some great finds and big surprises. While it was being mocked in other forums, MyGolfSpy tested PowerBilt’s AirForce One Driver and found it to be the longest driver of 2010. Though they barely got a mention anywhere else, two of the best wedges that came through our doors last season were Boccieri Golf’s Heavy Wedge, and Solus’ FC-10. Hireko’s Dynacraft irons proved they could hang with the big boys, and both Wilson and MacGregor showed us they still had the chops to make an outstanding forged iron at a very competitive price. One of my personal favorite irons (and among the favorites of our testers) from last year was Fourteen Golf’s TC-910, and almost nobody else bothered to cover it.

You’d think I’d be smarter by now, but in a recent conversation I had with my contact at a smaller golf company, I was shocked to learn that two of the larger golf sites on the Internet told him that if he wanted an “unbiased” review of his product, he’d need to pay for it (by becoming a site advertiser). Just as with many smaller golf companies, this one didn’t have the budget to pony up for the review. As a result readers of these sites may never get to hear about a product that we think might prove to be a game changer. Not only are big golf companies influencing what you see, their willingness to spend and spend big often dictates what you don’t see.

For the big guys spending big isn’t an issue, because around 20% of their massive budgets are devoted to marketing. For the smaller companies, however, ad budgets are absolutely minimal (if they exist at all), with the biggest chunk devoted to research and engineering (what a concept, right?). For the individual who has dumped his life savings into his product, site sponsorship are almost always out of the question. If sites like MyGolfSpy and others aren’t willing to help out with a little bit of exposure he’s probably never going to succeed. For every Martin Chuck (inventor of the TourStriker and instructor at the TourStriker Golf Academy) there are thousands of guys with good ideas that just didn’t make it.

Bucking the Trend

While I believe it’s important for the average golfer to understand the role that corporate dollars play in influencing the content they see on their favorite golf sites, I’ve got nothing against the other media outlets who take in big OEM dollars. It’s not how we chose to operate, but there is no denying that some of those guys have built outstanding communities where golfers can passionately discuss their love of the game and the equipment that powers it.  They’ve given a ton of free gear to their followers, and they’ve managed to support their families while doing it. They operate and succeed under a time-proven business model, and I truly wish them nothing but continued success. The bigger they get, and the more intertwined they become with the big golf companies, the greater the opportunity for MyGolfSpy to differentiate ourselves and carve our own niche.
That said, one of the first, and most valuable lessons I learned in the business world is that the absolute worst reason for doing anything a certain way is to do it because it is the way it had always been done before. We don’t want to succeed by walking in someone else’s footsteps, we want to carve our own path. We don’t ever want to become yet another in a long line of mini-Golf Digests. We don’t ever want to depend on big OEM dollars to survive, and we never want to be part of a system designed to either bleed the little guy dry, or squeeze him out altogether. That is how it has always been done, but it’s not how we want to do it. We’re comfortable being MyGolfSpy, even if it means we don’t get Christmas cards from the big OEMs, and if some others in the media speak of us with contempt, and mock us for having the audacity to speak openly and honestly about the companies they depend on to survive.

The Truth is Out There

You love golf, I get that.  I’d never suggest that you boycot big OEMs or never visit another golf site. My goal is simply to help you understand that much of what you see and read is driven as much or more by money than it is by any real desire to educate golfers, or to share a love for the game.

If you’re not sure what’s real, what’s unfiltered, and what’s honest, take a look at the banner ads. Is there any real substance, or do they simply rehash the marketing info while finding some insignificant detail to nitpick. Do they have the stones to acknowledge that their sponsor’s club is shorter, and less accurate than a competitor’s, or even last year’s model? The truth is right in front of your eyes, you just have to look for it.

If there’s ever a doubt what’s real and what’s not, don’t be afraid to ask to see the numbers, but be specific. Ask to see the data that supports their claims that a sponsor’s driver is the longest they’ve ever tested. Most importantly ask how much the big OEMs are spending to keep the positive reviews and fluffy content coming. Of course, I’m certain none of them would give you an honest answer because if they did, you wouldn’t just wonder whether what you just read was the result of big money well spent, you’d be certain of it.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Founder's Club Myrtle Beach Course Of The Year!

Founders Club Named Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year

Founders club_18.jpg
Founders Club was named 2011 Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year.
Myrtle Beach’s newest golf course wasted little time rising to the top of the leaderboard. Founders Club, a South Strand gem, has earned 2011 Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year honors.

“To be selected the best among the abundance of golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area is a tremendous honor,” said Tommy Smothers, general manager of Classic Golf Group. “Founders Club has only been around for three years and it is always in impeccable condition, so this award is a testament to all of the hard work the staff there has done to earn this award.”

A Thomas Walker design, the beauty of Founders Club resides in the land’s uncommon elevation change and abundant, native sand.

Located on what used to be Sea Gull Golf Club, Walker bulldozed the old course – completely – and crafted a design that allows it to take a seat comfortably alongside its Pawleys Island neighbors.

From a visual perspective, Founders Club, which opened on Feb. 1, 2008, is defined by the waste bunkers that run alongside side practically every fairway, providing visual contrast when set against the lush, green fairways. But the waste bunkers provide more than aesthetics.

The bunkers also double as cart paths, meaning the only pavement on the course is around the greens and tee boxes. More importantly to golfers, the sand, combined with elevated fairways and outstanding drainage, means carts ride on the fairways 365 days a year.

The Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owner’s Association evaluates Golf Course of the Year nominees on four criteria: exceptional quality of the golf course, exceptional quality of the ownership and management, outstanding contribution to the community, and significant contribution to the game. By virtue of winning the Myrtle Beach Course of the Year award, Founders club becomes a candidate for state honors.

A Classic Golf Group course, Founders Club is a sponsor of the Grand Strand Adopt-A-Highway program and the Ocean Highway Beautification Project. The course’s 18th hole is visible from Highway 17 South and stretches 7,007 yards from the championship tees. The course hosts numerous charity events throughout the year and regularly donates complimentary vouchers for rounds to other charity golf events throughout the Myrtle Beach area.

The National Golf Course Owners Association implemented the award in 1996 and the MBAGCOA has since nominated courses from the Myrtle Beach area. Past recipients of the award include Sandpiper Bay (2010) Shaftesbury Glen (2009), Grande Dunes (2008), Wachesaw Plantation East (2007), Burning Ridge (2006), TPC of Myrtle Beach (2005), Indian Wells Golf Club (2004), World Tour Golf Links (2003), Wild Wing Plantation (2002), Blackmoor (2001), Tradition Golf Club (2000), Bay Tree Golf Plantation (1999), Arrowhead Country Club (1998) and Myrtle Beach National’s King’s North (1996). Five of the Myrtle Beach regional winners - Burning Ridge, TPC, Wild Wing, Tradition, Arrowhead and King’s North - also captured the state award. World Tour was named as the national “Golf Course of the Year.”

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Part II

Post image for “The Truth They Don’t Want You To Know!” – (PART 2)
In Part 1 of this series I discussed how golf companies use traditional advertising, watered down tests, and giveaways to manipulate content and ensure that nearly everything you read about those companies and their products is overwhelmingly positive. I’ve also explained why $o many media outlet$ are $o willing to play along. In Part 2 I’m going to show you exactly what can happen when you don’t play along, and I’ll expose the clever tricks that other media outlets use to mask their fluff as as unbiased, objective content.

Content Has Consequences

(Written By: GolfSpy T) Everyone who has ever written a review for an audience the size of MyGolfSpy’s quickly comes to learn that every review written, in fact nearly every word written, comes with consequences. Consequences aren’t always bad. It should surprise no one that when MyGolfSpy or most any other site publishes a positive review, the majority of manufacturers are quick to post links on their Twitter and Facebook accounts praising the review. Some publish the reviews on the company blog, and many put links on their websites. This is great for us because it drives even more readers to the site, and those readers click on ads, and ads are where the money comes from. At its most basic level, positive reviews = more money, and everyone who operates a website has figured this out. In short, to the benefit of everyone (except the guy looking for an honest, detailed, and unfiltered assessment of golf club), the current system works, and works very well.

While the majority of the larger media outlets work comfortably within this system, there are a select few that, like MyGolfSpy, have fought to maintain their objectivity.  More than one golf company has been shocked after MyGolfSpy chose to publish what that company considered to be a less than positive review. And why wouldn’t they be shocked when nearly every other review they’ve ever received has been universally positive?

Protecting Their Advertisers

What I’ve been slow to learn (and probably never will) is that you’re not supposed to say anything even slightly negative about a golf club – especially if 1) The company is an advertiser, 2) The company provided you with the club 3) If you ever want to get anything else from that company. Though not all do it, the most egregious players on the media side have gone so far as to delete negative comments, and in many cases ban the offending readers from their sites.  Imagine that…banning a loyal reader because he said something negative about a golf club (produced by one of your sponsors).  The unfortunate reality is that site operators are forced to choose sides.  Either you’re in it for the truth, or your in it for the money (which means you have to protect your advertisers to the detriment of nearly everything else).

In one recent incident, an OEM that provided equipment to MyGolfSpy was so outraged by a mediocre review (not bad…just average) that they informed us they would no longer provide us with equipment or work with us in any other capacity (it’s probably not who you think). This was done despite the fact that we’d had nothing but positives to say about other equipment in their lineup. Unfortunately, this is far too common as manufacturers have grown accustomed to fluff and actually expect that every club reviewed will be as good or better than the last. I also believe it also speaks volumes about a company who, rather than address the criticism, or ask our testers why they didn’t like a club (the type of stuff that could actually lead to a better product), believe their only recourse for a mediocre review is to take their ball (and clubs) and go home.
In this particular case the company in question went so far as to suggest that the mediocre review did not stem from ordinary performance, and unimpressive subjective numbers, but rather as retribution for a positive review on another golf site.  At best the accusation is comical, but at its worst it calls into question my integrity, the integrity of our process, and the integrity of the average golfers who take time out of their lives to test clubs for MyGolfSpy. These are potential customers and rather than accept that their club simply wasn’t well received, a major equipment manufacturer chose to either call our testers liars, or suggest that somehow they were duped by MyGolfSpy. It’s as offensive as it gets, but it’s the most extreme example of how stating an unfiltered opinion about a golf club can not only lead to the loss of direct access, but can transcend the business aspect of what we do, and quickly become personal.

Personal attacks aside, I’m more or less able to shrug this one off with a smile, but could you imagine if we, like so many other golf sites, depended on this company to put food on our table? When between $30,000 to $60,000 in annual ad dollars for a website (exponentially more for magazines) come with the stipulation (spoken or otherwise) that nothing negative is to be published, is it any wonder why the overwhelming majority of reviews and other content are incomprehensibly positive?

Criticize Without Actually Criticizing

Now even the most blatant corporate fluffers have developed clever little techniques that give the appearance of a critical eye, albeit without the risk of actually saying anything negative.  My two personal favorites are to criticize the grip, and to talk about how much you dislike the shaft graphics.  These two largely insignificant details are ideal targets because, grips are easily changed, many people don’t care about shaft graphics, and most importantly, in the majority of cases, the equipment maker isn’t directly responsible for either.  It’s a bulletproof way of appearing unbiased without risking your paycheck.

Now to be perfectly fair, when we test clubs, it’s not too uncommon that a tester will tell us he doesn’t like the grip (the shaft graphics thing is less common), but they might also tell us they think the club is ugly, has lousy feel, and that when they hit it they have absolutely no idea where the ball is going to go.  Where we differentiate ourselves is that, while we’re happy to publish a quote when our testers say something positive, we don’t sugarcoat it when they say something negative either.  Unfortunately some believe we should print the positive and turn deaf ears to the negative.  We don’t believe believe its our place to censor our testers (or our readers), and we don’t believe predictably positive reviews offer any real benefit to those of you interested in making informed buying decisions.

Everybody Gets a Trophy

Perhaps the most popular trick of all is to simply not keep score or not pick a winner. At MyGolfSpy we’ve developed a very comprehensive scoring system that blends real performance data with the subjective opinions of our multiple testers.  This allows us to put a score on every club we test. While it’s true that our tests have often shown very little difference between clubs, we think it’s important to showcase those few select clubs that outperform the others.  We also happen to think it’s equally as important to point out those few clubs that under-perform expectations.  At any time you can look through our archives and see what the best and worst performing clubs are in every category.

Now as you well know, others have developed scoring systems too (you may have heard of the Hot List). These type of scoring systems are great because they enable the publisher to give all the golf companies a trophy at once, without leaving anyone feeling slighted. Occasionally they’ll throw a non-advertiser in the mix (usually for a Silver Medal), but as long as their biggest advertisers split the lion’s share of the Medals, everybody wins…except you.

The 1000 Word Review That Says Zero

Finally (and most commonly) is the 1000 word review that says absolutely nothing of consequence. It starts out with a near word for word regurgitation of the companies press release and quickly progresses to discussing how great nearly every aspect of the club is (it’s longer, it’s straighter, it looks awesome, and feels super-awesome), without a shred of actual data to back it up. Most of the time the claims are supported with generalities like “I hit the longest drive of my life” or “I shot the lowest round of the year”.  Of course, golf being what it is, two days later, if that reviewer adds 10 strokes, or only carried a drive 150 yards it wasn’t the clubs, his swing was just off.

OEM’s eat up these types of reviews like Elvis ate up peanut butter and fluff. They’re easy to swallow, and they sure taste sweet when you’re trying to promote your products favorably. Better still; under the most literal of interpretations these types of reviews aren’t biased. They’re favorable to absolutely everything, which is pretty damned unbiased. Of course, the literal definition of unbiased is not the same as objective or even useful.

(Input vs. Control) – And the Power of Friendship

In a relatively short period of time we’ve developed a bit of a reputation. It has even been suggested that, among other things, our primary mission is to piss off as many OEMs as possible. It’s certainly true that we’re not as popular with the OEMs as some other sites.  Some of that is by design, but much of that is predictable consequence of the way we operate. If I’m being perfectly honest, if I worked PR for a major OEM I’d like the other guys better too (they’re better cheerleaders, and they’re much more OEM-friendly), but as a real golfer interested in real information, this is where I’d spend the bulk of my time.

A PR guy’s job is to make sure that his company is always shown in the best possible light. We choose to write openly and honestly about the industry and the products we review.  When reviews are good and content favorable we make their jobs very easy.  When the coverage isn’t as positive as a golf company would like, it gives the PR guys headaches, and there are almost always discussions and repercussions.
From time to time we have been asked to either pull down a post (we don’t do that), or reword an article to provide better cover for a source.  On rare occasions we’ve been asked to add some additional information to a review. If the request is reasonable we’re happy to oblige, but our rule of thumb is we don’t take posts down, we don’t take information out of our posts (unless we find out it’s factually inaccurate), and we don’t give OEMs creative control over what gets published. We do however work on a two-way street, and we’re always willing to listen to the same type of criticism we’re known for dishing out.  Legitimate criticism and feedback from two different golf company contacts caused us to think about aspects of our review system we may never have considered, and the process is better because of them.

There are definitely some great PR people in the industry, and while we’ll probably never be their favorite site, we enjoy working with them and, I believe that even if they don’t always love us, because they hold a healthy respect for what we do, most are willing to tolerate us. Despite what some may think, we’re not robots, we’re actually decent people who love what we do. What we do just happens to be very different from what anyone else in the industry is doing.

We talk to our PR contacts nearly every day. They send us gear, info, and photos, and invite us to many of their events.  They are overwhelmingly good people who, like you and me, have a job to do and they do it the best that they can. Anyone who covers golf equipment can’t help build relationships with his PR contacts, but even this is not without its perils. It’s one thing to criticize a product or paint a golf company in a negative light, but when that company is represented by somebody you have a relationship with, rendering an honest opinion can feel like you’re betraying a friend. It’s a reality that all of us face, and while I can’t find fault with anyone on either side of the industry for building those type of relationships, the human aspect of what we do can complicate things when it comes time to write an article or post pictures of the newest clubs.
What we’ve learned countless times is that however good the relationship is, our contacts have bosses (probably an out of touch old guy in a bad sweater), and those bosses are ultimately the decision makers. So while strong relationships can get you gear for your giveaways and equipment for your reviews, one wrong word and it won’t matter.  Business has to stay business because, when push comes to shove, even if your contacts don’t agree with the decision, they won’t hesitate to use whatever leverage they have (ad dollars, equipment, etc.) to either pull you back in line, or cut you off entirely.

Part III

In Part III I’ll tell you how some media outlets are turning the tables to the detriment of the smaller golf companies, and individuals trying to break into the industry. I’ll also explain how you can identify and separate objective commentary from the paid advertisements and other fluff.

Monday, July 18, 2011

The Golf Story Of 2011 You Can Not Miss

“The Truth They Don’t Want You To Know!”

Post image for “The Truth They Don’t Want You To Know!”
(Written By: GolfSpy T) You’ve been sandbagged (yes you) and you may not even know it. Think that review you just read from some other golf media outlet is truly honest, or did a golf company spend tens of thousands of dollars for the unspoken promise that every word you read would be positive?

Being a golf club reviewer sounds like an awesome job, doesn’t it? I have access to nearly every golf club that hits the market each year, and sometimes I get clubs that haven’t even been released yet.  I get to take the clubs out on the golf course, test them on our simulators, and I have the privilege of writing reviews for our readers. Many of you might consider what I do as your dream job. I certainly did.  As with nearly anything else, however; my job isn’t exactly what it seems.

Step into my spikes for a minute.

Think about this.  What if a single honest sentence in a review meant a golf company would never send you another piece of equipment?  What if telling the truth meant a $50,000 pay cut? What if your integrity was called into question simply because you gave your honest opinion about a new driver or set of irons a golf company was trying to promote?

What would you do?

Do you think you could remain true to what you believe in no matter the cost, or would find yourself sugar coating every word you write?  Would you allow your readers to speak their minds, or would you take the money and demand your readers keep their damn mouths shut?

Sadly, these aren’t hypotheticals.  These are the realities for any golf site with an audience the size of MyGolfSpy’s.  While great golf companies do exist in the industry, there are some who use advertising, access to equipment, and the threat of lawsuits to manipulate content.  It’s the ugly side of the industry. It’s a side many of you are not aware of; where tens of thousands of dollars and sometimes millions are spent to influence what gets written, and where some golf equipment manufacturers will cut off anyone who doesn’t play by their rules. Unfortunately, the average golfer has no idea what really goes on behind the scenes, but we’ve decided that needs to change.

In this 3-Part Series I’ll expose how many golf companies buy influence with the media, show you what can happen when you don’t play by their rules, and lift the curtain on the pay to play schemes that are slowly infecting the industry.


Great Expectations
In many respects the golf industry represents the blending of cutting-edge technology and out-dated thinking. Take a step back from the forged composites and carbon nano-tube jargon, and one finds an industry still clinging to the idea that their message can be controlled, and where so-called unbiased reviews are only tolerated so long as they’re positive.
Not surprisingly, however, the greatest of all expectations are those associated with the golf club review process. When I started writing reviews I was naive enough to believe that if I took a thorough look at a product, and gave an honest assessment, manufacturers would publicize the positive and take any criticism, no matter how direct, as an opportunity to improve their products for next year. I was, at best, half right.

Buying Influence

While you’ll probably never find a line item on an invoice that reads “Positive Driver Review – $1000“, beyond simply providing a sample for testing there are several ways that OEMs can influence the outcome of a product review.
  • Traditional Advertising (Print) – Look in any magazine and you’ll find equipment ads, and lots of them. It’s the way it has always been done, and it’s beyond necessary for the way traditional print media operates. Magazines have huge overhead. They have material costs. They pay talent (writers, editors, photographers), revenue generators (sales and marketing), and CEO types who command huge salaries. It all adds up, and to keep the ship afloat they need money.  Some of that money comes from subscriptions, but most of it comes from the advertisers. I’m one who has given the guys behind the Hot List the benefit of the doubt. I’m willing to accept that no major equipment manufacturer has ever come to them and said “give our new driver a gold medal or else”, but I also believe those guys know how the game has to be played. My guess is you’re never more than a couple of bronze medals away from losing a major advertiser (which is probably why they stopped giving bronze medals). With print media on the decline, the guys still writing on paper understand that they need the advertisers more than the advertisers need them, but as long as everybody stays happy, the money keeps rolling in.
  • Traditional Advertising (Online) – Online, the simplest form of advertising is the banner ad. Placement is everything, and ads in more prominent spots command the most money.  On a site the size of MyGolfSpy, big OEMs are willing to pay thousands of dollars every month for premium placement (WE WILL ALWAYS REFUSE TO ACCEPT ADS FROM LARGE GOLF COMPANIES). The problem is that it’s easy to get comfortable with easy money. The income becomes expected. And once you’re livelihood begins to depend on it, you have no choice but to try and protect it. Total dependence on big OEM ad dollars becomes a recipe for fluffy reviews and the golf companies trying to control your content.  Your site quickly becomes a place where even the slightest criticism of their product or brand is sterilized to the the point where it becomes meaningless.  Other media outlets do this to protect both the advertiser and the site owner’s wallet. Problem is, this has led to the downfall of the honest review, and the silencing of the independent voice. Few things can compromise principles as quickly as a deep pocket, and often it means that the loyal readers of that site now get censored.  At  MyGolfSpy, we don’t hide the fact that we accept advertising, however; what we don’t accept is big OEM (Golf Company) advertising.  You won’t find any banners from major equipment manufactures here, and we’re committed to keeping it that way. We’re leaving a lot of money on the table by doing so, but we believe it’s much more important to publish truthful and objective content for you readers. As soon as you start taking money from the big guys, no matter how good your intentions, the integrity of the process inevitably gets compromised.  As we look at ways to not only sustain the site, but to grow it to match the vision we have for the readers, you may see banners from names you recognize, but you will never see a banner from a major club manufacturer on our site.
  • Group Tests – Group testing is where a golf company agrees to send out equipment to a site which will then be given to their readers.  Sounds great for the readers right? You guys get free equipment and all you have to do in return is write a review about your experience with the free stuff.  But what the casual reader of that site (the ones that did not receive free equipment) gets though is a watered down version of MyGolfSpy’s review system.  On paper this sounds like a great way to get an unbiased, mutli-perspective review, and I certainly admire the simple brilliance behind it, but unfortunately it almost always leads to more useless information for the average reader, and here’s why: What big OEM’s understand is that the average golfer may never consider the psychology behind a campaign like this. The OEM’s know that if you take an average Joe and give him as much as $500 worth of free gear, 99 out of 100 times you’re going to get a very good review in return. Why? Because even if average Joe doesn’t like your clubs, he likes getting free stuff. He knows that there’s a good chance he might like the next thing you send him, and so whether consciously aware of it or not, most people will do what they need to do to keep the free stuff coming.  Almost no one has the stones to risk that opportunity by saying anything negative about their free gear. This leads to not only more universally positive reviews, but also an almost rabid loyalty to the OEM that provided it. It’s a win-win for everybody…or at least for everybody not looking for a truly honest review. Some might be shocked to learn that our testers never get to keep the clubs we test. Given how much other sites give away it seems almost cruel really. We don’t give anything away because we believe that as soon as the “what’s in it for me” mentality kicks in, objectivity is compromised. We do everything we can to keep our reviews as unbiased, and unfiltered as possible. The integrity of the process is everything.
  • Giveaways - Who doesn’t love a giveaway? They’re great for readers because it means somebody (or somebody’s) is going to get something for free with absolutely no expectations attached. They’re great for us because they increase interest and drive traffic to the site. They’re great for OEMs too because we’re not only showcasing their products, we’re building desire for them. Heck, some of the guys who don’t win may very well go out and buy whatever it was we just gave away. Every site, including this one, does them. And every site (including this one) relies on OEMs to provide product for that giveaway. If giveaways are good for everybody, what’s the problem? The influence here is definitely more subtle, but the reality is that a company is only going to provide product for a giveaway when you’ve got a history of saying nice things about them or at a minimum if you’ve never said anything negative about them. When traffic volume is tied to, or worse yet, dependent on giveaways, each and every word must be scrutinized, because each and every word written has consequences.

PART 2

What you’ve read so far is barely the tip of the iceberg. In Part 2 of this series I’ll explain why so many of the other golf media outlets are willing to play along, what can happen when you don’t, and I’ll expose a couple of common tricks product reviewers use to give the false appearance of being unbiased.

Friday, July 15, 2011

The Open Offer From SubSeventy Golf


Sub70
Open
Championship
Exclusive
Offer
An Exclusive Open Championship Offer from Sub70 USA.
Any order placed from now through Sunday, July 17th will receive a 20% Discount. Simply place your order and the 20% discount will automatically be applied.
Visit Sub70usa.com

Friday, July 8, 2011

Groupon Deal, 22.00 A Round At Tradition Club Courses In VA!

Traditional Golf Properties – Multiple Locations

$85 for Three 18-Hole Rounds of Golf with Cart Rental (Up to $174 Value)

$85
Buy

Value
$174
Discount
51%
You Save
$89
Hourglass001
  • Time Left To Buy
  • 2 days 14:29:17
38 bought

  • Traditional-golf-properties_grid_6

The Fine Print

  • Expires Nov 11, 2011
  • Limit 2 per person. Limit 2 per visit. Subject to availability. Not valid on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before 11AM. Not valid on holidays.
  • See the rules that apply to all deals.

Highlights

  • Par 71 & 72 golf courses
  • Scenic views
  • Championship tee ranges
  • Redeemable at five locations
Before golf was invented, grassy pastures were viewed as the exclusive territory of roaming sheep, herds of cattle, and overzealous Civil War reenactors. Celebrate turf's competitive utility with today's Groupon: for $85, you get three 18-hole rounds of golf with cart rental at Traditional Golf Properties (up to a $174 value). This Groupon is valid at Kiskiack in Williamsburg, Stonehouse in Toano, Royal New Kent or Brickshire in Providence Forge, or The Crossings in Glen Allen. Groupon holders can use all three games at one course or mix and match games between courses.

Amid Traditions’ five scenic fairways, championship tees and carefully placed bunkers test the technique of ball smackers and accommodate casual play. Players club through the meticulously designed 18-hole par 71 and 72 courses, which wind by a variety of natural scenery, from woods and glistening streams to dramatic contours and sand traps hosting life-size dioramas of The Iliad. Game-day golfers will also receive a cart for cruising the majestic fairways. Though meals are not included in today’s deal, players can retire to each course's clubhouse, where they will find a lunch menu of classic American fare to reward them for not popping wheelies on their golf carts.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Father/Son Golf Tournament In Myrtle Beach

More than just another golf tournament

They claim it’s the “Perfect Father Son Getaway.” I’ve played the annual Father Son Tournament three years with my grandson and I can tell you it works for the latter combination, too. We always finished in the middle of the pack in a middle flight, but we were the real winters!

We met some great people! The fellows from Maryland that gave my grandson the Terrapin head cover that he still enjoys, today. The father/son from Alabama that made us laugh and never complained about playing with a 10-year-old. The father/son from Ohio that got a little frustrated when they were being beat by a grandfather/grandson team, but in the end were really supportive and encouraging.

We have not been able to play the Father/Son Tournament these past few years with time restrictions hindering both of us. However, I’ll never get tired of telling anyone who will listen, it’s a great investment in family time! Bring the whole family July 21-23, 2011. Better yet arrive earlier in the week and stay a little longer. Get all the details at http://www.fathersongolf.com/.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

The Putt-Chip, Chipping Made Easy!

Edgar look here, the chip made easy and simple, by Jeff Sweet!





The putt-chip is
a shot that I encourage all of my students to learn at our golf school. It's easy, it's reliable, and even the pros use it to get up and down in a hurry. By keeping the ball low, you eliminate the need to worry about how much carry you need or how much the ball will spin. Instead, you can focus on distance and direction, two keys to hitting better shots. This shot uses the same setup as most short-game shots, starting with a good golf posture and 60 percent of your weight on your left foot.

The difference from a putt is that you need to use a short iron, perhaps a 7- or 8-iron, and you'll use your normal putting grip instead of your full swing grip. This automatically takes some of the wrist action out of the shot. With the ball positioned at about the middle of your stance, choke down on the club so that your iron feels about the same length as that of a putter. From this position, you might even see the heel of the club off the ground. This is a good thing because it helps prevent the leading edge from digging into the ground. Now you're ready to use your normal putting stroke by dominating the motion with your shoulders rocking up and down and letting your arms, not your wrists, control the clubhead. You should see the ball come off with little trajectory, hit the green and start rolling like a putt. Now with some practice, allow the length of your swing to dictate how far the ball travels. In no time, you'll be saving more pars with this simple, easy-to-learn shot!

Jon Paupore teaches at the Jim McLean Golf School at Red Ledges in Heber City, Utah. For information, visit redledges.com.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Vision Golf Balls Starting To Catch Hold In The US


WELCOME TO VISION

Yes, the ball you play makes a major contribution towards that solid feel and superb sound off your club. Those incredibly exciting long straight drives that make your game both memorable and exciting are yet again a consequence of playing the right ball. Approach shots that seem to be getting closer to the pin all the time and those putts that now seem to be dropping on a more consistent basis, are all affected by the ball you play.


Image 

Vision Icons


Vision™ icons are used to easily identify the variations in advanced design, hi-tech materials and playing characteristics of the different Vision™ golf balls.
Vision™ icons are used extensively on all packaging and advertising to assist in the the usually complicated process of choosing the best ball for your particular game. These simple graphic icons are displayed around each single ball pack, to easily convey the information required by all golfers when deciding which Vision™ ball they should play.
Yes, play Vision™ golf balls and see the difference!



UV Charged Cover


The Vision™ sun icon is used to illustrate the extreme brightness of our UV Yellow golf ball, which we believe to be the brightest ball in golf today. Using our unique patented UV absorption process (US patent No 7179856), we are able to achieve the maximum brightness for this ball during daylight play. Making your game faster, safer and more enjoyable. The hi-tech, soft feel cover material used on this ball is exceptionally durable and extremely slick, thereby creating less drag whilst in flight and greater overall distance.



Arctic White Cover


The Vision™ snowflake icon describes the hi-visibility cool blue-white colour of the cover on this traditional styled ball. Using our advanced hi-tech soft feel cover material, we have achieved exceptional durability and feel.



X-pert Thin Cover


The development of a new manufacturing method allowed us to create our thinnest covered high performance ball yet. Using new hi-tech materials we have created a ball that gives the better player more control in all conditions. These materials provide enhanced durability especially when compared to the urethane tour balls on the market today. The markings on this ball are traditional two pole style.




Multi-Layer Power


Our bullseye styled icon with its concentric circles confirms that this ball has our advanced Vision™ power technology. Through the use of multiple components, our product is consistently longer with driver and irons whilst retaining the great feel and memorable click sound that better players are always looking for.



Pro Tour Spin


The PTS icon with its two spinning arrows surrounding a centre point demonstrates the higher spinning nature of this ball due to its new hi-tech materials. The level of spin available gives greater control and accuracy on all full and approach shots into the green.




Short Game Control


The overall softer feel and extra spin, allows the better player greater control and accuracy over their short shots from around the green when attacking the pin resulting in more saved shots per round.





Long and Straight


The Vision™ power icon represents all the advances that Vision™ balls have made to help take your shots further and straighter than ever before. Our advanced Vision™ tek dimple pattern is but one of the design features creating the increased length and overall improvement in accuracy all Vision™ players have come to appreciate.



Ezy 2 See Numbers


Players have mentioned on a regular basis that one of the main problems they have with current other golf balls is how hard it can be to identify them during play.We asked our Test Pilots to trial a series of large number markings on both Vision™ UV Yellow and Arctic White balls. This has resulted in 2 large numbers appearing on each ball where you would normally find a ball’s brand name printed, resulting in the easier identification of your Vison™ ball and the speeding up of play as result.

Vision X-pert2 Print E-mail

X-pert2

With traditional markings uses thin cover multi-layer technology producing pro-tour spin with exceptional short game and full shot control.

X-pert Thin Cover

The development of a new manufacturing method allowed us to create our thinnest covered high performance ball yet. Using new hi-tech materials we have created a ball that gives the better player more control in all conditions. These materials provide enhanced durability especially when compared to the urethane tour balls on the market today. The markings on this ball are traditional two pole style.

Pro Tour Spin

The PTS icon with its two spinning arrows surrounding a centre point demonstrates the higher spinning nature of this ball due to its new hi-tech materials. The level of spin available gives greater control and accuracy on all full and approach shots into the green.

Short Game Control

The overall softer feel and extra spin, allows the better player greater control and accuracy over their short shots from around the green when attacking the pin resulting in more saved shots per round.

Multi Layer Power

Our bullseye styled icon with its concentric circles confirms that this ball has our advanced Vision™ power technology. Through the use of multiple components, our product is consistently longer with driver and irons whilst retaining the great feel and memorable click sound that better players are always looking for.

Vision UV Yellow Print E-mail

UV Yellow

Has large easy to see numbers with a bright UV charged soft yellow cover and multi layer power technology, producing longer straighter shots.

UV Charged Cover

The Vision™ sun icon is used to illustrate the extreme brightness of our UV Yellow golf ball, which we believe to be the brightest ball in golf today. Using our unique patented UV absorption process (US patent No 7179856), we are able to achieve the maximum brightness for this ball during daylight play. Making your game faster, safer and more enjoyable. The hi-tech, soft feel cover material used on this ball is exceptionally durable and extremely slick, thereby creating less drag whilst in flight and greater overall distance.

Ezy 2 See Number

Players have mentioned on a regular basis that one of the main problems they have with current other golf balls is how hard it can be to identify them during play.We asked our Test Pilots to trial a series of large number markings on both Vision™ UV Yellow and Arctic White balls. This has resulted in 2 large numbers appearing on each ball where you would normally find a ball’s brand name printed, resulting in the easier identification of your Vison™ ball and the speeding up of play as result.

Long and Straight

The Vision™ power icon represents all the advances that Vision™ balls have made to help take your shots further and straighter than ever before. Our advanced Vision™ tek dimple pattern is but one of the design features creating the increased length and overall improvement in accuracy all Vision™ players have come to appreciate.

Multi Layer Power

Our bullseye styled icon with its concentric circles confirms that this ball has our advanced Vision™ power technology. Through the use of multiple components, our product is consistently longer with driver and irons whilst retaining the great feel and memorable click sound that better players are always looking for.

Vision Arctic White Print E-mail

Arctic White

The Arctic White golf ball is a soft cover white ball with large easy to see numbers and multi-layer power technology, producing longer straighter shots.

Arctic White Cover

The Vision™ snowflake icon describes the hi-visibility cool blue-white colour of the cover on this traditional styled ball. Using our advanced hi-tech soft feel cover material, we have achieved exceptional durability and feel.

Ezy 2 See Number

Players have mentioned on a regular basis that one of the main problems they have with current other golf balls is how hard it can be to identify them during play.We asked our Test Pilots to trial a series of large number markings on both Vision™ UV Yellow and Arctic White balls. This has resulted in 2 large numbers appearing on each ball where you would normally find a ball’s brand name printed, resulting in the easier identification of your Vison™ ball and the speeding up of play as result.

Long and Straight

The Vision™ power icon represents all the advances that Vision™ balls have made to help take your shots further and straighter than ever before. Our advanced Vision™ tek dimple pattern is but one of the design features creating the increased length and overall improvement in accuracy all Vision™ players have come to appreciate.

Multi Layer Power

Our bullseye styled icon with its concentric circles confirms that this ball has our advanced Vision™ power technology. Through the use of multiple components, our product is consistently longer with driver and irons whilst retaining the great feel and memorable click sound that better players are always looking for.