A Little Pep Talk About Golf Blogs and Great Writing

WARNING: This is a post about golf blogs and golf blogging.  If you don't care about this post, I would totally just skip over it right now.  Don't waste your time if this will bore you.  I won't be offended at all.

We have talked pretty extensively at this site about golf blogs, their place in the golf world, and their place in the blogging world.  But, we haven't talked much about golf blogs themselves.  That's why I really enjoyed the post that came out of the gang at Niceballz today entitled "We don't need another post about Tiger Woods' house." 

You see, I think of the Niceballz gang as the marshalls of the golf blogosphere.  They're not afraid to call out bullshit when they see it.  They tend to keep golf bloggers honest when they're getting a little too cliche, or too nice, or crossing the line (which is a cliche in and of itself).  And that's what their piece does for me.  It's a call to action for golf bloggers to become more creative and innovative with their content instead of replicating across sites, be willing to criticize golf memes and establishment, and for golf blogs to not be simply talking points for corporations.

While I don't 100% agree with the piece (it's not in my nature to do that with any piece of writing), the points are well taken.

They're especially well taken in the context of our pal Shane Bacon's departure from Fanhouse.  He wrote about it on his personal blog Dogs That Chase Cars - which will be restored to its full-time golf glory.  Shane resurrected an excellent quote from Page Two God Bill Simmons that I think really holds true.

"If you’re good, people are going to find you. You can twist it around every way you can and say ‘What does this mean? Where’s this going? Is this a movement?’ But it comes down to ‘Are you a good writer? Do you have good information? Do your readers trust you? Do you have an interesting spin on things that people haven’t seen? Are you funny?’ That’s the stuff that’s going to get you read.  Instead of constantly wondering ‘What are we? What’s our identity?’ just go out and kick ass."

Those are the very questions that need to be asked by any writer.  They need to be asked by pros and amateurs, bloggers and long form writers.  (Note: I'm removing mainstream media from my lexicon and replacing it with "professional writers/media.")

I've never really articulated what I'm trying to do here at Waggle Room as well as that, but what Sports Guy said is the gist of it.  There are a bajillion places to get scores and other news.  I'm hoping that Waggle Room is a place you'll come to and see three things:

1. news items that are hard to find
2. breaking news, analysis, and interviews that will be nowhere else
3. links to other creative work that I didn't do or think of myself

And if you stop seeing those things, stop coming here.  I'm serious.  I'll get the hint that I've lost my way.

Also, walk away from here if it ever seems like I'm paling around too much with equipment makers, golf tours, or any of the established movers and shakers of golf.  I don't want to get to the point where I am too blind to take a stand.  While I'll never go out of my way to be mean and spiteful to them because it's not necessary, I'm certainly not going to shy away from busting chops if it's needed. 

I think I have come to a place with my sources and contacts around the golf world that they don't take anything I say personally.  Honestly, they don't.  The PGA Tour may well read what I have to say about the Fall Series' relevance, but they haven't stopped helping me put together interviews just because of that.  Acushnet knows I have some strong words for Wally Uihlein, but that doesn't stop them and I from talking about the great products they make.  There's no point in being afraid to speak your opinion.  If you've got the truth as your backup and a little tact, then you can always make your case strongly, aggressively, and fairly. 

The keys are balance and tact.  I will always happily give equal time to the other side.  It's not about burning bridges.  It's ok to go negative.  And it's ok to not publish every press release.  Honestly, probably 2% of the stuff I get actually makes it on here.

Like we've talked about here before (and in private convos), everyone has a different angle.  Some people want to be funny, or cutting edge, or angry.  We all have a unique style.  That's great, so long as we're all kicking ass.