A Good LPGA Tour Narrative with a Buried Shot at Bloggers

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 31, 2009 10:35 AM EDT Comment 24 comments

SI/Golf.com's Alan Shipnuck attended the LPGA Tour event in Pheonix last weekend. He did an excellent write up of the tournament. He described how big of a save Biv may well have pulled to keep the event going and a host of other tour topics trying to weave a theme of a tour that is trying desperately just to survive.

His theme was a little overdramatic, but then again, the SI Golf Confidential panel this week considers the LPGA as a dying enterprise without American domination.

Anyway, Shipnuck talks about how the LPGA Tour is revamping its communications policies under the direction of new boss David Higdon. He also slips in this slight at bloggers:

The LPGA has long had a policy precluding players from holding self-promoting pressers at tournament sites, but that rule was struck down by a reorganized communications department that has already proved to be nimbler and more big picture than its predecessors. Example B of such revamped thinking: a recently enacted policy credentialing lowly bloggers at tournament media centers.

It sounds like I'm really going to be welcomed at any LPGA Tour stop in which I could get credentialed and the PGA Tour beat regulars accidentally make a left turn at Albequerque (Bugs Bunny reference) and wind up in an LPGA Tour media center.

That really shouldn't detract from an otherwise excellent piece, but it does provide some insight as to how some of the more traditional golf media views what (they perceive) blogs do.

In an effort to prevent this post from ending on a sour note, I present to you a picture of Lorena Ochoa wearing a skirt at a golf tournament - a first.

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Comments

not too much of a surprise

the “professional” media is a pretty arrogant bunch about this topic. And these days, they are afraid of losing their jobs.

do you think he’s afraid some blogger will steal the last danish in the morning ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 31, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From personal expereience

The press tents have more food than is ever necessary.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 31, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's good to know

since the only reason I want a credential is to snag some free grub.

Seriously, most professional anythings regard their amateur counterparts with some amount of disdain. I don’t expect to be welcomed with open arms by the professional media but I do expect equal access and treatment by the Tour. Hopefully I won’t be disappointed.

by hound dog on Mar 31, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HD – don’t worry about the people in the media tents. Unless you dare to speak to the “royalty” (network/TGC) – most of the people there are very nice. Just introduce yourself – with your knowledge and good personality, they will welcome you to the tent. Here in Atlanta, I get to spend some time with Furman Bisher every fall. The old guys are always a blast to hang out with.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 31, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My first encounter

I had emailed with Craig Dolch for years but never met him in person before the 2007 ADT. So as soon as I got settled, I introduced myself and thanked him for his help. I also said hello to Randall who I knew through his Sun-Sentinel blog.

Another thing I did, before leaving at tournament’s end, I thanked the LPGA people who helped me for the week. The local PR person, Allison Cushman, and anyone else.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 31, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Knowing someone ahead of times sure makes things a lot easier – more fun, too. My first AT&T, I felt like an idiot eating by myself and sitting at the desk writing with about 50 empty slots around me.

The tournament people really appreciate having people stop by to say thanks – and they remember, too. Too many of the media folks seem to forget their manners toward the people who are making their lives easier.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 31, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they do a good job at East Lake (Tour Championship), and used to do a good job at the Bellsouth/ATT&T Classic of not putting out too much food. it’s gotten tougher to gauge how much to prepare the last couple of years because of the falling number of people covering tournaments.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 31, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alot of the mainstream media hates bloggers

They feel threatened by us. With newspapers folding left and right or going internet only, the fears are somewhat justified. They worry for their jobs and we make an easy target for the ones who don’t know us.

I got good relations with Randall Mell of the Sun-Sentinel and Craig Dolch formerly of the Palm Beach Post. It was with Craig’s help that I got credentialed for the 2007 ADT. When Craig didn’t see me at the ADT last November, he asked the PR person about me. After coming off heart surgery last summer, I didn’t make a serious push at getting credentialed for the ADT. I tried applying through the usual sports blogs I write for and got turned down. My original plan was to get a florida newspaper to back me, and I had a couple of interested parties when talking to them earlier in 2008 but because of my surgery I didn’t know if I could make the commitment in November.

Supposedly I was turned down for the ADT due to lack of space, but as Craig essentially told me that was a crock.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 31, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s why I only say that some in the media don’t like bloggers. There are plenty of other examples of mainstream writers that accept and kind of embrace bloggers. The writers that I’ve had on The 19th Hole as guests have never struck me as snooty or biased against me. They usually have fun on the show. Some of the writers who have declined my invitations may have been that way, but they were still polite.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 31, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

legitimate concerns

If we’re being honest, not all bloggers are upstanding writers with a passion for journalistic integrity. Some really do (figuratively) sit in mom’s basement pontificating on subjects of which they know little. That said, I believe the LPGA will use some discretion in who they credential. At first we may judge the Tour overly cautious, but they and the really good bloggers will be learning about each other. Eventually there will be mutual respect which will extend to the relationship between mainstream writers and new media writers.

My takeaway from Shipnuck is that he didn’t slam bloggers, he merely acknowledged their current spot in the food chain. In doing so he complimented the new LPGA communications department for being “nimbler and more big picture” than its predecessor.

It’s a new relationship. Legitimate concerns abound for all parties. Mainstream media folks are concerned about their paychecks. Bloggers as a rule will be there on their own time. Patience.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Mar 31, 2009 11:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the Tour understands not all bloggers are equal, but

those of us who do get credentialed early on will have a weighty responsibility for all who follow. If we screw this up, responsible bloggers of all sports will suffer for it.

by hound dog on Mar 31, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The two tournaments I covered

I was on my best behavior. All of my writing was about the tournament, the players there, and any other other LPGA news that came up that week. I never blogged about the media, even when I caught Doug Ferguson in one of his screwups. He reported Christina Kim as playing in her very first ADT in 2007, when in fact she had played in the 2004 and 2005 events.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 31, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

You didn’t point that out to “Dougie” at the tournament, did you ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 31, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

CG.

I never spoke to Dougie or that other favorite of mine, Ron Sirak, at the ADT. Craig, Randall, and Beth Ann Baldry were enough.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 31, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

bummer

Too bad you couldn’t just slip Kim’s media page on his desk with the earlier dates circled. :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 31, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mainstream media and bloggers

I’ve been credentialed and don’t see it as an obstacle at this point, but I have wondered what traditional golf media types really think. (Maybe that’s paranoia.) I’ve been treated well in media centers, including by Bob Harig (ESPN), Gary Van Sickle (SI) and Doug Ferguson (AP). Some have made helpful suggestions and even appeared at my blog.

I’m sure there are those who may still resent bloggers, even those of us who aren’t basement dwellers. Funny, no one has a problem showing up on the doorstep when they have a book or something else to pitch.

by Armchair Golfer on Mar 31, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also a good point about having something to pitch, Neil. But, like I said, by and large there has been no real issue with the mainstream writers and myself.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 31, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He mentioned 'lowly' bloggers, so

he was discussing someone other than us. I do not associate with lowly bloggers either. I only hang out with first class bloggers and oft times wonder why they will not hang out with me…

by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Mar 31, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

always remember Groucho..

…“I’ll never join a club that would have me for a member.” :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 31, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cheap labor

Hey, we bloggers provide cheap (or free) labor. I can see why any professional who doesn’t want his or her wages to go down or job to be lost would have legitimate worries about that.

But, you know, it’s not the bad bloggers who make the professional media look bad. Quite the opposite. The worse bloggers are, the better journalists look. So it’s really the good ones who are the biggest threat.

So the real question is, why are sports journalists afraid of a little competition?

On a less combative note, I’d hope that any credentialed bloggers wouldn’t try to cover things you can count on the AP or local media or, G-d forbid, Golf Channel, to cover, but would try to break original stories that nobody else would bother to cover. The professionals are so ratings/sales driven, they’re practically obligated to mention Wie, no matter where she is on the leaderboard, for instance. But if a blogger has other interests and doesn’t have to worry so much about drumming up hits to the site, he or she has a lot more freedom in terms of what to focus on.

Someday my real job will actually permit me to organize my thoughts on this and write a post or 3.

by The Constructivist on Mar 31, 2009 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

talking to some of the print media people – the are the ones really hurting – and it’s rarely their own fault. People are cancelling subscriptions left and right – and a lot of it has to do with people disagreeing with the politics of the paper coloring the “reporting”. Some are lost because people don’t want to use more paper, and some just don’t have time to read old news that they get online. The sports departments are taking a hit for bad writing in the other departments.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 31, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did that already

Creative reporting-

Found out Jung Yeon Lee now uses the name Sarah when she plays the LPGA.

Found out the deal is behind Young Kim’s hat wear.

On a more serious note I argued the 7th hole at Trump intl was at least as dangerous as the 17th and perhaps more important because its placement early in the round. On Sunday half the field took themselves out of the running with balls in the water on 7.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 31, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs