Golf Unfiltered Podcast 60: Kyle Porter

This week on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast we welcome Kyle Porter, golf blogger from CBS Sports, onto the show. Kyle and I discuss how he got his start in writing and how he ended up at CBS Sports at a time when the company made a transition from having traditional golf writing to the blogging approach. Kyle takes us behind the scenes in his day-to-day, how he approaches the topics he writes about, and how often he gets to travel to golf tournaments.

We then transition into a discussion about writing in general and the many benefits from expressing one's self through the medium. Kyle is an exceptional longform writer, especially when doing so on topics close to his heart. We share examples of using writing as a form of therapy and remaining centered amid the hectic and difficult nature of life.

Follow Kyle Porter on Twitter at @KylePorterCBS. Read his amazing longform piece about his daughter, Kate, on Medium.com here.

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Android via the links below the player!

This Week in Golf Bullshit: The Status of Golf Writing

This Week in Golf Bullshit (TWIGB) is our weekly (or bi-weekly) commentary on a controversial topic in golf or golf media from the last seven days. If you have a topic you'd like me to cover on TWIGB, send me an email at adam@golfunfiltered.com.

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What do you expect to read when you visit a golf website?

If it's anything other than videos of golf trick shots, semi-nude women who may or may not be holding a golf club, or fantasy golf picks from any number of daily fantasy sites, you're likely in the minority. What does that say about the current state of golf journalism?

By the way, why did you click on this article? Did the feature image have anything to do with it? Hold that thought.

Last night I interviewed long-time pro golf beat writer Steve Elling on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast. For over 50 minutes we discussed the ups and downs of golf writing in general, including trends we've seen emerge within the medium over the years. While I hope you listen (and subscribe!) to the podcast, our conversation can be summed up as two guys lamenting over what topics have been deemed "popular" in golf media.

As I mention during the episode, Golf Unfiltered is not immune to the temptation of posting articles that fit many of the themes discussed above. Here's a post where I discuss whether sex sells golf blogs more than good writing. Here's another where I detail a video that depicts one female golfer hitting a golf ball off a tee sticking out of her teammate's rear-end. You can find multiple fantasy golf posts by using this blog's search function on the home page.

With the exception of my golf equipment review pieces, those post topics are the most popular on my blog in terms of traffic.

This tells me two things:

1. If my goal is to drive as much traffic to my site as possible, I need to post garbage articles in any of those three categories; and
2. In doing the above, I'll be tapping into a younger demographic comprised of readers who probably don't give a damn about golf journalism in the first place.

Those are not the readers I want to visit this site... yet those articles still appear on this site. Such is the conundrum of the modern golf blogger.

In 2013 I published an article on this site that investigated whether the lines between traditional golf writing and golf blogging have become blurred. A number of well-known scribes in both categories contributed to the piece -- including Robert Lusetich of FoxSports.com, Kyle Porter of CBS Sports, Geoff Shackelford from Golf Digest, and Ryan Ballengee from Golf News Net -- by offering their takes on how we can all "get along."

Of all the quotes offered to me in that piece, this offering from Lusetich still rings in my head almost three years later:

“The bottom line is that Old Media is finished,” Lusetich states. “New Media – including bloggers – will find a way to survive, as journals and newsletters did after the printing press was invented. The key is discovering how to make money from the enterprise, as it needs to be a business.

“Now it’s up to bloggers to find the money to make it work. It’s still evolving, but I think it’ll happen.”

How have blogs become a business? What method have most sites relied on to generate revenue? Simple: post goofy videos, gambling odds, mean shit about Tiger Woods, and tits and ass.

Why? Because as long as sites continue to appeal to the lowest common denominator, that population will continue to click on headlines. And trust me: that is a huge fucking population. Traffic equals ad revenue, ad revenue leads to fat wallets, and suddenly you are the proud owner of a small business.

It's the American Dream, baby!

All is not lost, of course. There are still golf sites who offer fantastic, original content you can't find anywhere else. Elling's GolfBlot.com is an example. Ballengee's GolfNewsNet.com is another. Adam Sarson's self-titled adamsarson.com is a third. And, yes, even the guys at NoLayingUp.com deserve your attention.

But why does your golf readership preference have to be so goddamn "niche?" Because it's the only way to find content that doesn't try to gain your support by insulting your intelligence.

Golf Unfiltered isn't going to fall into that trap any longer. You deserve better. Hell, we deserve better.

Traffic loss or no, you will only find original content on this site moving forward. While we may aggregate some news story topics from our peers in the industry, commentary or reporting on those topics will be entirely our own.

All I can hope is that you keep coming to the site.

Golf Unfiltered Podcast 38: Ryan Ballengee of Golf News Net

Ryan Ballengee, owner and editor at Golf News Net is back on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast this week to talk Jordan Spieth, golf writing and much more. First, Ryan and I recap the Year of Jordan and all the greatness that came with it. Was this a one-hit wonder from a talented youngster or the beginning of golf's new superstar? How does Jordan's year truly compare to those of other greats like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus? Is he truly the best player in the world or just the product of a complicated golf ranking system?

We then shift gears into a discussion about golf writing and golf blogging. Are there similarities between the two, are they different, or is it an argument that has to be left alone? Ryan and I also touch on a recent article of his discussing press releases and how there's a misconception on readership opportunity for those products.

This is definitely an episode for golf fans, golf nerds and golf writers alike!

Follow Ryan Ballengee on Twitter at @RyanBallengee.

Subscribe to us via iTunes using the link below!

How to become the world's greatest golf blogger

So you want to become a golf blogger, eh? Struggling with where to begin? Not sure how sarcastic you should be, or what equipment to purchase, or how many semi-nude women you should put on your site? Never fear! Your good friend Adam is here to help. So sit back, crack open your sixth beer and prepare yourself for a crash course in Golf Blogging 101.

Let's get started!

Step 1: Don't go to journalism school

The best part about being a golf blogger is that all you need to get started is a computer, an internet connection, a couch, and fingers. Notice that I didn't say you needed any concept of journalistic integrity, proper grammar, nor the English language. Hell, you don't even need to like golf that much.

History tells us that blogs were invented for people who want to be published but don't have time to jump through hoops like "going to college," "earning a degree in journalism" or "doing research." Besides, wouldn't it be super-depressing if you had done all those things and had to settle for blogging because no one else would hire you? That's embarrassing, so don't do that. Show yourself some respect for crying out loud.

Step 2: Understand that Tiger Woods is your best friend

As a precursor to this very important step, it is in your best interest to forget everything you know about common sense and immediately accept Tiger Woods as your Lord and Savior. He will lead you to the promised land.

Helpful tip: Anything that you ever write in your blog will never get as much reader traffic as an article about Tiger Woods.

This is not a joke. Any true golf blogger worth is weight in ball-markers knows that simply writing the words "Tiger Woods" in the body of a post will make you internet famous. It is in your best interest to cover anything that Tiger Woods does in life, such as (but not limited to):

• Getting out of his car in the parking lot
• Getting into his car in the parking lot after another WD
• Commenting on where he might park his car in a parking lot
• Losing any body part on his incredibly chiseled frame
• Dating another white lady

Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods.

Step 3: Let other people do the work for you

One perk of being a golf blogger and knowing how the world wide web works is that other writers have already written about the topic you want to cover. All you have to do is know where to look.

A simple Google search of the term "golf" will yield thousands of results that you can easily copy and paste into the body of your post. Think of it like borrowing books from the library. But you take a stop at the copier before leaving. And you don't have a library card.

Attributing sources or credit is for the weak. Everyone prefers mystery. Just ask Jack Bauer or that English dude from Downton Abbey. No, the other one.

Step 4: Twitter take the wheeeeeeelll...

I got tired and confused so I asked Twitter to tell me what good golf bloggers need.

@AdamJFonseca Need a good coach. Lots of lumbar support.

— Trevor Reaske (@TrevorReaske) March 12, 2015

@AdamJFonseca and obviously I meant couch. — Trevor Reaske (@TrevorReaske) March 12, 2015

Whatever Trev, I know what you meant and you totally meant coach. And you probably meant this guy:

Which is weird because he taught football in a fictional college on television, which is not a piece of equipment necessary to become a golf blogger. Why are you trying to confuse us?

@AdamJFonseca An arsenal of hot takes.

— Chris Chaney (@Wrong_Fairway) March 12, 2015

For those unaware, a "hot take" is a very scientific term that means "incredibly important opinion that came from heaven" or "anything that No Laying Up writes." Having an arsenal of them is important for any golf blogger because at any given time you can just write Tiger Woods is broken and hates golf and is a little ugly and get a million page views.

@AdamJFonseca a deep understanding of rejection, piles of ladies in heels on the tee box pics, and a good meme generator. — Ryan David (@RDGolfMedia) March 12, 2015

Fellow Golf Bloggers: Try Out Signs On The Cheap!

While I typically use this blog to mention a few products or services related to golf that I have grown to enjoy over the years, I very rarely focus a post on blogging in general. But when I met the folks over at SignsOnTheCheap.com, I decided to break that trend. If you're a golf blogger (or fashion blogger, food blogger, sports blogger... whatever) like me and you are looking for an easy way to promote your site without breaking the bank - because, let's face it; all bloggers are broke - then drop what you are doing and check out SignsOnTheCheap.com right now.

Do it. Click the link. I'll wait.

Ok, you're back. What'd you think? Pretty affordable stuff, right? Bloggers, website owners, small business operators... it doesn't matter what your passion is; YOU NEED TO ADVERTISE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. Signs On The Cheap can help you get started today.

Plus, if you're looking to get your name out on a bigger scale, you should try out Vinyl Banners and Magnetic Signs as well. You know; while you're in the mood to spread the word about your site.

Let's be honest for a second: I'm pretty proud of ChicagoDuffer.com, but it is a LOT of work to maintain a blog for over 5 years. You have to keep the content fresh, relevant, intriguing, plus find a way to increase website traffic. Advertising appropriately is the most effective way to get your name out to readers. Signs On The Cheap can help you do exactly that.

Whether you need a banner, a brochure, posters, or even bumper stickers... these guys have you covered.

Try them out, you won't be disappointed. Bandit Signs