Are You A Scottsdale Golfer?

This Business Journal of Phoenix story reports that 80 golf writers from around the globe will be descening on Scottsdale to mooch off of Troon North and the TPC Scottsdale Dec 2-5.

This year's writers represent publications such as Golf Digest, Golf Chicago Magazine, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, USGA.org, Golfweek, Fore Texas, PGATour.com, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Golf Times in Japan, as well as TV shows, including the Golf Channel, Golf Iceland TV, KGO-TV San Francisco and Backspin The Golf Show.

"Golf continues to be an important driver for Scottsdale tourism," said Laura McMurchie, vice president of communications for the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "These media help us reach core golfers planning their next vacation."

This was interesting... 

A Scottsdale golf vacation survey conducted by the Golf Digest Publications Research Resource Center found that the city's customers - compared to non-Scottsdale golfers - are more affluent ($252,000 average household income vs. $183,000), more skilled (13 handicap vs. 15), and play more golf (72 rounds annually vs. 65).

Wow, I think we all need to become Scottsdale golfers if it will help us make more money and play more golf. Wait, oh, oh I get it.

Comments

[Pickworth]

Golf Iceland TV? More information please. Golf Iceland TV? I don't believe it. Yet.

[Smolmania]

As an only part-time Scottsdale golfer, I am wondering what the heck Golf Chicago Magazine is. It's certainly not Chicagoland Golf published by our friend Four Putt. Wonder if he got invited to this gig? Sounds like free golf, which in Scottsdale is a good thing.

[Four-putt]

"As an only part-time Scottsdale golfer, I am wondering what the heck Golf Chicago Magazine is. It's certainly not Chicagoland Golf published by our friend Four Putt. Wonder if he got invited to this gig? -- Smolmania"

I'm not sure what Golf Chicago is, either. I hardly ever see copies of it. Their editorial pretty much runs along the line of this trip. They seem to like printing stories about their advertisers ahead of covering any stories in Chicago, and they don't do hard news. They've been around about 10 years but have never covered many local events -- if any.

We still get such invites for all-expenses-paid "fam trips", but our policy at Chicagoland Golf is not to accept such trips. I feel they are a conflict of interest in that accepting a freebie means we'd owe them a story about Scottsdale golf. Not that it doesn't deserve to appear on its own merits, but that it would only as a "payback" for a free lunch I feel is ethically wrong. We're big on ethics and maybe that's why we've survived 20 years.

So far this winter I've turned down fam trips to Jamaica, Bahamas, Cuba, Alabama, Arizona, Florida(4) and Mexico.

We'd have a lot less golf media if these trips weren't offered. Most publications use freelancers and don't pay their writers in cash -- in fact, many of them compenstate their staff mainly by sending them on these fam trips and using their remote affiliation to troll for free golf. That means you don't always get the best golf writers -- you get golfers who are willing to work for perks.

4p

[sodface]

Sketchy as it all sounds, the Scottsdale CVB shouldn't exactly be bragging about it, either... It's *sorta* like inviting a co-worker over for dinner, then telling the entire office who's sleeping with his wife.

Or not. Whatever. I'm sure GolfTips Namibia doesn't give a sh!t.

[Joe Golf Writer]

Mr 4 Putt is entitled to his own opinion but if he is so holy in his publication he ought to get his facts straight. First of all, freelancers aren't staff and can't be "sent" by anybody. Second the Scottsdale trip isn't free, far from it. It is a great trip, very well done in a great golf mecca. Petty people that like to ponticate on their own holiness and cheapshot their competition bore the s**t out of me.

[Pickworth]

The golf discussion on Ross Ice Shelf FM rarely descends to such levels.

[rgw]

Just curious, Joe --

If the Scottsdale golf trip is "far from free" what expenses do you have to pay for?

[S. Ferris]

Welcome to Scottsdale, home of the 6 hour round!

[Smolmania]

Mr. Ferris, the last time I played the Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa, walking (with one of the really cool Sun Mountain electric push carts that you can get instead of a cart - which must be kept on the path), my group finished in four hours and 9 minutes. Four strangers, two walkers two riders. No long waits throughout the round.

I don't know where you played your "6 hour rounds", but I've played 20-30 rounds of golf during the winters in the Valley each year since my Dad passed away in 1990 -- no, really, I was just going out to visit my Mom! -- and the only 5+ hour round that I've ever played was in a Golf Channel Tour event last January.

[S. Ferris]

Smolmania, sorry to hear about your father. I know this is a golf blog but a geography lesson is in order. Your simply mistaken when you put We Ko Pa in Scottsdale jurisdiction, it's located in Fountain Hills, AZ. Looking for a 6 hour round try Grey Hawk, Troon North and TPC Scottsdale, while your at it enjoy the 4 dollar ice tea and 8 dollar hot dog, bon appetit!

[Joe Golf Writer]

expenses that are paid by individuals- $200 for accomodations, r/t air, meals in transit, auto, tips, beverages after dinner, phone calls. It ends up being $1,000.
There is no quid pro quo on writing but I take care of my friends and have absolutely no problem promoting Scottsdale. The facilities are outstanding and the service is excellent. Is it a value destination like Myrtle Beach? No. They promote themselves as first class and deliver.

[Steven T.]

S. Ferris

I'm looking forward to a walking experience at the new TPC Champions (formerly the Desert Course) adjacent to the TPC Scottsdale. One of the few courses in the area where walking is encouraged. I sure hope it's not a 5+ hour round there.

[NYC Boomer]

Mr. Joe Golf Writer, just to show where I'm coming from I've been a full time sports writer and editor in NY for over 20 years. I find your explanations on this subject to be quite appalling, sir.

Are you so dim you didn't realize Geoff opened this topic to show his readers just how business is "done in the dark" in the golf travel industry? His quoting the release and listing the names of the participants is not meant to be complimentary.

You accuse another publication of being "holy"? Since when is having an ethics policy in journalism "being holy"? That's how it is supposed to be done.

It is a sad day when "media" decides it will hang the "for sale" sign. Our newspaper's ethics policy is strict about writers accepting comps, to avoid even a slight whiff of a conlict of interest. We reimburse professional teams for our beat writers' travel expenses -- or in most cases, we pay them ourselves. Our travel writers also may not accept any comps, lest we be accused of the impropriety you so proudly proclaim to the world.

In promoting Scottsdale what else is in it for you? Accept free golf, meals, discount accommodations and an ad package in exchange for your cooperation in promoting Scottsdale? That's your job? Doing this makes you what, then? "Unholy"?

Unfortunately, in these economic times, we are seeing more and more of this practice in our industry. I'm glad Geoff brought this subject up because many broadcast and print outlets are struggling because of falling ad revenues. In desperation some outlets have lowered their standards and now resort to this type of "deal with the devil" behavior. Their readers and listeners should be made aware of it and the lack of credibility in the product.

People tend to believe everything they read because in a different era, the great newspapers and magazines had ethics policies guaranteeing their editorial was 100 percent trustworthy. Now, advertising is being purposely disguised as editorial. What a shame. Print stories with the cred of a Kevin Trudeau "talk show".

[Joe Golf Writer]

Mr Boomer-

Be as applalled as you like my friend. I'm quite aware of what Geoff was doing by naming names and I think if his intent was to be uncomplimentary then he is being irresponsible in that. Did he, or you, contact any of those writers or media outlets and ask them what arrangements they made? Or shall you, in your holiness and blissful ignorance, paint everybody with the same brush?
Again, you assume that just because someone gets comped that they automatically do back flips over the place in print. I don't. It is what it is. Do I respect the huge investment someone made in developing a golf course or a resort? Yes, I do. Do I respect all of the people that work there and earn their livelihood there? Yes, I do. Do they deserve to succeed? Of course they do.
I fully understand the journalistic ethics. I will never write something that is not true but if you think for one minute that all publications aren't biased in some form or fashion, including your rag, then you are naive. I'm just sick of a bunch of no lifers who resent people with money waving their ethics flag as a means of self promotion.

[Hotentot]

First, anyone who spends any time here knows that Geoff's style is to provide an island of refreshing irreverence and sarcasm amid a sea of pompous people, unnecessary hyperbole and plain old BS. I find it to be pretty damned entertaining and come here often.

Personally, I find him to be a clear thinker and for anyone to tell him he is being "irresponsible" with whatever fol de rol he chooses for his own web site is a fool. He is in the unique position where he owes no one nothing, especially an explanation.

Now, I usually just lurk, but this latest exchange begs for a comment. Am I the only one looking at Joe Golf Writer's command of the language, grammar, spelling and thought processes and wondering who would hire him?

Note to Joe: No, you don't get "journalistic ethics" because it is obvious you never have had any formal training. I interpret Geoff's comments of the Scottsdale shindig as poking fun at a bunch of freeloaders. However anyone chooses to frame it, that's what it is.

Frankly, I do not believe you are a professional writer as you claim. Where can we see examples of your published writing?

Finally, your last sentence just may be the stupidest thing I've ever read here.

[rgw]

Geoff's intent is crystal clear. He wrote: ..."80 golf writers from around the globe will be descening on Scottsdale to mooch off of Troon North and the TPC Scottsdale Dec 2-5..."

How many ways can the word "mooch" be interpreted?

[Joe Golf Writer]

Boys-

have a nice day...I'm headed out to mooch off the largesse of others and enjoy another beautiful week of golf , food, drinking, fellowship, networking and free swag in Scottsdale...if you want to take this all so very seriously, go right ahead...I'm sure you think golf travel writing is Woodward and Bernstein stuff. Truth is I've forgotten more than you'll ever know about ethics and a million other subjects.
Bye bye.

[NYC Boomer]

I hope the non-golf writers following this thread understand that all of us aren't for sale like this knucklehead, who has "forgotten more than you'll ever know about ethics and a million other subjects" but doesn't understand the difference between "bias" and "ethics".

[Geoff]

Joe Golf Writer,
Uh, I didn't write the story and post it online, some Phoenix publication did. I merely copy and pasted and, in the time honored tradition of Jim Heely (LA Radio legend), enjoyed the idea of media folks gathering to be loved, celebrated and furnished with free things.

Obviously, it's up for readers to decide if the event is necessary or not, and whether it influences your credibility. Chill out!

[Joe Golf Writer]

Mr Boomer-

aha, I know I've won the match when you, keeper of all things ethical, resort to ad hominem attacks and name calling..being biased is ethical, right? No, I don't know the difference.

Just playing with you, boys. I'm off to bigger and better things. Best of luck being keepers of the flame. It must be such a lonely pusuit these days.

[Geoff]

Joe (or is it Bill?),
True it is a lonely pursuit when there are so many out there like you!

[Joe Golf Writer]

I never found smugness attractive and yes, there does seem to be a lot of people like me here in Scottsdale. The weather is here, wish you were beautiful.