Tournament outreach....

[Slingblade61]

I'm doing a little preliminary research and want to get a feel for what you guy's think.

Here's the hypothetical;

Tournament officials, in addition to their regular advertising are considering active participation in a variety of golf communities as a way to get closer to the people who watch and attend their particular tournament, answer questions, get ideas and generally gather information as well as getting their "brand" more exposure.

I am thinking about a person who maintains a long term presence in the community, not just a month or so near tournament time.

Is this a good idea?
Would you be interested in asking questions of this person about running a PGA tournament?

Discuss.

[ualtim]

I am about as lazy as the come, so I can not say I would seek out such an individual, but I could see the merits of having such a person. It could help develop long term associations within the community and associate sponsors which could help increase attendance and exposure for the tournament in the local community. Mate that position into the first tee program or similar programs in the community and it would be a good opportunity to promote golf on various levels and get the sponsors name and support out to a broader audience.

[mont86]

I would think it has possibilities. I'm not sure what questions I would ask.

[Slingblade61]

I wouldn't seek them out either, I'm just suggesting that if they were here anyway or on any other board / blog it might be interesting and informative for us and them.

That's my initial thinking anyway.

[Slingblade61]

Originally Posted by mont86

I would think it has possibilities. I'm not sure what questions I would ask.

"Do you have any free tickets?"

It's not really about Q&A I'm thinking it's more about exposing the sponsor to a wider audience.

Let's say this person is me for instance. I do my normal posting and in addition talk about my tourney and other related things.

Sort of the way robereno interacted here when he was with GG.

[ualtim]

Originally Posted by Slingblade61

"Do you have any free tickets?"

It's not really about Q&A I'm thinking it's more about exposing the sponsor to a wider audience.

Let's say this person is me for instance. I do my normal posting and in addition talk about my tourney and other related things.

Sort of the way robereno interacted here when he was with GG.

Well if its you, all bets are off.


Now that I have a clearer grasp about what you are asking (silly me thought you were talking about local communties, not us idiots in this online community ), yes, it would be kind of interesting. The Global Golf guys have been great on the board, and Rory has provided some great information (even before he became a sponsor) in the forums as well.

And yes, free tickets wouldn't hurt either.

[Slingblade61]

That's another thing as I think about this more.

What if said member did a giveaway. A BIG giveaway. One prize for each community....... airfare, hotel and tickets to his tourney. It would cost the sponsor a few bucks but think about the buzz it would generate for them both before and well after the tournament.

Maybe some nice logo golf shirts for runner up prizes.


.....just thinking out loud.

[mont86]

Sling you have to simplify this for me. What in the heck are you getting at?

I thought you were going to get people to interact here...What other community are you talking about?

[Slingblade61]

Not just here, places like wrx , GD , mygolfspace , FGI, etc.

[IrishGolfer]

I think it would be great..kinda like "inside the ropes" perspective, albeit on one tournament.

We could ask / they could give insight about the playas, gossip, course set-up, history of club / tournament etc.

In return ST would deliver an educated group of golfers, right?

[Eracer]

Frankly, with the short-attention-span nature of forums, combined with the "what can you do for me" nature of people, a PGA official's popularity would wane after about a month. In the beginning folks would be asking the some interesting questions, and then, as time went by, the questions would tend towards the mundane: "So tell me, Mr. PGA Official, what exactly are those yellow spectator ropes made of?" Prizes are cool, but how many things could he provide? Rob was able to get us a 10% off coupon on already cheap prices, and people took advantage of it. What could a PGA tour official offer, besides the "big prize" (which would be exceedingly cool)?

It's an interesting idea, but not something that would generate lasting interest.

[MCDavis]

Maybe I missed it above, but what would this give the sponsor back? For example, you get someone from The Travelers to do a major giveaway of 2 full passes for the weekend and airfare and room. One of us wins and takes their wife/significant other/dog/hooker/whatever. What is The Travelers going to get in return? Will it increase business or increase the number of viewers for the tournament?

I just ask because I'd think Travelers (or any other sponsor) would want something tangible in return.

[Slingblade61]

Think about the "buzz" created in a golf forum leading up to the giveaway and then the follow up "buzz" created when the winner reports back.

I think of it as interactive advertising.

Taking this just a step further, what if the winner(s) were mentioned on the air along with the name of the website they came from? Would you be more inclined to watch if you knew MCDavis was going to be on CBS with an ST mention? Would you remember who gave the prize?

As for 24/7/365 talk about a particular event, that is not what I mean. Of course it would get boring. I'm thinking the person would be a normal every day poster and only chat up their event a couple of months in advance and for awhile afterward.

Now I must say that this is all PURELY HYPOTHETICAL> There are no plans for anything like this, no prizes, no nothing. But in conversation with my sister ( a Media director with the Travelers Championship) I hatched this idea and am wanting to develop it some and see what she thinks.

She did say that the PGA was intrigued with the Travelers outreach to golf blogs (which I don't see, frankly) and may wish to copy them, yada, yada, yada.

From an advertising standpoint I see golf blogs and forums as a HUGE untapped resource for people who run PGA events.

[MCDavis]

I see what you're saying and I don't disagree. I'm just wondering how much "buzz" would be worth to sponsors.

Why not try to make it happen, Sling? Couldn't hurt ST.

[Slingblade61]

Originally Posted by IrishGolfer

I think it would be great..kinda like "inside the ropes" perspective, albeit on one tournament.

We could ask / they could give insight about the playas, gossip, course set-up, history of club / tournament etc.

In return ST would deliver an educated group of golfers, right?

One tournament for now, there are copy cats about!