MAUMEE, OHIO—AboutGolf®—a 19-year-old golf company that has become the world leader in indoor golf simulator technology—and its CEO, Bill Bales, have launched a unique golf commentary Web publication, TheNext500Years.com www.thenext500years.com.
The Website’s primary mission is to speak to the golf establishment through essays, stories and editorials that openly discuss golf’s challenges and what the game’s future holds.
"Some of these entries are very serious, some humorous, some cynical, some directly critical, always G rated, always with a point to make, and always from the heart" Bales says. "In some cases the presentations are made to allow the reader to draw his or her own conclusions, and in some cases opinions or conclusions are drawn for the reader. Some of the articles point out problems that we all need to ponder and some offer solutions."
"With a growing list of worthy contributors we hope here to provide random but meaningful commentary on the game of golf, its future, and maybe a few attempts at insights into the game of life," stated Bales’ in his maiden entry titled, appropriately, "The Next 500 Years". "Here’s to hoping the next 500 years becomes the age of enlightenment in golf."
Believing in and supporting the Web site’s mission, numerous unpaid members of the golf media and other golf-industry types have already submitted contributions. There are neither advertising nor revenue sources on TheNext500Years.com, and AboutGolf conspicuously avoids promoting itself or its products. The site is not intended in any way to compete with for-profit golf publications. In fact, media members are encouraged to volunteer their views on the site, perhaps using it as a forum they might not have in their own regular outlets.
"For anyone that has a passing interest in golf or is a part of the industry, regardless of their level of involvement, TheNext500Years.com is a must read," states Terry McAndrew, the Publisher of the well-known Web Street Golf Report and a weekly columnist on TheNext500Years. "The daily content is one of a kind."
Some excerpts from the site:
By McAndrew, Next500Year’s business guru: "Demand outstrips supply and price is elevated, whereas supply outnumbers demand and prices need to correct in order to restore an imbalance. Management at Apple elected to get in front of this equation with its iPhone and the decision is already paying off. Apply this to tee times and see what the reaction is when consumers find out!"
By Sheri Warren, providing a woman’s view: "Don’t assume that the lady calling in to set up a tee time will ever forget that you gave her a hard time about getting a decent time because you didn’t want to have a foursome of women in amongst your male regulars – because believe me this lady WILL remember and will never play at your course again."
By Ben Witter, providing the viewpoint of a PGA Professional: "Is the game of golf cool enough for the next generation to fall in love with it when this generation may already be sick of it? Could the threshold for success be so fine that the game of golf has already seen its finest day?"
By Dave Lucas, host of The Capital Golf Weekly TV Show: "Bill Bales has always been one of the smartest people in the game, and as evidence he’s given the rest of us a forum to debate what’s right and wrong with the game we love. The Next 500 Years.com is thoughtful, challenging and provocative — all at the same time. I love it."
And by Bales, the cynic: "’It’s not the gun, it’s the gunner.’ Do you believe that? Judging by our bleeding obsession with clubs I’m guessing not. Square heads, movable weights, boxer hybrid shaping, high modulus stabilization ribs, precision trimmer blades, color-safe bleachâ?¦ Ugh."
The site—which Bales promises will evolve over time and grow in sophistication as it finds its balance—is predicated on the fact that the first 500 years in golf’s history have provided golfers with a lot from which they should be able to draw conclusions about how to improve and grow the game. "We hope the dialogue offered in TheNext500Years.com will prompt golfers, and the industry, to seriously think about ways we all can make the game of golf even better for the next 500 years," Bales says.
www.thenext500years.com
Contact:
Mary Beth Lacy at: 760-346-6942, email: mb@mblacy.com
AboutGolf Ltd.
352 Tomahawk Drive
Maumee, OH 43537
Phone: 419-482-9095