Moving On and Moving Forward
The funny thing about change is that it’s constant.
After fifteen years of building Golf Unfiltered, I've come to a crossroads, evaluating the future of the platform and my role within it. The initial focus of this platform was to provide commentary on whatever the PGA TOUR was doing. That changed over time as I expanded into other parts of the game, including reviewing equipment, golf courses, personalities, instructors, and my own journey to lower scores. The Golf Unfiltered Podcast was a natural next step in this progression, allowing me the freedom to litter the internet (and your ears) in a new way.
Doing this has allowed me access to parts of the industry I didn’t even know existed. I’ve met many of the pros I grew up emulating. I’ve had the opportunity to play in events, visit courses, try new technology, and cover tournaments I probably had no business covering. By any measure (with the possible exception of monetary) my time creating this website and podcast has been a success. I’m very proud that I can say I gave it a shot.
I won’t pretend that everything has been sunshine and rainbows. Building an audience is always the hardest part. Costs associated with running a small business can be steep. Maintaining consistency while balancing life can be stressful. Producing content with the hope that someone will consume it can be disheartening. Staying on top of how audiences consume content year after year is varied, fast-paced, and a lot to take on with a small team.
Of course, there’s also a need to remain passionate about the subject matter you want to cover, too. At times that might be the trickiest.
As anyone who creates content online knows, the trolls and commenters are always out in full force. They often got to me — if I’m being honest — especially when they were from people within the industry telling me what to write, how to write it, and even threatening me in different ways. Make no mistake: this comes with the territory. I’ve been no saint on my own accord, either, to which many reading this could probably attest. The “gotcha” mentality within online content creation’s larger ethos is alive and well, encouraging all to take part.
Such is the landscape of the internet. If you put an opinion out there, expect opinions back. That’s never changed. Instead, it becomes a question of how long you can put up with it.
In may ways golf has never been “more online” than it is at this very moment. YouTube personalities are playing in golf tournaments at PGA TOUR venues. Golf Twitter personalities are signing lucrative broadcasting contracts. Golf brand marketing budgets are paying for lavish homes for the most popular TikTok or Instagram stars. The platform has changed, the time commitments have deepened, and when coupled with the demands of a leadership position in my day job, it’s clear that I have to take a step back and ask, “Why do I choose to do this anyway?”
That’s why Golf Unfiltered has been on a bit of a hiatus as of late. Perhaps it will be for good, perhaps not. But right now it feels like the right thing to do while thinking about what’s next.
This is the point of the post where I realize I’ve used first-person way too much and should highlight the incredible work the rest of the GU team has done. Nikki Dunagan, Dan Hauser, Trevor Reaske and (most recently) Johnathan Dunagan have agreed to contribute to this platform purely out of passion for the game. Had it not been for their involvement, I most likely would have shut things down years ago. Their work and contributions have made us all laugh, cry, think, and look at this game in different ways. Hopefully it has been a positive experience for them, too. I’m forever grateful for their contributions, friendship, and incredible talents.
So where does that leave things for Golf Unfiltered? The honest answer is: I’m not sure.
What I do know is the website and social media platforms will remain active for as long as there’s still interest and engagement with both. There are still stories to tell and new parts of the business to report on. Plus, let’s face it, we are all chronically online and not shy to spout off an opinion or two.
You may also see your favorite GU writers appear on other platforms in the future. There are also 465 episodes of the Golf Unfiltered Podcast available for your listening pleasure. Our YouTube channel features many of those episodes along with equipment reviews and more.
To anyone reading this, thank you. To anyone who has listened to a podcast episode or watched one of our videos, thank you. To any of the numerous partners who have supported us and continue to support us throughout constant change, thank you.
This has been a great ride so far. Here’s to whatever comes next.
