Happy New Year!
I hope your 2018 is off to a great start, even if the weather where you are -- like it has been here in the D.C. area -- hasn't been conducive to playing golf.
I start my fourth full year running Golf News Net with a variety of emotions.
I'm excited for what will follow a transformative 2017 in professional golf, with the class of 2011 staking its claim as the present and future of the PGA Tour. New golf equipment is, as usual, fascinating. There are a number of new amazing golf courses set to open, while scores of restorations and renovations continue to lead golf back to a healthier place in terms of both participation and environmental impact.
I'm also somewhat anxious. This year will mark the first year I'm running Golf News Net as my lone full-time job. I don't talk about this much because everyone has a job to do, and I think it's important to project professionalism and consummate confidence, but I'm doing what I've wanted to do for so long, and that fills me with pride. It also scares the life out of me at times as I try to provide the best life I can for my two young children. In the prior three years, I had worked for Yahoo Sports as the lead for their golf blog, but that's no longer the case, and I'm very grateful to the wonderful people there for that truly life-changing opportunity. However, for me to get GNN where I believe it can go, it has to be with all of my energy.
I'm very grateful to sponsors who believe in what I'm doing along with our great contributors -- including Mitch Laurance, Darin Bunch, Jay Flemma, Joe Book and many more -- and partners, like the folks at Secret Golf and 18Birdies, to share golf with you. I wanted to express thanks to those sponsors for their support, and I'm really happy these relationships will also help you save money. Just some of the discounts already available to you include:
- 20% off at Ship Sticks by visiting our landing page
- 10% off at Brainstorm Golf, including their awesome Happy Putter Eye Align series, with promo code GNN10
- 20% off at 2UNDR, makers of the best performance products, including underwear golfers love, with promo code GNN20
I'll have more to announce in the coming weeks, and I hope you'll support the companies supporting us -- not only because they believe in what we're doing but because we approached them as believers in what they're doing.
I'm anticipating our first audience trips this year. I love traveling to play golf, and so I'm putting the final touches on that offering for 2018. I can announce our first trip is to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to compete in the World Amateur Handicap Championship in August. We'll play golf each of four days in the event, have a fifth round ahead of the event, and we'll have a great time each night enjoying, as Mitch likes to say, the Seaside Golf Capital of the World. It's an amazing bargain.
I'm also looking forward to expanding content and members-only discounts for GNN Plus. For as little as $8 per year, you get a display ad-free experience, unique content and research tools, as well more discounts we arrange just for you, including an annual $10 gift card to the GNN Store. You'll get way more from GNN Plus than you pay, so I hope you'll consider supporting us by becoming a member.
Of course, there are still plenty of surprises I can't divulge yet, but they're good.
I wanted to end with a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have supported me or GNN these last three years. Whether it was with your clicks, money, time or encouragement, your support has made GNN possible, and I work as hard as I can to make sure I'm living up to your expectations.
If there's something I can do to make your experience better, don't hesitate to contact me. I'm @RyanBallengee on Twitter (my DMs are open), or you can email me ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
