AGW Newsletter – February 2025

John Collard Golf Day
Natalie Collard has been in touch regarding a golf day in memory of her father, John, who was such a great friend of the AGW. It will be on Friday 12 September at Royal Mid-Surrey (Friday of the BMW PGA Championship), supporting the British Heart Foundation.

Natalie writes: “We want to get some of our favourite people in the
industry together and I would like to open up the invitation to anyone at the AGW who would like to attend.” Natalie asked that I forward her the email addresses of anyone wanting to attend so please let me know if you want to be on that list.

A recent meeting with the European Tour media team
Myself and chairman Philip Reid met with the European Tour media team on a zoom call recently and addressed a few concerns raised by members. As when meeting with the R&A last summer we expressed our concern about the “three question” policy that is often being utilised at big events for the big name players.

The managers have seen it work and are all trying it. They took our concerns on-board but also countered that there have been times when “three questions” is a bargaining tool that has, in the past, got us three and not none.

We also mentioned how Rory McIlroy avoided any press questions during last
September’s BMW PGA Championship yet he did all radio, TV, etc. Like other times we wanted to ensure that we get excellent access to write the best copy. The Tour staff again acknowledged our concerns.

We also asked what we can do to make media centres work better for ourselves.

Firstly: always let the media team know of your impending attendance – having an annual pass is not enough if you want a desk, parking, dining, etc.

Secondly, all email and press releases relating to a specific tournament will have the name of the press officer on it so contact him or her – it will speed up the reply and it won’t go to someone on annual leave who you might be lucky enough to have reply to you but will probably remember they did it on annual leave.

Thirdly (a big learn for me), when you are at an event and have a request (interview, info, etc.) feel free to contact the press officer by Whatsapp – he/she will pick it up quicker and won’t be offended by that method of contact.

Fourthly, feel free to ask press officers at event for colour stories – ask questions about who has a good tale.

Finally, events with no ASAP presence can be tricky with quotes but note this link in correspondence:

Ryder Cup credentials
A reminder from previous correspondence – a message from the PGA of America in response to a query about when accreditation emails will arrive:
The Ryder Cup credential application will go out in early June (the plan at the
moment is June 3).

Many will be asking about the Media Hotel as well – the booking link will go live around that same timeline, maybe a little earlier for key media.
Info for the Media Hotel is below to help with any planning though; there are also other options to park or get to the course for media not staying at the Hotel.
Hyatt Regency JFK
110-00 Rockaway Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11420
$329 USD per night (plus tax)
Media shuttles will run to and from the hotel to the course.
We will also have a parking lot nearby Bethpage for those media not staying at the hotel with a quick shuttle to the course.
There are also rideshare and train options as well.

The 153rd Open Media Facilitation Day at Royal Portrush Golf Club
Another reminder of this from a previous email.
Event: The 153rd Open Media Facilitation Day
Venue: Royal Portrush Golf Club
Date: Tuesday 22 April 2025
Accommodation: The R&A have agreed a preferential rate for media at the Portrush
Atlantic (£109 B&B on Monday 21 April).
Also a note that Mary Flanagan has let us know that after some difficulties with the media hotel booking system it is now up and running. If members navigate to 1 Adult and then select the relevant dates required in April. They can also call or email if preferred.

https://bookings.portrushatlantic.com/99150?RatePlanId=9809011#/
guestsandrooms

As further point, Neil McLeman asked if, as in 2019, there would be AGW golf at Portstewart on the Monday before (21st). I am in contact with David MacLaren who is now working there. Could anyone interested let me know so I can give him some numbers? Thanks.

Updated handbook contact details
Thanks to everyone who responded to the call for updates. Please send them on if you need to and have not yet done so.

Subscription fees
A reminder that subs are due. The annual fee is £50 but it jumps to £60 if you
haven’t paid by the 31st May. Bank account details:
LLOYDS TSB
SORT CODE: 30 97 62
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 02796359
ACCOUNT NAME: Association of Golf Writers
International payments:
IBAN NUMBER: GB97LOYD30976202796359 (note only one ‘L’)
SWIFT CODE: LOYDGB21301 (note only one ‘L’)
Pay Pal

Use the email address – email hidden; JavaScript is required
Cheques (payable to Association of Golf Writers)
Sent to: AGW Treasurer, 9 College Road, Upper Beeding, West Sussex BN44 3TB, England, U.K.
If a receipt is required please contact the Treasurer at email hidden; JavaScript is required

The future – the looming threat of AI
Finally (hopefully not an appropriate word), we had an interesting email from
member Ben Evans who wrote:
“Has there been any AGW discussion about AI and the writing of articles? As a writer I have zero interest in it, but what if the company/journal/platform you work for wants to use it as a way of – ‘as a tool’ – using it to generate quicker articles?

“That sounds daft but when you look at websites there is a plethora of fillers that used to be written by people and I would guess that AI already been used for travel/corporate/equipment pieces. I saw one writer on LinkedIn saying one of their good points of the year was the positive use of AI.

“Is there any AGW ‘union’ thinking on this yet? I can’t think of positives except
possibly more bylines, and trend for longer articles to support smaller stories.”
I went straight to ChatGPT and asked it to conjure a clever reply to Ben.
I’m sure it’s a question many of us have pondered. I thought perhaps I could throw it open to the membership and I will share the various thoughts.