Golf superintendent blogs

Summary: Create a golf superintendent blog to distribute specific golf course information to targeted users. Use easy WordPress formats to provide exciting presentation. Be careful what you write.

Golf course superintendents have an easy, cheap Internet option to convey information. A simple blog can be set up quickly using free software. You can make your blog password protected so that only selected individuals will have access.

Google Blogs and WordPress are two options.  Drupal or other formats  require code writing skills. I like WordPress because it uses clean, modern templates, or formats. Richardgolf.com is a WordPress blog.

You’ll need a hosting account. This is the Internet home for your blog; the place it will sit and work for you. I use hostmonster.com; hundreds of other hosting options exist. WordPress has a good one. Plan on spending 7-10.00 per month for hosting.

Choose a name for your blog. This name, or URL, will be your own personal identity on the web. Don’t use long names like Jeffsgolfcourseblog22.com.

Let’s invent a golf course named Meadow Ponds and a super named John Doe. A suitable blog name would be JDblogMeadowponds.net. I included critical information without making it too long. It’s easy to remember. It’s easy to find on a search engine. I added a .net to signify that it’s an information blog, not a .com, or commercial site, or .org for an organization.

You’ll need to rent your URL. The cost is around 10 dollars per year. Make it auto-renewable; if you forget to renew someone may acquire the URL and sell it back to you for more money.

After you purchase a URL, find a theme, or Internet structure for your blog. WordPress has hundreds of free themes available for download. Choose one with a golf course mood, don’t pick one with dark tones. Download preview pages to get an idea of how the blog will appear.

Download your chosen theme into a zip file (A condensed file that will be unzipped later). Import the zip file into your hosting account using importation software. Check out WordPress help forums if you get confused. They are full of  free information submitted by caring web designers. Post a question and they will assist.

Congratulations. You are now a blogger. I’ve added another post: Golf Superintendent blog tips.

More information on social media is available in the May issue of Golf Course Industry Magazine.