Done
by hound dog on Sep 24, 2009 4:17 AM PDT
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PrintThis is difficult, so I'll get right to the point. I'm discontinuing Hound Dog LPGA. My available free time has dwindled to a point where I can't continue to write in the way that I'm accustomed or that I prefer. I came to this decision early last week (which is why I haven't posted since the 16th) but didn't have enough opportunity or motivation to inform you until now.
To be honest, I always felt like I never had enough time to do this properly. Most bloggers probably feel the same way, unless they are being paid enough to not have to hold a regular job. No, I never reached that level - not even close. I'm pleased with the output I've generated and I'm amazed at the number of people who have commented and e-mailed to voice their appreciation. But every time I was forced to rush out a tournament recap, I cursed my time limitations and the everyday events which caused them. And that's just wrong. Everyday events don't deserve that.
So like Mrs. McGee said about 16 months ago, I'm "stepping away" from it. If you ask whether I'm retiring from blogdom for good, I'll be just as non-committal as she was. I'll still be around, commenting from time to time at Waggle Room and Mostly Harmless and picking losers in the PakPicker contest at Seoulsisters.com.
If anybody out there wants to take over the site, let me know at hounddog.lpga@yahoo.com. Thanks to SB Nation for giving me the chance to be heard. Many more thanks to all of you for reading. Of course the most thanks go to the ladies of the LPGA Tour. Keep on keepin' on, girls - do as I say, not as I do.
Later y'all,
Ken Hartis
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You were one of my inspirations to get into the blogging game, and the small LPGA blogosphere has definitely lost one of the best (if not THE best) bloggers. Hopefully everything works well with you in the future, an we’ll be able to interact in the various LPGA niches we have!
Thank you for all of your hard work, it’s been a joy!
Jamie in the Rough
http://jamieintherough.tumblr.com
by jamie.r.saengsawang on Sep 24, 2009 5:46 AM PDT reply actions
end of an era--but it doesn't have to be
You are the Sorenstam of LPGA blogging, HD. Thanks for all your amazing work over the years.
I’m wondering if the rest of us can keep HDLPGA going in HD’s absence with a team approach. Somebody (how about Mulligan Stu?) could take over the site and the rest of us LPGA bloggers could do a fanpost a week. I envision Happy Fan recapping the KLPGA, me covering the JLPGA, Dave Anderson the Futures Tour, Bill Jempty covering the golfy media, and all of us (Brent Kelley, Jamie, Stephanie, Brian Heard, Catherine Forsythe, tatkins, icecat, and the rest of HD’s regulars) chiming in on the LPGA periodically—and maybe drawing HD back for rankings, stats, and commentary when he’s ready to ease back into it. Low stress/commitment from everyone, but the site will stay alive? What do you all think?
by The Constructivist on Sep 24, 2009 7:42 AM PDT reply actions
i’m not sure how it all works, now that hounddog lpga is over at sbnation. I’d imagine the .com would be sbnation’s to deal with as they wish, but we might be able to go where the site left off over at his blogger domain.
I don’t know if i’m allowed to be saying anything this early, as there’s no site in place yet, but i’ve been tapped to be the next lpga blogger for sbnation, the transfer happening sometime soon, under a different website name of course (i would never attempt to be hound dog! no way). We’ll see how this all pans out.
Jamie in the Rough
http://jamieintherough.tumblr.com
by jamie.r.saengsawang on Sep 24, 2009 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions
No worries on sharing this. Glad to let people know that we’ll still have a space dedicated to the LPGA Tour.
Ken, you are one of the best on this subject and I’m sad to see you go (even if temporarily). You know you’re always welcome to post at Waggle Room if you get a chance, and certainly I’d think Jamie will extend the same invite once we get his space up and running.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 24, 2009 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Congrats Jamie!
I am so glad you’re joining SB Nation as the new LPGA’er. I was hoping you might do that. If you need anything from me (like stat stuff I’ve built), don’t hesitate to ask. I’m sure you’ll do great!
Thanks HD. As Ryan said whenever you want to pop in to whatever my site will be to post anything, including your incredible frankenstats, you are more then welcome to! That stuff is all over my head, which is a bit funny considering I was a signature away from majoring in both accounting and statistics, haha. I guess I’m trying to flee as best I can! :)
Jamie in the Rough
http://jamieintherough.tumblr.com
by jamie.r.saengsawang on Sep 24, 2009 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions
congrats, Jamie!
that’s great news! glad there’s a silver lining for LPGA fans on an otherwise dark day.
by The Constructivist on Sep 25, 2009 2:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Farewell HD
Thanks for all your efforts over the past few years. You will be missed, Any time I had a question regarding the LPGA I went directly to the Hound Dog site and you answered my questions without delay. I always looked forward to your rankings and eventhough I disagreed with some of them, you always proved me wrong. Thank you Ken I hope you have a great life.
Balabill
(Bill Roberts)
The time consuming aspects are the least important
I hope you will understand that when considering whether to return. In particular, live blogging is unnecessary. It’s like reading a summary of football game you’ve already seen. I skip to the quotes. On a site like this with specialized interest level, everyone is watching the event or live scoring along with you. Tournament recaps are also overdone, unless something hidden stands out.
The big picture variables are where you shine. I didn’t understand why a Q School playoff had been necessary last December, and came here to find emphasized detail that it should not have taken place. When Duramed expanded from 5 cards to 10 last fall, this site spelled out that 6-10 would not have many opportunities, something that was being missed elsewhere. Jiyai Shin’s supposedly inept putting didn’t jive with performance early in the year, until you pointed out the stats were not being compiled in many events, that the numbers were misleading if not all but meaningless.
You’ve been a terrific contributor to a sport that needs more of the same, not fewer. Filling the page every day is irrelevant. Anyone can spew out the conventional wisdom. This site told me things I didn’t know, and couldn’t otherwise learn, so I hope you take a needed break and return with a modified and less time dependent version.
AD's right
Analysis, context, perspective: that’s what you’ve always brought to bear on the LPGA, HD. (Of course, w/o tv, I’ve always appreciated the live-blogging, too, plus it’s a record we can always go back and refresh our memories against—takes less time than DVRing an event and watching it again, as well….) Perhaps guest-blogging at various spots down the road (including, hopefully, Mostly Harmless) is a good way to ease back into more sustainable blogging.
You can see we’re still in the denial and bargaining phases, Ken. I hope it’s a testament to how much your writing has been valued that we’re still trying to change your mind!
by The Constructivist on Sep 25, 2009 3:03 AM PDT up reply actions
I never thought about it that way
Although like TC says, I like having the recap to link back to even if it’s just for the next year’s event preview. But you’re absolutely right. The “reporting” aspects ate up more time than anything else and I enjoyed researching and writing the overview pieces more anyway.
You’ve all given me reasons to think about this some more. I’ll let you know.
Ken, you are to golf statistics what Nate Silver is to political statistics. As AD so eloquently stated, your analysis and explanation is way more important than daily recaps. Hound Dog LPGA was the first golf blog I found online and it has continued to be the first one I checked each day for updates.
So take a break. I look forward to your return.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
Hi Ken,
There is nothing I can say that hasn’t already been said and probably better. There is no question about where your priorities need to be. The selfish me, however, would love to see a monthly analysis. Last year you had me monitoring the golfers on the cusp of various qualification levels and you explained what those levels meant.
Through you I got to know some of the players struggling through Q-School. You have helped me, an LPGA newby, get up to speed on everything in women’s golf. Your writings have kept me in the loop and on accasion have made me look smart. :)
Any output you offer, in whatever form, however often, will be anticipated and appreciated.
Take Care Ken
John
Ken
Thank you, The posts last winter for Q school and Priority standings were great. You know all I want to talk about are the bottom feeders anyway:)
Funny I talked to someone close to Leah Wigger 2 weeks ago and confirmed, sort of, the LPGA wanted 20 NEW players to add to the roster. Expect to see the same if players in the 81-100 area play in Daytona.
Also, there should be a reshuffle after this week. I think???
the reshuffle has re-shuffled
And somehow Mina Harigae’s #170. Can anyone explain the battlefield promotion’s relation to the status list to me? I used to just ask Ken, but don’t want to pester him (for a little while, at least!)….
by The Constructivist on Sep 27, 2009 4:36 AM PDT reply actions
they screwed it up again
The 3-time Futures Tour winner category is #13. The original Priority listing from the beginning of 2009 clearly states that the re-ordered players line up behind Category 13. So Harigae should be in position #152, not #170.
reshuffle was last week???
not that it matters at this point, seems the alternate list is shrinking!
Battlefield status is right above the highest priority player who has not made any money for the 09 year. Michelle Ellis was somewhere in the #101-#125 for 2009 and has made zippy $$$$ this year.
Its garbage status!!!!!!!!!!
FYI there is an Olympic Gold Medalist in the field for 1st Stage Q School in Venice.
status clarification
Samsung was event #21 so the money list standings after it was over get used to reshuffle. But the Priority order gets changed for this week’s event at Navistar (CVS used the old order, or was supposed to).
not how I thought it would end...and I miss it already
Honestly, how I thought it would end was with the LPGA paying Ken to do all the things that he does. With the number of times that he pointed out irregularities in the way processes were carried out or numbers applied — and then the LPGA changing to correct the irregularities for the future — he was already having a real and positive impact on the tour. I know the tour can’t pay the media, but Ken’s work was a positive contribution to the LPGA community more than a reporting function.
Anyway, I miss hdlpga a bunch already!
Thanks for all the kind words
I knew I was going to disappoint a few people but I didn’t expect all this. JF – I myself had visions of such a thing during my less grounded moments! The Tour has more important things to worry about these days so I won’t hold their snub against them!
BTW – it was nice to see NYC and Sophie break through with victories the last two weeks. Maybe Song-Hee Kim or Michelle Wie can join the club this week in Prattville.
THANKS
Without your blog I would probably not have ever posted anything. I guess I will have to find another place to post an occasional piece. Back when I was working I never had the time to do something like what you accomplished. Therefore I understand your reason, but you will be missed.
Thanks Hound Dog!
I think I’ll just reiterate, I have been a fan of your site for some time. I even listened your Tuesday podcasts. It’s great stuff Hound Dog, and nobody, hardly nobody else out there was doing what you did. I want to thank you for that.
Above said, I understand. I don’t do Pak Picker for the silliest of reasons. I simply refuse to guess. And I don’t have the time or energy to do it the way I want. I don’t have a data base, so it was quite a chore to construct a probability distribution, an educated one every week. Last fall I actually formulated what I wanted in terms of how to do it. This spring I went looking for the file. Apparently I never saved the damn thing.
Thanks again Hound Dog, and best wishes to you and your family, forever more.
Vann
Is the season over
when it comes to the top 80 or 100 or 125?
not yet, but close
The final money list standings determine 2010 priority. So for most the players “on the bubble”, they have only the Tour Championship left to help their cause.
Thank YOU !
You are such a perfectionist !!! That’s ok… I respect that… now I’ll have to put up with reading TC’s LPGA blog which sometimes includes blogging about some toy dinosaur with some weird pictures which I can’t really understand or explain ;-) Take care !!! Sergio
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