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Every week we touch base with our journalists about the topics they cover and the content they create. This week, we are connecting with sports reporter Dan DeLuca, who recently addressed the rising costs for playing golf in SW Florida.
Question: What first made you realize rising golf prices were becoming a story worth pursuing in SW Florida?
Answer: It's no secret that everything is more expensive than it used to be and that includes the price of a round of golf. The fact that Southwest Florida is a destination for the sport made this topic especially relevant for our readers.
Your research for this topic stood out. Whether it's this story, or any story you write that involves understanding trends and data, what is your process for mining the information to enhance the storytelling?
There were plenty of anecdotal reports about high golf prices in our area. However, it's important to try and put these reports into context using real data. Being able to cite the National Golf Foundation's report showing prices have increased 29% since 2019 on a national basis verified a substantial rise. The Southwest Florida market is tricky, however, because there is such a disparity between seasonal and non-seasonal rates. But by being able to show that golf participation has increased dramatically since 2019 and that there are far fewer public courses than there used to be makes it a pretty simple equation. High demand in the seasonal months, especially from our visitors, and more high-end courses equals people paying more than ever for a round of golf.
What was the most eye-opening statistic or number you uncovered while reporting?
I think it was common knowledge among the golfing community that more and more courses are becoming private, but learning that Naples has by far the lowest percentage of public courses among the top 50 U.S. markets for golf was eye-opening.
You were able to get a strong response from SW Florida golfers about this topic (more than 80 emails). How helpful was that to have passionate people share their thoughts with you this way and what does this say about journalism and technology (compared to when you first started) as far as being able to tell stories?
The response was key because these golfers provided me with valuable insights about their experiences. The ease and widespread availability of communication technology make it much easier to have an open line of communication with people in our community and allows us to tell stories that matter to them.
Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What does it cost to play a round of golf in Naples, Fort Myers Florida?
Continue reading...
Question: What first made you realize rising golf prices were becoming a story worth pursuing in SW Florida?
Answer: It's no secret that everything is more expensive than it used to be and that includes the price of a round of golf. The fact that Southwest Florida is a destination for the sport made this topic especially relevant for our readers.
Your research for this topic stood out. Whether it's this story, or any story you write that involves understanding trends and data, what is your process for mining the information to enhance the storytelling?
There were plenty of anecdotal reports about high golf prices in our area. However, it's important to try and put these reports into context using real data. Being able to cite the National Golf Foundation's report showing prices have increased 29% since 2019 on a national basis verified a substantial rise. The Southwest Florida market is tricky, however, because there is such a disparity between seasonal and non-seasonal rates. But by being able to show that golf participation has increased dramatically since 2019 and that there are far fewer public courses than there used to be makes it a pretty simple equation. High demand in the seasonal months, especially from our visitors, and more high-end courses equals people paying more than ever for a round of golf.
What was the most eye-opening statistic or number you uncovered while reporting?
I think it was common knowledge among the golfing community that more and more courses are becoming private, but learning that Naples has by far the lowest percentage of public courses among the top 50 U.S. markets for golf was eye-opening.
You were able to get a strong response from SW Florida golfers about this topic (more than 80 emails). How helpful was that to have passionate people share their thoughts with you this way and what does this say about journalism and technology (compared to when you first started) as far as being able to tell stories?
The response was key because these golfers provided me with valuable insights about their experiences. The ease and widespread availability of communication technology make it much easier to have an open line of communication with people in our community and allows us to tell stories that matter to them.
Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What does it cost to play a round of golf in Naples, Fort Myers Florida?
Continue reading...
