2000 posts, 12,310 reactions, & 1 year on the forum

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Hello All, 

This is my 2000th post. I tried to time it up, to hit on March 27th. The 1 year anniversary of my stumbling into what has become a rather integral part of my life. However, because there are so many great things going on the forum, and I gotta get these posts off, I am a week early. Such is life. 
 

A look back at the past year reveals quite the journey so here are a few highlights:

The Callaway Paradym Iron testing opportunity is what prompted me to join. I signed up and impatiently waited for the announcement. The tester’s were announced and to my dismay, I wasn’t one of them.  

What happened next is/was critical to my journey. I read @GolfSpy_APH’s how to be a tester thread. Which prompted me to take the initial steps with a completed profile and photo where the B had been. My first actual post came on April 13, 2023

7 people gave a blue heart, which was gratifying, so my initial trepidation about posting was overcome and we were off. 
 

My next pivotal moment, and what I would argue is my finest contribution to these here forums would come from a fundamental question I asked myself:

Over the course of 2000 posts, this was and still is my absolute favorite. 
 

Because I followed the prescribed steps and got myself involved I was chosen to test the Garsen Max Putter Grip. Which was cool, because Garsen sent us three different putter grips to try out. That resulted in:

Subsequently followed by:

I’m fairly certain this review remains unread by the masses, for reasons I have explained on the community call, IYKYK (yes, it’s still there).

We have mentioned in the “want to be a tester” threads that doing a great job on a small item review can be a springboard into bigger tests, I am proof of that as I was selected for one of the most coveted spots for 2023:

It was around this time that @GolfSpy_APH put out a feeler for anyone interested in joining the staff. Along with @GolfSpy AFG, @GolfSpy_SHARK, & @GolfSpy_KFT, I joined the staff as a forum leader. Which prompted @GolfSpy AFG to rename us as the “interns”. Almost immediately @GolfSpy TCB had to step away from the forum and I inherited a moderator role and the VCT. For those who are interested:

And if you haven’t joined us yet, but would like to, our 3rd season will be kicking off the week of April 8th. We would be honored to have you join us. 

Lastly, my latest endeavor:

Follow along as I try to overcome a series of seemingly random and unfortunate events. 
 

As I look back on the past year, I am filled with gratitude and admiration for my fellow testers and the membership at large. You have all made this place a special corner of the interwebs, where civility, intellectual curiosity, and kindness rule the day. 

A special thanks goes out my fellow staff members: @GolfSpy BOS, @GolfSpy SAM, @GolfSpy_BNG, @Golfspy_CG2, @GolfSpy AFG, @GolfSpy_SHARK, & @GolfSpy_KFT you guys are the absolute best of us and I’m proud to call each of you, my friend. 

To @GolfSpy_APH, my sincere gratitude and admiration for not only the opportunity you have entrusted me with, but the ever steady hand with which you guide this ship. It has truly been one of the great pleasures of my life, finding this place. 

Finally, if you made it this far, thank you for indulging my vanity post and know that you have a friend in me.

- Ben

[GolfSpy SAM]

6 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

 

- Ben

I can't help but feel you're mocking me with this Gif...but game recognizes game, so I ain't mad at it.

  The forum is a better place because of you, Ben.  Incredibly grateful to call you friend, and can't wait to get to play together in the coming years (starting in VA, baby!).]'

 Congrats!!

[GolfSpy_KFT]

@GolfSpy_BEN one of my favorite memories of 2023 was when you offered to partner up with me for the Cobra challenge two man, 4 club challenge. We turned in two very complimentary rounds and took the victory, which was awesome! That was a boost that helped propel both me and my team of @CFreddie & @chisag to victory. 

Has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you through the forum and work with you as a part of the mod staff. You're an integral part of this forum and it wouldn't be the place it is without you!

[Shrek74]

7 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

For those who are interested:

And if you haven’t joined us yet, but would like to, our 3rd season will be kicking off the week of April 8th. We would be honored to have you join us. 

Sorry, had to. This was the first thing that popped into my head as I was reading.

It's been great watching your posts and your overall interaction with the forum over the past (almost) year for me. I've learned a lot from you and your posts and insights. So keep it up!

I do hope to get up to visit my sister and nephews in Lebanon this summer, and hopefully we can grab that round of golf we talked about last year. You're definitely welcome to visit here at The Glade to play any or all of our 5 courses. I can hook you up on a place to crash if you need/want.

Anyway, so glad you're here and part of the staff to help continue to share insights, stories, and just being your awesome self.

[Triple_Putt]

Keep up the great work! I enjoy reading your posts, and I have looked at your reviews and posts to try and fix up and better my writing and testing ideas for if i'm selected for another test down the road.  Thanks for being a good gauge of whats expected!

[TJ Hall]

Congratulations and thank you for everything you (and all of the other moderators) do to help make the forum run…this is a better place because of you all!

Edited March 20 by TJ Hall

[GolfSpy BOS]

Congrats on the 1 year mark, 2000 posts, a lot of good laughs, and good golf talk @GolfSpy_BEN!

I find it quite fortuitous that this has occurred on you're favorite day of the week.

Happy hump day buddy!  

[GolfSpy_BEN]

2 minutes ago, GolfSpy BOS said:

Congrats on the 1 year mark, 2000 posts, a lot of good laughs, and good golf talk @GolfSpy_BEN!

I find it quite fortuitous that this has occurred on you're favorite day of the week.

Happy hump day buddy!  

forever

[GolfSpy AFG]

You had me at hello Ben.  You had me at hello.

[GolfSpy_BNG]

Congrats on 2000 posts and 1 year Ben. You are an integral part of the staff and community and we are all better off with you here. 
 

Here’s to many more years and posts sir. 
 

Cheers

[Michael.Sandoval33]

@GolfSpy_BENwas who I turned to when I did my unofficial review of the Odin X balls for any advice for my future reviews. Lo & Behold, he is now a fellow Qi10 tester! It a pleasure to share the forum space with you and congratulations on the 2k!

[Josh Parker]

Now if you could quit exploding heads and golf shafts.....  

Congrats man!  It's been a fun ride thus far. 

 

[jbern]

35 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

know that you have a friend in me

Automatically started singing the Toy Story theme song.

What a year you had! Pleasure to read about your accomplishments and the great stuff that you've contributed and added to the forum! 

I do have some advice for your future... Stop breaking things! 

[TSauer]

Congrats on the milestone, @GolfSpy_BEN

I've said it before and I'll say it again... you, alonG with all the other mods And "interns", Really make this the beSt golf community on the world wide web. Looking forward to another year, a fEw thousand more posts, and maybe even aNother easter egg!?

 

Edited March 20 by TSauer

[CFreddie]

Congrats @GolfSpy_BEN - I'll look to be joining the 1-year anniversary soon enough as well!  

I've thoroughly enjoyed your posts (& banter) - this place is truly better with you involved (and now helping to lead)!!!  

Onward & upwards!

[arodrig29]

Congrats! Something to aspire to! 

[berkeleybob]

Congrats, @GolfSpy_BEN. You’re one of those guys that makes the forum vibrant.

[FallenSaber]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

Hello All, 

This is my 2000th post. I tried to time it up, to hit on March 27th. The 1 year anniversary of my stumbling into what has become a rather integral part of my life. However, because there are so many great things going on the forum, and I gotta get these posts off, I am a week early. Such is life. 
 

A look back at the past year reveals quite the journey so here are a few highlights:

The Callaway Paradym Iron testing opportunity is what prompted me to join. I signed up and impatiently waited for the announcement. The tester’s were announced and to my dismay, I wasn’t one of them.  

What happened next is/was critical to my journey. I read @GolfSpy_APH’s how to be a tester thread. Which prompted me to take the initial steps with a completed profile and photo where the B had been. My first actual post came on April 13, 2023

7 people gave a blue heart, which was gratifying, so my initial trepidation about posting was overcome and we were off. 
 

My next pivotal moment, and what I would argue is my finest contribution to these here forums would come from a fundamental question I asked myself:

Over the course of 2000 posts, this was and still is my absolute favorite. 
 

Because I followed the prescribed steps and got myself involved I was chosen to test the Garsen Max Putter Grip. Which was cool, because Garsen sent us three different putter grips to try out. That resulted in:

Subsequently followed by:

I’m fairly certain this review remains unread by the masses, for reasons I have explained on the community call, IYKYK (yes, it’s still there).

We have mentioned in the “want to be a tester” threads that doing a great job on a small item review can be a springboard into bigger tests, I am proof of that as I was selected for one of the most coveted spots for 2023:

It was around this time that @GolfSpy_APH put out a feeler for anyone interested in joining the staff. Along with @GolfSpy AFG, @GolfSpy_SHARK, & @GolfSpy_KFT, I joined the staff as a forum leader. Which prompted @GolfSpy AFG to rename us as the “interns”. Almost immediately @GolfSpy TCB had to step away from the forum and I inherited a moderator role and the VCT. For those who are interested:

And if you haven’t joined us yet, but would like to, our 3rd season will be kicking off the week of April 8th. We would be honored to have you join us. 

Lastly, my latest endeavor:

Follow along as I try to overcome a series of seemingly random and unfortunate events. 
 

As I look back on the past year, I am filled with gratitude and admiration for my fellow testers and the membership at large. You have all made this place a special corner of the interwebs, where civility, intellectual curiosity, and kindness rule the day. 

A special thanks goes out my fellow staff members: @GolfSpy BOS, @GolfSpy SAM, @GolfSpy_BNG, @Golfspy_CG2, @GolfSpy AFG, @GolfSpy_SHARK, & @GolfSpy_KFT you guys are the absolute best of us and I’m proud to call each of you, my friend. 

To @GolfSpy_APH, my sincere gratitude and admiration for not only the opportunity you have entrusted me with, but the ever steady hand with which you guide this ship. It has truly been one of the great pleasures of my life, finding this place. 

Finally, if you made it this far, thank you for indulging my vanity post and know that you have a friend in me.

- Ben

Congratulations and what a year! Incredible work! Like you, I joined when I saw an opportunity to test a driver (and wasnt selected). I read the how to be a tester and put in the work and was selected to test the Garmin Approach S70. I don't even remember how I found out about MGS but I'm glad I did. I now check the forums pages daily and really enjoy engaging with this community. I truly appreciate the dedication of the forum staff and monitors. You can see the dedication in the quality of the forum and one of the stats that you missed, 221 consecutive days of posting on the forum. You haven't taken a day off from the forum since August 2023. Keep up the great work!

[TG8]

Amazing stuff.  Thanks for all you do and allowing me to tag you in lots of instagram giveways! 

[Northern Monkey]

Congratulations on what is an outstanding contribution in just a year. Long may it continue!

[rkj427]

Congrats. on both the anniversary and number of posts.

THANK YOU for what you have already provided to the forum members and staff in the past, and continue to do so going forward into the future.

 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

2k in less than a year...huge!

Brian stole my  day gif....so cheers to the guy that gave me the idea for hump day memes on social media posts for MGS!

[Preeway]

Congrats on the benchmark post. And what a great synopsis it was. I feel confident in saying that we are all better off for your participation and moderation.

[fredsharky]

@GolfSpy_BEN WOW, all this in 1 year - great job and keep all the content coming 

[Thomas 2024]

Congratulations on your 2000th post! All in one year, where did you find the time?

This is my third post, just joined the forum. 

[Swood1994]

Congrats on so many milestones Ben!

Edited March 20 by Swood1994

[GolfSpy SAM]

15 minutes ago, Thomas 2024 said:

Congratulations on your 2000th post! All in one year, where did you find the time?

This is my third post, just joined the forum. 

Honestly, it's not that hard.  Quit your job, ignore your family, have alerts set for anytime anyone responds (so that you, in turn, can respond), don't eat, don't drink (or drink excessively - to each their own), and make sure to comment "nice!", "great!", "haha" on every post you've already commented on.  You'll be at 2k in no time.

  All kidding aside, Ben's participation is one of the things that first stood out to the Forum Staff (before he was a part of the Squad) - it was clear he was genuinely invested in this place and helping it grow, from the get-go.  

  Welcome to the forum!  I'll start a "1,997 and counting" ticker for you and you can check in whenever you want.  (I won't actually do that - don't freak out )

[Thomas 2024]

Thanks! That's my problem still working and SWMBO takes up time as well. Not sure if I can keep up with Ben! 

[William P]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

Hello All, 

This is my 2000th post. I tried to time it up, to hit on March 27th. The 1 year anniversary of my stumbling into what has become a rather integral part of my life. However, because there are so many great things going on the forum, and I gotta get these posts off, I am a week early. Such is life. 
 

A look back at the past year reveals quite the journey so here are a few highlights:

The Callaway Paradym Iron testing opportunity is what prompted me to join. I signed up and impatiently waited for the announcement. The tester’s were announced and to my dismay, I wasn’t one of them.  

What happened next is/was critical to my journey. I read @GolfSpy_APH’s how to be a tester thread. Which prompted me to take the initial steps with a completed profile and photo where the B had been. My first actual post came on April 13, 2023

7 people gave a blue heart, which was gratifying, so my initial trepidation about posting was overcome and we were off. 
 

My next pivotal moment, and what I would argue is my finest contribution to these here forums would come from a fundamental question I asked myself:

Over the course of 2000 posts, this was and still is my absolute favorite. 
 

Because I followed the prescribed steps and got myself involved I was chosen to test the Garsen Max Putter Grip. Which was cool, because Garsen sent us three different putter grips to try out. That resulted in:

Subsequently followed by:

I’m fairly certain this review remains unread by the masses, for reasons I have explained on the community call, IYKYK (yes, it’s still there).

We have mentioned in the “want to be a tester” threads that doing a great job on a small item review can be a springboard into bigger tests, I am proof of that as I was selected for one of the most coveted spots for 2023:

It was around this time that @GolfSpy_APH put out a feeler for anyone interested in joining the staff. Along with @GolfSpy AFG, @GolfSpy_SHARK, & @GolfSpy_KFT, I joined the staff as a forum leader. Which prompted @GolfSpy AFG to rename us as the “interns”. Almost immediately @GolfSpy TCB had to step away from the forum and I inherited a moderator role and the VCT. For those who are interested:

And if you haven’t joined us yet, but would like to, our 3rd season will be kicking off the week of April 8th. We would be honored to have you join us. 

Lastly, my latest endeavor:

Follow along as I try to overcome a series of seemingly random and unfortunate events. 
 

As I look back on the past year, I am filled with gratitude and admiration for my fellow testers and the membership at large. You have all made this place a special corner of the interwebs, where civility, intellectual curiosity, and kindness rule the day. 

A special thanks goes out my fellow staff members: @GolfSpy BOS, @GolfSpy SAM, @GolfSpy_BNG, @Golfspy_CG2, @GolfSpy AFG, @GolfSpy_SHARK, & @GolfSpy_KFT you guys are the absolute best of us and I’m proud to call each of you, my friend. 

To @GolfSpy_APH, my sincere gratitude and admiration for not only the opportunity you have entrusted me with, but the ever steady hand with which you guide this ship. It has truly been one of the great pleasures of my life, finding this place. 

Finally, if you made it this far, thank you for indulging my vanity post and know that you have a friend in me.

- Ben

Congratulations on the milestone @GolfSpy_BEN and looking forward to many more anniversaries! You and all the staff members do an incredible job keeping everything running smoothly and all us in line...

[Josh Parker]

57 minutes ago, GolfSpy SAM said:

Honestly, it's not that hard.  Quit your job, ignore your family, have alerts set for anytime anyone responds (so that you, in turn, can respond), don't eat, don't drink (or drink excessively - to each their own), and make sure to comment "nice!", "great!", "haha" on every post you've already commented on.  You'll be at 2k in no time.

  All kidding aside, Ben's participation is one of the things that first stood out to the Forum Staff (before he was a part of the Squad) - it was clear he was genuinely invested in this place and helping it grow, from the get-go.  

  Welcome to the forum!  I'll start a "1,997 and counting" ticker for you and you can check in whenever you want.  (I won't actually do that - don't freak out )

It adds up quickly for sure!  Well worth it though and it keeps me off the crap socials that I hate.