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

[billpierce]

As a beneficiary of many of your posts and messages - thanks for the mentoring and support!

[sirchunksalot]

Has it only been a year? I guess the 2000 post count threw my ability to tell time off, that's a lot. 

It's been a pleasure having you on the forum and now having you in a role as a member of the forum staff. I'm looking forward to getting to meet you in person in seventy some odd days. 

[TJ Hall]

2000 posts equates to just over 5 a day, every day…could possibly get there if it wasn’t for the 50+ hours of work a week, kids and all the activities, SWMBO and the plans she comes up with and everything else that gets in the way.

Impressive!  I feel like a slacker, 1.5 years and I haven’t made it to 700…

[Rob Person]

Happy anniversary amd congrats on your milestone!

I carry alotnpf admiration for the Staff organization and ability to manage many many thousands of members.

 

[BreakfastBall15]

Congrats Ben! Love what you bring to the forum

[Kenny B]

@GolfSpy_BEN  Congratulation!  Already looking forward to what comes this next year. Keep ‘em coming!

[bens197]

That Ben guy?

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

15 hours 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

Ben I am a little late responding to this as well I chose to took a rare lazy day off the forum yesterday. 

While I have not gone through the responses yet I just have to say thank you for being an incredible member of this team and community. It has been a pleasure to work with you, see how you have grown within this community and we all truly appreciate the efforts and roles that you have taken on. 

Just a big thank you once again and looking forward to all that we can accomplish in the future as a team and community!

[GolfSpy_APH]

13 hours 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.

I don't know why you are trying to mock me... I still have my job. I spend lots of time with my family and dogs.... okay you got me at the alerts, and despite my skinny frame I do drink (coffee and water) and eat (a lot of mcdonalds) and my posts are extensive and loaded with meaning!

[berkeleybob]

9 hours ago, TJ Hall said:

2000 posts equates to just over 5 a day, every day…could possibly get there if it wasn’t for the 50+ hours of work a week, kids and all the activities, SWMBO and the plans she comes up with and everything else that gets in the way.

Impressive!  I feel like a slacker, 1.5 years and I haven’t made it to 700…

If you’re feeling like a slacker after 1.5 years, I must be catatonic. 

[arodrig29]

19 hours 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 )

You had me at quit your job...lol. I was like "where do I sign up". lol 

[GolfSpy SAM]

7 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I don't know why you are trying to mock me... I still have my job. I spend lots of time with my family and dogs.... okay you got me at the alerts, and despite my skinny frame I do drink (coffee and water) and eat (a lot of mcdonalds) and my posts are extensive and loaded with meaning!

Wow - I struck a nerve (which is all you have left because you're skin and bones) I was actually describing an imaginaary person in my brain, but now that you mention it...you ARE here a lot  Are we SURE the "wife and kids and dogs" are real, and not just made up out of whole cloth? 

[Golfspy_CG2]

On 3/20/2024 at 11:44 AM, 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

Ben I think I said it to you early on in your tenure that your contributions were greatly appreciated and again when you came on staff and everyday sense.   You---and the other staff-do so much behind the scenes that most people will never recognize, and it's appreciated by all of us.   

And most importantly, I think if I were to look back early in your post on who doesn't want to hit blades, I may have made a contradictory post    But as we have discussed recently among ourselves, you might be changing my views on that. 

While I can't claim the same phrase @GolfSpy SAM coined of game recognizing game in this manor, I can say.

 

  

[Javs]

On 3/20/2024 at 10:44 AM, 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 Ben! What a journey you have made. You have demonstrated that it is possible to travel from rookie to SPY! You certainly have cemented yourself as one of the foundations on the forum. We all appreciate your contributions, wit and quick responses on all subjects. I especially appreciate you providing an open ear when I DM. Thank you for all you do!!

[Bad Golfer]

Congratulations @GolfSpy_BEN! I always look forward to reading the content you contribute to the forum.