Golf Digest Ballot Stuffing Contest

[Jason Topp]

Golf Digest is running a fan's choice favorite golf course contest styled after an NCAA Tournament Bracket.  The final four consists of Bulle Rock v. Pacific Dunes and Chambers Bay v. Wolf Creek.  

I would enjoy these sorts of competitions if they bore any relationship to reader opinions but the vote totals indicate that this is a contest of a different type.  Here is a link to the bracket.  You can pretty clearly see where organized marketing efforts started for certain courses, with Wolf Creek being the most blatant.

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/100-greatest-golf-courses/fans_choices

In the quarters, Wolf Creek somehow got 46,638 votes.  By comparison, Pacific Dunes won its match with about 8,800 votes.  In the prior round, Wolf Creek garnered over 34,000 votes while Pacific Dunes squeeked by its opponent with 302.  Other courses appeared to have started similar efforts at times in the contest but it looks like Wolf Creek is best poised to dominate.

I look forward to the marketing materials!

[Mike Nuzzo]

Isn't this what Golf Digest wants? 
... more impressions.

Wolf Creek vs. Wolf Point would be 50k to 7.
Cheers

[Joel_Stewart]

I figured it out about a month ago when Pebble Beach was beaten badly by I think Bulle Rock.  So I stopped voting.

[Ronald Montesano]

I'm still voting and still laughing at the amount of votes Wolf Creek gets...some organized marketing efforts are more equal than others.

[Kalen Braley]

I'm surprised Golf Digest doesn't have a better IT department to nip this stuff in the butt...its not hard to implement. 

I can see the Casino boys in Mesquite now licking their chops.  The $500 they payed some hacker to stuff the box is going to pay off big time!!   

[Garland Bayley]

I'm surprised Golf Digest doesn't have a better IT department to nip this stuff in the butt...its not hard to implement. 

I can see the Casino boys in Mesquite now licking their chops.  The $500 they payed some hacker to stuff the box is going to pay off big time!!   

My thoughts exactly.

[John Kavanaugh]

How is this different than our recent rating thread?  Whoever wants to vote can with no verification or qualifications. The only difference is the we base our credibility on our own assumption we are smarter than everyone else. I still refuse to believe that 10% of our sample played Pacific Dunes without playing Bandon Dunes.

[Kalen Braley]

How is this different than our recent rating thread?  Whoever wants to vote can with no verification or qualifications. The only difference is the we base our credibility on our own assumption we are smarter than everyone else. I still refuse to believe that 10% of our sample played Pacific Dunes without playing Bandon Dunes.

John,

I'm in that 10%...only course I've played at the resort is Pacific Dunes.

As for your other question, are you seriously trying to equate an informal poll on GCA.com to a major golf publication like Golf Digest that millions of people know about?

[Sam Morrow]

How is this different than our recent rating thread?  Whoever wants to vote can with no verification or qualifications. The only difference is the we base our credibility on our own assumption we are smarter than everyone else. I still refuse to believe that 10% of our sample played Pacific Dunes without playing Bandon Dunes.

John,

I'm in that 10%...only course I've played at the resort is Pacific Dunes.

As for your other question, are you seriously trying to equate an informal poll on GCA.com to a major golf publication like Golf Digest that millions of people know about?

Kalen,

 If you don't mind my asking was there a reason you only played one course at the resort? I can't imagine going to Bandon not playing all the courses? I've never been because I can't afford that trip and play all the courses.

[Garland Bayley]

How is this different than our recent rating thread?  Whoever wants to vote can with no verification or qualifications. The only difference is the we base our credibility on our own assumption we are smarter than everyone else. I still refuse to believe that 10% of our sample played Pacific Dunes without playing Bandon Dunes.

John,

I'm in that 10%...only courses I've played at the resort are Pac Dunes, Bandon Trails, and Old MacDonald.

As for your other question, are you seriously trying to equate an informal poll on GCA.com to a major golf publication like Golf Digest that millions of people know about?

[Kalen Braley]

Sam,

It was definitely a function of both time and money.  My friend and I drove from Washington to San Fran on a last minute trip to see Roger Waters.  We only had time and money for one round and one round only.  At the time, Old Mac hadn't even been dreamed up yet and I believe Bandon Trails was either only recently opened, or still growing in, so I knew little about it.

I had read before hand that while everyone really liked Bandon Dunes, they were raving over Pacific Dunes, so we played that one and we're not disappointed.  At that point in time, it was easily the best course either my buddy or I had ever played.

[Ronald Montesano]

Unless I missed my class on cliches, Kalen, I believe that the expression is "nip something in the bud" and not "in the butt." The latter conjures up all sorts of scandalous acts.

[Kalen Braley]

Unless I missed my class on cliches, Kalen, I believe that the expression is "nip something in the bud" and not "in the butt." The latter conjures up all sorts of scandalous acts.

Good call Ronald,

I usually get that one wrong for whatever reason.  But the Urban Dictionary says its a common mess-up, so I guess I can live with it!

[Scott Warren]

I guess this answers the question of what Matt Ward has been up to since he quit this website!

[Jeff Shelman]

A number of courses have had their public relations agencies working hard to get the vote out. Courses have also been using their networks - email and social networks.

I've seen lots of action on Facebook and Twitter encouraging people to vote one way or the other.

[Tim Martin]

Unless I missed my class on cliches, Kalen, I believe that the expression is "nip something in the bud" and not "in the butt." The latter conjures up all sorts of scandalous acts.

Good call Ronald,

I usually get that one wrong for whatever reason.  But the Urban Dictionary says its a common mess-up, so I guess I can live with it!

Kalen-Remember that he`s fluent in Spanish in addition to being a teacher. Ron couldn`t help but correct you,albeit nicely.

[John Kavanaugh]

A number of courses have had their public relations agencies working hard to get the vote out. Courses have also been using their networks - email and social networks.

I've seen lots of action on Facebook and Twitter encouraging people to vote one way or the other.

Colton used twitter to get the vote out.  If we can brainwash Kalen and Garland to skip Bandon Dunes I don't think we should discount the possibility we are wrong and the masses are right. In other words, if you live by the rankings you must die by the rankings.  I don't think you can pick, choose or abuse.

[Mac Plumart]

I guess this answers the question of what Matt Ward has been up to since he quit this website!

 

[Adam Clayman]

John, If these statistical outliers don't ring a bell, or raise a red flag, and, you assume all things are equal between Digest's poll and Colton's poll, you are either a Digest Butt Boy, or, are heavily into the Maker's Mark. Or, was the guy who devised this sick plan and rigged it yourself. To call this the people's choice, seems like a bit of an outlier. too. 
 

[Kalen Braley]

A number of courses have had their public relations agencies working hard to get the vote out. Courses have also been using their networks - email and social networks.

I've seen lots of action on Facebook and Twitter encouraging people to vote one way or the other.

Colton used twitter to get the vote out.  If we can brainwash Kalen and Garland to skip Bandon Dunes I don't think we should discount the possibility we are wrong and the masses are right. In other words, if you live by the rankings you must die by the rankings.  I don't think you can pick, choose or abuse.

J/K,

Your theory sounds perfect...except I played Pacific Dunes BEFORE I joined GCA.com...

Another swing and a miss J/K..but keep at it big fella!   


P.S.  Tim, its all good, it wouldn't be the 1st time I've messed up a idiom/slang sayin' 

[John Kavanaugh]

John, If these statistical outliers don't ring a bell, or raise a red flag, and, you assume all things are equal between Digest's poll and Colton's poll, you are either a Digest Butt Boy, or, are heavily into the Maker's Mark. Or, was the guy who devised this sick plan and rigged it yourself. To call this the people's choice, seems like a bit of an outlier. too. 
 

Adam,

I believe the Colton poll to be reasonably accurate but I have read most of what two guys who skipped Bandon Dunes have also read. I seriously have to question my own opinion in light of theirs. I find it insulting to Mike Keiser that anyone, yet 10% of a sample, would skip his original vision.  

[Jeff Shelman]

John,

I think there's a difference between getting the vote out and not caring how people vote like Colton did and being paid to get people to vote a certain way like courses and their PR firms.

[John Kavanaugh]

John,

I think there's a difference between getting the vote out and not caring how people vote like Colton did and being paid to get people to vote a certain way like courses and their PR firms.

Paid to get a higher ranking?  My God, I never.

[Kalen Braley]

John, If these statistical outliers don't ring a bell, or raise a red flag, and, you assume all things are equal between Digest's poll and Colton's poll, you are either a Digest Butt Boy, or, are heavily into the Maker's Mark. Or, was the guy who devised this sick plan and rigged it yourself. To call this the people's choice, seems like a bit of an outlier. too. 
 

Adam,

I believe the Colton poll to be reasonably accurate but I have read most of what two guys who skipped Bandon Dunes have also read. I seriously have to question my own opinion in light of theirs. I find it insulting to Mike Keiser that anyone, yet 10% of a sample, would skip his original vision.  

John,

Don't be so sensitive...its nothing personal.  If I ever found myself in the Evansville, Indiana area...I would likely skip Victorial National as well.

[Ronald Montesano]

I've rigged up a homer simpson-esque machine to call people and ask them to send one vote, rather than one dollar, to the courses I want to win in the semifinals.