Why is this Forum so quiet ?

haragolfer wrote:

A case in point yesterday.  Perhaps a testimony to the forum being too successful, I spent the day chatting and meeting with people who had arranged their own monthly medals within a chat group on what's app. A chat group set up by and initiated by people within this forum.  Almost everyone who was there had been active in golf Republic. 

But not a single communication was done through the forum. Nobody needed it like before there was smartphones and groupchats.

Do I miss those days? Yes and no. Who can dispute that chat groups are great for broadcasting and setting up golf games ad hoc and efficient like now.  But that has also meant that what started here as gatherings has evolved to be more modular more controllable in small numbers like what's app chats.

This forum has a place in Singapore, and it can become very relevant and active again, but perhaps not the way we were used to. 

The answer to the million dollar question is, how?

I agree what you said. 
People's behaviour changed, moved from forum to whatsapp group etc. 

What made this forum active, maybe no longer attractive, suitable for current days. 
The direction/strategy for this forum need to adjusted. 

To answer your question, I would try some suggestions. 
1. Some key competence as a forum against fast communication channels. 
could be : intensive discussion on certain topics. 
Knowledge base for newbies.
marketplace ( obviously, it is trend to do shopping online ) 
Organize golf events cross different groups. 

But all these , require the management team's effort.

Nam Flog wrote:

flashpacker wrote:

I see advert banners on this forum. Don't you?

Yes sir I do. But I'm not sure if that means there's revenue. I am internet idiot.

To my understanding, it will generate some revenue for the forum, if the tech team manages  it well.  All those Banners will be bid/offer by some advertisement agency. 

sometimes, renew yearly, if this is managed , it can alway review it and get better offer. 

To be honest, there is not many Ads in this forum.

lousyswinger wrote:

I think there was some kind of virtual game ladder within the forum which promote members to meet up for a round of golf...might increase interaction and promote more chatter? 

Just a suggestion.

I think golfer's time is precious, that may not attract much . 
That's my guess.  This may works well in Hardwarezone

If you ask me, I think the main reason is that people have moved to whatsapp groups.
Easier to manage and communicate, you don't even have to unlock your phone to reply to messages. 

No doubt everyone knew each other here before moving on to whatsapp. 

The other possibility is that there are many campers here. People like me who refreshes the forum a few times every day, but posts once in a while. 

Still, even though the forum is quiet, I think it serves its primary function of connecting golfers and information sharing.

If only we can organize a game within the community here more easily, it wont stop the golf kakis to form whatsapp groups and even create Facebook groups to manage the communications and formation of flights better...

example of facebook page for organizing games here: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/weBirdie/

:-)

Singapore golf is on the decline that is why the govt is taking back the golf course land. On the range I see new golfers come and go very quickly. Probably it is too hard for them to stay devoted for long.

dimpledgolfball wrote:

If you ask me, I think the main reason is that people have moved to whatsapp groups.
Easier to manage and communicate, you don't even have to unlock your phone to reply to messages. 

No doubt everyone knew each other here before moving on to whatsapp. 

The other possibility is that there are many campers here. People like me who refreshes the forum a few times every day, but posts once in a while. 

Still, even though the forum is quiet, I think it serves its primary function of connecting golfers and information sharing.

But if is going to be quiet like this, less and less people will visit here. 
The primary function of this forum becomes weak and weak.

Hogan wrote:

Singapore golf is on the decline that is why the govt is taking back the golf course land. On the range I see new golfers come and go very quickly. Probably it is too hard for them to stay devoted for long.

Is that true ? 
Although heard about several news about gov is going to take over some golf course lands in coming years. 
but I still think Golf is consider a popular game , which more and more people start to pick up it . 

New golfers may need more friends to motivate and few golfers to play together with. 
Which I found how important to keep this kind of forum live is for newbies.

weBirdie wrote:

If only we can organize a game within the community here more easily, it wont stop the golf kakis to form whatsapp groups and even create Facebook groups to manage the communications and formation of flights better...

example of facebook page for organizing games here: 

Anyway, this was discussed early, I think the forum and Whatsapp serves different purposes. 
FB page could be quite similar to the forum, that's a challenge for all forums.

I for one am guilty n one of those who "disappeared" for a while... Maybe the 'poison' from the marketplace wore off after accumulating too many items lol... yes i remember we used to hv v interesting and engaging discourse on all kinds of golf matters, clubfitting vs swing correction by coach... whether golf equipment sold by some shops are indeed genuine JDMs or copy CDMs.. tips and great makan places to go after a round of golf in JB... contributions by fitters and professionals and golf agents - some purely commercial others positively sharing their expertise... Tho hv not contributed much in terms of posts hv always popped by quietly to hv a look see at whats happening and yes whats on sale. 

Please make some noise....

flashpacker wrote:

Please make some noise....

Ok.... some noise

Now, going back MIA again

Noise is here. Quiet pls

so when was the heydays of this forum? 2008?

flashpacker wrote:

Please make some noise....

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flashpacker wrote:

Please make some noise....

OK ... pls on your PC speaker to the max!

I joined this forum to look for kaki's to play in Malaysia, since 2008. My usual kaki's are mostly single handicapper....but here i find peers who are similar level as me (HCP 24...if they have 36 prob I will be 36). Of course, once a while I have to join the crocodile/Buaya in this forum. 

The key part that attracted me to the forum was the immerse sharing of golf information. I can still find it here and I still love to read them....just don't post anymore....err i think HCP 36 cant share much.

I receive email if someone response to post I wrote. If some marketing effort such as email every 3 - 6 months to users on the happenings on the forum will remind lazy users like me to login and take a look and maybe post. (just a though please don't kill me)

My personal and work life do not allow me to play much golf and I have to hide some corner (from my wife) to type this post   . 

Hope you folks have a wonder and prosperous Chinese new year