Looking for "The Numbers Game" Columnist

[iacas]

Dave Koster has done a fabulous job with The Numbers Game in the past year and a half.

But with a bouncing baby boy at home, Dave's looking to take at least a few months off until at least the time when the kiddo doesn't require constant supervision. Dave will still be involved with the site (doing reviews and contributing a piece here and there, as well as participating in the forum), but a weekly commitment doesn't fit the schedule.

As such, I'm posting here first: we're looking for a guy to fill in while Dave is on partial leave. Such a person should obviously be numbers- and stats-oriented, and the range of topics can be anything having to do with numbers, from personal stats (I have some good ideas) to the PGA and LPGA Tours, to the senior tour, to the physics of golf, equipment, balls, etc.

Perks of being a staff member include access to some cool people in the industry (including ourselves), an email address, access to review equipment and course reviews, the Newport Cup 2007, etc.

The ideal candidate would have just a little knowledge of Web publishing (or the ability to learn quickly) and a decent handicap in the south (we need some more reviewers who can play and review year-round). Being able to "write good" is a plus, of course.

One final note: when Dave returns, the column is still "his," but the new staff member will be re-assigned to a mutually agreed upon column, or perhaps they'll simply collaborate with Dave.

To ask questions, post here or email me - erik @ this domain. To apply, go the email route, please.

[niblick]

This is something I'd love to do, though I don't know if a 23 index qualifies as decent. You're probably looking for someone in the low teens or better, I'd guess?

I'm an estimator for a commercial construction firm, so the numbers bit would be right in my wheelhouse.

[iacas]

This is something I'd love to do, though I don't know if a 23 index qualifies as decent. You're probably looking for someone in the low teens or better, I'd guess?

Well, the handicap index has more to do with reviews than the column. A great fit for the column with a "so so" fit for review holes beats out a "so so" fit for the column with a great fit for reviews.

We do have myself (a 4), Jonathan (a 4 when he's healthy) on staff for some of the lower-handicap reviews. You're over by Jeff, too, no?

[NCGolfer]

I just wanted to say that I'm thankful for the opportunity that Erik has given me. I'm not going to go away and hide...like he said, I just need some time for some things to settle a bit. My time is being consumed by family and work life right now. I'll pop in here and there with a review and/or commentary.

My plan is to come back. I just don't know when that will be. For anyone interested, it can't hurt to drop Erik an email. I've enjoyed writing this column and be part of the staff and community here at The Sand Trap. Don't let the opportunity pass you by...

[Wood]

I just wanted to say that I'm thankful for the opportunity that Erik has given me. I'm not going to go away and hide...like he said, I just need some time for some things to settle a bit. My time is being consumed by family and work life right now. I'll pop in here and there with a review and/or commentary.

Thank you, Dave for your articles and "wisdom"

here on the message boards. Good luck on finding balance of time and raising the youngster. I'm sure you'll find a way to still play a few rounds won't you....... ?

[iacas]

This spot is still open if you'd like to apply.

[FAHooGolfs]

Question for Dave... or Erik or anyone else, what's the approximate time commitment usually like for putting together an article? I'd be interested in doing it but I'm a little weary of the added pressure on my time given that I've got a year left of grad school at night + work during the day.

[iacas]

Question for Dave... or Erik or anyone else, what's the approximate time commitment usually like for putting together an article? I'd be interested in doing it but I'm a little weary of the added pressure on my time given that I've got a year left of grad school at night + work during the day.

That is indeed a lot of time already used up in your day. Dave could obviously better answer this type of question, but a lot of it comes down to your own speed. I don't know how fast or slow Dave is at the various tasks (thinking of an idea, gathering the data, presenting the data in a reasonable form [charts, graphs], writing the content), but I would say that, on average, you're looking at about two hours to three hours of work per week.

If an article started to take more time than that, and you're not unusually slow, then it may be a good "series" article (i.e. split it into multiple weeks). There are, of course, plenty of other ways to get involved. Reviews can take longer, but a lot of that extra length is playing golf, so you may not count that. You could join in the podcast now and then, and that's about 30 minutes per episode (and optional). You could write other little articles too here and there, all optional (and appreciated). It may also take a little longer to get going, depending on how "fluent" you are with our minimal formatting, how quickly you can pick it up, etc. Some have stepped in, others have taken a month or two to get it under foot. Long-winded way of saying "two to three hours per week." Some articles take less time while others take more.

[FAHooGolfs]

Yeah, as much as I'd love to do something involved with the site, free time is not exactly a luxury I have right now. Keep me in mind though if you need any one-off articles or any future fill-ins. I'll see what I can do.

[NCGolfer]

Question for Dave... or Erik or anyone else, what's the approximate time commitment usually like for putting together an article? I'd be interested in doing it but I'm a little weary of the added pressure on my time given that I've got a year left of grad school at night + work during the day.

Like Erik said, some are easier and shorter than others. The more involved ones, like

the Rule , take me about 5-6 hours or so to do the analysis and writeup. I've gone a bit overboard a few times and could have broken it out into a couple articles...but hey, that's OK. The average would be about 4.

[MickelsonFlop]

I wouldn't worry too much about time issues. I know the articles look time consuming, but if you pace yourself, I'm sure you could make it work. I started writing while I was still in college and was able to make it work if that makes you feel any better

Dave has done an incredible job with the numbers game, but as we all know, family is the first priority ALWAYS.