What . . .
The Yardage Book (or TYB) is an independent newsletter dedicated to the Tri-County HOI golfing community (generally, Peoria/Tazewell/Woodford counties in Central Illinois).
TYB is subscriber-supported, and offers both free and paid subscriptions:
Free Subscription Benefits
Twice-weekly TYB Bulletin newsletter, delivered to your email inbox;
Access To:
Junior Golf Tournaments/Competitions, Leagues, Clinics/Classes List
All of the above are found under the TYB Quick Links section (right side of screen on Tablet/iPad/PC, and below the articles list on a smartphone)
Paid (Annual or Monthly) Subscription Benefits
All of the Free Subscription Benefits, plus:
Current Golf Passes, Discounts & Deals
Premium Articles (News, Interviews, Course and Gear Reviews, Podcasts, etc.);
Full access to comment and participate in discussion threads;
Opportunities to earn free paid subscription time — TYB Subscriber Rewards;
Subscriber Giveaways and Prizes
Why . . .
We’re a good 20 years into the Age of Information, and it’s amazing how much has changed since I rented Jack Nicklaus’ Swing My Way on VHS almost 30 years ago. As examples, there are countless high-quality instructors and golf-centered channels on YouTube and elsewhere; you can find any golf-related item you want online; and, you can carry a digital caddie with you in your smartphone for scorecard/GPS/etc to help you get around just about any course you visit.
As I look around the digital landscape locally, though, I’m frequently frustrated. I’d like to know, for example:
Who are the really good instructors?
What outings/benefits are scheduled, where, and when?
Where are the good membership/discount deals?
What tournaments are upcoming, and afterwards, who won?
There doesn’t seem to be a central spot where you can go to get 90% of the info you may want or need or be interested in that relates to golf in the Tri-County HOI area.
That’s why The Yardage Book exists. To keep you informed with things like public course lists and info; recommended instructors; outings/benefits info; tournament details, schedules, and results. Maybe some local golf history once in a while, and maybe some course reviews and interviews. Basically, TYB is an online information and news hub for golfers in our area.
I picked the name The Yardage Book after the notebook of the same name that serious amateurs and pros use to work their way around a tournament course. All the details about the course they will need is in their yardage book. Similarly, The Yardage Book will try to provide all the info you will need to enjoy golf and keep up with the golf scene here in the Tri-County HOI area.
The Yardage Book is subscription-based, but cheaper than one golf ball per week, and you can try before you buy for a full 7 days (offered when you access a premium article or podcast). All the newsletters on Substack (the hosting platform) are reader-supported, and there are no annoying ads (but then also no ad revenue). I hope you’ll find the content here useful and entertaining enough to subscribe!
Thanks, and may you always play from the short grass!
Traig Zeigler
P.S. — Next, please have a look at the article Getting the Most from TYB for some helpful info regarding, you guessed it, getting the most from The Yardage Book.