Project Blog

My project seeks to identify the authorities on the literacy of golf and then analyze how and in what ways these authorities influence this particular literacy. After collecting data on what constitutes an authority on the literacy of golf, it will also compare and contrast these authorities to other authorities of academic and other literacies.
Research gathered from my initial interviews shows that the qualifications for being considered an authority on a given literacy vary from person to person. Essentially, authorities can be defined as a person or group that is recognized as such in some way by their respective literary communities. The people I interviewed have indicated that an expert on the literacy of golf is someone who, in some way, no matter how big or small, is seen by the golfing community as an authority. They also admit that the greater the acknowledgement is within the community that that this particular person or group is indeed an authority, then the greater the power they carry. Acceptance and acknowledgement are two key factors in that not only identify authorities, but also determines an authorities degree of influence. The compiled list of authorities on golf, according to the people interviewed are as follows: former and current pro and amateur golfers, club pros and teachers of golf, groundskeepers, caddies, anyone passionate about the sport, anyone that plays golf on a regular basis or played golf  for a long period of time regularly, people who play in tournaments frequently, sellers/manufactureres of golf equipment, people who exhibit skill in golf, people who simply enjoy playing golf, family, and friends. My research then turns to how and in what ways these authorites have influenced my interviewee directly. Almost all of the people I interviewed have immulated or still immulate a pro golfer in some way. Some have bought golf equipment because it was endorsed by particular golf pro, or at the recommendation of someone they percieved as an authority on golf.