Golf Channel programming (**MERGED**)

[mwkbmw]

2 minutes ago, L29 said:

CPG gets his own show.  Highlights from the previous weeks TNML and Mexican mini-tour rounds. Updates on 3JN with Miguel, and I mean, who DOESN’T want to know what’s up with Stan Perry and Edna Frank?

Then just sit back with spiked sandals and watch the EMMY’s pile up. 

I need a translator!!

[shoot4par]

52 minutes ago, L29 said:

CPG gets his own show.  Highlights from the previous weeks TNML and Mexican mini-tour rounds. Updates on 3JN with Miguel, and I mean, who DOESN’T want to know what’s up with Stan Perry and Edna Frank?

Then just sit back with spiked sandals and watch the EMMY’s pile up. 

 

Don't think there has or ever will be a golf show that gets nominated for an Emmy but if there was one it would've been in the 1960s with Jackie, Marilyn and some other ole bomb shells. Don Draper would've been the host. The youtube stuff is ok. Guess you could do a golf betting show but they've already morphed that in with morning drive and to be honest their experts suck at golf betting. 

Edited June 4, 2021 by shoot4par

[L29]

11 hours ago, mwkbmw said:

I need a translator!!

You have to have had some knowledge of “club pro guy” or follow him on social media—many here do.  He’s a schtick “club professional” golfer that many think is hilarious.  There are those that believe it’s Rich Beem, but he blurs out his face so no one really knows.  If you like that kind of comedy, google him up and give a listen.  

[golfandfishing]

13 hours ago, L29 said:

CPG gets his own show.  Highlights from the previous weeks TNML and Mexican mini-tour rounds. Updates on 3JN with Miguel, and I mean, who DOESN’T want to know what’s up with Stan Perry and Edna Frank?

Then just sit back with spiked sandals and watch the EMMY’s pile up. 

I’d tune in for a 30 minute CPG sit com. But the golf channel would ruin him like they do with all good things - over promotion, bastardized content then 7 hours of the same episode back to back at least twice a week. 

[Flip4000]

I also really enjoy the memorial tournament coverage when they talk with Jack. Really cool to hear his perspective of how players attack his course: what things he is ok with and what things he'll change for the next year to make it play more difficult or how it intended.

It's fun to hear from the designer and what he thinks about how his course plays 

[me05501]

The owners want minimal production costs, obviously, which is why the Big Break is never coming back. Hell the studios are in New York now I think so they won’t even have good golf weather most of the year. 
 

I think the bigger golf resorts around the country might be willing to provide paid content to show off their grounds and courses, except their incentive is low right now with many of them already booked months out. But you have to think Pinehurst, Mid Pines, Myrtle Beach, the WGV, Streamsong, the Greenbrier and others would be willing to provide professionally produced content. 

[shoot4par]

5 hours ago, me05501 said:

The owners want minimal production costs, obviously, which is why the Big Break is never coming back. Hell the studios are in New York now I think so they won’t even have good golf weather most of the year. 

 

Connecticut or NY, A friend of mine from childhood has tried to get a TV show produced and it was an extremely difficult slog. Golf Channel is supposedly the worst when it comes to content production and budget.  

[Showtime9]

On 6/3/2021 at 9:06 PM, Soloman1 said:

Unfortunately, the suits think the answer is more “Tin Cup.”

Don't forget about "The Squeeze"

[Showtime9]

On 6/4/2021 at 10:44 AM, golfandfishing said:

I’d tune in for a 30 minute CPG sit com. But the golf channel would ruin him like they do with all good things - over promotion, bastardized content then 7 hours of the same episode back to back at least twice a week. 

So essentially turn him into Connor Moore

[golfandfishing]

28 minutes ago, Showtime9 said:

So essentially turn him into Connor Moore

I guess, I can’t stand Connor Moore but I only know of him because of his golf channel schtick. So if he was once funny then got ruined.....yup. 

[woodriff]

Just maybe because I was a broadcaster for 49 years I’ve given GC a pass. But the programming on Monday, Tuesdays and Weds is some of the worst I’ve seen in a long time. And the switch off and on debacle from the Ladies US open on the weekend was messy at best. 
- I do not want to see Feherty any more. As fans we’ve seen these episodes over and over again. 
- I do not want to see all the movie reruns anymore during tournaments they have no broadcast rights. 
- I want to see creative golf content. As a channel this is what advertisers pay you to do. Please start. 
- I do want you to revamp your rerun schedule, and present Golf! On tournament weeks why don’t you play last years tournament, or the tournament two years ago. 
- the longest day of golf? Really? I didn’t see anyone hit a shot on the longest day of golf. Early coverage interviews, then recap later in the evening. No shots. Do you really want me to go to You Tube to see some qualifier highlights? 
Sorry GC. It’s really time to do something with Mon thru Wed, and weekend coverage IF you can. Develop better content before you lose this network permanently. You’ve got an entire network dedicated to a game that we all love and sponsors deserve a larger experience. 
I will not criticize announcers on your channel. Announcers don’t have much to do with the content creation and programming. Announcing is tough enough as is. 
I don’t think GC as it exists today, is the vision that Mr. Palmer would have wanted. 

[caseFSU]

Not sure what pictures Damon Hack has on someone but whoever decided to put him and the other guy on for 3 hours a day needs to be fired.

[ChristopherMcDonald]

There's a post exactly on this topic about 10 down from here...

[Showtime9]

On 6/8/2021 at 11:30 AM, woodriff said:

Just maybe because I was a broadcaster for 49 years I’ve given GC a pass. But the programming on Monday, Tuesdays and Weds is some of the worst I’ve seen in a long time. And the switch off and on debacle from the Ladies US open on the weekend was messy at best. 
- I do not want to see Feherty any more. As fans we’ve seen these episodes over and over again. 
- I do not want to see all the movie reruns anymore during tournaments they have no broadcast rights. 
- I want to see creative golf content. As a channel this is what advertisers pay you to do. Please start. 
- I do want you to revamp your rerun schedule, and present Golf! On tournament weeks why don’t you play last years tournament, or the tournament two years ago. 
- the longest day of golf? Really? I didn’t see anyone hit a shot on the longest day of golf. Early coverage interviews, then recap later in the evening. No shots. Do you really want me to go to You Tube to see some qualifier highlights? 
Sorry GC. It’s really time to do something with Mon thru Wed, and weekend coverage IF you can. Develop better content before you lose this network permanently. You’ve got an entire network dedicated to a game that we all love and sponsors deserve a larger experience. 
I will not criticize announcers on your channel. Announcers don’t have much to do with the content creation and programming. Announcing is tough enough as is. 
I don’t think GC as it exists today, is the vision that Mr. Palmer would have wanted. 

 

Don't worry Feherty has been cancelled.

 

There seems to be a thread about this subject once every couple of months on the forum and the answer to everything is money (as Dick Ebersol once said)

That being said, you can still create good content on the cheap for golf fans. For example, I like the Pat Perez/Michael Collins show on SiriusXM and a half hour show could be a good addition. 

Add Classic Golf instruction reruns during the Mon-Wed afternoons instead of running Golf Today for 9 hours would be a welcome break.

Add a show taking us behind the scenes of classic golf courses such as Pine Valley, Seminole etc.

 

Easy, cheap shows that you can just add to the PEACOCK!

 

 

[3whacker]

On 6/8/2021 at 9:39 AM, caseFSU said:

Not sure what pictures Damon Hack has on someone but whoever decided to put him and the other guy on for 3 hours a day needs to be fired.

he is with Shane Bacon, and my first guess would be diversity

[dalehead]

On 6/3/2021 at 9:32 AM, Go_Blue! said:

Would love more behind the scenes stuff that you see from social media. For example, the Taylormade youtube stuff is great. Foreplay golf guys behind the scenes with the pga guys is great. TXG is great. Basically, YouTube golf media much better than anything on TV minus the tournaments. 

Agree. If you want to see equipment tests YouTube is jam packed. Quality varies greatly. TXG and Rick Shiels are two of the best and neither is sponsored by an OEM.

If I want an equipment review, a chipping tip, or to see Rory’s swing in slow motion a quick search of YouTube will bring it up. For me GC is for tournaments, and I like their “Live from” shows at the majors. That’s about it.

And for the Paige Spiranac fans, she has her own YouTube channel.

[hack and slash]

On 6/4/2021 at 12:39 PM, mwkbmw said:

I need a translator!!

Go listen to the Club Pro Guy episode of the No Laying Up podcast. 
 

Quite possibly the funniest piece of golf content you will ever hear. 

[Greg_B]

On 6/8/2021 at 1:30 PM, woodriff said:

I don’t think GC as it exists today, is the vision that Mr. Palmer would have wanted. 

 

Earlier this week I listened to Brian Hammons' podcast with ex-Golf Channel colleague Kraig Kann as his guest (https://theshortgrasspodcast.buzzsprout.com/1775217/8632308-episode-5-kraig-kann) and what you wrote is almost word for word with what Kann also said. It is a good session to listen to and if you have 40 minutes or so it provides some good stories of GC's glory days.

 

They have (or had) a big library of old programming from their first 10 or so years on the air that is all in standard-definition and so is tough to repurpose today. There are only so many times you can watch the 1997 Masters or 2000 US Open.  I never watched the movies that they aired either so I won't do that now. I barely watch the channel these days especially since the move to CT. Their best on-air people have all departed and the replacements like Hack, Whitely, MacKenzie and Diaz do not do it for me, nor does the generic studio setup they now have.

 

The story of GC, once it finishes playing out, might prove to be a case study in business for how to take a successful and innovative broadcaster and wreck it.

[driveandputtmachine]

There is a reason why NLU, Foreplay, TXG, Rick Shiels, Peter Finch, and others have big you tube followings.  It is because these were things lacking on the golf channel.

Are these things they do on their channels big enough to capture a larger audience that it will generate enough viewership for the golf channel to sale ads?

 

With their current staff?  Who knows.  Those I mentioned above have different personalities and you become invested in them.  TC playing lefty for a year on NLU, Trent trying to break 100, pure equipment stuff from TXG, PF trying qualify for events, and Rick and his personality doing a little bit of everything.

 

Strapped with NLU where they are doing a weekend trip for two guys and everything has to be under 500 for the two of them is awesome, to me.  Would the golf channel viewership like it enough for them to sale ads?

[Showtime9]

6 hours ago, driveandputtmachine said:

Trent trying to break 100

 

 

Foreplay is awful golf content. I'd rather be playing besides hacks (like myself) instead of watching them. 

 

Its all sponsor adds and rarely any actual golf content (Besides there behind the scenes of last year's US Open)

[woodriff]

On 6/10/2021 at 9:51 AM, Showtime9 said:

 

Don't worry Feherty has been cancelled.

 

There seems to be a thread about this subject once every couple of months on the forum and the answer to everything is money (as Dick Ebersol once said)

That being said, you can still create good content on the cheap for golf fans. For example, I like the Pat Perez/Michael Collins show on SiriusXM and a half hour show could be a good addition. 

Add Classic Golf instruction reruns during the Mon-Wed afternoons instead of running Golf Today for 9 hours would be a welcome break.

Add a show taking us behind the scenes of classic golf courses such as Pine Valley, Seminole etc.

 

Easy, cheap shows that you can just add to the PEACOCK!

 

 

Well they HAVE to do Big Break again. That’s a given. And there’s nothing wrong with MORE LPGA content from great rounds. Profiles work. Annika for example. I just feel that GC lost their way. Can’t put my finger on when exactly. Even though some of their library content is not in HD shouldn’t exclude them from using it. Hell, at this point they have to use it. 
Other than the Majors they really have a big problem. 
They must work with their hosts. I’m thinking Chamblee could do a good interview show.  GC must take their strengths that they have now and expand on that. 
It’s startling to think that they won’t spend $ on production. 
When there’s not a tournament GC doesn’t have much as it stands now. 

[Greg_B]

Keep in mind that the entire reason they left the outstanding Orlando studios they had and got rid of so many people was all about saving money. That was a decision by the bean counters at NBC and in their infinite wisdom they sold the idea that although the quality of what they were putting on-air would go down, it wouldn't materially change their ratings. So instead of trying to build an audience, the focused changed to one of how to maintain the core audience while spending a lot less money. So given that. I think the odds of them doing virtually any original programming like they once did is a number approaching zero, unless that management philosophy changes.

[shoot4par]

20 hours ago, Greg_B said:

Keep in mind that the entire reason they left the outstanding Orlando studios they had and got rid of so many people was all about saving money. That was a decision by the bean counters at NBC and in their infinite wisdom they sold the idea that although the quality of what they were putting on-air would go down, it wouldn't materially change their ratings. So instead of trying to build an audience, the focused changed to one of how to maintain the core audience while spending a lot less money. So given that. I think the odds of them doing virtually any original programming like they once did is a number approaching zero, unless that management philosophy changes.

 

First and foremost, that is well put. You could extrapolate a counter argument that with the growth of the game over the pandemic and the influx of new people now would be the only logical time to possibly retool the programming to try and capitalize on the current state of things. (I'd like to say I don't have any statistics regarding growth only hear say.) Other than tiger there haven't been a whole lot of things that have bolstered golf in the last two to three decades. Its kind of like crossing the Rubicon, you either take chances or watch a possible regression in interest. Obviously most of us here would welcome a change but we may be in the minority. (I should've added a poll with this.)

Edited June 12, 2021 by shoot4par

[tacklingdummy]

I'd like to see some more fun entertaining golf competition shows. In Korea, they get a lot of pros to compete against each other on fun competitions or they have pros competing against amateurs. They are doing those programs on small budgets, but they are very entertaining and funny. It doesn't have to be the top pros, but good personalities and interesting formats.  A lot of the Korean golf shows are on YouTube channels or re-aired on YouTube. 

[ctmason_98]

I still believe the addition of the Peacock to the logo was the start of a years long transition to “NBC Sports 2.”

 

This is going down exactly like Fox’s handling of Speed channel. 

[bcski]

Certainly + 100,000 for Feherty.

 

I kind of liked the Haney Project.  It was fun watching him work with bad to middle swings...

[dbleag]

The moment that NBC bought Golf Channel, I knew it was not going to be a golf-specific show anymore.

 

In order to "grow the game", everyone wants to offer a watered-down version of the game. Ideas like foot-golf, frisbee golf, cross country golf, fewer holes, shorter holes, night-golf, more-kids, simpler rules, softer technology restrictions, bigger holes, golf cart scooters, golf cart surfboards, handicapped scrambles and silly formats that encourage alcohol consumption, etc.

 

I got into the game because of watching play when I was a caddie. I couldn't wait until the 18th green so I could go somewhere to imitate the swings I saw. I loved looking for lost balls so I had something to use. Trial and error helped me develop a swing and a swing tip here & there was very beneficial.

 

When I look back to the beginning of golf for me, it seems like my avenue is mostly gone.

 

I think Golf Channel has lost the goal of the game.  And, it's not for everybody, as much as we'd all like it to be.

[3whacker]

Im not  exactly sure  when the GC  lost its " creative way" , but its not anywhere close to what  it was meant to be or used to be, but I am guessing its was about the time that the original minds and group that started the channel gave up control and the bean counters figured out a way to make the channel profitable over being watchable with quality content

[golfandfishing]

20 hours ago, dbleag said:

The moment that NBC bought Golf Channel, I knew it was not going to be a golf-specific show anymore.

 

In order to "grow the game", everyone wants to offer a watered-down version of the game. Ideas like foot-golf, frisbee golf, cross country golf, fewer holes, shorter holes, night-golf, more-kids, simpler rules, softer technology restrictions, bigger holes, golf cart scooters, golf cart surfboards, handicapped scrambles and silly formats that encourage alcohol consumption, etc.

 

I got into the game because of watching play when I was a caddie. I couldn't wait until the 18th green so I could go somewhere to imitate the swings I saw. I loved looking for lost balls so I had something to use. Trial and error helped me develop a swing and a swing tip here & there was very beneficial.

 

When I look back to the beginning of golf for me, it seems like my avenue is mostly gone.

 

I think Golf Channel has lost the goal of the game.  And, it's not for everybody, as much as we'd all like it to be.

Boy howdy did you ever do a job here, well done. The golf business is so afraid to say that something is a stupid concept for fear of being seen as elitist so everything just gets slapped with “growing the game aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh” so other niche sports are mixed in and that will somehow popular? I wonder if the frisbee people wander around mumbling about growing the game and looking for ways to get more golfers involved in their sport?

[getitdaily]

They have enough air time to do more. The production costs could be an issue. But I'd like to see more stuff that targets growth of the game and shows that highlight non-professional tournaments going on around the US. 

 

Wouldn't mind seeing shows that target Women and girls getting into and growing the game. Without any of the social justice crap. 

 

Wouldn't mind seeing a show that targets Hispanics and black golfers getting more into the game. Again WITHOUT ANY of the social justice crap.

 

Would love a show that focuses on amateur events ongoing. Show results of amateur tournaments (not just the golfchannel am tour, but other am tours and state golf association event results. 

 

A show dedicated to how to help kids improve. 

 

Just more stuff to grow the game.