Golf architecture series on The Golf Channel

[Joe Bausch]

Let's pretend somebody with guts at TGC decided to run a series of episodes, all well put together and produced (nothing cheesy), on golf course architecture.  Maybe the first five episodes cover five of the famous dead guys and shows in detail their styles, etc.

Does this series get canceled due to low ratings before it even gets to the fifth episode?  Or does it slowly gain in popularity and 10 more episodes are budgeted?

[Thomas MacWood]

It would probably depend on the quality of the production. The other question would be is The Golf Channel the best outlet for series like that.

[David Stamm]

It would probably depend on the quality of the production. The other question would be is The Golf Channel the best outlet for series like that.

How about Ken Burns producing it? As far as TGC, I'm not sure if it is the best.

[Phil McDade]

Interesting stories are interesting stories, regardless of the broad subject matter. It would depend on how it's told, but I think you could find enough interesting stories behind five courses to make it watchable.

[John_Conley]

Let's pretend somebody with guts at TGC decided to run a series of episodes,

It will mean new people are in charge of programming.  I've spoken to some of them and a series on architecture was the furthest thing from their mind.

Also, it isn't possible to get cancelled due to low ratings there.  Their ratings are very low.  Which is why they look for people to pay to put something on.  You can produce this yourself and air it.  Very costly though.

[RJ_Daley]

We've talked about this in the past.  I also have been a big proponent of someone doing a series in the style of Ken Burns history documentary.  I've also thought that these prairie club initiatives are a golden opportunity for some really talented historical re-enactors to go to one of the nations show work horse associations (not Brownie's) and get a crew with old pan scrapers and such, and do some filming of the process, in period costume and such.  Even if the overall program of movie or whatever isn't fully fleshed out, they should get plenty of footage of this sort of work being done.  The chance to get unfettered views of endless prairie like exists at the current Prairie Club project is one of those opportunities that is fleeting.  Great cinematography of that work on those virgin lands would be invaluable for future editting into whatever vehicle finally would be developed.

We have a wealth of guys that could make GCA entertaining, and perhaps if the general public had the right programing to watch, they'd try it, get hooked and that would do more for golf than many of the 'first tee' and other initiatives of the golf foundation to stimulate interest in the game. 

Wasn't baseball at a sort of low point when Burns came along with his famous documentary to revive knowledge and interest?

[Chris_Clouser]

The problem is that the large wasteland that is TV viewership would not tune in and watch anything about Donald Ross, Alister Mackenzie or any of the other dead guys.  What would have to happen is the content would have to be tied to current events or something along the lines of what they care about.  Most people could care less about it unless it entertains them or helps them take a stroke off of their handicap.  Why should they learn anything???    

For example.  Do a show about Augusta National and people will tune in, especially during the week leading up to the Masters and then this will open the door to talk about Alister Mackenzie as part of the production.  

The thing I have never understood is why the Golf Channel doesn't do an architectural tour of each course that hosts majors or other significant events.  The vast majority of people could care less if Macdonald used an Alps hole on each of his courses, but if the National was hosting a major event they would care about the Alps hole there.

Something I have often thought they should do is a hole of the day or something like those daily calendars you see.  Each night they could take five minutes and talk about a famous hole.  I think they could find enough to fill 365 days for a number of years.  

For crying out loud, the lead up to the Open Championship screams for someone to do a real examination of links golf courses and you could easily capture this by just touring the rota courses and explain what it is about links golf that is so good and how that translates into the modern architectural vernacular.  Bring in Paul Daley to narrate it or someone like Donald Steel.

I will always remember what I was told when trying to get my book in a local store.  "Nobody buys anything unless it is about Augusta, the Masters, a bio of a major figure or instructional in any way.  That is all that sells and is all I will carry."  I have a feeling if that is all that will sell in a book store, then that is probably close to what people will watch on the television.  

[Chip Gaskins]

"Nobody buys anything unless it is about Augusta, the Masters, a bio of a major figure or instructional in any way.  That is all that sells and is all I will carry."

I certainly am having a hard time finding The Life and Work of Alister MacKenzie for less than $500!

[Kalen Braley]

"Nobody buys anything unless it is about Augusta, the Masters, a bio of a major figure or instructional in any way.  That is all that sells and is all I will carry."

I certainly am having a hard time finding The Life and Work of Alister MacKenzie for less than $500!

Chip,

I've got one, but not ready to let it go for a measly $500.     I suspect the price is mostly tied to a limited supply as with The Confidential Guide, but don't get me wrong, it is a really good book.

[Chuck Brown]

But it might cut into production of "The Big Break XXVIII - El Paso Driving Ranges", or "Highway 18 - The United Arab Emirates."

Seriously, the best programming that Golf Channel does on its own is the "Playing Lessons from the Pros" series and all they'd need to do to improve that in an architectural sense is to include the likes of Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, Geoff Shackelford, etc., etc. as a playing companion to the selected professional, and include discussion of the course.

Is that okay with you, Tom?  Say, a t.v. contract for several rounds of golf with Helen Alfredsson at Ballybunion, Natalie Gulbis at Seminole, Anna Rawson at Cape Kidnappers, Lee Trevino at Merion, Geoff Ogilvy at Royal Melbourne, Ken Venturi at Cypress Point and David Feherty at Royal County Down?  Its a dirty job I know, but somebody has to do it.

[John Foley]

Joe,

I have a friend who used to be a producer at The Golf Channel. I've talked his ear off about this issue and his commetn is, they could ell the add time required. They've thought about it, but the masses wouldn't watch.

[Chris_Clouser]

Chip,

That is because there is very limited number of that book available, a few thousand at the most. 

For the Golf Channel they would need hundreds of thousands to watch.  Quite a big jump for architecture geeks like us to the mass market. 

[Kalen Braley]

I can't imagine there being a market for this at all.  Outside of here, I can barely find anyone to talk about course architecture, much less the guys who built them and what they were thinking.

[Tim Leahy]

Wasn't there a series on the first HD channel that profiled great golf courses that was pretty succesful? I remember wishing I had HD so I could check it out. I don't see why a Golf Channel series on designers and thier courses would not draw a pretty good rating, they could tie it in with nearby resorts like some of their other travel series.

[BCrosby]

The issue is advertising. Advertisers will front most of the production costs. But who would they be?

My guess is that there will be little interest in funding a series on Ross or MacK or Flynn or whomever courses.

But resorts might be interested in funding a series on the courses at their resorts. Think Pinehurst, Kiawah, Whistling Straits and so forth.

But that is a pretty narrow slice of the architectural pie.

Bob  

[TX Golf]

I think that before we can get people interested in the history of GCA, we just need to get them interested in GCA. Talking to even a few of my friends who are casual golfers and have no interest in GCA, I realized that they don't really care who conspired on which course and which time. Something that would be much more interesting would be following the building of a golf course. Not only would it be extremely interesting to watch, the developer might be willing to pony up for some of the production costs as the course would be  Famous to all of us who watch The Golf Channel. What could be better advertising than watching a fifteen episode series on the actual course being built. It would obviously be a huge addition if it turned out to be a great course. Are there any architects on this board that would be willing to design and build a course on camera??

[Chip Gaskins]

Fine Living Channel did a show called the Wandering Golfer that I thought was nicely done. 

It ran for three seasons and went to some pretty cool spots. 

My favorite episode was Greg Ramsay and Barnbougle Dunes.

They didn't show buckets and tractors (that is a reeeaaally small audience) but they did talk to influential folks associated with each club.

The problem is getting access to good information at private clubs that usually have the best golf courses.

Here is a list of the places they visited:

100 Series
Torrey Pines
Bandon Dunes
St. Andrews
Carnoustie
North Berwick
Kingsbarns
Austin, Texas
Colonial Country Club
New Orleans
Scottsdale, Arizona
TPC Sawgrass
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Palm Springs, California

200 Series
Kiawah Island
Riviera
Pinehurst
Bethpage Park
New York City
Lahinch and Ballybunion
County Sligo
Colorado
Waterville
Chicago
Wild Horse
Whistling Straits
British Columbia
Pebble Beach
Maui and Lanai

300 Series
Number    Episode Title
Palm Beach, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Costa Rica
New Zealand
Sydney
Melbourne
Tasmania
Sea Island
Tampa
San Antonio
Memphis
Jackson Hole
San Francisco

[Michael Moore]

Playing Lessons With the Pros could not be more devoted to architecture.

A golfer whose livelihood requires a keen understanding of golf course architecture surveys the shot, tells you what he sees, and tells you how his interpretation of what lies in front of him dictates the shot.

How is this show not about golf course architecture?

[John_Conley]

Joe,

I have a friend who used to be a producer at The Golf Channel. I've talked his ear off about this issue and his commetn is, they could ell the add time required. They've thought about it, but the masses wouldn't watch.

Bingo, and because they aren't willing to see if they can sell the ad time they require people to pay to put programs like this on their channel.  Many things that aren't very good make it on at oddball hours.  And don't even get me going on the infomercials, which I'm told are up to 1/3 of their revenue.

I don't know who mentioned it, but they don't need hundreds of thousands of people to watch.  Probably thousands, but maybe just hundreds.  They don't have high ratings and (I think) register below an 0.5 share.

I think their biggest problem, as far as getting me to watch, is that they don't have many 'golfers' working there.  Not by my definition.

[Ian Larson]

Johns right,

I cant stand TGC. And does any of its shows get huge ratings anyway? Theres absolutely a way to produce some shows including architecture and maybe even a little turf management.

[Mike_Cirba]

The masses would only watch if we were allowed to delve DEEPLY into the personal lives and pecadillios of the architects.

In light of that sad reality, I'd propose the themes and titles of the first five shows as follows;


1) Two Hour World Premier:
    CB Macdonald: "Who or what or who was really in that Henhouse?"
    HJ Whigham: "Man or Mouse?"

2) HC Leeds : "Really "Just Friends"?"

3) George Crump: "Too Late for a Tooth Ache"

4) Hugh Wilson:  "Thick as a Brick"

5) AW Tillinghast: "Mad as a Hatter"


Just wait til we get to the episodes planned on modern contemporary architects!      

[JMorgan]

As early as last week I actually had an English professor at a certain Ivy League school approach me about doing a pilot with companion book.  And I repeated what many of you already noted here: small market.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Joe,

There are NO bad programs, only BAD audiences.

GCA is a niche product.

[Thomas MacWood]

I find the biographical documentaries more interesting than studying a single important work. Although a study of Fallingwater or Montecello is very interesting, its not nearly as interesting as a study of FL Wright or Thomas Jefferson. The best documentarites I have seen have been series associated with PBS and the BBC. I thought the Great Artist series with Tim Marlow (a BBC producation) was particularly well done. I believe many of the documentaries on PBS are privately funded.

[David Stamm]

I find the biographical documentaries more interesting than studying a single important work. Although a study of Fallingwater or Montecello is very interesting, its not nearly as interesting as a study of FL Wright or Thomas Jefferson. The best documentarites I have seen have been series associated with PBS and the BBC. I thought the Great Artist series produced by Tim Marlow (a BBC producation) was particulary well done. I believe many of the documentaries on PBS are privately funded.

I tend to agree w/ this, generally speaking. Of course the courses that golfers in general would recognize, such as ANGC, PB, Pinehurst, etc, would interest them. Highlight the men behind those courses and then build on that. Sort of like, "AM did ANGC, but did you know he also did....".  I think there are quite a few golfers out there that would take a peak rather than another instructional show telling them what they are doing wrong in their swing.