[Phil McDade]

There have been a bunch of responses along the lines I've been thinking of.  I love Anthony Bourdain's show on Travel Channel and I know a bunch of similar concepts have been tried on Golf Channel, but what makes Bourdain's show fly is Bourdain himself.  He is the enigmatic, admittedly flawed but nevertheless compelling and authoritative figure through whom each place he visits gets filtered.  Such a show on GC would require a similarly dynamic established personality.

I couldn't agree more; beyond sporting events, I really don't watch much television, but Bourdain is consistently entertaining and informative -- he does the one thing that journalism so often fails to do, which is to tell me/show me something new.

The GC's Lauren Thompson travel segements are nearly unwatchable, save for Lauren Thompson. Does she even golf? I've watched several, just to see if she ever swings a club. I actually think Feherty has some potential in this regard, if he'd knock off the schtick and get back to doing what Bourdain does, which is to be genuinely curious about a thing (food, in Bourdain's case; golf for Feherty) he knows alot about, and did at a very high level, but can still find wonder in others and places where it's done uniquely or just very well.

[Bill_McBride]

There have been a bunch of responses along the lines I've been thinking of.  I love Anthony Bourdain's show on Travel Channel and I know a bunch of similar concepts have been tried on Golf Channel, but what makes Bourdain's show fly is Bourdain himself.  He is the enigmatic, admittedly flawed but nevertheless compelling and authoritative figure through whom each place he visits gets filtered.  Such a show on GC would require a similarly dynamic established personality.

I couldn't agree more; beyond sporting events, I really don't watch much television, but Bourdain is consistently entertaining and informative -- he does the one thing that journalism so often fails to do, which is to tell me/show me something new.

The GC's Lauren Thompson travel segements are nearly unwatchable, save for Lauren Thompson. Does she even golf? I've watched several, just to see if she ever swings a club. I actually think Feherty has some potential in this regard, if he'd knock off the schtick and get back to doing what Bourdain does, which is to be genuinely curious about a thing (food, in Bourdain's case; golf for Feherty) he knows alot about, and did at a very high level, but can still find wonder in others and places where it's done uniquely or just very well.

You don't think Charlie Rymer's "admittedly flawed" enough to handle this himself?

[Bruce Wellmon]

Sheep Ranch.
Sort of the Skin's game concept.
Or "H-o-r-s-e."

[Jud_T]

Bubba Watson vs. Tiger Woods in the Shotmaker's Game.  Each shot calls for a creative approach, i.e. low draw, high fade, bump and run, bend it around the tree, bank it off the port-o-let, stymie etc....Winner gets to play the next comer.  Bring in trick shot artists etc...

[Michael Watts]

I'm kind of partial to "The Golf Courses of the British Isles" series, but in addition to that maybe you can produce a feature film based on the magical and mystical novel "Golf in the Kingdom."  Oh wait....been done and heard it wasn't so good.  Well how about the inspirational story of Ben Hogan's recovery after his accident.  Oh, that's right.  That one made "Golf in the Kingdom" look like a masterpiece.  Uh, just rerun Caddyshack.

[Chip Gaskins]

Bubba Watson vs. Tiger Woods in the Shotmaker's Game.  Each shot calls for a creative approach, i.e. low draw, high fade, bump and run, bend it around the tree, bank it off the port-o-let, stymie etc....Winner gets to play the next comer.  Bring in trick shot artists etc...

Jud-  This would be awesome, though Tiger would never do it.  Maybe Phil vs Bubba, then have a Five Guys/In-and-Out burger challenge (at Charlie to the mix for that part)...

[Carl Nichols]

At each tour stop, try to find a recently disgraced politician and get him/her on the course.  If you're in New York, invite Anthony Weiner or Eliot Spitzer; in Texas, Tom Delay; . . . you get the idea.  Combine some ridicule, some golf, and some redemption and people will watch!

Perhaps combine this with Shivas's idea to ensure you can fill 1/2 hour.

[Garland Bayley]

Ken Burns joins Moriarty and Paul for a history of Merion special.

[Mike McGuire]

More audio.

Players - caddies discussing options. Players - players walking down the hole. Players  - coaches  talking on the range. Players - rules officials talking about a ruling. Players - fans chatting.

Nothing worse than a player and caddie in microphone range talking strategy and an announcer butts in saying "what they're saying is"

[Patrick_Mucci]

I'm looking for new ideas for 2012. And don't tell me to leave my cell phone in the car at Augusta or  lose weight. (Mike Young has me on his fitness routine and I've already lost 14 pounds). And don't bring up the Tiger crying thing.  (I've completed my counseling and have a gold certificate).   Give me some thoughts on features or subjects you'd like to see on pre and post game shows in 2012.  Here is your chance to provide  feedback and put forth ideas.

Charlie,

You might not remember me, but we met at the Medalist years ago and were hitting the "Firestick" you brought with you, off the 10th tee.

I had a hat that you liked and wanted.  It said, "Fish fear me, Women want me"

The thoughts I have for 2012 are as follows:

At each course, pick the most unusual feature or features and indicate how it/they differ from other courses.

Discuss the prevailing winds, how the course plays with them and how differently the course plays when the winds are other than prevailing.

Discuss not just the pace of the greens, but their firmness and how the two affect approaches, recoveries and putts.

If fairways have cant/slope, point it out.

Please send the checks for my  creative contributions to my office.

Stay well and have a Happy and Healthy New Year

[Simon Holt]

'Touring Scotland with the Pros'

Take a few big (ish) name guys that are over here in Scotland warming up the week before the Open.  Follow and play with them for a week or 10 days at the likes of Royal Aberdeen, Machrihanish, North Berwick, Prestwick, Cruden Bay aswell as the more obvious Carnoustie, Old Course, Turnberry.

See how they change their shots or how their faces light up when they see things like the walls at North Berwick or the airport landing lights on the fairway at Machrihanish.

Then you could also highlight the attractions in each area like the best local pubs and hotels.  Commercially there is lots of opportunity here too.  At the end of each show provide the viewers with the cost of rounds of golf, best airports to fly into, other courses in the area.

This way we get to see the pros playing shorter, sportier courses while they get valuable links practise.  We also get an informative travel show and a bit of GCA porn.  Then follow the golfers the next week in the Open and relate shots they are hitting to ones we saw them hit the week before, or relate the holes to ones we saw the week before. 

You could also do a 'template' section where you explain how some of the best holes in the US are derived from ones over here.  Example of Redan at North Berwick and the US Open version at Shinny

Feel free to email or PM me as I am sure you will need a local guide 

[Dan Kelly]

I had a hat that you liked and wanted.  It said, "Fish fear me, Women want me"

I certainly hope you gave him the hat. You couldn't *both* have liked it -- could you?

[D_Malley]

How about a short profile each week about a local public/muni course in the immediate area where the tour is playing that week.  You could interview the pro at each course as well as some of the unique characters that play the course regularly. A short special that brings golf down to the regular guy level.

It is great to see that Charlie and the Morning Drive team are actually implementing this idea. 
They will be running a feature on the local public golf courses in the philly area on the tuesday of US Open week.

The ironic thing is that one of the featured courses will be my club, Paxon Hollow.

[Joe Bausch]

How about a short profile each week about a local public/muni course in the immediate area where the tour is playing that week.  You could interview the pro at each course as well as some of the unique characters that play the course regularly. A short special that brings golf down to the regular guy level.

It is great to see that Charlie and the Morning Drive team are actually implementing this idea. 
They will be running a feature on the local public golf courses in the philly area on the tuesday of US Open week.

The ironic thing is that one of the featured courses will be my club, Paxon Hollow.

That is really neat Dan, but not ironic at all that Paxon is being covered.  Also in that segment will be Cobb's Creek, Glen Mills, LuLu, and maybe another one or two.

Joe
----------------------

[Dan Herrmann]

I'd just once like to see a PGA TOUR pro play 9 holes with the Titleist Pro Traj-era ball and wooden woods.  Have him play a scratch golfer playing modern equipment.

We all know that the TOUR pro will be a scratch player 100% of the time, but I wonder what the odds are given the scenario outlined above (I'll give the TOUR pro a 90% chance of winning)

[Chris Miranda]

I would love to see more camera angles from behind the golfer so we can see shot trajectory's and the golfers finish and reaction. I find it uninteresting to have to watch the golf ball in midair and have no idea where it might land until it actually does from the behind the green camera angle. Maybe this would work on all par 3's and just a couple of par 4's and 5's.

[Joel_Stewart]

Perhaps Charlie should revisit this and start a new thread for 2015.

[jeffwarne]

I'd just once like to see a PGA TOUR pro play 9 holes with the Titleist Pro Traj-era ball and wooden woods.  Have him play a scratch golfer playing modern equipment.

We all know that the TOUR pro will be a scratch player 100% of the time, but I wonder what the odds are given the scenario outlined above (I'll give the TOUR pro a 90% chance of winning)

Well over 9 holes anything could happen(the scratch could shoot 33 for one thing), but over 18 ,36 or more the TP would smoke him every time.
equipment has changed the game, but it hasn't made a scratch able to beat a +5

[Rob Marshall]

I'd just once like to see a PGA TOUR pro play 9 holes with the Titleist Pro Traj-era ball and wooden woods.  Have him play a scratch golfer playing modern equipment.

We all know that the TOUR pro will be a scratch player 100% of the time, but I wonder what the odds are given the scenario outlined above (I'll give the TOUR pro a 90% chance of winning)

Well over 9 holes anything could happen(the scratch could shoot 33 for one thing), but over 18 ,36 or more the TP would smoke him every time.
equipment has changed the game, but it hasn't made a scratch able to beat a +5

Jeff, everyone says that equipment has changed the game but my handicap hasn't really changed in 20 years and my average score each year seems to stay the same. I'm a scratch player who plays 80 rds a year and practices all the time. I may hit it father and ball may fly straighter but you still have to get it in the hole.

[John Kavanaugh]

I'd just once like to see a PGA TOUR pro play 9 holes with the Titleist Pro Traj-era ball and wooden woods.  Have him play a scratch golfer playing modern equipment.

We all know that the TOUR pro will be a scratch player 100% of the time, but I wonder what the odds are given the scenario outlined above (I'll give the TOUR pro a 90% chance of winning)

Well over 9 holes anything could happen(the scratch could shoot 33 for one thing), but over 18 ,36 or more the TP would smoke him every time.
equipment has changed the game, but it hasn't made a scratch able to beat a +5

Jeff, everyone says that equipment has changed the game but my handicap hasn't really changed in 20 years and my average score each year seems to stay the same. I'm a scratch player who plays 80 rds a year and practices all the time. I may hit it father and ball may fly straighter but you still have to get it in the hole.

Rob,

Can you run as fast, jump as high or make any athletic move as well as you did 20 years ago?  Improved golf equipment may not make you better but it does allow you to maintain. In any other sport that would be a miracle.

[jeffwarne]

I'd just once like to see a PGA TOUR pro play 9 holes with the Titleist Pro Traj-era ball and wooden woods.  Have him play a scratch golfer playing modern equipment.

We all know that the TOUR pro will be a scratch player 100% of the time, but I wonder what the odds are given the scenario outlined above (I'll give the TOUR pro a 90% chance of winning)

Well over 9 holes anything could happen(the scratch could shoot 33 for one thing), but over 18 ,36 or more the TP would smoke him every time.
equipment has changed the game, but it hasn't made a scratch able to beat a +5

Jeff, everyone says that equipment has changed the game but my handicap hasn't really changed in 20 years and my average score each year seems to stay the same. I'm a scratch player who plays 80 rds a year and practices all the time. I may hit it father and ball may fly straighter but you still have to get it in the hole.

Rob,
When I was 25 years old I could dunk with two hands off two feet.
I now can't touch the rim.
If I had shoes that allowed me to dunk again at my age I might not be any better as a shooter, but I think we could agree that the shoes had changed my game.

I happen to agree for the most part. I said it had changed the game-not that t had made it too easy.
better players hit it farther, but as you say they have to get it in the hole.
But let's not forget courses get progressively tougher all the time due to fairway tightening, excessively super tight cut soft fairways, native areas, and in general over the top modern courses with real estate OB , water, and eye candy everywhere. (which may well be raising the slope and CR which may well explain the no hdcp change)

My point is the ball going farther changes the scale of the game, which causes more waits on tees and par 5's (even par 4's), causes many courses to be lengthened ,increases the time it takes to walk them, and enlarges the size of required safety corridors.

If players (or at least you) have really stayed the same as you inferred, why would there be any opposition to a rollback?-especially given all the disadvantages I cite above of hot equipment.

[Rob Marshall]

I'd just once like to see a PGA TOUR pro play 9 holes with the Titleist Pro Traj-era ball and wooden woods.  Have him play a scratch golfer playing modern equipment.

We all know that the TOUR pro will be a scratch player 100% of the time, but I wonder what the odds are given the scenario outlined above (I'll give the TOUR pro a 90% chance of winning)

Well over 9 holes anything could happen(the scratch could shoot 33 for one thing), but over 18 ,36 or more the TP would smoke him every time.
equipment has changed the game, but it hasn't made a scratch able to beat a +5

Jeff, everyone says that equipment has changed the game but my handicap hasn't really changed in 20 years and my average score each year seems to stay the same. I'm a scratch player who plays 80 rds a year and practices all the time. I may hit it father and ball may fly straighter but you still have to get it in the hole.

Rob,

Can you run as fast, jump as high or make any athletic move as well as you did 20 years ago?  Improved golf equipment may not make you better but it does allow you to maintain. In any other sport that would be a miracle.

John I agree,  40 additional pounds of weight hasn't helped my turn.... But I do hit the ball farther than I did 20 years ago. 

[Rob Marshall]

I agree Jeff and I think John had good point. Where would my game be today with the old tech?

[jeffwarne]

I agree Jeff and I think John had good point. Where would my game be today with the old tech?

probably not as bad as you think.
I played a couple weeks ago with my 72 Wilson staff laminated driver-goes about the same as my 3 wood which makes sense given it's the same length. Irons just about the same, but I tend to bend my modern lofts weak to avoid having to adjust and be forced into carrying a gap wedge.
Interesting to me i hit my long irons a little better with the Wilson staffs.
What i like about my wooden clubs is when you hit the heel it starts left then fades back due to gear effect-modern clubs in the heel go a bit further bit start and go right-ick

Of course things would change with a balata ball-shorter but more fun-and definitely easier for a good wind player to separate himself

[Gary Sato]

This thread is priceless. The guy comes on a Golf Architecture specific website looking for recommendations for shows and when people suggest those that pertain to GCA, he says "never gonna happen". Then never posts again! Charlie deserves his own section in the annual missive.

Thats a good call Brian.  Maybe it shows pros have very little knowledge of architecture.

In all fairness (and Charlie missed this completely) The Golf Chanel did allow Matt Ginella to pick up on architecture along with travel and has parlayed it into one of the best boondoggle jobs in the golf industry.

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