It's entirely too damn easy to nit-pick and criticize almost any part of this event.
Yes, the broadcast was partly deficient and lacked the polish we might have been expecting. One might say the partly the same for the golf.
A) NBC mentioned several times they were going to have limited production facilities (no towers, no cranes, little in the way of insightful architectural content, limited announcer pool, yada...yada).
B) Yes, there was no need whatsoever to introduce any politics into this, but those with the editorial and financial control usually get what they want.
C) The quality of the golf was somewhat distorted by the abject length contests and the lack of the usual tour-pro grinding intensity...as they are apt to do for their own dollars.
Now:
A) Aren't we just plain glad to have some/partial/any fresh golf on weekend TV? Shouldn't we just be plain satisfied and happy to get an extensive glimpse of a gem like Seminole? For those who've never had the good fortune to tee it up there, it was thoroughly pleasing to have them finally view the place. This was clearly evidenced by my phone blowing up with texts from friends asking me specific questions about the place.
This event was put together in record time and played for the absolute right reasons. Jimmy Dunne is a really smart, philanthropic good guy and David Abeles, the TM CEO, both recognized the value of using their assets to raise some big bucks for charity. Pete Bevaqua, the head of NBC Sports and a Seminole member recognized the same. Collectively, they all directed their Florida-based assets to put on a show for a good cause. It should be noted that they did so with considerable Covid-19 restrictions in force.
B) NO question, NO doubt, politics should've been left totally out of this. Who knows whether it was the White House reaching out or they were contacted by the TM-NBC team? Both entities are close to one another, have extensive history with each other.... so it was almost predictable to those who understand these ties. No matter, it was a decidely corrosive stain on an otherwise altruistic gift.
C) While certain activities, by previous standards, were borderline banal, i.e. poor interviews, silly contests with sillier rules, lackadaisical playing, etc.. it was refreshing and connective to see players carrying their own bags, playing quickly, wearing shorts, and miked-up for trash talking! These benefits clearly outweighed anything else IMO.
Let's instead revel in what evolved from this. The spirit of fun golf was evident, broadcast to a starved audience, and played at a marvelous, previously secretive location. We got to see four of the world's very best playing relaxed, yet still competitive, golf. No one who watched didn't at least say to themselves; "hey, they remind me of my local foursome, or: "Hey I've picked up in a skins match, talked trash, or missed a 6' putt for the dough!"
Those who've never stepped foot inside Seminole's gates now had the next best thing. They've seen why others have raved about this Ross gem. Sure, it would've been far wilder without the 3-4" of rain that fell in the previous 36 hours, but Mother Nature, as we all know, is eminently unpredictable.
GCA.com ought to lead the way in avoiding the silly whining and instead help illustrate the positives. Let's celebrate something unique and different and use our collective golf IQ to lead others to desire more, not less of this kind of thing....just saying!
PS..Seminole does have female members. They are, for the most part, very good golfers.