[Scott Wilson]

Tonight the Barnbougle Dunes episode aired on Fine Living Network.  I'm Scott Wilson, the cameraman of the show, and I'm a newcomer to this board.  I've shot all 40 episodes over three seasons, and we have two more to go.  I've developed a passion for filming golf courses, had the great fortune to visit and shoot most of the great courses of the world and I love to talk about this TV show.

If anyone has questions or comments about The Wandering Golfer, on screen or behind the scenes, I'm happy to join in the discussion.  I'm not a corporate or network shill for the show, just a freelance cameraman who has discovered a new world in the past three years.

Thanks for allowing me to join this board!

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Welcome, have the new episodes started airing yet?  

I remember when they were out looking for the new wandering golfer last year, and I was talking to someone this week that told me one of her friends is the new wandering golfer.  I was just wondering if the episodes featuring her have started airing yet?

Again welcome to the board and I look forward to hearing from your perspective.

[Scott Wilson]

Season three with Gia Bocra as the new WG has been airing since April 15.  Tonight's episode is her 7th to air, but we have shot 11 with her.  Next in line to screen are Sea Island, Tampa, San Antonio, and Memphis.

We have two more to shoot in July, Jackson Hole and San Francisco.

I'm curious to know what viewers think of the change in host and the venues we've featured.

Thanks!

[Mickey Boland]

I wasn't sure I would enjoy a woman as host of the show, but find that she does a good job and it is a non-issue for me.  Enjoyed the new shows so far, but wish there was a little more time on the golf courses and a little less of the local flavor.  But, I know what channel it's on and that it's not intended to be a wall-to-wall golf-fest.  

[Mark Bourgeois]

Hey, Scott, that's awesome! I have a couple of questions:

What's been your favorite moment on the show?
What's been your best moment as cameraman on the show?

Mark

PS I really like when the show goes overseas and figure you've got a ton of potential episodes there, especially to new or exotic locations like Brazil, South Africa and China. (Correct me if you already have, I'm way backed up right now on Tivo'ed episodes!)

[John_Conley]

...it is a non-issue for me.  

Good to hear a stunner with brains doesn't ruffle your feathers.

[George Pazin]

Here's my question:

Why didn't someone mention Barnbougle was going to be on BEFORE the show aired?

Thankfully, there are always re-runs.

[Tom Huckaby]

Scott - where are you going to go in San Francisco?  What courses?

[Russell Lo]

Scott,
I really enjoy(ed) the shows. Your camera work is terrific catching many moods of a course and different angles that I hadn't seen before (maybe because they were from the fairway).
I feel the viewer watching this show wants to know about the courses and perhaps local flavor, but definitely about the courses. I think the tone with the new WG is more focused on personalities (i.e., arnie and the NZ golfer-what a great swing). Personally, I'd like to see more focus on the history, influences, uniqueness of a course and locale that makes it somewhere I'd like to visit.
Nonetheless, the videography is terrific and i would love to see some outtakes of Wild Horse, Lahinch, Cape Kidnapper's and esp. Feherty.

Keep up the good work.

[james soper]

scott, when does the tampa episode air and what courses were filmed? what is the ratio of footage shot to footage used? do you shoot on film or is it digital? keep up the great work.

[Jim_Kennedy]

George,
You're in luck!
http://www.fineliving.com/fine/wandering_golfer/0,1663,FINE_19219,00.html

[Dan Smoot]

Season three with Gia Bocra as the new WG has been airing since April 15.  Tonight's episode is her 7th to air, but we have shot 11 with her.  Next in line to screen are Sea Island, Tampa, San Antonio, and Memphis.

We have two more to shoot in July, Jackson Hole and San Francisco.

I'm curious to know what viewers think of the change in host and the venues we've featured.

Thanks!

Scott,

I watched the Barnbougle show last night.  WOW.  I have seen some great still pictures on this site, looked at it on Google Earth but in video it gives it a whole new perspective.  I got excited like I do when I get ready to go play Pacific Dunes.  My mind immediately started thinking about how I can sell this trip to my wife instead of a cruise.

I enjoyed the interview/story with the two major players in its development.  Great vision of the project for the young man and a leap of faith for the land owner, a non-golfer.

I enjoy Gia as the host, a good golf swing.  Kudos to you on your work as the images were wonderful.   HOWEVER, I WANTED MORE OF THE GOLF COURSE.  MORE STRATEGY.  Some can never be satisfied.

How far is Tasmania ?  How much?

[Mark Bourgeois]

Dan, there are two sides to every scale.  On one side is cost, on the other...right now I would say Tasmania is producing fantastic wines and you have no chance of finding them in America. Those pinot noirs are on offer only across the Pacific.

That help?

[Scott Wilson]

but wish there was a little more time on the golf courses and a little less of the local flavor.  But, I know what channel it's on and that it's not intended to be a wall-to-wall golf-fest.  

From the beginning this show has been a tough fit for Fine Living Network.  Even though it's been a really popular show for them it doesn't quite fit their mission, in my opinion.  Golf fans, my Dad included, want to see a lot more golf!

[Dan Herrmann]

Scott, very true about Fine Living.

After looking at your website, I'm guessing that the shows were filmed in HD.  True?

Question - how did you make Sunset Bay in Coos Bay, OR look so good.  I was amazed when I saw the course in person - where was the beauty of the barefoot round?  It was nowhere near as pretty as you made it look.

If you can twist the producers' arms, I'd love to see a follow up to the Irish gals.  I'd also suggest Highlands Links, Sutton Bay, Chambers Bay, and Wintonbury (a darn good muni that I really like)

[Scott Wilson]

What's been your favorite moment on the show?
What's been your best moment as cameraman on the show?

Favorite moment is really hard to pin down.  Chad and I became great friends over the two years we traveled together and Gia and I have had a great time too.  The constant on every show is me and the host.  About 4 different producers each season will work on different episodes.  But since it takes so long to edit a show they divide the shows between producers.

Our time in Ireland was really special and I think it comes through on the shows, British Columbia as well.  The two young girls in Ireland and the 4 boys in Scotland were fun to film.  
I've enjoyed meeting golf celebs.  In one week I got to work with Arnold Palmer, Ken Venturi and Byron Nelson.  One week!  Byron's wife Peggy gave us all fresh eggs from their chicken coop and I made 'Byron Nelson' omlettes for my family that night.

We recently filmed Gia playing golf with The Ice Man George Gervin in San Antonio.  Weather was great - I'm born & raised in SA so I was impressed - and they just had a great, funny easy time together.  When everything flows easily I think it makes for good show segments.

My favorite moments as cameraman are when the sky cooperates and I catch some great scenics.  At sunrise or sunset.  Our Pebble Beach show was a total rainy washout for about 5 days.  The producer and I decided to take a chance early one morning and get to #7 before sunrise, even though it was raining.  As soon as I placed the tripod on the ground just behind #6 and set up the camera, the clouds just opened up in a truly amazing display of raking sunlight.  All week I was afraid that I wasn't going to capture a single nice shot of one of the world's most famous courses and BOOM, one of my favorite shots ever!

Some other memorable scenics for me happened at Barnbougle Dunes, Cape Kidnappers, Rosses Point, Bandon/Pacific Dunes, Old Course, Kingsbarns, Whistling Straits & Blackwolf Run.  Each involved not just great weather and sun but usually a fun race against time and sunset/sunrise with a good friend assisting me.  
Most of my favorites though are when I opt to work alone, seeing something that no one else is around to witness.

[Kalen Braley]

Sounds amazing Scott,

now for the $64,000 question.  Do you usually have extra time left over at each venue to get in 18 holes?  If so do you need an equipment carrying assistant?  

Have clubs, will travel.  

[Scott Wilson]

Scott - where are you going to go in San Francisco?  What courses?

I don't know the itinerary for San Francisco yet.  I often get hints about a week before we travel.  I'll post here when I hear something.  Any suggestions?

[Scott Wilson]

Scott,
I really enjoy(ed) the shows. Your camera work is terrific catching many moods of a course and different angles that I hadn't seen before (maybe because they were from the fairway).
I feel the viewer watching this show wants to know about the courses and perhaps local flavor, but definitely about the courses. I think the tone with the new WG is more focused on personalities (i.e., arnie and the NZ golfer-what a great swing). Personally, I'd like to see more focus on the history, influences, uniqueness of a course and locale that makes it somewhere I'd like to visit.
Nonetheless, the videography is terrific and i would love to see some outtakes of Wild Horse, Lahinch, Cape Kidnapper's and esp. Feherty.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks!  I think I stated earlier that when i was asked to shoot the show back in 2004 I was an absolute golf beginner.  On our first trip I had to ask the producer to remind me the difference between a birdie and a bogey!  It's been a crash course into golf history, design, personalities, everything.  The show is asked to maintain a balance between golf (which doesn't have a lot to do with the network) and people/places.  

When Fine Living is done airing it I'd love to see the show continue on a network or venue where golf can be the main topic for every episode.  Or start a new show or DVD series that appeals to the 'armchair golfer', an exploration of far away places and lesser known golf destinations, like when we went to Narin & Portnoo in Ireland.

As for outtakes of Feherty, I have to save those for my retirement fund!

[Scott Wilson]

scott, when does the tampa episode air and what courses were filmed? what is the ratio of footage shot to footage used? do you shoot on film or is it digital? keep up the great work.

In Tampa we featured The Concession course.  Our guest sang a song to Gia as they golfed, I hope that it makes it into the show.  It was really sweet.  
I only shoot the show, I don't produce, edit, write (sometimes I'll throw a suggestion in while on site) or plan the destinations.  So it's a revelation to me when an episode airs because I've only seen the images in my camera eyepiece, and usually only in black & white!  I'm a big consumer of this show.

I often have to wrack my brain to remember all the things we did at a location, Tampa was 3 episodes - and a lifetime - ago.  We did feature a really great bistro and it's owner named Sean Murphy, an incredibly generous guy.  The only other Sean Murphy I've ever met was at the above mentioned Narin & Portnoo Golf Club in Ireland.  He ran the pub, pro shop, maintained the course & was also the starter!  Another big hearted fellow.

For some strange reason we almost always average 15 tapes per episode.  That's about 7.5 hours of footage compressed into 21 minutes of show.  Oftentimes entire segments or guests are deleted when the show gets assembled.  They have to make tough decisions in the edit room.

I believe that we could take all the complete but deleted segments and make at least two whole shows of stuff that viewers have never seen.  One of the earliest was in our Carnoustie show, Season 1.  We interviewed the owner (Joe) of the hotel we stayed in, next to the Carnoustie golf course.  Due to his thick brogue Chad could hardly understand a word he said for 3 hours.  The segment never made it into the show.  Now when I detect that an interview is not going too well or a segment is not coming together I call it a Carnoustie Joe!

Everything I shoot is on High Definition video with the Panasonic Varicam, a camera that mysteriously gets heavier as the day gets longer.

[GregRamsay]

G'day Scott- you were going to send me a DVD of the show, but now i'll just have to wait until 1 of my mates over there can record and send it over.  I hope you were happy with the editing and that they gave that amazing sunset a good plug.

Scott, you really ought to give your website a plug on this site, and while i don't really feel that Scottish footage does your talents full justice, its a good informative tool for others to learn about your golf cinematography.

Can't wait to see it

Greg Ramsay
www.nantdistillery.com.au

[Tom Huckaby]

Scott - where are you going to go in San Francisco?  What courses?

I don't know the itinerary for San Francisco yet.  I often get hints about a week before we travel.  I'll post here when I hear something.  Any suggestions?

That would depend on if the show is going to stay within the city limits.  If so, of course the obvious need to be see - Olympic Club and San Francisco GC - but it would also make for great TV to have her traipse around Lincoln Park - there are some money shots of the GG Bridge to be had from there also....

Very cool in any case.  I'll be looking forward to that one, as it's relatively close to home and I'm just really curious what the show will highlight, or not.

TH

[Scott Wilson]

G'day Scott- you were going to send me a DVD of the show, but now i'll just have to wait until 1 of my mates over there can record and send it over.  I hope you were happy with the editing and that they gave that amazing sunset a good plug.

Scott, you really ought to give your website a plug on this site, and while i don't really feel that Scottish footage does your talents full justice, its a good informative tool for others to learn about your golf cinematography.

Can't wait to see it

Greg Ramsay
www.nantdistillery.com.au

Greg,  I'll be sending a DVD your way this week.  I have to wait like everyone else until the show airs to record it on my Tivo and make a DVD.  No special favors for the cameraman!  

I think you'll like the episode, you and Richard came across as likeable guys - not hard to see why.  I caught some morning course scenics from the tee at #16 that I'm really proud of, too.

[George Pazin]

Thanks for taking the time out to thoughtfully answer questions.

You needn't ever worry about losing your job to me - aside from the obvious talent differences, my wife would never let me travel the globe visiting golf courses with Gia.

 

Now I can't wait until 7/5 so I can see my favorite course that I can't seem to get to.

[Dan Herrmann]

Another highlight Wandering Golfer this week.  BD was stellar and it'd be the trip of a lifetime.  What a place.

I loved the poem from the old caddy.  Top notch.  

As always, the photography was wonderful.

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