RESEARCH RECENTLY RELEASED BY THE R&A AND SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS LTD HAS SHOWN THAT THE GAME OF GOLF HAS NEVER BEEN MORE POPULAR AND NOW IS PLAYED BY MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE, WITH 66.6 MILLION PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE WORLD. NUMBERS HAVE GROWN FROM 61.6 MILLION IN 2012 TO THE 66.6 MILLION IN 2020, WITH OVER ONE THIRD OF THIS NUMBER BEING LOCATED IN ASIA - 23.3 MILLION PEOPLE PLAY THE GAME IN ASIA. NORTH AMERICA IS STILL THE DOMINANT REGION WITH 30.6 MILLION PARTICIPANTS. GOLF ACROSS THE UK AND IRELAND HAS GROWN AT A TREMENDOUS RATE TOO, WITH NUMBERS UP FROM 2.5 MILLION IN 2017 TO 5.7 MILLION IN 2020. IN ALL, 10.7 MILLION PEOPLE PLAY GOLF ACROSS EUROPE, WITH 5 MILLION PLAYING GOLF IN MAINLAND EUROPE.
WHILST THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE GREAT NEWS FOR GOLF IT MUST BE SAID THEY STARKLY SHOW GOLF'S RELATIVE POPULARITY AND CONTINUED FAILURE TO EXPOSE ITSELF TO A WIDE AUDIENCE.
FIFA RESEARCH INDICATES THAT 265 MILLION PEOPLE PLAY FOOTBALL, NEARLY 200 MILLION MORE THAN PLAY GOLF, BUT SOME 3.5 BILLION SAY THEY ARE FOOTBALL FANS, WELL OVER 10 TIMES THE NUMBER WHO PLAY THE SPORT. GOLF SHOULD BE PLAYED BY MANY MORE PEOPLE, BUT PERHAPS THE REASON THAT IT ISN'T IS THE RELATIVE LACK OF EXPOSURE AND ATTRACTIVE, VISIBLE PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT TV VIEWING FIGURES NEVER MATCH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO PLAY OUR SPORT.
THIS IS DOWN TO A COMBINATION OF FACTORS, INCLUDING LACK OF GOLF ON FREE TO AIR PLATFORMS BUT MOST CRUCIALLY THE FORMAT THAT IS PLAYED. SPORTS LIKE FORMULA 1 AND FOOTBALL HAVE A NARRATIVE, WITH SEASON-LONG, COMPELLING DRAMAS AND RIVALRIES ARE BUILT. THESE SPORTS, ESPECIALLY FOOTBALL, ARE IN THE MINDS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC FAR MORE ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEY DON'T JUST TRY AND PEAK WITH THE MAJORS AND THE RYDER OR SOLHEIM CUPS.
THE R&A IS OVER-RELIANT UPON THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AS A SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR GOLF DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RYDER CUP ALMOST SINGLE-HANDEDLY KEPT THE EUROPEAN TOUR AFLOAT FOR YEARS, AND THERE IS NO GETTING AWAY FROM IT, TV RATINGS ACROSS THE WORLD FOR THE REGULAR PGA, EUROPEAN TOUR AND LPGA EVENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY ABYSMAL. THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR THIS SPORT TO EXPLODE LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE, BUT IT NEEDS A TRULY GLOBAL PLATFORM AND STAGE TO ELEVATE IT TO A NEW LEVEL, AND A CHANGE IN THE WAY THE GAME IS ACCESSED AND PRESENTED TO THE WORLD.
WHILST THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE GREAT NEWS FOR GOLF IT MUST BE SAID THEY STARKLY SHOW GOLF'S RELATIVE POPULARITY AND CONTINUED FAILURE TO EXPOSE ITSELF TO A WIDE AUDIENCE.
FIFA RESEARCH INDICATES THAT 265 MILLION PEOPLE PLAY FOOTBALL, NEARLY 200 MILLION MORE THAN PLAY GOLF, BUT SOME 3.5 BILLION SAY THEY ARE FOOTBALL FANS, WELL OVER 10 TIMES THE NUMBER WHO PLAY THE SPORT. GOLF SHOULD BE PLAYED BY MANY MORE PEOPLE, BUT PERHAPS THE REASON THAT IT ISN'T IS THE RELATIVE LACK OF EXPOSURE AND ATTRACTIVE, VISIBLE PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT TV VIEWING FIGURES NEVER MATCH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO PLAY OUR SPORT.
THIS IS DOWN TO A COMBINATION OF FACTORS, INCLUDING LACK OF GOLF ON FREE TO AIR PLATFORMS BUT MOST CRUCIALLY THE FORMAT THAT IS PLAYED. SPORTS LIKE FORMULA 1 AND FOOTBALL HAVE A NARRATIVE, WITH SEASON-LONG, COMPELLING DRAMAS AND RIVALRIES ARE BUILT. THESE SPORTS, ESPECIALLY FOOTBALL, ARE IN THE MINDS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC FAR MORE ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEY DON'T JUST TRY AND PEAK WITH THE MAJORS AND THE RYDER OR SOLHEIM CUPS.
THE R&A IS OVER-RELIANT UPON THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AS A SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR GOLF DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RYDER CUP ALMOST SINGLE-HANDEDLY KEPT THE EUROPEAN TOUR AFLOAT FOR YEARS, AND THERE IS NO GETTING AWAY FROM IT, TV RATINGS ACROSS THE WORLD FOR THE REGULAR PGA, EUROPEAN TOUR AND LPGA EVENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY ABYSMAL. THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR THIS SPORT TO EXPLODE LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE, BUT IT NEEDS A TRULY GLOBAL PLATFORM AND STAGE TO ELEVATE IT TO A NEW LEVEL, AND A CHANGE IN THE WAY THE GAME IS ACCESSED AND PRESENTED TO THE WORLD.
A SPORT COMPARABLE TO GOLF IS SKIING. WHY? BECAUSE YOU CAN GO ON A SKIING HOLIDAY AND YOU ARE PLAYING THE SPORT IN NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. BUT THAT IS WHERE THE SIMILARITY ENDS. YOU CAN ONLY SKI WHERE THERE IS SNOW. YOU CAN GOLF ALMOST EVERY PLACE ON THE PLANET, IN THE DESERT, NEXT TO THE SEA, UP A MOUNTAIN, IN A CITY. THERE ARE GOLF COURSES IN VIRTUALLY EVERY COUNTRY ON EARTH. SO WHY DO 165 MILLION PEOPLE SKI AND ONLY 66.6 MILLION GOLF?
THE 66.6 MILLION WHO PLAY GOLF ARE LOCATED IN NORTH AMERICA (30.6 MILLION), ASIA (23.3 MILLION) AND EUROPE (10.7 MILLION), REMARKABLY ONLY APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA AND AUSTRALASIA PLAY GOLF, AND 1.3 MILLION OF THOSE ARE IN AUSTRALIA ITSELF, LEAVING ONLY APPROXIMATELY 700,000 GOLFERS OF THE 66.6 MILLION.
IT IS CLEAR MUCH WORK IS REQUIRED TO GROW THE GAME OF GOLF IN SOUTH AMERICA AND AFRICA, YET BOTH CONTINENTS HAVE SOME OF THE OLDEST GOLF COURSES IN THE WORLD AND IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN AND ARGENTINA OPEN, THEY HAVE TWO OF THE OLDEST AND LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY PLAYED NATIONAL OPENS IN THE WORLD.
WIDER AFRICA OUTSIDE OF SOUTH AFRICA HAS SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR GOLFING TERRAIN IN ALL OF THE WORLD, BUT DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS IT EITHER ISN'T APPEALING TO THE INTERNATIONAL TOURIST OR ISN'T ACCESSIBLE, BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE IT IS TERRIBLY PROMOTED, IF IT IS EVEN PROMOTED AT ALL.
BOTH GENERATING INTEREST IN GOLF AND CREATING THE FACILITIES AND ACCESSIBILITY TO THEM ARE VITAL TO ANY FUTURE GROWTH OF THE SPORT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FRACTURED PROFESSIONAL PLATFORM FOR GOLF, WITH VARIOUS TOURS AROUND THE WORLD, ALONG WITH THE MAJORS AND THE RYDER CUP AND SOLHEIM CUP. WITH OVER 90 TOURNAMENTS BETWEEN THEM THE PGA TOUR AND EUROPEAN TOUR MAKE UP THE BULK OF ELITE PROFESSIONAL GOLF, BUT NEITHER DELIVER THE SINGULAR GLOBAL PLATFORM WHICH WILL DRIVE GOLF PARTICIPATION IN THE FUTURE. YES, GOLF IS A HUGE SPORT, WITH MANY PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENTS WORLDWIDE, BUT IT HAS ALWAYS LACKED THAT ELITE TOP TIER TO SHOWCASE THE SPORT TO THE WORLD. IN MANY WAYS IT IS IRONIC THAT A SPORT WHICH HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING ELITIST OVER THE YEARS HAS PERHAPS THE MOST DEMOCRATIC, OPEN AND EXPANSIVE PLATFORM IN THE WORLD.
I DISCUSS WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE IN MUCH MORE DETAIL IN SHANK'S UPCOMING FEATURE 'GIVING THE GAME A SHEIKH UP' BUT SIMPLY PUT THE WORLD'S TOURS NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND CREATE THE WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS (SAME BRAND BUT DIFFERENT CONCEPT TO THE EXISTING WGC's), THESE WOULD FEATURE 23 CHAMPIONSHIPS PLAYED ACROSS THE WORLD WITH AT LEAST 1 EVENT IN EACH CONTINENT, AND WOULD FEATURE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S EVENTS ON THE SAME COURSE USING THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE. THE SCHEDULE WOULD INCLUDE 5 MAJORS FOR THE MEN (PLAYERS, MASTERS, PGA, US OPEN AND THE OPEN), 5 MAJORS FOR THE WOMEN (CHEVRON CHAMPS, US OPEN, WOMENS PGA, EVIAN AND WOMENS OPEN) AND EXPANDED RYDER CUP AND SOLHEIM CUP FEATURING 6 TEAMS FROM EUROPE, USA, AMERICAS, AFRICA, ASIA AND AUSTRALASIA.
THE WGC WOULD WORK AND FIT INTO GOLF'S PYRAMID AS SHOWN BELOW
THE 66.6 MILLION WHO PLAY GOLF ARE LOCATED IN NORTH AMERICA (30.6 MILLION), ASIA (23.3 MILLION) AND EUROPE (10.7 MILLION), REMARKABLY ONLY APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA AND AUSTRALASIA PLAY GOLF, AND 1.3 MILLION OF THOSE ARE IN AUSTRALIA ITSELF, LEAVING ONLY APPROXIMATELY 700,000 GOLFERS OF THE 66.6 MILLION.
IT IS CLEAR MUCH WORK IS REQUIRED TO GROW THE GAME OF GOLF IN SOUTH AMERICA AND AFRICA, YET BOTH CONTINENTS HAVE SOME OF THE OLDEST GOLF COURSES IN THE WORLD AND IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN AND ARGENTINA OPEN, THEY HAVE TWO OF THE OLDEST AND LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY PLAYED NATIONAL OPENS IN THE WORLD.
WIDER AFRICA OUTSIDE OF SOUTH AFRICA HAS SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR GOLFING TERRAIN IN ALL OF THE WORLD, BUT DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS IT EITHER ISN'T APPEALING TO THE INTERNATIONAL TOURIST OR ISN'T ACCESSIBLE, BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE IT IS TERRIBLY PROMOTED, IF IT IS EVEN PROMOTED AT ALL.
BOTH GENERATING INTEREST IN GOLF AND CREATING THE FACILITIES AND ACCESSIBILITY TO THEM ARE VITAL TO ANY FUTURE GROWTH OF THE SPORT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FRACTURED PROFESSIONAL PLATFORM FOR GOLF, WITH VARIOUS TOURS AROUND THE WORLD, ALONG WITH THE MAJORS AND THE RYDER CUP AND SOLHEIM CUP. WITH OVER 90 TOURNAMENTS BETWEEN THEM THE PGA TOUR AND EUROPEAN TOUR MAKE UP THE BULK OF ELITE PROFESSIONAL GOLF, BUT NEITHER DELIVER THE SINGULAR GLOBAL PLATFORM WHICH WILL DRIVE GOLF PARTICIPATION IN THE FUTURE. YES, GOLF IS A HUGE SPORT, WITH MANY PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENTS WORLDWIDE, BUT IT HAS ALWAYS LACKED THAT ELITE TOP TIER TO SHOWCASE THE SPORT TO THE WORLD. IN MANY WAYS IT IS IRONIC THAT A SPORT WHICH HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING ELITIST OVER THE YEARS HAS PERHAPS THE MOST DEMOCRATIC, OPEN AND EXPANSIVE PLATFORM IN THE WORLD.
I DISCUSS WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE IN MUCH MORE DETAIL IN SHANK'S UPCOMING FEATURE 'GIVING THE GAME A SHEIKH UP' BUT SIMPLY PUT THE WORLD'S TOURS NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND CREATE THE WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS (SAME BRAND BUT DIFFERENT CONCEPT TO THE EXISTING WGC's), THESE WOULD FEATURE 23 CHAMPIONSHIPS PLAYED ACROSS THE WORLD WITH AT LEAST 1 EVENT IN EACH CONTINENT, AND WOULD FEATURE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S EVENTS ON THE SAME COURSE USING THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE. THE SCHEDULE WOULD INCLUDE 5 MAJORS FOR THE MEN (PLAYERS, MASTERS, PGA, US OPEN AND THE OPEN), 5 MAJORS FOR THE WOMEN (CHEVRON CHAMPS, US OPEN, WOMENS PGA, EVIAN AND WOMENS OPEN) AND EXPANDED RYDER CUP AND SOLHEIM CUP FEATURING 6 TEAMS FROM EUROPE, USA, AMERICAS, AFRICA, ASIA AND AUSTRALASIA.
THE WGC WOULD WORK AND FIT INTO GOLF'S PYRAMID AS SHOWN BELOW
DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATES THE PYRAMID AND PATHWAY FOR PROFESSIONAL GOLF IN THE AMERICAS FROM MINI TOUR TO THE WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
THOSE EXEMPT INTO THE WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS WOULD HAVE TO PLAY IN EVERY WGC OVER A 2-YEAR PERIOD WITH A MINIMUM OF 20 EVENTS INCLUSIVE OF THE MAJORS TO BE PLAYED EACH SEASON TO COUNT FOR THE WGC RANKINGS AND KEEP THEIR STATUS. PLAYERS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO PLAY 1 EVENT IN EACH CONTINENT EACH SEASON TO KEEP THEIR STATUS. THESE CRITERIA WOULD ENSURE THE WORLD'S BEST GOLFERS PLAYED AGAINST EACH OTHER MORE OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND PLAYED AROUND THE WORLD MORE THAN THEY CURRENTLY DO, GIVING GOLF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PLATFORM IT HAS LACKED.
THE WORLD'S BEST WOULD PLAY IN AUSTRALIA EVERY YEAR, IN AFRICA EVERY YEAR, IN SOUTH AMERICA EVERY YEAR, IN INDIA EVERY YEAR, IN SCOTLAND EVERY YEAR AND THIS WOULD INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION OF FANS ACROSS THE WORLD. IT WOULD PROVIDE GOLF WITH A YEAR-LONG NARRATIVE AND BUILD RIVALRIES AND IT WOULD MAKE THE SPORT MORE EXCITING, MORE ENGAGING AND MORE ATTRACTIVE TO YOUNGSTERS AND POSSIBLE SPONSORS.
THE WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS WOULD BE A MASSIVE DRIVER OF PARTICIPATION BUT WOULD ALSO MAINTAIN INTEREST OF GOLFERS, IT WOULDN'T BE THE SINGLE PEAK WE EXPERIENCE FROM EVENTS SUCH AS THE MASTERS, THE OPEN AND RYDER CUP. IT WOULD BE ON THAT SCALE OVER 20 TIMES A YEAR AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD. IT HAS TO HAPPEN ONE DAY. READ MORE ON THIS AND THE CHANGING FACE OF GOLF IN OUR UPCOMING FEATURE 'GIVING THE GAME A SHEIKH UP'.
ANOTHER THING WHICH CAN DRIVE GOLF PARTICIPATION AND GENERATE INTEREST IN THE SPORT IN FREE TO AIR COVERAGE, BUT NOT OF THE WGC OR EVEN THE MAJORS, GOLF NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE FUTURE TO FIND THREE CONCEPTS WHICH GENERATED INTEREST IN THE SPORT. SHELL'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF, BIG THREE GOLF AND PRO-CELEBRITY GOLF HAVE PROBABLY BROUGHT MORE NEW PEOPLE TO THE GAME OF GOLF THAN ALL THE MAJORS COMBINED OVER THE YEARS, AND THERE'S NO REASON THIS COULD NOT BE REPEATED IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
PEOPLE'S ATTENTION SPANS ARE MUCH LESS TODAY AND WE ALL HAVE LESS TIME TO SIT AND WATCH AN ACTUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT, A ONE-HOUR SHOW BROADCAST ON A REGULAR BASIS IS EASY TO FIT IN TO A BUSY SCHEDULE, LIKE ANY NETFLIX OR AMAZON PRIME VIDEO SERIES.
SHELL'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF DEBUTED ON NBC IN 1961 AT GAVEA COUNTRY CLUB IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL WITH A MATCH BETWEEN BILLY CASPER AND BRAZILIAN GOLFER MARC GONZALEZ. THE MATCHES WERE 18-HOLE STROKEPLAY COMPETITIONS FEATURING SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST GOLFERS PLAYING AT GOLF COURSES ACROSS THE WORLD, THE SERIES VISITED BRAZIL, FRANCE, HONG KONG, AUSTRALIA, ARGENTINA, ITALY, JAPAN, SCOTLAND, CANADA, ENGLAND, CHILE, NEW ZEALAND, IRELAND, SINGAPORE, THE NETHERLANDS, SWEDEN, PHILIPPINES, JAMAICA, INDIA, SWITZERLAND, PUERTO RICO, BELGIUM, PORTUGAL, COLOMBIA, LUXEMBOURG, VENEZUELA, BAHAMAS, GERMANY, DENMARK, MALAYSIA, NORWAY, PANAMA, GREECE, MOROCCO, WALES, MEXICO, BERMUDA, NORTHERN IRELAND, SPAIN, GUATEMALA, THAILAND, KENYA AND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BEFORE IT CEASED BROADCASTING IN 1970.
THE SERIES WAS REVIVED IN 1994 BY GOLF CHANNEL, BUT WITHOUT DOUBT ITS HEYDAY AND MOST IMPORTANT SPELL WAS 1961-1970 BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID IT VISIT 44 COUNTRIES ON 6 CONTINENTS, IT SAW ICONIC FIGURES OF THE GAME PLAY ON SOME OF THE MOST REVERED COURSES.
PINE VALLEY, THE OLD COURSE, ROYAL MELBOURNE, PEBBLE BEACH, WENTWORTH, GLENEAGLES, PARAPARAUMU BEACH, PORTMARNOCK, SUNNINGDALE, TURNBERRY, THE COUNTRY CLUB, ROYAL COUNTY DOWN, THE OLYMPIC CLUB AND BALLYBUNION WERE AMONG THE HOST COURSES IN THE FIRST RUN OF THE SERIES.
THE WORLD'S BEST WOULD PLAY IN AUSTRALIA EVERY YEAR, IN AFRICA EVERY YEAR, IN SOUTH AMERICA EVERY YEAR, IN INDIA EVERY YEAR, IN SCOTLAND EVERY YEAR AND THIS WOULD INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION OF FANS ACROSS THE WORLD. IT WOULD PROVIDE GOLF WITH A YEAR-LONG NARRATIVE AND BUILD RIVALRIES AND IT WOULD MAKE THE SPORT MORE EXCITING, MORE ENGAGING AND MORE ATTRACTIVE TO YOUNGSTERS AND POSSIBLE SPONSORS.
THE WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS WOULD BE A MASSIVE DRIVER OF PARTICIPATION BUT WOULD ALSO MAINTAIN INTEREST OF GOLFERS, IT WOULDN'T BE THE SINGLE PEAK WE EXPERIENCE FROM EVENTS SUCH AS THE MASTERS, THE OPEN AND RYDER CUP. IT WOULD BE ON THAT SCALE OVER 20 TIMES A YEAR AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD. IT HAS TO HAPPEN ONE DAY. READ MORE ON THIS AND THE CHANGING FACE OF GOLF IN OUR UPCOMING FEATURE 'GIVING THE GAME A SHEIKH UP'.
ANOTHER THING WHICH CAN DRIVE GOLF PARTICIPATION AND GENERATE INTEREST IN THE SPORT IN FREE TO AIR COVERAGE, BUT NOT OF THE WGC OR EVEN THE MAJORS, GOLF NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE FUTURE TO FIND THREE CONCEPTS WHICH GENERATED INTEREST IN THE SPORT. SHELL'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF, BIG THREE GOLF AND PRO-CELEBRITY GOLF HAVE PROBABLY BROUGHT MORE NEW PEOPLE TO THE GAME OF GOLF THAN ALL THE MAJORS COMBINED OVER THE YEARS, AND THERE'S NO REASON THIS COULD NOT BE REPEATED IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
PEOPLE'S ATTENTION SPANS ARE MUCH LESS TODAY AND WE ALL HAVE LESS TIME TO SIT AND WATCH AN ACTUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT, A ONE-HOUR SHOW BROADCAST ON A REGULAR BASIS IS EASY TO FIT IN TO A BUSY SCHEDULE, LIKE ANY NETFLIX OR AMAZON PRIME VIDEO SERIES.
SHELL'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF DEBUTED ON NBC IN 1961 AT GAVEA COUNTRY CLUB IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL WITH A MATCH BETWEEN BILLY CASPER AND BRAZILIAN GOLFER MARC GONZALEZ. THE MATCHES WERE 18-HOLE STROKEPLAY COMPETITIONS FEATURING SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST GOLFERS PLAYING AT GOLF COURSES ACROSS THE WORLD, THE SERIES VISITED BRAZIL, FRANCE, HONG KONG, AUSTRALIA, ARGENTINA, ITALY, JAPAN, SCOTLAND, CANADA, ENGLAND, CHILE, NEW ZEALAND, IRELAND, SINGAPORE, THE NETHERLANDS, SWEDEN, PHILIPPINES, JAMAICA, INDIA, SWITZERLAND, PUERTO RICO, BELGIUM, PORTUGAL, COLOMBIA, LUXEMBOURG, VENEZUELA, BAHAMAS, GERMANY, DENMARK, MALAYSIA, NORWAY, PANAMA, GREECE, MOROCCO, WALES, MEXICO, BERMUDA, NORTHERN IRELAND, SPAIN, GUATEMALA, THAILAND, KENYA AND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BEFORE IT CEASED BROADCASTING IN 1970.
THE SERIES WAS REVIVED IN 1994 BY GOLF CHANNEL, BUT WITHOUT DOUBT ITS HEYDAY AND MOST IMPORTANT SPELL WAS 1961-1970 BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID IT VISIT 44 COUNTRIES ON 6 CONTINENTS, IT SAW ICONIC FIGURES OF THE GAME PLAY ON SOME OF THE MOST REVERED COURSES.
PINE VALLEY, THE OLD COURSE, ROYAL MELBOURNE, PEBBLE BEACH, WENTWORTH, GLENEAGLES, PARAPARAUMU BEACH, PORTMARNOCK, SUNNINGDALE, TURNBERRY, THE COUNTRY CLUB, ROYAL COUNTY DOWN, THE OLYMPIC CLUB AND BALLYBUNION WERE AMONG THE HOST COURSES IN THE FIRST RUN OF THE SERIES.
WITH THE GLOBAL NATURE OF THE GOLFING CALENDAR ACROSS THE TOURS A 2020'S REVIVAL OF THE SERIES IS VERY POSSIBLE, AND WITH THE ADVANCES IN BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY COULD BE ABSOLUTELY COMPELLING AND BE AN ENTERTAINING 90-MINUTE PROGRAMME BROADCAST EACH WEEK ON A FREE TO AIR NETWORK IN THE UK AND OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD. THE 2022 PGA TOUR AND DP WORLD TOUR HAVE OVER 90 TOURNAMENTS IN OVER 30 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, SO THE STARS OF EACH FIELD COULD BE PART OF A REVIVAL OF THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF.
BELOW IS A POSSIBLE SCHEDULE FOR A SERIES BASED ON THE EARLY WEEKS OF THE 2022 SEASON AND CONFIRMED TOURNAMENT ENTRIES WHO COULD PARTICIPATE:
BELOW IS A POSSIBLE SCHEDULE FOR A SERIES BASED ON THE EARLY WEEKS OF THE 2022 SEASON AND CONFIRMED TOURNAMENT ENTRIES WHO COULD PARTICIPATE:
ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ORIGINAL SHOW IS WAS THAT IT WAS HOSTED BY THE LEGENDARY GENE SARAZEN, SO HOW ABOUT THE REVIVAL BEING HOSTED BY SIR NICK FALDO, THEN GREG NORMAN, THEN PHIL MICKELSON AND THEN TIGER WOODS? IT WOULD ADD ANOTHER ATTRACTION TO WHAT WOULD SURELY BE A COMPELLING SHOW. A REVIVAL OF SHELL'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF, LIKELY WITH DIFFERENT SPONSORS, COULD BE SHOWN ON CHANNEL 4 IN THE UK ON A MONDAY EVENING AND BECOME A MUST WATCH FOR GOLF FANS AND A SHOW WHICH BRINGS NEW FANS TO THE GAME AND DRIVES PARTICIPATION.
PRO-CELEBRITY GOLF WAS BROADCAST ON BBC FROM 1977 TO 1988 AND FEATURED SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST GOLFERS PLAYING ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS CELEBRITIES. THE SHOW WAS SHOT AT TURNBERRY AND GLENEAGLES AND WAS HOSTED BY PETER ALLISS, AND FEATURED THE LIKES OF GOLFERS LEE TREVINO, JOHNNY MILLER, SEVE BALLESTEROS, SANDY LYLE, FUZZY ZOELLER AND JERRY PATE, ALONGSIDE CELEBRITIES SUCH AS SEAN CONNERY, KEVIN KEEGAN, TREVOR BROOKING, BURT LANCASTER, HENRY COOPER, BRUCE FORSYTH AMONG OTHERS.
IT WAS AN ENTERTAINING AND WATCHABLE SHOW WHICH SHOWCASED THE LIGHTER SIDE OF THE SPORT IN STUNNING SURROUNDINGS, AND IMAGINE IF IT RETURNED IN THE 2020'S. THE LIKES OF DAVID BECKHAM, JAMIE REDKNAPP, GARY NEVILLE, ALAN SHEARER, SHANE WARNE, WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO, JOE ROOT, TOM BRADY, BRAD SIMPSON, DAVE FARRELL AND RONAN KEATING ALL PLAY GOLF AND WOULD SURELY JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO PLAY ALONGSIDE SOME OF TODAY'S GREAT GOLFERS IN A SIMILAR FORMAT.
PRO-CELEBRITY GOLF WAS BROADCAST ON BBC FROM 1977 TO 1988 AND FEATURED SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST GOLFERS PLAYING ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS CELEBRITIES. THE SHOW WAS SHOT AT TURNBERRY AND GLENEAGLES AND WAS HOSTED BY PETER ALLISS, AND FEATURED THE LIKES OF GOLFERS LEE TREVINO, JOHNNY MILLER, SEVE BALLESTEROS, SANDY LYLE, FUZZY ZOELLER AND JERRY PATE, ALONGSIDE CELEBRITIES SUCH AS SEAN CONNERY, KEVIN KEEGAN, TREVOR BROOKING, BURT LANCASTER, HENRY COOPER, BRUCE FORSYTH AMONG OTHERS.
IT WAS AN ENTERTAINING AND WATCHABLE SHOW WHICH SHOWCASED THE LIGHTER SIDE OF THE SPORT IN STUNNING SURROUNDINGS, AND IMAGINE IF IT RETURNED IN THE 2020'S. THE LIKES OF DAVID BECKHAM, JAMIE REDKNAPP, GARY NEVILLE, ALAN SHEARER, SHANE WARNE, WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO, JOE ROOT, TOM BRADY, BRAD SIMPSON, DAVE FARRELL AND RONAN KEATING ALL PLAY GOLF AND WOULD SURELY JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO PLAY ALONGSIDE SOME OF TODAY'S GREAT GOLFERS IN A SIMILAR FORMAT.
SO THESE TWO TV SERIES COULD, ALONGSIDE A NEW WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP, DRIVE INTEREST IN THE GAME AND INCREASE PARTICIPATION, BUT TO FULFIL THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF PARTICIPANTS YOU NEED PLACES FOR THEM TO PLAY. PEOPLE TODAY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TIME TO PLAY 18 HOLES OF GOLF, BUT THEY DO HAVE TIME TO PLAY 9 HOLES, OR GO TO A DRIVING RANGE, OR EVEN A PITCH AND PUTT.
WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY THE OFFERING AND BUILD MORE 9 HOLE COURSES, AND DRIVING RANGES THAT AREN'T JUST A FIELD WITH SOME BAYS. WE ALSO NEED GOLF CAFES WITH PRACTICE NETS AND SIMULATORS.
GOLF IS THE GREATEST GAME OF ALL AND CAN AT ITS BEST BE A SOCIAL MELTING POT AND FORCE FOR GOOD. WE NEED TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO PLAY IT AND ENABLE THEM TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS GAME IN AN AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE WAY, 66.6 MILLION PEOPLE ENJOY THIS SPECTACULAR SPORT IN 2021, LET'S MAKE IT 100 MILLION IN 2031.
WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY THE OFFERING AND BUILD MORE 9 HOLE COURSES, AND DRIVING RANGES THAT AREN'T JUST A FIELD WITH SOME BAYS. WE ALSO NEED GOLF CAFES WITH PRACTICE NETS AND SIMULATORS.
GOLF IS THE GREATEST GAME OF ALL AND CAN AT ITS BEST BE A SOCIAL MELTING POT AND FORCE FOR GOOD. WE NEED TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO PLAY IT AND ENABLE THEM TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS GAME IN AN AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE WAY, 66.6 MILLION PEOPLE ENJOY THIS SPECTACULAR SPORT IN 2021, LET'S MAKE IT 100 MILLION IN 2031.
