Do you like to watch golf on TV or in person?
Do you like to watch golf on TV or in person?
Hi, I’m Mel Sole, Director of Instruction at the Mel Sole Golf School, headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club in Pawleys Island, SC. We conduct 1, 2, and 3-day golf schools, hourly golf lessons, and senior golf schools—any golf instruction program your heart desires. Give us a call at 800-624-4653 or 843-237-4993. We will be happy to book a commuter school or a package that contains accommodations, golf, and golf school.
Golf Blog by the Mel Sole Golf School.
I make sure I'm not out of town the week of a Major.
Working schedule around the majors is important to me. I love watching the Majors on TV! As an amateur in South Africa, I walked around following Gary Player in almost every tournament he played in. Later as a golf professional, I no longer did that. Today, I would much rather sit in my easy chair and watch in the comfort of my living room. But tons of golfers absolutely love to watch these tournaments live. You cannot get that "electric" feeling at home.
Here Richard Fellner of Inside Golf Magazine gives his viewpoint on the subject. Please let me know your own comments below.
Attending a major golf tournament in person.
Do you like to watch golf on TV or in person? When it comes to majors, I would much prefer to be there. This is a step up from other live tournaments, while it is also a far different experience than, say, watching it on TV. In some ways, it is significantly more exciting. In other ways, however, it can really leave you "out of the loop" as to what is going on.
The first thing you notice at a major is the extra buzz in the air. You can sense it in the crowds, and you can even feel it when watching the players practice or warm up. Everywhere from the grandstands to the gift shop, to even the airport, pubs and restaurants in the host city, there is distinct feeling that screams, "This is something special."
Getting a better feel for the Course.
Seeing a tournament in person gives you a much better feel for the course, and how the players approach each hole. The two-dimensional view of TV does not successfully present the nuances of the fairways, the speed of greens, the thickness of the rough or the overall difficulty of a shot. This is especially important when the tournament is a major, as everything is cranked up a notch, and the courses are usually tougher than standard. The recent U.S. Open at Olympic, for example, was a far more difficult course than the TV broadcast showed, as the sloped fairways and tiered greens must be seen live in order to be fully appreciated. Same goes with St. Andrews, Augusta, etc.
Watching how players prepare and play!
Watching how the players approach a hole is also a great benefit to seeing it live. Which side of the teebox do they start from, how narrow is the fairway when viewed from the tee, what is their intended line and landing area, how much did they shape their shot to avoid a bunker, etc. You cannot really appreciate it as much when seeing it on TV. And the added pressure of a major makes these holes (and shots) that much more pivotal.
You can also walk around watching your favorite players battle it out on the toughest courses in the world. Here in Australia, a TV broadcast of an overseas tournament may show only four or five shots by an Australian over an entire week (unless they are leading). Seeing it live, however, you can watch every shot by your top player, should you choose.
Tiger Woods.
That said, if your favorite player is, say Tiger Woods or a world top 10 player, then you probably won't see much of them through the enormous crowds that usually line the fairways for these players. Tiger fans, for example, will camp out for an hour or more to see one shot. Then jump ahead three or four holes to camp out again and wait for him to come around. But if it is a major, then there are more top-quality players in the field, so you'll have more players to choose from.
The biggest disadvantage to seeing a major in person, however, is sometimes feeling "out of the loop." Whereas TV broadcasts can jump around to different pairings and show someone charging up a leaderboard on a Sunday, you really miss out on this when seeing it live.
The Augusta Roar!
When you hear a roar of the crowd somewhere across the course, you can sometimes feel disappointed that you didn't see it at all. This can make it feel anticlimactic when you follow the leaders, only to find that neither of them won. Even if you have one of the earpiece radios, you still miss out a bit. The mini TVs that the sponsors gave out at The Presidents Cup were outstanding.
Sure, you can go to one of the giant TV screens situated in the food courts or hospitality areas around the course. But then that is not really different from watching it at home.
Some courses are also poor "spectator courses," which can detract from the overall experience. St. Andrews, for example, is not a very spectator-friendly course. Whereas on many courses the spectators can line both sides of a fairway and get good views of the players, The Links at St Andrews is designed and routed in such a way that spectators can only view a hole from the perimeter of the course, or just one side of a fairway on many holes. And with the rolling mounds and gorse everywhere, it is almost impossible to see anything unless you claim a top spot very early.
And with the cold wind and rain that is very common there, it can make for a tough day as a spectator.
Go to the early rounds.
If I were to offer some advice, I'd recommend going to one of the early rounds. The Tuesday/Wednesday practice days are by far the best for getting autographs and photos. Thursdays and Fridays are good to see the most players, before the cut is determined. Saturday is fair because you can see good pin positions for "Moving Day," but the crowds are usually big. I'd avoid Sundays, as the crowds are larger, and the drama is better seen on TV.
Have you ever wondered what media members do at these tournaments. We usually spend most of Wednesday or Thursdays out on the course or practice range watching or interviewing the players. Its the photogrphersd who will be out there on Sunday. Catching the action! The rest of the time (especially on Sundays) we sit in the media center watching a giant TV and leaderboard. It seems silly, but that is still the best way to watch a tournament.
Do you like to watch golf on TV or in person? After reading this article has it changed your mind. Post in the comments below!
Sources: Sporting News Inside Golf Magazine Richard Fellner Mel Sole Golf School.
Pictures: Dion Hinchcliffe Hugh Grew
Thanks for reading - Do you like to watch golf on TV or in person? I'm a couch potato during Major Championships!
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