“TV ratings up the first month of golf” plus 2 more |
- TV ratings up the first month of golf
- The Golf Guy Grill Room
- McConnell Golf, LLC Makes its Stamp on PGA TOUR with Acquisition of Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
| TV ratings up the first month of golf Posted: 01 Feb 2011 04:17 PM PST Updated: February 1, 2011, 6:52 PM ET SAN DIEGO -- PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said golf doesn't depend solely on TV ratings, although good news never hurts. Golf has shown some promise the first month of the year, with significant increases in viewers on The Golf Channel, which broadcast the opening three events and the first two rounds of Torrey Pines; and CBS Sports, which had the weekend at Torrey. Even without Tiger Woods around -- he tied for 44th in the Farmers Insurance Open and was on the air for about 30 minutes Sunday -- CBS said its national rating for the final round was 3.5 with a 7 share, which was up 59 percent from a year ago. The Golf Channel, meanwhile, said it got a 1.0 with 997,000 viewers for the first round of Torrey Pines, which was up 89 percent from last year. It said the season-opening Tournament of Championship was up 38 percent, and the Bob Hope Classic was up 60 percent, despite the final round going up against the NFC and AFC Championship games. Finchem described ratings as a "unique animal," and said golf depends on them less than other television programs. The tour over the last few years has touted "cumulative audience" because it is on TV for some six hours on the weekend. He also mentioned that golf ratings were hurt last year by a successful Winter Olympics, Woods being out of action for the first three months of the season and having his worst year, and by the NFL having one of its best years. "We'll see how we perform this year," he said last week. "We're up a little bit early in the year, but it's way early." It might have helped golf its first network coverage came on a weekend when the East Coast was buried under snow.
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| Posted: 02 Feb 2011 12:11 PM PST By THE GOLF GUY Posted: February 2, 2011 "Hey Bartender..." Well, it's official ... it's party time on the PGA Tour as the Tour makes its way to Scottsdale, Ariz., for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, or as it is more appropriately known, 'The Greatest Show on Grass.' And my new favorite bartender, Mr. Sheen, offers up this tip for golf fans attending the event in person: "It's going to be a long, loooong day so be wise and pace yourself on the boozy woozy. Ice cold beer during the day and then maybe kick it up a notch with Red Bull and vodkas at night." Granted, Mr. Sheen had other ideas on how to 'keep things going,' but I'll jump in at this point and say 'drink lots of water.' A Picture is Worth ... whatever it takes "Note to self: Next year, along with rainsuit and extra golf shirts, be sure to pack a robe and a turban in case I win this thing again. I feel sooooo underdressed." Phoenix Open Grab Bag Living up to its name of 'The Greatest Show on Grass,' the annual Tour stop in Scottsdale has not disappointed, especially when talking about hole-in-ones. There have been seven aces in history at the raucous par-3 16th – including the video below of the wild crowd reaction of Tiger's famous hole-in-one back in 2001. The par-4 17th was also the scene of one of the rarest feats in all of golf, Andrew Magee's double eagle. Magee's tee shot, while the group in front of him was still on the green, hit off Tom Byrum's putter and ultimately rolled into the cup ... for the only ace on a par-4 in PGA Tour history.
. I Ask ... You Answer In honor of TPC Scottsdale's par-3 16th, I ask you this: Last week's result: When asked which kind of player is worse to play with, an extremely slow player or a extremely high handicap, the readers spoke loud and clear – death to the slow player! OK, that's a bit harsh, but you slow players out there take notice. Travel Advisor OK, so there's really not much to debate about what to do when attending the Waste Management Open in Scottsdale. Just head to the golf course ... and stay there all day. And night. The famed 'Birds Nest' is right there on property. Easy peasy, japaneasy. Then try like hell to figure out how to get some sleep and do it all over again the next day. And the next day. And then one last time on Sunday. And then, head home with your tail between your legs and a story to explain the black eye you woke up with on Saturday morning. Oh, and enjoy the never-ending variety of t-shirts on display (see above). Quotes ... From the Vault
"You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way." – Walter Hagen Kibbles 'n Bits
While watching a little pre-game hype early this week, my dog Mikko asked me who I was betting on to win the Super Bowl. I told my furry little friend that gambling is illegal and that it's a bad habit. After we both laughed a hearty laugh, I told him that we would make a friendly wager. If Mikko wins, he gets an extra bag of Pupperoni's; If I win, he has to clean up his own doo-doo for a week when out for our walks. It was settled – he was taking the Steelers (because of his own hair colors) and I was taking the Packers (I like Aaron Rodgers playing indoors). Mikko also took heads for the pre-game coin toss. A Golf Guy Useless Top-5 List With the abovementioned Super Bowl at hand, the party-style atmosphere going on in Phoenix and with the recent Oscar nominations, the Golf Guy offers up some following top-5 lists to accompany each event: All-Time Best NFL Teams: '92 Dallas Cowboys; '85 Chicago Bears; '78 Pittsburgh Steelers; '89 San Francisco 49ers; '72 Miami Dolphins. Best Party Venues for a Golf Tournament: Waste Management Open; any Ryder Cup; any major championship; The Players Championship; BMW Championship in Chicago. Golf Golf's Favorite Actors to Change Places with for a Day: George Clooney; Leonardo DiCaprio; Paul Rudd; Jason Bateman; Ed Burns. Stat-a-licious Ryuji Imada opened with a rock-solid 5-under 67 last Thursday at the Farmers. Later that day he went to bed. The next day he got out of bed and played Round 2. He should have stayed in bed. He went from near the top of the leaderboard to a MC after a not-so-sublime 9-over 81. Sometimes staying under the covers is the best option... The four winners this year on the European Tour are reigning British Open champion and world No. 19 Louis Oosthuizen, No. 24 Charl Schwartzel, reigning PGA champion and world No. 2 Martin Kaymer and world No. 6 Paul Casey. The PGA Tour? Jonathan Byrd, Mark Wilson, Jhonattan Vegas and No. 18 Bubba Watson. No offense to J-Byrd, Mr. Wilson, Jhonny Vegas and Bubba. Just sayin'. Follow Golf Guy on Twitter @GCGolfGuy This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Posted: 02 Feb 2011 12:56 PM PST - Renowned Donald Ross design hosts the world's best during Wyndham Championship, becomes McConnell Golf's seventh course in Carolinas McConnell Golf, LLC has announced the purchase of its seventh premier golf club in the Carolinas, Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., a renowned Donald Ross design and site of PGA TOUR's Wyndham Championship. Sedgefield CC's membership debated the possible sale throughout most of 2010, and after considering all options decided that the sale to McConnell was in the best interest of the legendary club, reaching its final decision with a vote in December 2010. Sedgefield CC has been a member-owned, private club since its founding in 1925. Sedgefield CC is home of the Wyndham Championship, the Piedmont Triad's annual PGA TOUR event, which began in 1938 as the Greater Greensboro Open (GGO). Sam Snead won the inaugural tournament and would go on to capture the GGO eight times. From1938 to1961, Sedgefield was the alternate site of the GGO with Starmount Forest Country Club, and Sedgefield hosted the GGO for 16 consecutive years through 1976. The tournament moved to Forest Oaks Country Club in 1977. In 2007, Sedgefield made more than $3 million in course improvements to restore the Ross-designed course to its original specifications with tweaks to accommodate modern golf technology. Noted Donald Ross course restoration architect Kris Spence led the restoration, and the Wyndham returned home to Sedgefield prior to the 2008 tournament. Wyndham Championship tournament director Mark Brazil hailed McConnell Golf's purchase of Sedgefield as a positive move. Brazil knows McConnell Golf has a history of upgrading its previous six clubs. "We are very happy for the Sedgefield membership and McConnell Golf because this purchase is very positive," Brazil said. "We know John McConnell and his track record is impressive, so we understand the significance of this transaction, how it will affect the Wyndham Championship's host course, and what it means for the future of the club and the tournament. "If history is any indication, John will make significant enhancements at Sedgefield which will upgrade what is already a beautiful club," Brazil said. "This transaction is fantastic for all parties, which is why we have been in favor of it since the time we first heard it was being considered. We look forward to working with our new partners at McConnell Golf." Along with adding another Donald Ross-designed classic to McConnell Golf stable of premier offerings, the Sedgefield CC acquisition strategically complements McConnell Golf's existing portfolio of golf properties and will receive the same superior level of restoration and enhancements dedicated to all McConnell Golf clubs. McConnell Golf's purchase of The Reserve in Pawleys Island, S.C., in spring 2010 brought Greg Norman's name to an already impressive ensemble of golf course architects at the other McConnell Golf clubs: Ross, Tom Fazio, Pete Dye and Arnold Palmer. McConnell Golf offers its country club members an unusual deal: Those who pay an initiation fee at one course gain access to all seven. With full golfing privileges at all McConnell Golf properties , members enjoy the benefits of playing a selection of top-ranked courses all maintained to the same high standards associated with any McConnell Golf Club. McConnell Golf is an organization dedicated to delivering quality golf and amenities to its members. Owning strategically located courses throughout the Carolinas is a big part of the overall plan that brings exceptional value to its now 1,500-plus membership. "The Greensboro Triad area of North Carolina is a fertile market," said John McConnell, CEO and President of McConnell Golf. "We can now deliver our multiple-club experience to golfers in this region. We believe owning two courses in Greensboro — one on the north end of the city and one on the south side — offers our members better value." About McConnell Golf This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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