by Craig Lemley | May 18, 2020 | 19th Hole
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Different but the same — that pretty much sums up the return of live golf broadcasts. Driving Relief, which pitted Rickie Fowler and Matt Wolff against Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy in 2-man skins game benefitting the American Nurses and CDC Foundations, was a welcome sight for all fans yearning for competitive golf. Marquee names playing for *high stakes on a Sunday is what we’ve been waiting for ever since the mid-tournament cancellation of the Players Championship in March. But as great as it was to see the return of some of the world’s best players, one can’t help but think it was a missed opportunity.
After the Players was cancelled nothing but bad news followed for another month-plus, and the pain became all too real with postponement of the 2020 Masters. Dark, dark times. But then, far off in the distance, a faint light began to flicker. The Philly Mick v Big Cat rematch was confirmed — with the added star-power of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady — just enough to whet our appetites. Then came our first course, one of the first live professional sports broadcasts in the Covid-era, Driving Relief.
Everyone knew things would be different, for obvious reasons, but it was hard not to get a little excited. I honestly didn’t care who was playing, the format, the course or anything else. Knowing I’d be watching golf on a Sunday afternoon was enough for me, or so I thought.
Sunday cocktail in-hand, I turned on the broadcast. I thought I had kept my expectations in check, but after the initial high from seeing my favorite player (big Rickie guy here) and Co. live on tv wore off, I was left wanting a whole lot more from the event. It wasn’t the players or the the nonexistent crowd at Seminole Golf Club that let me down. It wasn’t the format, camera angles, or shitty audio, either. The biggest let down, really, was being force fed everything not happening on the course, and that there was too damn much of it, like always.
With the scant broadcast experience I do have, I understand there’s A LOT of down time to fill in between the action, even more so when there’s only four players in the field. The best broadcasters are those who make us forget there’s nothing happening for a moment and can keep us engaged until play starts again. The problem with the Driving Relief broadcast was how blatantly obvious they made it. It’s hard to stomach off-camera voices rehashing the same storylines and phone interviews that go on for way too long and interfere with the action we tuned in to see in the first place. (I don’t care if you’re a fan of President Trump or not, that phoner was fucking agonizing.)
It truly was an “unprecedented” event, in line with 2020’s new catchphrase. Not a minute went by when we weren’t reminded of these “unprecedented times’ during commercials and the broadcast, as if everyone watching had an infant’s grasp on the the state of the world. The only respite came when we actually got to hear the the players talking to each other on the course, though we didn’t get nearly enough of that. I wouldn’t even be typing this had there been more focus on the players in between shots, really.
In hindsight, the whole thing was pretty much a new look to the same ol’ golf broadcast — leaving viewers with too much filler and not enough action. Sure, we got to see the guys rocking shorts and casual shirts carrying their own bags down the fairway. We got to see every shot and some banter here and there, too, but every golfer I know will tell you some of the most memorable moments happen in between shots. That’s what I want to see — the self depreciation after a bad shot, the smack-talk, the jokes and everything else, all of it. I want to see and hangout with the characters behind the stats — guys with ‘staches like that are people I want to know. I don’t want listen to the same voices stretching for a new angle on the same story to talk at me about hour after hour when I know the players are having a different conversation.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the event and ready to watch more. But golf had a chance to give the fans, and the world, a completely new perspective of the game. I believe DJ, Wolff, Rickie and Rory were all prepared to play their part in that — look no further than Rickie’s outfit and Wolff’s handlebar mustache. The cameras were there and the mics were hot, but the networks whiffed. At a time when golf is one of the few sports allowed to be played you’d think the powers that be would take advantage of the opportunity and focus on drawing more people in to grow the game, not pandering to the Covid storylines and delivering a quarantine version of the same ol’ broadcast.
Golf gets a second chance on Sunday with The Match, and the opportunity to deliver something truly special is enormous. You have Woods and Mickelson, two modern day icons in the golf world in squaring off with two more iconic sports figures. This is a chance for the sport to produce something they haven’t been able to before, to reach a market it’s never had access to before, a chance to show a side of the game many haven’t seen before — the fun, everyman’s game. Give us more than the scores and analysis, give us more on-course banter and less broadcast filler. Stop giving us hope for a better tomorrow “in these unprecedented times” and make us feel like those days are already here.
For many, golf was already an escape from the cruelties of reality, and even more so today — now’s the time to offer it to a larger audience.
by Craig Lemley | Jan 13, 2020 | 19th Hole
Apologies for the pixelated screenshot, but, you know, photo rights and all…
As far as golf social media was concerned, last weekend wasn’t about the passing of legendary course architect Pete Dye, or Cameron Smith’s emotional win at the Sony Open, Inbee Park’s Player of the Decade Award or, for that matter, any thing of substance. All eyes were focused on 10 year-old Charlie Woods’ golf swing.
Amateur video of Woods warming up on the range before a junior event in Florida was posted on Saturday and instantly went viral. From a less-than-ideal angle you can see young Woods’ absolutely roping a shot down range — thanks to a swing motion many can only dream of — with his daddy/caddy, Tiger Woods, looking on dutifully.
Doing what social media does best, unsolicited swing analysis, major predictions and comparisons to his father flooded the comment threads, mostly heralding the kid’s talent — rightfully so.
But of course, again doing what social media does best, there were plenty of those pointing out everything wrong with the video. Not what was wrong with Charlie’s swing — it’s hard to find anything wrong with that — but how wrong it was that the video was made public in the first place.
Depending on which comments rabbit hole you went down, the naysaying ranged from merely disappointed to downright accusatory, including claims that putting Woods in the spotlight will put undue pressure on him and even accusations that whomever shot the video was akin to something of a predator.
Really? I wasn’t going to take a side when I started this post — simply because it’s a stupid argument to be having. But now I’m leaning more towards the side telling the naysayers to pump the brakes.
The video wasn’t shot by some child golf pornographer ‘hiding in the bushes,’ it was shared from the venue at which Woods was competing. Claiming it’s not meant for public eyes is all but total bullshit too, considering the juniors’ score are all posted online for anyone to see (Woods finished ninth in the event, by the way). Saying ‘he’s just a kid’ or ‘undue pressure’ and blah, blah, blah doesn’t really fly, either — he’s an extension of his dad’s celebrity status, he was born into the limelight, none of us are putting him anywhere. And if Charlie ends up not paying golf professionally, whether because he hates it or not, it’s no one’s business but his own.
Charlie’s swing video wasn’t posted for any reason other than he’s the son of the greatest golfer to ever play the game, and he has a badass golf swing, just like his dad. Hell, we’ve been watching Tiger since before his preteens, and it’s nothing but speculation to say his career-derailing antics in the past stemmed from living under constant public scrutiny (though it very well may have). All in all, Tiger turned out pretty alright in the grand scheme of things, and I expect Charlie will end up the same playing golf or not.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B51EAxJlkna/
We’re already talking about Michelle Wei’s unborn baby and Serena Williams’ before hers. We’ve been watching Lebron James’, Kobe Bryant’s, Steph Curry’s and others’ kids on fucking SportsCenter for years. And careers have been made by following celebrities and their families ever since being famous was a thing — all because the public actually does want to see and talk about it, period. It’s how we lowly fans can “relate” to the people living lives we will never experience — no matter how asinine that sounds.
At a time when we all know someone(s) who’s created social media accounts for their babies, their pets, their hobbies — and anything thing else they can think of — I really didn’t expect to see such ire over a video of a 10 year-old’s golf swing.
Anyways, rest in peace, Pete.
by Craig Lemley | Feb 21, 2018 | 19th Hole
2017 LDET Champion Matt Nicolle, England. (Photo: Courtesy Long Drivers European Tour)
Look, Ma, we made it!
Long Drivers European Tour has announced a new media partnership with CGB for the upcoming 2018 season, and to say we’re excited for the opportunity is understatement.
Here’s a quote from yours truly in a press release issued by LDET:
“We’re witnessing a rejuvenated energy in the game right now, and at the forefront of that are these exciting tour athletes and events and their ability to attract and connect with younger golfers,” ColoradoGolfBlog Co-Founder Craig Lemley says. “We’ve worked with athletes before, but to have a renown professional tour like LDET embrace what we’re doing on social media, and invite us to be a trusted media partner means a lot.”
2017 LDET Champion Matt Nicolle (pictured above), who won four LDET events and earned four top-three finishes last year, looks to defend his title against players from all over Europe, the U.S., Dubai, Abu Dhabi, South Africa, and more. But the 2018 LDET season will also bring an exciting array of new storylines, including the tour’s first Nations Cup competition (Sept. 21-22 at the Château De Taulane) featuring international teams in a first-of-its-kind event, select pro-am competitions and special contests, and the tour’s debut in Russia (Russia Championship, June 2-3 at Peterhof Golf Club, St. Petersburg).
On top of all that, you have us to bring you the LDET news, event results, athlete interviews and more — as only we know how — beginning at the season-opening event April 7th and 8th (Hotel Golf Château de Chailly) throughout the 2018 season. (Follow us here and on Instagram @coloradogolfblog.)
With this year’s tour set to be better than ever, LDET Founder and CEO Xavier Eusebio sees promise in partnering with CGB for the sixth season of the tour. “For us to have CGB on board as official partner is really great,” Eusebio says in the release. “Social media is very important nowadays and we believe CGB will do an excellent job promoting the Tour worldwide.”
And we’re up for the challenge. As I note in the release, CGB couldn’t have asked for a better time to get involved with this tour.
You may be asking yourself, why would a European tour want to work with Colorado-golfblog? (We definitely thought the same thing for a moment there.) The answer is pretty simple: What started as ColoradoGolfBlog, between a couple friends in a frigid garage two years ago, has exploded into something we never could have imagined, and brought with it a global reach we never thought we would have.
We set out to change the game in the state we love as CGB — and we’re still going to — but along the way we’ve stumbled upon a chance to be a part of that change on an even bigger scale. And we’re damn sure not going to pass that up.
by Craig Lemley | Sep 4, 2017 | 19th Hole
CGB isn’t above tooting our own horn from time to time, especially when we see other change-makers in the industry seeing us (that makes sense, right?).
The second issue of GolfStatus magazine, the publishing arm of the golf-centric tech company, gives a nod to a number of familiar faces working hard to make golf great again along with CGB; Beautiful Golf Courses (@beautifulgolfcourses), GolfBalled (@golfballed), and Women With Drive (@womenwithdrive) round out the rest of the Q&As in the piece titled “The Next Generation of Golf: How Millennials are Changing the Game.”
The GolfStatus folks did all the legwork for the project and repetition won’t do that any justice — so be sure to check it out — in short, a new generation of players has arrived to change the game, and the change is happening online.
A snippet from the CGB interview:
GolfStatus: How is social media changing the game?
CGB: So many people were turned off of golf because of its reputation and image, but we’re changing that image … We just go out there and be ourselves. And the market is responding.
GolfStatus itself is on the front lines of bringing golf into the digital mainstream. It’s a mobile platform designed to connect golfers with the information they need on the course, and connecting courses and marketers with a new generation of tech savvy players.
Golf isn’t about stuffy clubhouses chock-full of snobby elites and inflated egos, it never should have been. Golf is a game anyone can play — and should — it’s a wonderful equalizer, and just a damn good time. This beautiful game is back on the up-and-up, and not just because of underground change-makers. Change was a long time coming, and though some may not like it, it’s going to happen. We’re just glad to be along for the ride.
by Craig Lemley | Jan 10, 2017 | 19th Hole
You can now follow the CGB crew from tee to green as we take to the world’s premiere courses in friendly competition. Back tracking a little bit, we’re talking about playing video games, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour to be exact, and streaming live via SwingCast on Twitch.
Colorado Golf Blog picks up the sticks Monday evenings from 7-Midnight (MST), shooting for prizes for viewers (including cash for hole-in-ones) and doing what we do best — talking trash, and playing golf our way (read: under the influence).
As a group of golfers who grew up in the era when Tiger Woods video games reigned supreme, we were pretty confident our years of experience would translate to the more recent Rory franchise. Not so. We’ve had to say goodbye to the flyover view features and the magic of “Tiger Vision” to make things interesting. If we’ve learned anything so far it’s that golf video games bring out the same exact emotions we have on the course, for better or worse — and that being belittled by 12-year-old gaming addicts only adds another layer to it.
Download the free Twitch app for any of your mobile and gaming devices and follow cofounder Lee Johnson, contributors Seth Bates, Travis Bromley, Blaine Willeford, and more from the CGB crew each Monday for a look at how we play the game.
