It Was Twenty Years Ago Today....

It's a bluebird day here in Park City, but I always have time for my readers.  Both of you...

Cue Sgt. Peppers - My how time flies...were you, Dear Reader, aware that Gold Channel went live twenty years ago today?  I know, it's hard to remember back to when it didn't exist, but we all thought those guys were, you know, crazy to think that a channel devoted exclusively to our silly game could work.  

Twenty years ago on Saturday, Arnold Palmer flipped a ceremonial switch to launch a

risky venture that cynics saw as an easy punch line. 

The Golf Channel? 

Tennis magazine mocked the idea as "24 hours of chubby guys in bad clothes speaking in jargon that only they understand." Rick Reilly, in his column for Sports Illustrated, suggested programming that included "Body by Jack," a workout session with Jack Nicklaus in which he "takes you through a 30-minute routine you can do without getting out of the cart."

I guess they don't have mirrors at Tennis Mag's HQ?  Here's some more background:

The network was launched on Jan. 17, 1995, and could be seen in about 10,000 homes. It began as a premium fee ($6.95) and changed to part of a basic cable package by the end of the year, helping it to reach 1.4 million homes.

Twenty years later, Golf Channel can be seen in roughly 120 million homes in 83 countries and is broadcast in 12 languages around the world. Its offices in Orlando, Florida, have more than quadrupled to 160,000 square feet. 

And there is no shortage of programming.

As you're suffering through the fourth rerun of Big Break Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan you might naturally question that last assertion... Golf Channel's website has lots of content celebrating themselves, including galleries of the Twenty Top "Ooops" Moments (Can you say van De Velde?) and Twenty Greatest Shots (Karen Stupples?  I kknow she's on the payroll,  but surely you jest?).

Not Wrong, Just Early - In yesterday's post I took a moderately cheap shot at the Golfweek headline writer that indicated that Martin Kaymer was threatening to run away from the field in Abu Dhabi.  Upon further review, the decision on the field is over-turned and Martin Kaymer has officially left the field in his dust, with a six stroke lead after 54 holes.

In the immortal words of Emily Litella, "never mind."

Whatever We Had Once Is Gone - Here's my problem...OK, to be completely honest, it's one of many.  I've fallen hopelessly, head-over-heels in love with this girl:

I mean who wouldn't?  But I find this woman oddly threatening:

I don't know what it is, but something's changed...At least we'll always have Paris.

Hope Springs Eternal - Careful readers may have noticed that I've been something of a skeptic as relates to Olympic golf....I know, it was really subtle, don't berate yourself if you didn't pick up on it.  

I have a simple rule of thumb here, if the Olympics is the sin qua non of a sport then it belongs, if not then it doesn't.  The answer in the case of golf is quite obvious, as our game already has too many events thanks to a certain commissioner of a prominent tour.

But thanks to Shack for spotting and linking to this Bob Harig piece about Mike Davis' involvement in the process.  Harig uses the ongoing LAAC in Buenos Aires as his hook, which is curious given that that event is the far more meaningful initiative, though the specific players involved are a few years away from Olympic consideration.

Now readers will know that I'm a big fan of Mike Davis, who has made the U.S. Open a far more interesting event and made many other invaluable contributions to our game.  So, with Mike involved, how did we end up with the dreadful 72-hole stroke play format:

"The reason 72-hole stroke play is in place for 2016 is when we had to submit our bid to the IOC [International Olympic Committee in 2009], that was really the safest bid. It's something the IOC and professional golf, elite golfers, understand: 72-hole stroke play. We weren't presenting something new and unique. 

"I think one of the things the IGF will look at in the future is can we somehow get match play involved, can we get a team aspect, can there be a way that maybe men and women could play together. But first we want to have a great Olympics in 2016, and then our board will look at that and I think it's something we'll explore."

A couple of reactions here.... first, it was widely thought at the time that the stroke play format was a sop to ensure the participation of a certain individual golfer, with the reader able to readily fill in the name.  Secondly, risk is a funny issue, as I could equally argue that the dreadful format might result in a one-and-done scenario, precluding a 2020 mulligan.

I've long maintained that golf's marriage with the IOC is an awkward fit, as the latter organization has little interest in promoting our game (that's not even to speak of the profound corruption of the IOC that dictates the choice of venues and the like).  But this is where it gets interesting:

He said he would love for there to be more than 60 players per event, but the IOC was concerned about having too many players, due to the challenges of housing so many of them throughout the Olympics. 

That dilemma took on an interesting twist when at first the IOC balked at the players using caddies during the competition. "Could you imagine them having to carry their bags?" Davis said.

That last graph is good fun, but it highlights how awkward the fit is...  When you see how the Olympics' logistical issues affects things like field size and composition (remember, thirty of those sixty players will not be competitive) and format, one has to ask if it's worth the effort.  Golf in the Olympics might well set us back, instead of providing the anticipated boost. 

Apocalypse Not - Reports of golf's demise, pace Mark Twain, have been greatly exaggerated.  John Strege files an interesting post on adjusting the metrics for weather, with the following results on a "Days Open" basis:

— Rounds per day open were up 1.4 percent year-to-date through November, 2014.

— Golf fee revenue per day open was up 2.2 percent year-to-date.
— Merchandise revenue per day open was up 2.6 percent year-to-date. 

— Thirty-three states showed growth in rounds played per day open.

 Don't you feel better now?  Just remember, #golfisanichesport.