10 Ways To Bring The Excitement Of The X-Games To The PGA Tour
Sunday, October 24th, 2010
Let’s face it – golf is boring. The excitement Tiger Woods brought to the game in 1997 has dissipated. It’s time we open the sport up to fans and usher in a new and diverse audience. The NASCAR model doesn’t work for all sports. It works for golf. In a sport driven by individuals, it’s critical for the governing bodies within the sport to recognize this and highlight the personalities and characters within the game. We all know plenty about Tiger and Phil, however there’s a plethora of other incredibly talented, engaging and endearing athletes out there that no one knows about.
Golfers are independent contractors. We don’t have teams or owners or upper management to answer to and appease. It’s the fans we need to worry about. Therefore, we should be embracing the viral web and using it to grow the sport. With the emergence of interactive new media channels like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and UStream, we have the ability to showcase the sport like never before. Now fans can reach out and practically touch their favorite players and players can control their own brand and message while giving fans an inside look at their lives. But, that’s old news. How can these platforms be used to elevate the sport to new levels of excitement? How can the PGA and LPGA Tours capture an X-Games level of excitement? How can the PGA of America and the R&A (Royal and Ancient) take a cue from NASCAR and create *real* fan loyalty? I’ve outlined a few key ways:
Photo by Jessica Hill/AP
2. Mic players and caddies – This idea has been toyed with on and off for years. The simple truth is this; some players and caddies just don’t want the world to hear their every word. So what. Highlight the ones who do. Showcase the characters and personalities within the sport. Let viewers hear the banter that goes on between the ropes. Most fans would be intrigued to hear just how little “golf talk” is actually going on. Moreover, fans would get to hear some great annecdotes, jokes and gamesmanship, not to mention learn how players calculate the variables associated with each shot.
3. Live stats and graphics on screen during coverage – Several casual fans (who admittedly don’t know much about golf) have told me how helpful and engaging it would be to see live numbers and graphics on screen “explaining” to them what the heck is going on. Viewers who don’t necessarily know the difference between a sand wedge and a pitching wedge or the difference between a high cut and a low draw could see what players are mulling over. Superimposing ProTracer graphics illustrating the flight and trajectory of the ball would be cool to show more frequently, as well. If we can educate the television audience they will develop a better understanding of the game and be more apt to tune in regularly.
4. Showcase one “stadium hole” at every event – There’s a reason the Waste Management Phoenix Open draws some of the biggest crowds on tour. It’s not a major or a marquee event in terms of the strength of the field, but it does have one major attraction: the famous #16 stadium hole. Creating a party atmosphere on one hole at every event would attract a younger demographic of college kids and young professionals. Furthermore, it gives each tournament an automatic selling point and marketing tool at each tour stop. Brands will also be more enticed to purchase corporate tent space if there’s a spectacle to behold. If patrons can post up and let the action come to them, there’s a greater likelihood they’ll show up.
Photo by Caryn Levy/PGA TOUR
5. Organize social networking events at each tour stop – Tweetups are a great way for like-minded fans to meet and interact at tournaments. Many networking events would require virtually no planning either. An impromptu social hour for tournament attendees can be set up with a single tweet. Taking it a step further, tournament organizers could get creative and host unique events like fashion shows, concerts or wine tastings. Each tour stop offers a new and different scene to explore and utilize. Many golf enthusiasts are business men and women who would greatly appreciate a chance to meet and connect with others in their local area and/or industry. Individual players could even use social media outlets to organize their own meet and greets with their specific fans. NASCAR understands that their fans develop a sense of loyalty to individual drivers. They get the importance of making each driver accessible to their individual fan base. The golf world should follow suit.
6. More matchplay tournaments – Most recreational and competitive golfers can agree that matchplay is not only more exciting to watch, but also more exciting to play. Bottom line. The drama that builds in a matchplay format is second to none. The PGA and LPGA Tours should recognize and capitalize on this simple truth. It’s as if everyone knows it but them! Not only would this boost tv ratings, but spectators can follow and root for their favorite player in a setting that feels more like a fast-paced prize fight and less like a four day marathon.
7. Fresh meat in the booth – If golf is going to be more exciting, then the people getting the message across need to be more exciting. It’s time to bring in a new crop of young, fresh and witty color commentators calling the action. George Lopez is nowhere near a golf expert, but listening to him in the booth at the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship was much more entertaining then putting up with Tom Abbot and Judy Rankin’s monotonous banter. Networks should be actively seeking out emerging, vibrant and captivating talent like Shane Bacon, Ryan Ballengee, Stephanie Wei and Patricia Hannigan to reinvigorate the sport. Golf is in dire need of fresh perspectives and youthful exuberance. For many, it’s not so much the golf that makes golf unwatchable, it’s the people *talking* golf that makes golf unwatchable. The next Gary McCord and David Feherty are out there just waiting to be discovered.
8. Highlight one player each week on the telecast – A great way to feature individual players and create fan loyalty is to select one player each week to follow around. “Featured groups” are typically the same guys simply reshuffled into different pairings week in and week out. Young, up-and-coming players and journeymen are generally left out of the mix. It would be entertaining for viewers to not only see a different featured player compete each week on the telecast, but also watch them going about their daily routine throughout the week. The audience would get to experience the ins and outs of life on tour from a different player’s perspective each week. Viewers would get some insight as to the habits and personality of each player going about their business. Cameras could follow them from the airport, to the hotel, out to dinner with their caddy, grinding on the putting green, working with their instructor(s), doing drills on the range, hanging out in the locker room, making appearances, attending a baseball game, having a beer with the guys, you name it. This would also aid in mixing up the coverage each week, thus keeping things fresh for viewers, thus keeping them interested, engaged and wanting more.
9. Live streaming music on every hole – This alone would make golf tournaments more enjoyable for spectators and players alike. Practically every golfer I know listens to music while they’re practicing or playing. So why not incorporate it into actual tournament play? Traditionalists would argue that golf is a game of quiet focus and solitude, however, I think most players would actually embrace this idea. Talk about changing the culture and vibe at golf tournaments! This would undoubtedly attract a younger and broader crowd.
10. Behind the scenes access driven by new media – It would be great to see networks utilizing platforms like UStream to conduct live interviews with players and deliver behind the scenes footage in real time. The live chat feature on UStream would allow fans to ask players questions directly. The live broadcasting feature allows for any spontaneous activity to be captured and shared virally on the spot. YouTube could be used to generate pre-tournament hype with viral videos featuring different players. Twitter could be used for giveaways and photo sharing. There are an infinite number of possibilities. The platforms are in place. Now it’s up to the organizers and players to create unique content. The internet is here to stay and golf is a global sport. Just imagine how many new fans we can bring to the sport if we harness the power of the web!
What are some other ways the PGA and LPGA Tours can capture the excitement of the X-Games? Let me know in the comments below.
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