Sep 05

Walker Cup Telecast Translates to a Mere Glimpse of Magnificent Royal County Down

We the golf-viewing public of the USA are getting Royally screwed this weekend when the Walker Cup will be played at one of the greatest - if not THE greatest - golf courses in the world: Royal County Down, aka Newcastle.

A total of 24 matches will be played at the Royal County Down course during the two-day competition. Four foursomes (alternate shot) and eight singles matches are played on each of the two days of competition. ABC in its infinite wisdom will telecast only the final 2 hours of the competition on Sunday starting at 2pm EST. What that translates to, after the highlights of Saturday’s 12 matches and the 4 Sunday morning matches to get us caught up, is us getting to watch the last handful of matches played out on the last few holes. How sad that is for us armchair golf travelers.

On the one hand, it will be nice to see a handful of holes on the back nine. But on the other hand, how cruel to limit us to just those few holes. By worldwide unanimous acclaim, the course at Royal County Down has some of the most spectacular and challenging golf links on the planet. No wonder ABC is getting dumped from the golf-televising business.

« Forget FedEx: Fabulous Walker Cup Whets the Appetite for Solheim Cup

Watching Lorena Ochoa Play Golf is Pure Joy »

8 comments

§ Brandon Tucker® said on : 09/05/07 @ 15:40
just the back nine?!? A true shame, considering it's an inferior nine compared to the front. They could show two hours of tee shots off the 9th tee alone, one of the most spectacular drives on the planet!!
§ Shanks® said on : 09/06/07 @ 08:16
You know the first 15-20 minutes will be highlights to get us up to speed, then there's only 1-1/2 hours of broadcast left. Assuming they go to live action, it figures the last match on the course will already have made the turn to the inward nine. But the focus will be on the matches as they are ending, which will likely be on the last 4-5 holes. Very, very disappointing.
§ Ron Mon® said on : 09/06/07 @ 15:53
Go back to 1985 and Pine Valley. Imagine how pissed off you would have been.
§ Shanks® said on : 09/10/07 @ 09:35
Didn't even get to see a handful of holes. Basically were limited to the last three, with the exception of a few shots of putts holed on other greens. What a gyp.
§ wendy said on : 09/10/07 @ 10:19
Sorry to put the boot in, but the Walker Cup was shown live here on BBC and I watched every shot! I love the coverage of these team events as one gets to see EVERY match and EVERY player, not just 6 hours of TW scratching his left elbow. Scenery was great - contest incredible - many congratulations on the win.
§ Shanks® said on : 09/10/07 @ 11:19
Wendy, from what highlights were shown here in the US, those GB&I lads were absolutely incredible in the Sunday singles. Well played all the way around. Why the Golf Channel or ABC didn't take advantage of the coverage available, I haven't a clue.
§ wendy said on : 09/10/07 @ 13:34
Shanks, although Jonathan Moore put a stake through my heart with that eagle, it has to be down to the morning foursomes 4-0 USA. Quotes from "The Times" today. "There is a view prevalent in some sports and some of the corners of the professional game that amateur golf is dead. Anyone who held that view on the eve of this Walker Cup was a person without a soul". A view you might share? "The event was almost faultless. It had excitement, drama, skill, mistakes, heroism. It was played in an excellent spirit over a beautifully prepared course in a stunning setting. Not only that, but the better team won - just". By the way, there are NO breaks for adverts on the BBC so adequate provisions must be to hand. It's a hard life, but I bear up bravely.
§ Shanks® said on : 09/10/07 @ 14:37
No ads? Lord, have mercy. Must be reminiscent of the life of the Royal Guard at times - especially near the end of a stirring contest such as this Walker Cup.

I'm already looking forward to the next WC at Merion CC. Hope to be there in person. Unfortunately for the players and the patrons, it will be in mid-August. Temperatures are likely to be around 90F with high humidity. Ugh.