By Alan Watson, President, GOLF+ Dothan and PCB
When I was young I would watch golf on television with my father. The picture was grainy, the ball was hard to follow in the air, and the limited number of cameras didn’t allow for much of the course and the golfers to be seen. Today all that has changed with technology but that’s not all that has changed. The way we consume golf has changed. A lot.
More than ever, YouTube is the preferred place for golfers to consume and view golf. Gone are the days of CBS covering only the back nine at Augusta each year for the Masters. Now we can see every hole, every tournament, and every shot. Thanks to streaming networks, YouTube, and even mobile platforms we can keep up with the professional tours and the average golfers alike at any time of the day or night.
Golfers are watching golf podcasts, club reviews, course tours, and more and the number of viewers doing it is staggering. There were three billion streams on YouTube for golf-related content last year. The PGA Tour had a few million viewers all season on television networks. The difference is mind-boggling.
So what does this all say about golf, golfers, and the future? Well for sure in the short term, it says that people are longing for more than just tournament play content. They want to see golf in some form daily. I’ve even heard that recently people are watching golfers play simulator golf online. Imagine watching someone play indoor golf for hours!
It’s happening!
People watch golf lessons, course tours, equipment reviews, versus matches, and of course, there is plenty of golf comedy as well with “fail” videos. One channel is dedicated to a group of golfers sitting on tee boxes insulting golfers in an effort to try and get them to back off from their shot. There is truly something for everyone online with the wide world of golf videos.
My staff even uses YouTube for training on information from the manufacturers and our customer base is more informed than ever. I see that as a direct result of YouTube.
When the LIV tour first launched they weren’t even on television. You could only watch it on their website’s live stream. Today they have television coverage but more people view their content online than in the traditional manner of television.
This trend seems to be becoming the norm and I don’t feel like CBS, Golf Channel and TNT really have much to offer in comparison to the many and varied options of the internet. Some networks are partnering with online streaming channels to double down on the chances that you will have a place to see golf. However, the main source for all things golf is now YouTube.
Head on over there and see what you can find for golf content that speaks to you. Maybe it’s a golf lesson, maybe it’s comedy, or maybe it is an equipment review. Personally, I love the Tour Truck Tours from the manufacturers.
As always – Fairways and Greens.
