New Golf Channel Reality Show: Cross Country Golf, Almost

There is a grand tradition of cross country golf dares through the ages, though few examples of late with the threat of lawyers and public safety entering the picture.

Not long ago in Golf Digest I wrote about one of the nuttiest, coolest cross country players (Freddie Tait) and the attempts to replicate his feat by golfers at Royal St. Georges and Royal Cinque Ports. Jerry Tarde even predicted in his editor's column previewing the piece, "I think I see a smash Golf Channel event in the making."

Well it's not quite authentic cross country golf, but Golf Channel is trying a new reality show that takes elements of zany, cross-course play, but tries to speed things up. I always imagined the real fun of trying to navigate a weird way around a course would be most fascinating as players stop and mull their options (over the parking lot?), but the new Altered Course show will be done by young athletic types going as fast as they can. Can't say I'm excited about that part, but maybe it'll work.

The show is slated for this summer.

G.C. Digital's take on the new show and the full press release:

GOLF CHANNEL ANNOUNCES NEW COMPETITION SERIES, ALTERED COURSE

Teams to Compete on Extraordinary Hole Layouts Exceeding 700 Yards Requiring Daring Golf Shots, While Racing Against Time

Production for Series’ Inaugural Season Slated for Montego Bay, Jamaica, Premiering in Summer, 2015

ORLANDO, Fla., March 2, 2015 – Golf Channel announced today a new reality competition series, Altered Course, currently in production that combines golf, speed, fitness, teamwork and decision-making as teams navigate re-imagined and extreme golf holes in excess of 700 yards, traversing the natural obstacles and challenging terrain as fast as possible.

“Athleticism and fitness have taken on a much greater emphasis in golf in recent years, and as a result we are seeing more athletes coming up in the ranks of men’s and women’s golf,” said Keith Allo, Golf Channel vice president of programming development and original productions.  “Altered Course is taking this trend to a whole new level, rewarding teams that are the most physically fit and play the best golf.  The terrain and re-imagined golf holes will test their golf skills and challenge them both mentally and physically. Pace of play will not be an issue on Altered Course.”

The tournament-style competition series will feature eight two-person teams racing against the clock as they take on the twists and turns of these extreme golf holes – one Altered Course hole can incorporate upwards of three traditional golf holes – in an alternate-shot or scramble format.  Teams will be scored on both shots taken as well as time, with weekly eliminations leaving one team left standing as the champion of Altered Course.  To capture the action of this innovative format, Golf Channel will utilize Sony Action cameras and aerial footage to track the teams’ progress on each challenge, providing rarely-seen golf course camera angles.

Altered Course’s inaugural season will take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  Filming will commence at the all-new Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall Resort, with the competition staged at two of Montego Bay’s premier courses, White Witch and Cinnamon Hill.  Kristen Kenney, pit reporter for the Red Bull Global RallyCross series on NBC and NBCSN, has been tabbed to host the inaugural season. Altered Course Montego Bay presented by Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva will premiere in summer, 2015.

For the series inaugural season, additional sponsors include Skechers GO GOLF as the official footwear provider, MusclePharm as the official nutritional supplement and Bushnell as the official range finder.