"Golf Channel Launches Editorial Research Unit"

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While their competitors at CBS are tightening budgets or cutting back, Golf Channel invests in something they can't quantify to enhance their telecasts and online coverage.

For Immediate Release:

GOLF CHANNEL LAUNCHES EDITORIAL RESEARCH UNIT
 
New Golf Research Unit Modeled After Successful Olympic Research Unit
 
ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 20, 2012) – Golf Channel has created a new Editorial Research Unit modeled after the Olympic Research Unit model first created by Roone Arledge at ABC Sports in 1967 and used over the past two decades by NBC as the foundation of its Olympic storytelling. Much in the same way that personalizing Olympic athletes from around the world through storytelling creates more compelling and entertaining Olympic programming, the golf research unit is designed to strengthen and ensure quality of editorial content across all platforms, including broadcast and cable television, and all digital offerings. The announcement was made today by Geoff Russell, Executive Editor, Golf Channel, who will oversee the group.

“By mining the best stories in golf, our research unit will give us a consistent editorial voice and strengthen the quality of our on-air product across all of our platforms,” said Russell. “The NBC Olympic research team has long been credited with helping viewers connect with its coverage and now is a key part of the Olympic broadcast. Our motivation was to apply that same concept to make Golf Channel even better.”

The Golf Channel Editorial Research Unit will be led by Gil Capps, a long-time Emmy Award winning producer for NBC Sports golf telecasts, who will serve as Managing Editor.

The research unit will support Golf Channel and NBC production teams, including news, tournaments and original productions, as well as GolfChannel.com.

Capps, who will relocate from North Carolina to Golf Channel Studios in Orlando, has provided statistics and editorial direction in the main announcer tower for Johnny Miller, Dan Hicks and Dick Enberg for more than 15 years. Capps will continue to work tournaments as part of his new responsibilities for Golf Channel and NBC.

Reed Burton, a former CBS golf researcher who has been a member of the Golf Channel team since 2006 working on such shows as Golf Central, Morning Drive and the network’s Live From franchise at golf’s major events, will be research editor.

Finchem Statement On Augusta: "This sends a positive and inclusive message for our sport."

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Tim Finchem issued a statement and PGATour.com posted it with the AP story along with an Awkward Family Photos-worthy shot of Commissioner Uncomfortable and Condi.

"The PGA TOUR commends Augusta National Golf Club on the news that it has invited Condolezza Rice and Darla Moore to become its first women members. At a time when women represent one of the fastest growing segments in both playing and following the game of golf, this sends a positive and inclusive message for our sport."

R.I.P. Ralph Livingston

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James Davis on The Society of Hickory Golfers website pens a lovely remembrance of this photographer, collector, craftsman, author and passionate golfer who died August 18th of a brain tumor. He was 54.

Ran Morrissett interviewed Ralph in 2004 and it includes talk of Bobby Jones, hickory golf and all sorts of other great informatiom.

There is a GolfClubAtlas.com thread saluting Ralph.

Ralph's HickoryGolfer.com website is up and a fantastic resource for anyone interested in playing hickory golf or collecting hickories.

Where You Can Watch The Wyndham Final Round Since You Sure Won't Find Out On The CBSSports Website!

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A quick look at the CBSSports.com golf page--and that's about all I can muster these days (no offense, Shane Bacon)--does not reveal to readers when you can watch CBS Sports' production of the rain-delayed Wyndham Championship.

What a wonderful PGA Tour Partner, looking out for the fans who might not have seen the golf today but were curious about watching a pretty attractive finish where Sergio Garcia will try to fend off Tim Clark.

Thankfully, Helen Ross noted the TV and satellite radio start times in her blog post about the weather delay. And Golf Channel sent out a release because, unlike CBS Sports and their website, the aforementioned entities actually care about their fans.

FYI, the final round of the Wyndham Championship will resume on Monday with Golf Channel airing live coverage beginning at 9 a.m. ET.  Sergio Garcia is currently leading at 15-under-par.  Morning Drive will air live for two hours leading into live tournament coverage beginning at 7 a.m. ET, featuring live interviews on-site from Greensboro.  Golf Central will air live following the conclusion of the Monday’s final round coverage.
 
Below is Golf Channel’s Monday morning programming schedule (all times Eastern):
 
7-9 a.m.                                                       Morning Drive (Live)
 
9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Approx)                                Final Round Wyndham Championship (L)
 
After conclusion                                             Golf Central (Live)

“It’s amazing. This game can tease you. You’re ready to pack it in, and then the game throws a 61 at you. And then you don’t know what the hell to do.”

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Jimmy Walker posted a 62 playing "boring" golf at Sedgefield, but how about Tim Herron's 16-shot turnaround in round two, narrowly missing a course record 60?

Jeff Mills reports.

“I missed a couple on the front,” Herron said. “I missed about a 5-footer straight down the hill (on the 9th hole). I had a good chance at 59. But you didn’t know that after nine holes. I was just trying to make some putts and gain some confidence.”

“I went to the green with a long putter today, and it just didn’t feel right,” Herron said. “So I went back to the one I started with yesterday. Off the fringe I had about five three-putts yesterday. So I didn’t really have anything to lose today.”

Herron’s two-ball putter heated up on Sedgefield’s back nine Friday, when he made six birdies – including five in a row starting on the 13th hole.

Rule Violation Files: R&A's Boys Amateur Championship

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There's just so much to love in this R&A press release, starting with the special notation for the Scots in the quarters, and spiraling from there!

SCOTS PAIR REACH THE QUARTER FINALS OF THE BOYS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

17 August 2012, Nottingham, England: Scotland’s Alasdair McDougall claimed two fine wins on his way to battling through to the quarter finals of the 86th Boys Amateur Championship at Notts (Hollinwell) Golf Club near Mansfield.

The diminutive 17 year-old international

Diminutive is so much better than the alternatives...so go on...

from Elderslie defeated leading qualifier, Romain Langasque from France, by 2 & 1 in the third round and then dispatched Italian Renato Paratore, winner of the recent European Young Masters tournament in Hungary, by one hole in an engrossing fourth round match.

McDougall, who represented Scotland in last week’s Boys’ Home Internationals at Co. Louth, will face Championship favourite, Austrian Matthias Schwab, losing finalist in this year’s Amateur Championship, in tomorrow’s first quarter final match.

The Scot will be joined in the last eight by his compatriot, Jamie Savage, who also won twice on a blustery day marred by intermittent showers. The 17 year-old from Cawder, who turns 18 next week, gave himself an early birthday present when he defeated James Rooney from West Lancs by 2 holes in the morning and then beat Liam Cox, from Burhill, by 3 & 2 in the fourth round.

Earlier in the day, Cox had been awarded his third round tie after his opponent, Adam Chapman from Windermere, was disqualified for contravening the Championship’s policy governing the use of distance measuring devices.

He contravened the championship! It sounds like he smuggled in drugs. Well, almost. And there's more...

McDougall arrived in Robin Hood country fresh from scoring 2 ½ points out of 5 for Scotland in last week’s Boys’ Home Internationals in Ireland and he was quickly in command against his impressive 17 year-old opponent from Rome.

The Scot won three out of the first four holes and was still three ahead when Paratore reduced the deficit with a birdie from 10-feet on the 414-yard par-4 10th. The Scot then lost both the 14th and the 15th to pars before sealing the match in somewhat bizarre circumstances down the last where he secured a par four after his opponent had been penalised one stroke for picking his ball up in the rough.

I'm guessing attending a rules seminar wouldn't have helped these lads much.