R&A - Good Deal or Greedy

[Old Skier]

The R&A seem to be about to announce that the Open will be going to Sky after 2015. At a time that England Golf and County organisations are working on projects to encourage more into the game is this a sensible move or is it a decision based on lining the pockets of the few.

 

[Crow]

They say that they're trying to make the game more inclusive but this would make it more exclusive.

Short termist, I say this - "Boooooo"

 

[Hobbit]

I wonder how many people don't have Sky?

 

[bluewolf]

I don't have Sky Sports, so I won't be watching The Open. Nor will my kids. How are kids supposed to get interested in Golf if they never see the game or its top players?

 

[Crow]

I wonder how many people don't have Sky?

Let's create a poll!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It's because of the money - they have just reduced the viewing figures of the Open and also reduced the hours it will be on

No golf now on "normal" telly

 

[Old Skier]

Here is a breakdown of how the money is spent.
http://www.randa.org/en/Working-For-Golf/Golf-Development/Role-of-the-R-and-A.aspx
However this is not a true reflection really as they will not support any grants for clubs who do not have a resident pro and why are they supplying grants to pro's?

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

It's because of the money - they have just reduced the viewing figures of the Open and also reduced the hours it will be on

No golf now on "normal" telly

]

Reduced the hours it will be on? I haven't seen the details, but I thought SKy were normally really good at broadcasting loads of actual golf?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

]

Reduced the hours it will be on? I haven't seen the details, but I thought SKy were normally really good at broadcasting loads of actual golf?

Not from my experience of watching golf with them

 

[BTatHome]

Reduced the hours it will be on? I haven't seen the details, but I thought SKy were normally really good at broadcasting loads of actual golf?

They'll probably swop it to be Sky Golf channel again and run stuff for a whole month beforehand. Rerun after rerun to ensure everyone knows the Open is coming soon.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

They'll probably swop it to be Sky Golf channel again and run stuff for a whole month beforehand. Rerun after rerun to ensure everyone knows the Open is coming soon.

And over the 4 days they will have lots of adverts plus studio talk and the only action will be players putting out - then they will switch the the shot centre and then Holmes will suck the life out of people - all at the same time as actual golf is going on

 

[Tongo]

This will be a sad day for golf in this country. The beeb coverage is not everyone's cup of tea but the wider implications for the sport in this country have to be considered rather than simply chasing the most money. Look at how cricket has been affected by it being exclusively on Sky.

 

[Imurg]

There will be an increase in the number of dubious online streams and feeds doing the rounds...
I'll be looking out for one, that's for sure.
Actual legitimate viewing figures will slump.

 

[bluewolf]

There are a now large number of people to whom Golf will not even exist. Newspaper coverage is almost non-existent. Terrestrial TV coverage will now be non-existant. A sad day for Golf really

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Every year around Wimbledon you see kids everywhere suddenly playing tennis

The Olympics increased participation in sport all over the country

When cricket used to be on you used to see kids all over playing cricket in the parks

When the Open came on suddenly the driving ranges would be full , the pay and play courses would be booked out

Non golfers would pick up a club after seeing it on telly

Now it will move to sky the only people that will watch it will be golfers

People won't be able to just switch over and watch it for ten mins and then get hooked on it

Golf going to Sky puts extra funds into the coffers - it imo won't attract new golfers and will reduce the viewing figures

The R&A have a responsibility to the integrity and growth of the game - they are just about to fail on both parts

 

[Tongo]

Every year around Wimbledon you see kids everywhere suddenly playing tennis

The Olympics increased participation in sport all over the country

When cricket used to be on you used to see kids all over playing cricket in the parks

When the Open came on suddenly the driving ranges would be full , the pay and play courses would be booked out

Non golfers would pick up a club after seeing it on telly

Now it will move to sky the only people that will watch it will be golfers

People won't be able to just switch over and watch it for ten mins and then get hooked on it

Golf going to Sky puts extra funds into the coffers - it imo won't attract new golfers and will reduce the viewing figures

The R&A have a responsibility to the integrity and growth of the game - they are just about to fail on both parts

Indeed. But these simple consequences seem to be lost on the mandarins in charge who seem more interested in chasing the bucks to pay the top players that little bit more.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The head of the RFU was on the radio on Thursday and covered this very issue relating to rugby. His response was that they have to balance wide coverage with bringing in money. That money is then ploughed back into the sport. Less money equals less grants to clubs, coaching etc. Not a simple, cut and dried decision.

 

[Old Skier]

The head of the RFU was on the radio on Thursday and covered this very issue relating to rugby. His response was that they have to balance wide coverage with bringing in money. That money is then ploughed back into the sport. Less money equals less grants to clubs, coaching etc. Not a simple, cut and dried decision.

No grants come our way - no pro - although we pay the same affiliation fees as everyone else.

 

[garyinderry]

I have been in England for a few years now and I haven't seen one set of kids playing a friendly game of cricket. No wonder you lot are crap at it. :rofl:

 

[bozza]

If the BBC really wanted to keep the golf they could have.

They have been told by the R&A on more than one occasion that of they don't improve there coverage of it and get more up to date then they risk loosing it.

They didn't and they decided Premierehip football was the main priority for them and lumped a load of money into the right to show the highlights and gave Linekar a bumper new contract.

I know Sky's coverage isn't always perfect but that's sometimes mainly due to the American host broadcaster. I think the do a good job of covering Wentworth, less adverts than normal and a lot more informative than when the BBC did it.

Sky don't do things half arsed, look at what they did for the Premiership, it's the biggest and probably the most watched league around the world. I think it can only be a good thing for golf in my eyes.

Times change and people need to move on, the BBC has there chance and did a fine job but they were stuck in the past and need to freshen things up like a lot of golf clubs have had to do to keep and try get more members.

Also what's not to like getting to see and hear Monty talk about himself and how he won the Ryder Cup........