Trevor Ng
The history of televised golf is a long and interesting one, with the sport being broadcast on television since the 1930s. The first-ever televised golf game was in the United Kingdom on the BBC in 1938, although it was just a brief exhibition by a single golfer. The first national broadcast of a golf tournament was the 1947 U.S. Open, played at the St. Louis Country Club, although this was only broadcast within the local area. The first national broadcast of a golf tournament in the UK was the 1952 Daks Tournament on the BBC, and the first in the US was the 1953 World Championship of Golf on ABC. Since then, many networks have broadcast golf, with NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN, and the Golf Channel all televising golf tournaments over the years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First televised golf game | 1938, United Kingdom, BBC |
| First televised golf tournament | 1947, St. Louis Country Club, KSD-TV |
| First televised national golf tournament | 1952, Daks Tournament, BBC |
| First televised golf tournament in the US | 1953, World Championship of Golf, ABC Network |
| First televised golf in color | 1962 Tournament of Champions, NBC |
| First live color sports transmission from Hawaii to the US mainland | 1967, Hawaiian Open Golf Tournament, NBC |
| First cable coverage of a golf major | 1982, USA Network |
| First televised Skins Game | 1983, NBC |
| First televised Ryder Cup | 1959, NBC |
| First televised LPGA event | 1979, LPGA Sahara Open, ESPN |
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What You'll Learn
The first televised golf tournament
The history of televised golf goes back to the late 1930s. The first televised golf shots were broadcast in the United Kingdom on the BBC in 1938. However, this was just an exhibition by a single golfer and not a tournament.
The first nationally televised golf tournament was the 1952 Daks Tournament, broadcast by the BBC in the United Kingdom. The tournament was won by Fred Daly and was broadcast with only one camera, showing play from the second hole of the famous Wentworth Club golf course.
In the United States, the first nationally televised golf tournament was the 1953 World Championship of Golf, sometimes referred to as the Tam O'Shanter World Championship. The tournament was played just outside Chicago and was televised for one hour per day by the ABC Network.
Since these early broadcasts, golf has become a regular fixture on television, with various networks and channels providing coverage of tournaments and events around the world. ESPN, which was formed in 1979, has aired professional and amateur golf in some form every year since its inception, including the LPGA, PGA Tour, and senior golf events. Other networks that have played a significant role in televising golf include NBC, CBS, and ABC, with individuals like Frank Chirkinian, known as the 'father of televised golf', contributing greatly to the development of golf broadcasting.
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The first golf broadcaster
The history of televised golf goes back several decades, with the game gradually evolving into a popular televised sport. Here is a detailed account of the early broadcasters who played a pivotal role in bringing golf to television screens.
The first-ever televised golf shots were broadcast in the United Kingdom by the BBC in 1938. However, this was just an exhibition by a single golfer and not a tournament. The first televised golf tournament was the U.S. Open in 1947, broadcast by St. Louis television station KSD-TV. However, this broadcast was limited to the local area. The first national broadcast of a golf tournament was the 1949 Daks Tournament on the BBC.
Lew Worsham, the winner of the 1949 U.S. Open, was a key player in two of golf's earliest television broadcasts. Worsham's dramatic eagle on the final hole to win the tournament helped launch golf into the American broadcasting mainstream.
In the United States, the first national broadcast of a golf tournament took place in 1953 with the World Championship of Golf, also known as the Tam O'Shanter World Championship, televised by the ABC Network. NBC also began televising golf events in 1954, starting with the U.S. Open, and has been a significant broadcaster of golf ever since.
Frank Chirkinian, known as the "father of televised golf," joined CBS in 1959 and served as the executive producer of its golf coverage until 1996. Chirkinian revolutionized golf broadcasting with innovations such as a new scorekeeping system and enhanced audio capture. CBS also made history in 1966 by broadcasting the Masters in colour, a first for a golf tournament.
Other broadcasters that have contributed to the early days of televised golf include ABC, which first broadcast the Open Championship in 1962 as part of its ""Wide World of Sports" series, and ESPN, which has aired golf since its inception in 1979, covering various LPGA and PGA events. The USA Network also played a role, providing the first cable coverage of a golf major in 1982 with the Masters.
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The first golf colour broadcast
The history of golf on television is a long and fascinating one, with the game's unique challenges and vast scale providing a conundrum for broadcasters over the years. The first-ever televised golf tournament was in 1956, when CBS broadcast Augusta National to the world for the first time.
It wasn't until a decade later that the first golf colour broadcast took place. In 1966, CBS brought colour to the Masters, marking a significant innovation in the presentation of golf on TV. This development cost the network $600,000 (roughly $4.8 million today) and required 60,000 feet of underground cable. CBS equipped its Augusta National studio with the only colour "stop-action" machine in the US, allowing for full-colour replays and paused action.
The driving force behind this change was Cliff Roberts, who had fought hard to retain a say in the presentation of the tournament. Roberts' pressure and creative accounting made the colour broadcast possible, despite the resistance of CBS Sports producer Frank Chirkinian, who took over the broadcast in 1959.
The 1966 Masters, with its colourful imagery of manicured fairways and bunkers filled with white quartz sand, was a far cry from the black-and-white coverage of just a few years prior. This shift to colour not only enhanced the viewing experience but also marked a turning point in the evolution of golf broadcasting, setting a new standard for sports television.
The following year, in 1967, CBS welcomed a record audience to the Masters, showcasing the appeal of colour broadcasts. This technological advancement not only improved viewership but also paved the way for future innovations in golf broadcasting, such as the introduction of cable coverage in 1982 and high-definition broadcasts in 2000.
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The first cable coverage of golf
The history of televised golf goes back several decades, with the first-ever televised golf shots taking place in the United Kingdom on the BBC in 1938. However, it was just an exhibition by a single golfer and not a tournament. The first televised golf tournament was the U.S. Open in 1947, broadcast by St. Louis, Missouri television station KSD-TV. This broadcast was only available within the station's local area.
The first national broadcast of a golf tournament occurred in 1952 with the Daks Tournament on the BBC in the United Kingdom. The following year, in 1953, the World Championship of Golf (also known as the Tam O'Shanter World Championship) became the first golf tournament to be broadcast nationally in the United States by the ABC Network.
The game's popularity continued to grow, and in 1954, NBC began televising golf events, starting with the U.S. Open. NBC also provided the first-ever telecast of the Ryder Cup in 1959, further cementing the sport's presence on television.
The first cable coverage of one of the golf majors in the United States took place in 1982 when the USA Network began broadcasting the first and second rounds of the Masters Tournament. This marked a significant milestone in the evolution of golf broadcasting, as it brought the game into the homes of even more viewers. The USA Network provided live coverage for two hours each day on Thursday and Friday, along with a prime-time replay.
ESPN, which was founded in 1979, has also played a significant role in the cable coverage of golf. The network has aired professional and amateur golf in various forms every year since its inception. ESPN televised the LPGA Sahara Open on its second day on air in 1979, marking the beginning of its extensive coverage of women's golf.
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The first golf telecast
The history of televised golf goes back several decades. In 1938, the BBC in the United Kingdom televised golf for the first time, although it was just a brief exhibition by a single golfer and not a tournament. In 1947, a local television station in St. Louis, Missouri, called KSD-TV, became the first to broadcast a golf tournament, the U.S. Open, played at the St. Louis Country Club. The winner of that tournament was Lew Worsham, who defeated Sam Snead in a playoff.
The first national broadcast of a golf tournament took place in 1952 when the BBC aired the Daks Tournament. The following year, in 1953, the ABC network in the United States televised the World Championship of Golf, also known as the Tam O'Shanter World Championship, which was played just outside Chicago. This marked the beginning of golf as a regular feature on American television.
Another significant milestone in the televising of golf was the involvement of Frank Chirkinian, often referred to as the 'father of televised golf'. His impact on golf broadcasting began with the 1958 PGA Championship, which brought him to the attention of CBS. He went on to become the executive producer of CBS's golf coverage from 1959 to 1996, revolutionising the way viewers experienced the sport.
Over the years, various networks have played a role in broadcasting golf tournaments. NBC began televising golf events in 1954, with the U.S. Open being one of its earliest broadcasts. The network has also aired notable tournaments such as the Ryder Cup and the Tournament of Champions, which was the first colour golf telecast. ESPN, which was founded in 1979, has included golf programming since its inception, airing LPGA events, PGA Champion's Tour events, and the Senior Tour, contributing to the sport's popularity.
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Frequently asked questions
Golf was first televised in the United Kingdom on the BBC in 1938. However, this was just a brief exhibition by a solitary golfer and not a tournament.
The first televised golf tournament was the U.S. Open in 1947. However, it was only broadcast within the local area of St. Louis, Missouri.
The first nationally televised golf tournament was the 1952 Daks Tournament, which was broadcast by the BBC in the UK.
The first televised golf broadcast in the US was the 1953 World Championship of Golf, sometimes referred to as the Tam O'Shanter World Championship. It was televised for one hour per day by the ABC Network.
