Future of golf on TV bleak unless youth get involved

Following The R&A’s recent summit in St. Andrews, it has come to light that the future of golf as a sport on the small screen may need some revitalisation if it’s to continue to be shown on television screens around the country, and indeed the world.

In recent years it has come to light that in the opinion of many the BBC has lost interest in covering golf. In September of this year it was announced that The R&A had agreed to end a contract with the BBC covering the rights to show The Open. Now, golf’s oldest major will be shown live on Sky Sports from 2016.

Haydn Mackenzie, editor of planning and special projects for Sky Sports, recently revealed that the channel is prepared to take risks and be innovative as it tries to work out how best to showcase what they’re calling “the greatest sport out there”.

Mackenzie also revealed that the average age of those who watch golf on TV is 57, with them tending to watch two 20-minute segments each day. He also said that when it comes to those in the under-25s bracket, this makes up just 5% of the viewing audience for golf. Overall, live golfing viewing figures have dropped in the last five years, by just under 25%.

With Sky Sports taking on coverage of The Open as part of its sports package for 2016, Mr. Mackenzie said that the arrival of the so-called new ‘Big Three’ in the world of golf, meaning Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day, has come at a great time for golf viewers. These type of big personality golfers should help to attract new people to the world of golf, as well as hold the interest of avid golfing fans. The Scotsman reports that Mackenzie said: “Consumers are attracted by personalities, and we see their personalities driving and boosting viewing 
figures.

“We will bring their stories to life.”