My Rant

[Kevin Shields]

Several media forms have been wondering aloud what the possible effect of Tiger's absence will be on the Tour. Discounted rates for title sponsors, lower purses, etc. They present the story, and others like it (the economy and free agents), like we the consumer should actually care. I think its a good thing, personally. Maybe we finally get it that a sane economy can not sustain golfers making twelve million for winning tournaments. What does it cost to go all day to a TOUR event? Or for that matter, baseball players making twenty five million while working fans pay $80-$100 a head to see them play.

Now perhaps if a winners check is $650,000 instead of 1.2 mil, the top players will tee it up more(better for TV), the players might embrace pro ams more and do the sponsors right.

My wife and I make a nice living, but it pisses me off to no end that it would cost me $150 or so to go see a friggin hockey game with our kids (in bad seats imight add). No wonder so many people have credit card debt. So if Tiger stays out long enough, maybe it will bring a little sanity back. I know I dont care a lick if the sponsors dont want to pay $6.5 million for an event. What does Finchem make, like $4 million? C'mon.

Rant over.

 

[zarro]

Several media forms have been wondering aloud what the possible effect of Tiger's absence will be on the Tour. Discounted rates for title sponsors, lower purses, etc. They present the story, and others like it (the economy and free agents), like we the consumer should actually care. I think its a good thing, personally. Maybe we finally get it that a sane economy can not sustain golfers making twelve million for winning tournaments. What does it cost to go all day to a TOUR event? Or for that matter, baseball players making twenty five million while working fans pay $80-$100 a head to see them play.

Now perhaps if a winners check is $650,000 instead of 1.2 mil, the top players will tee it up more(better for TV), the players might embrace pro ams more and do the sponsors right.

My wife and I make a nice living, but it pisses me off to no end that it would cost me $150 or so to go see a friggin hockey game with our kids (in bad seats imight add). No wonder so many people have credit card debt. So if Tiger stays out long enough, maybe it will bring a little sanity back. I know I dont care a lick if the sponsors dont want to pay $6.5 million for an event. What does Finchem make, like $4 million? C'mon.

Rant over.

While going and seeing the 'guins would be awesome, AHL is the way to go. Games are more fun and much cheaper.

 

[jbrunk]

The athletes and commissioners make whatever the market will bear. If we stop paying so go see them, they have to adjust. If another market force (Tiger's absence) demands they adjust, they will.

I tend to agree with your sentiments. I go to only a few games per year, and it is outrageous. I watch as much golf as I can, no matter who is in the lineup.

 

[dcg1952]

Agree with all of the above. Professional golf had some HUGE purses and they are finding out they are not immune to a bad economy. Maybe a few less events per year, decreased purses , and the temporary loss of Tiger will remove some of the arrogance and robotic behavior from the players. How difficult is it to respond to some applause. Arnold Palmer figured it out---just smile a lot and wink at a few people and everyone loved him. And Tiger's absence may allow us to realize there are a number of others who play some pretty good golf. How about the finish between Haas and Bubba as well as Freddie and Watson? Pretty entertaining. I don't think the tickets to pro golf are too bad---the other sports are ridiculous. I don't go to any pro football, baseball or hockey games unless someone gives me tickets. Maybe I'll take zarro's advice and watch the Wheeling Nailers some night!

 

[greenfree]

TV ratings = advertising $$'s. Star players= more viewers=more ratings=more $$$'s. You can always watch them on TV. Oops! i think that's where it starts. It's all Arnie's fault.

 

[bgathens]

Agree with a lot above...maybe this will provide a shakeout that has long been overdue for the Tour.....the money is silly and the perks...i.e...appearance money, courtesy cars, equipment, etc...is even sillier....if the tour is scaled down, where will these guys go?...answer: no place...they don't have an alternative - certainly not the 9 to 5 world...I'm liking the "new, young guns" coming up - McIlroy, Fowler, Villegas, Kim, et al....and while I admire Tiger and his swing, I'll still be a big fan...oh, and I don't go to pro sport venues ( can't afford to )...even tho' the Cavs (NBA) are our hometwon team...

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

courtesy cars are as much for the people going to the event as they are for the players. people coming to the event see the cars and it is in effect, advertising.

 

[ZAP]

The main problem as i see it is that the tour put all their eggs in one basket with Tiger.
Are you paying attention to how much media is focusing on Phil this week? I think I know what he had for breakfast this morning.

Tiger really helped with the popularity of golf but they did themselves no favors giving him the bulk of the attention.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

The main problem as i see it is that the tour put all their eggs in one basket with Tiger....
Tiger really helped with the popularity of golf but they did themselves no favors giving him the bulk of the attention.

Not a problem, just normal business sense. NBA did it with Jordan, NHL did it with Gretzky, etc etc. Every professional sport has their "main guy" and without that "main guy" well, most times its boring until the new "main guys" get enough notoriety.

 

[niblick1]

I agree in general about sports pricing in the US. I am very surprised ticket prices haven't taken a huge hit to reflect the economic turbulence here in the past couple years. It surprises me how many people still go to NHL, NBA and NFL games at the current prices. Let's hope they aren't putting it on their credit cards.

And the thing is, Tiger really has been the "Michael Jordan" for the PGA Tour, and you can't just decide to make someone his "replacement" any more than the NBA was able to just create another Jordan when he retired.

 

[Richie3Jack]

Your rant is embraced by me, Kevin.

I firmly believe that the game of golf needs to become more affordable and I've felt that way for quite some time after doing a study in college about the economics of the game and how 'Tiger Mania' was way overstated because it was not getting more people into playing the game, but more or less getting people into *watching* the game (but only when Tiger was playing) and playing his EA Sports video game.

That's not a knock on Tiger, it's more of a knock on OEM's with overpriced clubs and even worse golf courses who charged entirely too much for play. To the OEM's credit, they have found some creative ways to lower the prices of their equipment.

I just get sick and tired of people acting like golf can't survive w/o Tiger. First, I think the problem is that the game has become so dependent on Tiger that it's really put the TV side of the game in trouble. Instead of outlets like The Golf Channel promoting other players on Tour, they just keep promoting Tiger even more and the audience, particularly those who are just getting into the game, wind up not caring about anybody other than Tiger.

I also hate to tell those people that the game of golf is bigger than Tiger...not the other way around. And that while everybody wants to make money, I honestly don't believe that the guys on the PGA Tour are there because of money.




3JACK

 

[Hayes9801]

Speak with your Dollars.

If you think athletes get paid ridiculous amounts (I do), don't support them with your dollars.

Don't buy tickets to games or tournaments, go participate in your own game or your child's game.

Don't buy equipment that's overpriced due to endorsements. Get custom gear from component companies.

Buy clothes without logos.

Eventually suppliers figure it out and prices adjust.

 

[Steve Khatib]

Several media forms have been wondering aloud what the possible effect of Tiger's absence will be on the Tour. Discounted rates for title sponsors, lower purses, etc. They present the story, and others like it (the economy and free agents), like we the consumer should actually care. I think its a good thing, personally. Maybe we finally get it that a sane economy can not sustain golfers making twelve million for winning tournaments. What does it cost to go all day to a TOUR event? Or for that matter, baseball players making twenty five million while working fans pay $80-$100 a head to see them play.

Now perhaps if a winners check is $650,000 instead of 1.2 mil, the top players will tee it up more(better for TV), the players might embrace pro ams more and do the sponsors right.

My wife and I make a nice living, but it pisses me off to no end that it would cost me $150 or so to go see a friggin hockey game with our kids (in bad seats imight add). No wonder so many people have credit card debt. So if Tiger stays out long enough, maybe it will bring a little sanity back. I know I dont care a lick if the sponsors dont want to pay $6.5 million for an event. What does Finchem make, like $4 million? C'mon.

Rant over.

KS, great Rant: you must be on the mountian dew again!

People have lost the purity of golf and what a crisply struck shot feel like, the smell of freshly cut grass in the morning, playing in the twilight shadows of a late summers night.

Unfortunately Kev you are talking about a socitey problem of instant gratifacation, quick fixes, drugs, a sugar addicted society, poor parenting, no communication skills etc :

The way golf has gone is just the same as many aspects of society.

Now we need to get people back and engaged so let try 9 hole events, easy courses, free clinics from 'real' golf teachers like the manzellion. This will get the smile back on peoples faces and take the money out of the 'fat cats' (corporations) pockets and back into the little guys pockets who do good things for people and the game.
Now that's my rant after 3 double espresso's


Is America Addicted to Information? - The Atlantic Business Channel

 

[Benjaaz]

Tiger was gone most of 2008 with his knee and it didn't seem to have hurt the tour too much but it's hard to really know with the recession. I went to the Match Play here in Tucson last year and a Friday ticket was only $50. Too bad Tiger got booted the day before. Golfers only get paid if they make the cut which is much different than many professional sports. I wasn't into golf when Arnie and Jack were playing in the 60's and 70's so I look forward to watching Tiger. I pretty much quit watching baseball after the strike and haven't really watched basketball since Jordan retired. But then that's just me. I pretty much only watch football when the Cowboys play, know I'll take hits for that, but I do hope the Saints win. I won't pay the huge sums for other sports either.

 

[mgranato]

The NHL is still around?

 

[jbrunk]

Must not be hurting here in Tulsa

I expected to see some rate reductions over the last year as a result of the economy at the courses I frequent, but they all have taken rate increases. I can't complain too much though, I pay between 30-50 on a weekend for the places I play.

 

[Richie3Jack]

Don't buy equipment that's overpriced due to endorsements. Get custom gear from component companies.

The good component companies often have more expensive clubs. They are well worth it, but it ain't cheap and is likely to be more expensive than most OEM's.




3JACK

 

[mb6606]

China

Don't worry about golf it is growing into a worldwide game just as tennis did. China on verge of a golf boom

 

[JonWil]

"We have met the enemy and he is us."