Keeping BBC Sport standards up

Watching The Open on the BBC has been one of the annual highlights over many years.

However, I detect a subtle change is happening in the presentation of the coverage.

Is it because BBC Sport needs to compete with other TV golf channels that they feel a need to ‘sell’ the entertainment angle to us?

There seems to be a greater emphasis on the story of who is winning rather than on how it is being won.

The BBC technical coverage, though slipping, has been excellent over the years (particularly from Ken Brown) and it is only fair and correct that those who play the best get most of the coverage.

But is there now a move towards the cult of personality and celebrity and away from the game itself, its values, its craft?

Should the BBC be required to have some responsibility for the long term perception of the game?

The portrayal of The Open as the greatest golf tournament in the world should not rely on having the most prize money, the greatest number of visitors, the largest tented village, etc. It should be more than that.

The Open is the largest event played on a dry, running, ‘Fine’ course.

This requires a different game from the overwatered, fertilised, lush green target courses that host the bulk of European Tour and Ryder Cup.

One aspect of Target golf TV coverage is its high proportion of ‘power off the tee’ and ‘putting skill’ televised from fixed cameras.

OK, of course, in its own way. It is, understandably, not so easy and more expensive to film the creative stuff in between.

The bump and run along the ground is not as dramatic as the high shot targeted at the flag and stopping dead.

One of the fascinating aspects of The Open is that pros have to gradually work out how to play the holes, depending on the daily variable conditions.

The player’s strategy is not just about power, putting and yardage.

The results from our poll suggest that the public expect the BBC coverage of The Open to be different from Target golf coverage.

I would like the BBC to highlight the craft required when playing ‘Fine’ golf and to identify the differences to ‘Target’ golf.

Interview the Consultant Agronomists and Greenkeepers. Explain why sustainable greenkeeping is best.

We are forced to fund the BBC through a tax; should we not demand that it keep to its historical role of educating and maintaining standards rather than ‘dumbing down’.

Of course sport on TV is entertainment but we do not need the BBC to follow the commercial channels in striving to add extra layers of ‘selling’ the entertainment. As the BBC do not need to attract advertising, they should be able to be independent of commercial pressures which seem to focus almost entirely upon Target golf.

Lorne Smith 2009                   Please do leave a comment below