GolfSixes gets a 10 from us!
- Loz
- Feb 15, 2017
- 2 min read
The European Tour gave us all a lovely Valentine's present on Sunday when they announced a new format of golf; 'GolfSixes'. Now I know some of you may prefer the standard chocolates, flowers or steak and chips, but for all the golf fans out there, myself included, this was a perfect present.
The new initiative has been brought in by Keith Pelley, the Chief Executive of the European Tour. Since taking on the role, he has been keen to create a buzz around golf, enhancing the viewing figures and hopefully bringing younger spectators and players in to a game that is so often associated with the older generation.
Pelley has further commented on the event's use of social media, interaction with the fans, stadium style arenas around the holes, with music and pyrotechnics also being chucked in for good measure; this all adding to the aim in creating a Ryder-Cup style atmosphere. Pelley is also hoping to achieve this through the format of the competition - national teams of pairs, playing in a greensome match play format, with groups matches followed by knockout stages.
To help you understand it a little more, check out our YouTube video talking about the format of the competition:
Despite some of the gimmicky additions such as fireworks and music, that are commonly introduced in other events to create "atmosphere", we think this is exactly the sort of thing that the European Tour, and golf in general, is craving for. With younger and more athletic players coming to the forefront of golf, now is the time to bring about some new and exciting formats to continue to promote the game to all age groups.
I'm sure there are many "golfers", who have just finished their 5 hour round, and are now sitting in a dusty clubhouse somewhere that will be tutting and sighing after hearing of this new initiative, "it's just not golf!" However, in the ever-changing and increasingly instant world we live in, this is exactly what is needed. People are leaving the sport, as spectators and players, largely due to the amount of time it takes to watch or play a round. This surely is the solution to these problems.
Comparisons can be drawn with the introduction of Twenty20 in cricket in 2003, with many questioning whether the "true" game of test cricket would suffer - this however has not been the case, They have sat side by side, serving as a promoters for each other's form of cricket, and thus increasing the amount of people playing cricket as a whole.
The first event is taking place on May 6th-7th at Centurion Club in St. Albans (just above London), and I for one will be first in the line when the tickets come out. BRING ON THE FIREWORKS!!!
Loz
The Eurotweedan Tour
Photo credit & References: European Tour -
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=320826.html
