When Golf Nation sneak-peeked in December 2022, its entertaining line-up of golf-lifestyle shows garnered rave reviews. Viewers also responded favorably to learning about and buying products featured during original shows by clicking on “buy bars’ in the bottom-left corner of screens.
That’s fine and dandy, but who’s watching it?
Well, word on the street is Golf Nation will soon announce a distribution deal of massive proportions – tens and millions of American households in one fell swoop. In addition to watching Golf Nation shows on GolfNation.com, the Golf Nation mobile app (coming soon) Apple TV, Android, Fire TV, and Roku.
All this is music to the ears of golf brands and those associated with the sport. They are forever seeking new, tech-driven ways to market to the coveted, affluent demographic and prompt them, — right then and there – to buy what they see in shows.
In short, the rapidly growing network is, at its core, “Netflix meets Home Shopping Network.”
Further word on the street has Golf Nation soon unveiling new, super-creative shows. To date, the most popular Season 1 series is “Ambush with David Feherty” and his hidden-camera hijinks; “Golf Unseen” which, this season, journeys in South Africa; “Tee Shots” where golfers drink, chat, and take swings with famous mixologist Bill Binder; and “Watch Buy Play” highlighting the planet’s hottest golf products.
Then there’s “Don’t I Know You?” with host Suzy Whaley, President of Golf Nation, former President of the PGA of America, and barrier-breaker for playing in a PGA Tour event. The show is based on the 1980s-1990s TV hit “The Newlywed Game.” For flavor, the first episode features 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach and Kim Johnson.
More than 100 shows, with multiple seasons and episodes a la Netflix, are planned for Golf Nation to air through 2024. Production is of the highest quality as former NBC-TV producers, directors, and editors dot Golf Nation’s behind-the-scenes team.
“Watching golf tournaments on TV is exhilarating,” says Whaley. “However, there’s roughly 40 million on- and on-course golfers across America, and a host of ‘golf curious’ people clamoring to watch shows about the golf lifestyle. This is the gap Golf Nation fills.”
Indeed, we rely on Golf Channel and other networks for live Tour events and be enthralled (or enraged) by player analysis.
However, summarily, Golf Nation satisfies our thirst for golf lifestyle entertainment, education, and inspiration during the 20 hours we’re not on the course of watching Tour golf.
That is precisely what golf, golfers, and brands need.
Bravo, Golf Nation, bravo!