Television transformed golf. It brought tournaments into living rooms, created household names, boosted prize money and inspired millions to take up the game. Coverage has evolved from a few fixed black-and-white cameras to shot tracers, live data and streams of every group. Here's a short history.
Early broadcasts
Golf's first television broadcasts in the mid-20th century used a small number of large cameras, usually covering only the final holes. Viewers saw little of the action, but the broadcasts brought golf to a wider audience.
The colour era
Colour television showed the green of fairways and the drama of courses, making golf much more appealing on screen. More cameras and towers allowed coverage of more holes.
Graphics and data
- Leaderboards and scores relative to par.
- Statistics such as driving distance and greens in regulation.
- Course graphics and hole flyovers.
Read watching golf on TV.
Shot tracers and technology
In the 21st century, shot-tracer technology made it possible to follow the ball's flight against the sky, and radar-based data added ball speed, launch and spin. Green-reading graphics showed slopes and breaks.
Streaming
Streaming services and apps let fans watch featured groups, featured holes and every shot.
Impact on golf
- Popularity and participation.
- Prize money and sponsorship. Read golf prize money.
- Course presentation for television.
- Learning: amateurs learn from watching. Read the history of golf.
A timeline
| Era | Development |
|---|---|
| 1930s–1940s | Early experimental broadcasts in a few countries |
| 1950s | First regular coverage of major events, with very few cameras |
| 1960s | Colour television and more holes covered |
| 1970s–1980s | More cameras, leaderboards on screen, longer coverage |
| 1990s | Dedicated golf channels launch; wall-to-wall coverage of big events |
| 2000s | High definition; more data and graphics |
| 2010s | Shot tracers, drones and live statistics |
| 2020s | Streaming, multiple feeds and on-demand highlights |
How television shaped golf
- Popularity: television brought the game to millions who'd never visited a golf course.
- Money: broadcast rights increased prize money and sponsorship. Read golf prize money.
- Course presentation: clubs and organisers began to present courses more immaculately for the cameras.
- Scheduling: tee times and finishing times adapted to suit broadcast slots.
- Formats: stroke play became dominant, partly because it suits a leaderboard-driven broadcast.
The challenge of filming golf
Golf is one of the hardest sports to broadcast. Play happens across a huge area at the same time, the ball is small and fast, and important shots can happen anywhere. Broadcasters solved this with towers, mobile cameras, radio microphones, tracer technology and producers juggling many feeds.
How coverage changed what fans know
Modern viewers see ball speed, spin, distances and putting lines that were once invisible. This has helped amateur golfers understand the game and their own swings better. Read launch monitor numbers explained.
Watching golf today
Today, fans can choose between traditional broadcasts, streams of featured groups and holes, and short-form highlights on social media. Read watching golf on TV and golf tournament spectator guide.
Frequently asked questions
When was golf first on TV?
In the mid-20th century.
What is a shot tracer?
A graphic showing the ball's flight path on screen.
How has TV changed golf?
It increased popularity, prize money and influenced how courses are presented.
Can I watch every shot of a tournament?
Many events now stream extensive coverage.
When was golf first shown in colour?
Colour coverage of major events began in the 1960s in some countries.
What is a shot tracer?
A graphic that draws the ball's flight path on screen, making it easier to follow.
The bottom line
From fixed cameras to shot tracers and streaming, television has transformed how we watch and understand golf. For more on tournaments, read how professional golf tournaments work.