I am at this point exhausted by professional golf. The PGA Tour’s endless season, designed to maximize revenues, has instead pushed this formerly dedicated golf fan into a state of disinterest. I still love the game—and play at every opportunity—but just can’t generate any interest in the Tour’s new fall and winter seasons. It is all too much. At this point, professional golf is dead to me until at least the Sony Open in Hawaii, and more likely until the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
Offseasons are a welcome break from the sports I Iove. In spite of my passion for college football and Major League Baseball, I do not want to see them extend their seasons. The now two-month long bowl season already pushes my limits. The creeping post-bowl post-season is over the line.
I welcome the end of sport seasons. Following the climax of a league championship, I need time to decompress. The offseason is my chance to savor the victories of my heroes, or to get over a disappointing campaign. It’s my chance to recharge my sports viewing batteries.
The pause between the end of one season and the beginning of the next builds anticipation and longing. That’s a good thing. By the time baseball season rolls around again, I am chomping at the bits. I OD on the sport the first several weeks. The same is true of college football. By the time late August rolls around, I am ready to watch a game between Western Carolina and Troy.
The PGA Tour’s eternal season has exactly the opposite effect. As soon as the Tour Championship concludes, the next season begins. There’s no time for reflection, recharging or the building of anticipation. The PGA Tour is in your face 24/7/365. Worse, it is not just the PGA Tour: There’s also the European Tour, the Web.Com Tour, the Champions Tour, and whatever it is that’s going on north and south of the border.
I never thought I’d say this, but it is just too much golf.
I think that the PGA Tour would be better served by offering less, not more. The laws of supply and demand state that the more of something there is, the less it is worth. Each time the Tour added an additional event, the value of each of the others was reduced. I am convinced that, in the long run, this wraparound season will backfire.
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I am with you. After the Ryder Cup call it a day and start the season in January or better yet, in February the weekend of the Super Bowl.
I dunno. I’d watch an event where Tim Finchem drives a ball-collector on a range, while the pros try to hit him.
I read you article & could not agree with you anymore!!! Enough golf channel promoting the wrap around season cause it’s just more money for there sponsorship too along with the pga tour- every body tries to find what’s good for the game of golf be it slow play or tiger in the field but an off season for golf is healthy for the game & the players!!! The fall & winter season should see more tv skins games with tour players for charity before the season starts in Hawaii—- like it always does!!
I think the term you meant to use was not “supply and demand” as much as “diminishing marginal utility.” And you’re right. Most professional sports seasons are too long.