VALDOSTA — The profile of the South Georgia Classic and Valdosta gets an international boost this week as the Nationwide tournament hits the airwaves.
After a successful first year of the professional tournament, the Golf Channel is now on board for the South Georgia Classic, and will televise the event live Thursday through Sunday from Kinderlou Forest Golf Club.
“It’s big for us to have the Golf Channel,” South Georgia Classic Tournament Director Stan Fillion said. “It puts us to the next level.”
The SGC welcomed about 8,000 golf fans to Kinderlou in 2007, and the television coverage this year will put the tournament in the homes of 76 million homes in the U.S. and 30 million more worldwide.
“It will bring the Valdosta area more coverage,” South Georgia Classic telecast Director Pete Espisito said. “Any time a Nationwide event is on television, especially for the first time, there brings a bigger feel to the event and a little more recognition.”
The Golf Channel, shown on Mediacom channel 41, will show live coverage Thursday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., along with cut-in highlights and replays during the evening.
The production truck will arrive at Kinderlou Monday afternoon, and approximately 80 workers will begin setting up by laying cables throughout the course. Tuesday the crew will set up 12 cameras throughout holes No. 8 through 18, before a rehearsal Wednesday.
The production crew will feature 12 operators working out of a production truck located near the driving range by the entrance to the clubhouse.
Beth Hutler will be the telecast’s Producer and Espisito will be using her script and ideas to direct the show.
“Beth will decide what she wants to see, and as director my job is to make the picture,” Espisito said. “I decide what camera to use , and were to put graphics in the picture.”
Included in the coverage will also be vignettes highlighting the area going to an international audience, such as shots from around town and footage of the 2008 Division II National Champion Valdosta State football team.
The coverage not only means more exposure to the event and the area, but also a possible financial gain down the road.
The Golf Channel, founded by Arnold Palmer and Joe Gibbs in 1994, extends outside of the United States to 8.5 million homes in the United Kingdom, 6.5 million in Korea, 4.1 in Latin America, 3.4 in Canada and roughly 2 million or less in Spain, China, the Middle East, Japan, Malaysia, Scandinavia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
“When you get more exposure that means more money should come with more exposure down the road,” Fillion said.
Along with the financial benefits the Golf Channel will also create more buzz about the tournament, which Fillion said should add to the overall experience.
“Having the Golf Channel makes it totally different,” Fillion said. “Having that live for four days is really special, and then they’ll show repeats at night.”
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