Golf will return to elitism of yore thanks to British Open Sky deal

Ever since the arrival of Sky Sports, the world of televised sport has undergone a revolution which has seen a massive growth in the number of events available to the general public.

However this has come at a cost to society as sports packages are not a viable option for many casual sports fans. Again this week we saw BBC lose the broadcast rights to the British Open, one of the few remaining golf tournaments available on terrestrial television.

This decline in sports available to the licence fee-paying public has become a common theme in the last 10 years. This latest acquisition by Sky is just another nail in the coffin for a sport that has seen an alarming decrease in participation in Ireland, the UK and globally.

While no one can question Sky’s innovative approach to sports coverage , BBC did offer a unique experience that allowed the viewer hours of uninterrupted golf and the unmistakable dulcet tones of Mr Peter Alliss.

For any sport to flourish it must have a medium to promote its brand and must leave an impression on young viewers.

But this latest decision will only limit access to the game and raises more questions about the elitist reputation which plagued the game for so long; an elitism still evident in many golf clubs who have been slow to shake off conservatism and adapt to a more inclusive environment.

Eoin Murphy

Darkwood

Dunmanway

Co.Cork