Less than a week after the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, the 2025 ULD World Championships are happening – giving us an interesting look at the changing face and views of golf worldwide and the media.
The ULC Championships start tomorrow (October 1-4, 2025) at the Par Tee Golf Center in West Columbia, SC.
More than 220 athletes from around the world who qualified will be playing for world champ trophies in many varied categories. For Long Drive, this is the biggest stage for elite athletes around the world.
On the Live Stream, Wingding Media is expecting multiple millions of views. You can watch it all on Wingding TV or the Wingding TV App.
The Broadcast Blues
Let’s compare to the views from the Ryder Cup weekend.
Despite the hype, U.S. television ratings for the event were surprisingly soft. According to early reports, NBC’s Sunday coverage averaged just 2.1 million viewers — a 15% drop from the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
Why?
TV Coverage: Fans took to social media to vent about NBC’s coverage. Complaints ranged from poor sound mixing (muted crowd reactions, muffled club-ball contact) to excessive commercial breaks that interrupted key moments. Even die-hard golf fans admitted they tuned out or switched to streaming platforms like Fubo and RyderCup.com.
“It felt like watching golf through a foggy window,” one Reddit user posted. “I wanted roars and drama. I got ads and awkward silence.”
NBC’s Fragmented Coverage: Fans had to watch across USA Network, Golf Channel, and Peacock. Fans were left chasing coverage across platforms, and many simply gave up.
US Fan Anger: Social media had plenty of Americans upset with the raucous Bethpage crowds that openly taunted European players even causing some alarm when a stray beer was thrown and hit Rory McIlroy’s wife. There were many responses of shame and also Americans who started rooting for the Europeans.
Golfers Are Playing — Not Watching
Still, as pro golf TV viewership is down, golf participation is way up.
The National Golf Foundation reports that over 26 million Americans played on-course golf in 2024, with another 12 million engaging in off-course formats like Topgolf, simulators, and putting lounges.
This shift reflects a broader trend: golf is becoming more experiential and social. People want to swing clubs, not sit on couches.
“Golf is now a lifestyle, not just a spectator sport,” says NGF President Joe Beditz. “We’re seeing growth in every age group, especially among younger players who prefer short-form, tech-enhanced formats.”
Ultimate Long Drive Fits Perfectly
Although they won’t get the amount of Ryder Cup fans at the ParTee Landing in Colombia, SC, they will get the positive enthusiasm – compared to the Ryder Cup.
If you’re looking for golf that delivers adrenaline and eyeballs, look no further than the Ultimate Long Drive Championship. The 2025 World Championship tees off this weekend in Myrtle Beach, and it’s already generating buzz.
This isn’t your grandfather’s golf. It’s high-octane, crowd-cheering, driver-smashing entertainment—and it’s resonating with younger audiences who crave action and spectacle.
Golf is not dying. It’s evolving.
While traditional pro golf broadcasts struggle to hold attention, participation and alternative formats are thriving. The Ryder Cup may have stumbled on TV, but the fairways, simulators, and long drive grids are packed.
For golf media, the message is clear: adapt or fade. Highlight the action, amplify the personalities, and meet audiences where they are — on the course, on their phones, and in the moment.
Real John Daly is Host and Producer for Traveling Golfer. He writes and produces for the TGD Newswire at www.thegolfdirector.com. He is a former player on the Celebrity Players Tour who still holds a single-digit handicap. He was the host of Real TV, the groundbreaking reality show in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He is currently the Co-Creator and Co-Host of Undercover Jetsetter with Susan Anzalone, a show on travel, food, wine, mixology and, of course, golf. They show you how to jet set the world and at home. They also co-authored the book, The TV Studio In Your Hand: How to Shoot, Edit & Deliver the Easy Way on Your iPhone.
