Pipe Dream Show

[jetsknicks1]

Originally Posted by jmanbooyaa

This show is terrible. This guy is just not a likeable guy. Clueless, and did anyone else hear him say he is not interested in changing careers? He has never had a career and is a complete clown who is getting hand out after hand out.

^^^^This. The guy is just not likable. BooHoo, you're dad left, so what! Your mom kissed your ass and gave you everything. What kills me is at the begining of the show when he says he's a "Fighter and a "Survivor" No you're not! As soon as things got bad, he gave up and the only time good things happen to him now is when other people step up and hand it to him.

[Tugglife2]

Any updates on what he's up to these days?  Still driving around trying to Monday qualify for Champions Tour events?

[golf4fun12]

I looked it up after the show and I couldn't find anything really. All I found was pipe dream show stuff on the internet.

[Kieran123]

Yeah I googled him, can't find anything new.

Probably back at the shelter crying about something

[golf4fun12]

Originally Posted by HBKMensa

Hey he is not that bad - good show at least!

I don't even think the show was any good. happy I watched it all in a row and only wasted a couple hours rather than a couple months waiting each week for the show to air.

seemed like a good decision from the golf channel, but the results were bad.

[sacm3bill]

Here's an update on Mark Burk, from today's local paper:

Originally Posted by The Sacramento Bee:

A lesson somewhere

Mark Burk's stay in Northern California lasted less than a month. His stint at Home on the Range was shorter.

Burk, the homeless man with the pro golf aspirations documented last year on the Golf Channel reality series "Pipe Dream," has been booted from the Newcastle driving range by owner/operator Phil Green.

The departure came less than two weeks after Green provided Burk with a recreational vehicle in which to live and the chance to earn money giving lessons while pursuing another reality TV series – the Golf Channel didn't renew the series.

"He's the most ungracious homeless guy you could ever meet," Green said. "He feels entitled to having people take care of him. I tried to help him, but he didn't want to work. I told him, 'I have a 12-year-old daughter; I don't need a 54-year-old son.' "

Burk was planning to return to the Palm Springs area, where "Pipe Dream" was filmed, Green said. The Newcastle pro said he wishes Burk well, but the notion that Burk could be a touring golfer is unrealistic.

"He couldn't beat me in five rounds," Green said.

[iacas]

I think people had him pegged from the show pretty well. The "most ungracious homeless guy" comment seems perfectly correct.

[jamo]

Can't say I'm surprised. The show was both boring and painful.

[Deryck Griffith]

I agree, not surprising.

In my opinion, it seems like the path Mark's life has taken over the years is somewhat deserved rather than just being "unlucky."

[Ernest Jones]

Far more interested in the fates of the Big Break contestants. Much more interesting show to watch as well. Too bad my wife throws up in her mouth everytime I watch golf or I'd probably watch Big Break weekly. A reality show for Golf Dorks, perfect, where do I sign up!

[Dubya D]

Originally Posted by Deryck Griffith

I agree, not surprising.

In my opinion, it seems like the path Mark's life has taken over the years is somewhat deserved rather than just being "unlucky."

My sentiments exactly.

oh joy! looks like he is coming to my home course. Anything anyone want me to pass on to him?

from his website:

"Come see me play in the National Pro Tour "Ranking School" at Soboba Springs CC in San Jacento, CA on January 10th - 12th!"

[ukalum]

Golf Channel was a bit unlucky with the show since Burk had the Hernia injury in the midst of it.  I think it could have turned out better if that did not happen.  I'd like to see more shows on developing golfers from GC.  The homeless ones are likely not the best prospects though.

[TourSpoon]

Golf Channel severely underestimated public perception of this guy generated by his domestic and mental issues. Obviously someone didn't do their homework with this guy's past. It's too bad because they could have picked some regular joe who was in a position to make a run and documented his try at Monday qualifiers and mini-tour events. This would have given us our realistic look at someone who has yet to make it but is striving for his dreams.  The pipe in "Pipe Dreams" must have been a crack pipe.

[zipazoid]

I started watching the show but after a few episodes it left me kinda cold. Especially after I saw this guy's swing & his competitive scores...which both sucked.

I mean, they say he's a "pro" trying to get his life together, but really he comes across more as some guy that used to play a little who lives on the streets. Shit, I know a dozen guys like that just here in Orlando.

[newtogolf]

Burk's story had everything television producers want in a reality show.  It was a rags to potential riches story about a homeless guy who's given a chance to make it rich on the Tour, you couldn't script the initial concept any better.  Unfortunately as TourSpoon pointed out, the producers didn't do all their homework.  Instead of a guy that was grateful for the opportunity he was rude and demanding.  They should have helped him with his hernia operation before they started filming as that derailed the initial focus of the show and forced the producers to make back stories the primaries.

The concept is interesting, I'd like to see them possibly take someone who didn't win the Big Break and are no longer pursuing golf as a career, like Albert from Trump National.  If there's another Mark Burk out there with a better disposition that would be interesting too.

[gregsandiego]

 

I discovered "PIPE DREAM" the Golf Channel reality series via the Driver vs Driver thread

I'm personally fascinated with recovery stories (and golf). Maybe the show sucks but I did find that Golf Channel has them available here:

http://www.golfchannel.com/tv/pipe-dream

so I'll be watching and reviewing.

[gregsandiego]

Thanks @iacas for redirecting me to this more complete thread.

For anybody who cares (besides me?) some recent legal action.

http://caribbeanbusiness.com/homeless-golfer-burk-rejected-by-bayamon-to-teach-the-sport/

Also Mark Burk has a website. Not very good or up to date.

http://markburk.com/

I've read most of the posts in this thread. I guess the biggest surprise is what was Golf Channel thinking? I remember some guy they found begging several years back that was on the radio at one time doing voice-overs. He had a great voice and someone tried to bring him back. I don't think that worked either.

None the less I'm still interested in the Mark Burk story.

 

 

[gregsandiego]

28 minutes ago, chilepepper said:

    I think it's safe to say " all reality shows are scripted" 

I think it's not just a matter of putting together a script and following it. From what I've read they take lots of video and assemble it into a story line. In this case the base story was probably pre-existing.

Take something like Kardashians or Housewives on the other hand. I think hours of pure dribble become a completely manufactured story line.