Why is the Golf Channel advertising illegal products?

[mvmac]

I absolutely agree.

HOWEVER, they need to understand that it's not allowed under the rules.  My complaint here is that there is no such disclaimer in the commercial.  Truth in advertising is a bit more than just not telling an out and out lie, there's also the lie of omission....

I would be surprised if golfers that compete with their buddies, keep a handicap, play in a league, don't already know that a product like this is illegal.  The commercial isn't targeting these golfers IMO

On another note, and correct me if I'm wrong, drivers of various manufacturers push the legal limit on COR (tolerance) hence some clubs are over the limit but on the shelves as legal clubs.

I'm sure a few get by that are slightly over the limit.  Probably wouldn't even notice the difference.

[dave67az]

i think someone mentioned this...  but do you really think any true golfer, plays all the time, does leagues and tournaments and whatnot...  do you really think they will see these commercials and actually buy them??

I never claimed there was a danger that knowledgeable golfers would buy the product.  My concern was that golfers who are just learning the game, who watch the golf channel to learn about the game (much as I watched every golf show I could find when I was learning the game), who trust that the fine folks at The Golf Channel wouldn't advertise products that aren't USGA compliant, and subsequently purchase the products thinking that they're allowed to use them on a regular basis.

The problem isn't golfers who know what they're doing.  It's golfers who are just learning the game who are being confused by the mixed messages concerning the Rules of Golf.

I'll say again...if you're going to have the balls to call yourself The Golf Channel, and focus so many shows on how to play the game legally (look at the programming time spent discussing rules violations in PGA Tour events, or changes to the anchored stroke) then you owe it to your viewers, many who have a limited knowledge of what's allowed and what's forbidden in the game, to not add to any confusion about the Rules of Golf.

By all means the consumer needs to be aware if a particular product is not within the legal limits of the game. On another note, and correct me if I'm wrong, drivers of various manufacturers push the legal limit on COR (tolerance) hence some clubs are over the limit but on the shelves as legal clubs.

Which is exactly why I think a disclaimer should be shown during the commercials, just so folks who aren't as educated about the rules aren't confused.

I haven't seen the ad yet, and though in this case its legality may be apparent to those who know the rules, I'm not sure it is fair for us to expect TGC or other outlets to pass judgement on whether a product conforms to the rules or not when it comes to their ads. Now, I would be real disappointed to find them touting it in some of their game improvement tip segments, but ads are not original content.

And keep in mind, there are a LOT of golfers out there with no handicap, 15 or 16 clubs jammed in the bag, and a real spotty grip on the rules in general. They have a good time out there with their buddies and pay their greens fees. If this stuff helps them a bit the only downside I see is that there may be a few less balls to pick from the laterals along the way.

I don't think it's unfair to expect a channel that claims to be the authority on the game of golf (hell, simply naming it "The Golf Channel" does that) to pay a little more attention to their brand, and to realize that MANY people who aren't experts on the rules are more than likely to trust what they see and hear on TGC as gospel.

When it comes to stories about sports in general, I tend to trust the reports I see on ESPN.  If they say that there is hard evidence that A-Rod was on 'roids, I believe them.  If they say there was hard evidence there was a bounty system going on within the Saints organization, I believe them.

When it comes to stories about golf, I tend to trust the reports I see on TGC.  If they say that Vijay Singh is suing the PGA Tour for ruining his good name, I believe them.  If they say some viewer called an official's cell phone at the Masters and that's what started the whole Tiger Woods thing this year, I believe them.  When they spend days on Morning Drive discussing USGA rules just about every time there's a violation in a PGA Tour event, I listen closely because I'm pretty sure I'm going to learn something.  And I trust what I'll learn will help me understand the Rules of Golf better for my own game.

And when TGC accepts money for a product to be advertised, I expect it to be USGA-conforming or to have a disclaimer stating otherwise.

If TGC doesn't give a crap about the rules, then they need to stop discussing them as though there's something wrong with Tiger dropping in the wrong spot in a Major tournament.

[Mulligan Jeff]

There I go again dreaming of extra yardage lol