Marked by Expansion, Sensational Destinations
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – (December 29, 2020) – To many people, in many ways, 2020 was the worst year ever. The need for support and help is substantial.
While there is no denying the fact that 2020 was an extremely difficult year, especially logistically, it turned out to be a historically successful year for the award-winning Traveling Golfer television show.
On the East Coast, NBC Sports and NBC Sports + remain as the foundational platform for viewing the Traveling Golfer. But throughout the rest of the country and, now, around the world, an amazing expansion through the Fun Roads Network took place in 2020. The number of households reach by the golf-and-lifestyle show multiplied six-fold in one year’s time and the reach of the show extended to new U.S. markets including Chicago, Houston,
Philadelphia, Washington State, North Dakota, Raleigh, Orlando, San Jose and Boise … just to name some.
Demand by viewers continued to grow in each market and the networks – NBC Sports and Fun Roads Network – added additional shows each month to meet that demand.
From a production standpoint, with availability to create shows opening and closing due to COVID-19 restrictions, the schedule went from feast to famine, and back again. Despite those challenges, the Traveling Golfer schedule of shows for 2020 boasted an amazing variety and diversity of destinations.
The year began and ended on the West Coast of Florida. The January episode featured the eye-popping 27-hole layout at Pelican Pointe Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida. The December show was from Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch, an exciting new golf course near Bradenton, Florida.
In between, the Traveling Golfer visited the famous Old Waverly CC in Mississippi; French Lick Resort in Indiana; The KPMG Women’s LPGA Championship at renowned Aronimink GC; a special look at Ireland; the Lapio family-operated courses in Eastern Pennsylvania; the Waccamaw Golf Trail on the southern end of Myrtle Beach; Valley Forge and Destination Montco Golf; the Mid-South Club in the Pinehurst area of North Carolina and a Road Trip along I-95 in the northeast corner of Florida.
“We were very fortunate that all of our sponsors stuck with us throughout this very difficult year,” explained Tony Leodora, host of the Traveling Golfer. “The year started on a high note, with our team taking a grateful bow at the PGA Merchandise Show after being voted the No. 1 Golf Television Show in America for the fourth time in the last five years. However, shortly after that, everything started to unravel.
“A number of on-site shoots were canceled or postponed, due to the pandemic. When courses re-opened, we had to shoot shows in rapid succession. But most of the destinations stuck with us and, as a result, they saw a record amount of golfers throughout the late spring, summer and fall. Those who continued to market their properties, reaped the benefits. And we were more than happy to help.”
The groundswell of support for the game of golf is continuing into 2021 and five new shows already have been shot. The lineup for the rest of the year is quickly falling into place.
The Traveling Golfer airs as a scheduled weekly feature show on NBC Sports and NBC Sports + throughout four markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. NBC Sports airings are 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and 11 a.m. on Thursdays. NBC Sports + airs the show at 8 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. In addition, the show airs nationally, three times every day, on the new Fun Roads Network (funroads.tv/schedule) – in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Wichita, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington State, North Dakota, Raleigh, Orlando, San Jose and Boise markets. Additionally, national and international expansion has taken place via connected TV on Roku, Amazon Fire, SelectTV and GlewedTV.
The Traveling Golfer also airs a number of times each month on “Rivertalk” on HTC-4 in Myrtle Beach.
The show also airs on the Traveling Golfer network of websites … including The Golf Director Network and The Myrtle Beach Golf Channel (see full list of sites on travelinggolfervideo.com).
As part of every Traveling Golfer show there is the additional feature, “Tech Talk”, hosted by Tour Edge Golf experts, such as President Dave Glod. With years of experience as a club maker, Glod presents an inside look at the research and development of high-quality golf equipment.
Responding to golfers’ never-ending demands to learn more about interesting golf courses and golf resorts across the country and around the world, well-traveled host Tony Leodora created the Traveling Golfer so he could take viewers on video trips to some of the most exciting golf locations. For the fourth time in five years, the show was honored as the No. 1 Golf Television Show in America in the prestigious International Network of Golf awards, presented at the PGA Merchandise Show in January of 2020.
The Traveling Golfer is a series of monthly shows hosted by Leodora, who has 19 years of experience in televised golf. The featured destination stays on the website for one month, before being replaced by a new show. Alternate shows also air in a two-month rotation. All old shows are archived for continued viewing on the YouTube Network and on the home website, www.travelinggolfervideo.com.
For more information about the Traveling Golfer, or to find out how a property can be featured on the show, call TL Golf Services at (610) 721-8186 or e-mail Tony Leodora at tony.leodora@TL-golfservices.com.
