Did you guys have to agree to anything regarding golf channel being able to use the content of your submissions as they wish? If so, that would make these selections extra suspicious, as they not only got a lot of publicity from this, they have also collected a pretty big library of unique and compelling instructional content.

Gunfight At the TGC Corral
 

Yes, and from the Contest Rules, here 'tis:

"By entering this Promotion, Entrant (his/her parent/legal guardian if Entrant is a resident of a jurisdiction that deems him/her to be a minor) grants Sponsor the right: (i) to post/publish submitted Video on the Website and on air(and any other present or future media in which it is or may be published, including, without limitation electronic databases), or other websites owned, operated by or affiliated with the Sponsor, without further compensation; and (ii) to modify, edit, adapt, and electronically alter submitted Video without compensation or further notice to Entrant. Although Sponsor is granted the rights herein, it is not obligated to, nor does it represent or warrant that any Video submitted by Entrant will be published on the Website or otherwise, or that such publication will be free of technical errors, problems or compatibility issues and Sponsor shall have no liability related thereto."


Then, excerpted from the TGC website's Terms and Conditions:

(B) By posting messages, uploading files, or otherwise providing any material to us for display on the Service, you are granting thegolfchannel.com a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, unrestricted, worldwide license to use, copy, sublicense, adapt, transmit, publicly perform or display any such communication and sublicense to third parties the unrestricted right to exercise any of the foregoing rights granted with respect to the communication. The foregoing grants shall include the right to exploit any proprietary rights in such material, including but not limited to rights under copyright, trademark, service mark or patent laws under any relevant jurisdiction.

Yep . . .

"Ya got me, pardner!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSlkO41Y9I4

When you state something about TGC being embarrassed, it seems not. They don't seem to be embarrassed by "Playing Lessons" and most of those, to me, are just plain awful. There is a butcher shop full of meat here at Gallery. They don't have enough meat for a thimble.

Unintended Consequences
 

I think TGC may be in for some negative PR over how this sham "contest" went down. On the other hand, most people probably could care less. We'll see.

:salut:

Submitted my vote but was very disappointed with the choices. I thought Yoda was in for sure.

I guess because most golfers average between 90 and above they wanted something that was very simple.

I think that there is more to it than that Jerry. The 3 selected are regularly programed and featured instructors. I'm not sure that any of them submitted video's before the deadline or before they were selected. Something is fishy. I think that it speaks to the integrity of TGC. A lot of people worked fast and hard preparing what they thought TGC and it's viewers would like to see. What they've done is unethical if this amounts to an "Advertising Event" to stimulate viewership interest and if they never intended to select someone unknown to their normal viewer.

So far, that seems to be the case.

well said, fortunately I thought it had the makings of a advertising event. I think TGC has kinda sold its soul the past few years with what they have done with the programming (Big Break) and this just falls in line with the rest of it.

Lynn's Video
 

I glanced at a couple of the "winning" videos and then briefly looked at Lynn's video. As far as quality of the video production and professional presentation - there is no question who the winner was - Lynn Blake. Quality might not "win" on any particular occasion but in the long run - it wins. If I was recommending buying a stock - I'd issue a strong buy sign.

No Surprise from GC
 

Maybe should have suspected. But golf is for optimists.
A popular golf magazine had a contest last winter/ spring with the prize being a round of celebrity golf just prior to the Open at PB. 50 words on how playing PB will change your life. I entered and was then dumbfounded with the magazines 5 finalists, all being “character” castings with low handicap ( all less than 10, winner was a 6 as I recall) . The result was an “uneventful “ 118 for that 6 HC – I call that 2 and a half boggy golf. The other result was that I resisted the barrage of subscription solicitation, no longer read the magazine, not even in the dentist office and I had to Google to get the “winners” performance score.
It can happen at all levels. Don’t bother with the rules, just divine the intent of the sponsor . Hard to do but less disappointment. There is no joy in Mudville this year

The Bear

In Our Own Winner's Circle
 

Thanks, Mike. Coming from you, especially, that means a lot.

:salut:

As I said earlier, I never expected to win. The odds were low -- hundreds of dedicated instructors across the country giving it their 'best shot' and The Golf Channel delivering its best subjective judgment on several listed criteria:

1. Camera presence;

2. Knowledge of golf instruction;

3. Charisma; and

4. Creativity.

That said, I did expect a level playing field and am disappointed that it simply was not the case.

Was it too much to ask that existing Golf Channel Instructors -- as listed on The Golf Channel website -- be excluded from a new Golf Channel Instructor Search?

Two of the three finalists have numerous Academy Live appearances since 2001 and a combined 100+ video lessons awaiting your download on TheGolfChannel.com.

This is 'new'?

Please.

Ne'er the less, for LBG, it's workin'!

As of November 22, the day the 'search' -- :rolleyes: -- ended and the finalists were announced, my strong YouTube performance (7,057 views) surpassed by thousands those of the three Golf Channel finalists -- combined.

This 'popular vote' has produced a marked increase in our web traffic and sales.

:smile:

For us, then, The Golf Channel Instructor Search "contest" -- :laughing9 -- was, and continues to be, a very positive experience.

:3gears: