The World Series of Golf - Trip Report - with pictures!

[Dominic]

This past week, I was on the production team of a really cool new format in TV golf and gambling called The World Series of Golf. It airs on NBC as a special sports program in June, with hopes of it becoming a regular-type deal down the road.

This is a really unique format: You buy-in for $10,000 just like a poker tournament. The first day you play in a foursome and must defeat your group to advance to the next day.

It goes like this: On each hole who hits first is predetermined and rotated (like a dealer button). After your tee shots, the first person has a chance to wager whatever he wants as if he's in a NL poker game. The next person can call, raise or fold depending on his shot. And so on. Each hole is like a separate hand of poker where participants wager up to whatever they want in order to pick up the antes and any money wagered on the hole. The antes go up every hole, too.

Here's an article on it that explains it better than I do! World Series of Golf

The first day was 60 participants, the second was the 15 winners from the previous day, and the third day was the finals with 5 people. There was over $600,000 in the prize pool with $250,000 going to the eventual winner. I won't tell you who won, but I will tell you that Steve Dannemann, Blair Rodman, Rhett Butler, Russ Hamilton and Phil Ivey all played, among others...it was a real interesting mix of very good golfers vs. very good golf gamblers!

The event was held at Primm Valley Golf Club and I've got to say it's probably the most beautiful golf course I've seen in Vegas.

Here's a shot of the clubhouse


Here's the first tee before day 2 participants teed off:


My job was to produce the non-golf segments of the show: interviews, b-roll, beauty shots, etc. It was a fun job and had me running around the golf course all day.

Here's the putting green - that white tent is where I'd grab the players as they came off of Hole #9 and interview them:


My camera phone really doesn't do the place justice, but the course is absolutely spectacular and I'm going back next week to play!



The World Series of golf is going to be a lot of fun to watch. It's great to see two players strategizing as they determine who has the edge and betting accordingly. The players also each have a caddy with them - but instead of only helping with their golf game they are also their "financial advisors" and handle all the bets. A croupier also travels with each group making sure all bets are noted and kept track of.

Fantastic format and I'm looking forward to seeing it in a few weeks!

Here's a bunny rabbit: