I have been making a documentary about a historical subject for a few years now; researching, filming, & editing it, and so far... funding it. However, in the interest of documentaries, I'd like to think up some ideas that would make a good golf documentary. At this early stage, don't know that I'd do it, but it would be fun to discuss.

Golf-related doc's you have liked? What you liked about them? What you would like to see someone make? If you could make one, what would it be?

Make one on Phil. HE never quite has the spotlight because of Tiger but he has the game to beat him?

How about a documentary about all the great old golf courses which fell into disrepair during the Depression...and which ones were brought back. You tie in a whole lot of socioeconomic/cultural issues along with golf.

Flo,
Phil Michelson could make a good subject, but there are challenges when doing a person-specific doc on someone with his profile. Not to mention his sponsers and agents want him presented in the best light, but his personal consent and cooperation are necessary, along with a good motivation to do so. The best personal docs, in my opinion, provide for being not only informing, but revealing; and that requires a fairly uninhibited access into the subjects personal life and events. That would be the main restriction on such a documentary in this case, unless you just did a profile-type doc on Phil, which has already been done in short-form.

Aimee, that subject would be interesting to know more about anyway. How would you frame it? Nostalgia and tradition against economics and development? Tell me more.

Let's say you did a doc on golfers and their obsessive desire/need to golf. Though you could almost do the entire thing on Bob Fagan, the ultimate golf-nut, it may have more general appeal to include not only him, but find other golf-nuts and peer a little more closely into not only how it enriches their lives, but how it also complicates them, and how they find a balance, if in fact they really do.

I also think good documentaries provide for some sort of discovery, both on the audiences part, and on the part of the subjects. It's letting the camera roll and seeing what happens; given a certain pretext or assumption. I also like it when there's some real life going on, which leaves room for magic and profound moments, or just ordinary moments that have a ring of truth. Doc's should be honest.

But there are all kinds of docs, and all kinds of doc subjects. Help me think of a few that could actually be made independantly. I'd love to hear any and all ideas, serious or whacked, historical or futuristic, grand or modest. If you could make a doc, what would it be? If not, what would you like to see someone make?

Not getting many ideas thrown out here... If you have an any ideas, no matter how hair-brained; and unless you're thinking of making it yourself, toss it out here. If you guys don't, you'll force me to start coming up with stuff, and you know where that could lead!

It could be about the game itself, golf characters, golf-club addictions, obsession with the game, great teachers, how golf is like life, the growing global popularity of golf, it's uniqueness among sports, etc. I haven't thought about it much, but would like to. And if something emerges which is makable, I just may look into it.

Lend me your imaginations... anything goes. You have 3 days. (At least until I ask again...) We might be surprised by what we come up with! But it takes brainstorming, which requires ideas. Fire away.

This has been done(not recorded), but follow around a golfer or two who will play 50 rounds in 50 states in 50 days.

In that case, I might like to follow myself and someone else, as we play 50 rounds in 50 states in 50 days! Want to join me? Good idea.

What else could add a twist to that, besides it's crazy schedule? You only have so much money? You have to use planes, trains, and automobiles ? You can only complete the journey if you maintain a certain accumulative score? If you're behind on strokes, you have to win some kind of local challenge to gain them back and continue?

Eveything can use a gimmick, even real-life documentaries sometimes... it seems. I like your idea though, it's a nice set-up; what could we do to juice it up?

You only get 50 golf balls, lose too many and you're in trouble. No carts, have to walk. First round is January 1st, Winter golf. Does Alaska even has a golf course? Wade: you said Hair Brained idea were welcome, you got it.

Do the documentary with Bob Fagen or Michael Jordan or ? . Map out and have them play Americas Top 100 courses in 60 days. If you have a problem scheduling Augusta or any other private course, do Americas Top 100 public courses. Wouldn't someone like them have a story and form a great base for a doc.? Go for the major golf mfg. companies for funding and expenses. You will be able to market the doc. anywhere in the "Kingdom."
Is it possible to win an "Oscar" for the best documentary? If the answer is yes, can we all be on stage with you and can I say "Thank You" to someone?

OR,
follow your train of thought on the 50 days 50 courses with some kind of elimination. Forget the documentary and go for a Reality Golf Show that will blow the doors off "The Big Break." Get Ping and Trump to fund it.

Wade, I know a guy who just got a patent approved for a golf training aid, and he's working with a management company to sign a big time guy to endorse it. Documentary about how you bring something like this to market?

Another idea (besides the original one, which I'd have to hunker down and think about) would be to do something in the vein of what John Fierstein does in his books, you could follow a young golfer who is trying to go to Q-school, or one who is on the Hooters tour (or whatever they do now) trying to get into the PGA tour. Life on the road, sacrifices, rewards, etc.

Now that's what I'm talk'n about! Good ideas folks. And yes, the Oscar's have several "Best Documentary" categories... so you determine whether it's a theatrical, PBS-type or HBO; Golf-channel or reality-type, etc. If the subject involved challenges or elimination, it would move in the direction of tv-reality, which is a busy market these days.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves... just fish'n for ideas, great and small. You never know what may emerge.

I like the idea of someone playing a bunch of courses, in a defined period, and it would be nice to have a twist involved. Sometimes, you can approach a doc like a thesis-paper. You have a theory, or premise which you set out to prove or disprove. Having something at stake is always interesting.

Also, the idea of people who design or invent golf-related stuff, could be humorous, interesting, and entertaining. My dad has recently done such a thing. Over the years he designed several things, developed and patented them; usually from the motivation of wanting one himself. None of them have resulted in his retirement... but he's always up to something. He did this with a golf-accessory item, which you'll learn more about soon, because we're going to give some away in a contest/giveaway here on GGR. Nothing spectacular, just a handy gadget which also makes a gift idea. It's been interesting to see him pursue it, go through the process, bring it to package form. I haven't been much involved because of time, though I offered some feedback of course. But the up's and down's of the process are interesting. I'm sure there are some crazy stories out there. The successful, and the not so successful...

Thanks all, keep stirring the pot! If we accidentally stumbled onto the right idea, it could end up very makable, and there are plenty of funding resources. It just takes an idea that works for the intended market. But again, let's not get ahead of ourselves... This is just a fishing expedition, so keep casting!

My friend Tim had a good idea the other day during our round, so I'm wondering how feasible it would be. It's kind of silly, but sounds like a hoot. You play from one point to another, like across a town/city, or maybe from one city to another, etc. Guess you would have to avoid some of the initial hazards (like cars, houses, police, etc.) to get out of city limits. Then go from there. I'm sure it would call for a host of choices and shots, where to lay up, when to go for it, and so on. Is this just totally wacky? And if so, is that a bad thing? This is not necessarily doc-fodder, but could make a funny/interesting short.

How about a documentary on a kid or group of kids that were introduced to golf and had golf change the direction of their life. Like, out of the projects and into society? Or, Rags to riches? Or, crime to humanitarian? or?

Maybe that's too blahzay........How about an ex con drug pusher who becomes a tour caddy and uses his new found life to change other peoples lives?

Let's get David Duval and talk him into doing his story. Why not?

Find a promising tour player wanna be and follow his/her journey through the local tournaments, national tournaments and tour school. If he/she makes it through tour school, have a sponsor lined up for him/her so they never have to worry about money to make it on tour.

Documentary on the role of tour caddies and the part they play in the success of the player. Over the decades, who are the prominant caddies and what are they doing now?

Bill

How about the trials and tribulations of marriage as affected by compulsive golf spending?

Mike,
that wouldn't be educational or entertaining to anyone who is married and already understands that scenario.
Bill

These are all good ideas. There is a golf documentary in here somewhere. Golf as life-improvement for young people (or anyone really) would certainly have popular appeal, and the Tiger Woods foundation, for one, does such a thing.

I would be curious to explore the role/history etc., that caddies play as the player's right hand (or left, as it may be...) and as an essential fabric of the game we know today.

Regarding the trials and tribulations of compulsive golf spending, or compulsive playing (conspicuous offender here) it could certainly have a resonance, and maybe be part of a larger segment on sports addictions; of which I'm sure golf would be close to taking the cake.

How about guys' feable attempts to pick up the beverage cart girl?

Golf Pros and the crazy long hours they put in?

Building of a new golf course and what goes into it?

The life of an Outback Steakhouse blimp pilot?

You know the show on HBO "Taxicab Confessions"?...how about "Cart Girl Confessions"? or "Golf Course Ranger Confessions"?

Wade,

A documentary on how a golf chatline can turn a reasonably sane and stable person into someone like Don, Mike, Jake or ............................YOU!

Bill

Bill,

Yourself exempted? Were you "unreasonably" sane and stable prior?

I always been and always will be, just plain Bill.

Bill, in my experience, you're anything but plain. Admit it.