The Golf Channel

The Golf Channel is an American cable television network devoted (obviously) to the game of golf. It was launched on January 17, 1995. The idea of a 24-hour-a-day golf network came from the mind of media entrepreneur Joseph E. Gibbs of Birmingham, Alabama, who first got the idea for the channel in 1991. Gibbs felt there was enough interest in golf among the public to support such a network, and so he had a Gallup Poll done among the public to see if his instincts were right. They were, and Gibbs and legendary golfer Arnold Palmer managed to secure $80 million, which helped the two found The Golf Channel. The first live tournament the channel ever televised was the Dubai Desert Classic, held from January 19 to 22, 1995.

The Golf Channel on-air talent

Programs talent appear on are in parentheses.

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• Brian Anderson (Nationwide Tour play-by-play)
• Adam Barr (What's in the Bag?)
• Grant Boone (PGA Tour play-by-play)
• Steve Burkowski (College Central analyst)
• Curt Byrum (Nationwide Tour analyst)
• Donna Caponi (Champions Tour course reporter)
• Vince Cellini (Golf Central and The Big Break)
• Brandel Chamblee (Golf Central, Sprint Post Game and PGA Tour analyst)
• Kay Cockerill (LPGA and Nationwide Tour course reporter)
• Dougie Donnelly (European Tour play-by-play)
• Jerry Foltz (PGA and Nationwide Tours course reporter, Quest for the Card)
• Brian Hammons (Golf Central and LPGA play-by-play)
• Brian Hewitt (Sprint Post Game analyst)
• Peter Jacobsen (Peter Jacobsen Plugged In and Peter and Friends)
• Kraig Kann (Golf Central, Sprint Post Game, Live From..., and Leaderboard Report)
• Jim Kelly (Champions Tour play-by-play)
• Renton Laidlaw (European Tour play-by-play)
• Rich Lerner (Golf Central, Live From..., occasional Champions Tour play-by-play)
• Nancy Lopez (LPGA analyst)
• Mark Lye (Golf Central, Champions Tour course reporter)
• David Marr III (Champions Tour interviewer, Champions Tour Learning Center)
• Jennifer Mills (Golf Central and College Central)
• Frank Nobilo (Sprint Post Game, Live From... and Champions Tour analyst)
• Peter Oosterhuis (Sprint Post Game, Tavistock Cup analyst)
• Iain Page (Golf Central)
• Dottie Pepper (Golf Central, Sprint Post Game, Live From..., and LPGA analyst)
• Mike Ritz (Golf Central)
• Steve Sands (Golf Central)
• Val Skinner (LPGA course reporter)
• Stephanie Sparks (Golf With Style!, The Big Break, Golf Central updates)
• Kelly Tilghman (Golf Central, Sprint Post Game, Live From..., Grey Goose 19th Hole, Golf Channel Academy and Academy Live)
• Megan West (Golf Central)