CHANNEL TEN’S new ONE HD weekly golf show The Pro Shop premiered last night and with a range of interviews and features wasn’t half bad.

Forum and other comments suggest viewers will take kindly to the Australian produced free to air golf show and after the first effort one would think it can only further improve.

Hosted by Ten sports commentator Andrew Maher and former Australasian, Asian and European PGA player Grant Dodd, the first show was filmed at the pro shop at the revamped The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, venue for the 2010 Australian Open.

The show started with a wrap up of the week’s golf news with highlights from the major events and a special “ONE Moment in Golf” segment featuring a famous tournament winning six iron by Craig Parry.

There were interviews with Australian great and Lakes member Peter O’Malley, newly turned “senior” Peter Senior talking about his career and his upcoming tilt at a US Champions Tour card, and Nikki Garrett, who also hopes to be back on the US ladies circuit.

Maher watched Dodd play some of the new holes on the Michael Clayton renovated Lakes course; jockey Damien Oliver showed his golfing prowess and also demonstrated one option to use when someone objects to your mobile phone use on course (the actual wording was beeped); and golf coach Glenn Whittle gave a quick golf tip (align your club face to the target, not your feet).

All in all it was well worth watching and definitely a big improvement on having no free to air golf show on Australian television.

Maher, better know as an AFL commentator, pointed out a couple of times he is a 13 handicapper. He seems to have a genuine regard for the game and is personable enough. Dodd was quite likeable, professional with the interviews and obviously knows his stuff.

The Golf Pro will air weekly on Tuesdays at 8.30 pm (repeated Wednesday’s 6.30 am) and the first season will extend through to the end of the US Masters in Augusta (why quit there?).

If you can’t get ONE or the other new digital channels it is well worth spending the entry level hundred odd dollars required for a new set top box that will make it all possible. (Or go the whole hog with a new big screen HD TV).

ONE’s new golf coverage is just starting to kick in with the four rounds of the Singapore Open starting this Thursday from 4pm (AEST).

The flagship Asian event will feature a top quality field including Crazy Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott.

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