A Behind-the-Scenes Look at ‘DP World Tour TV’
The KLM Open draws thousands of fans to the golf course, and millions more follow the action on TV or with a phone in hand. Delivering these tournaments to living rooms around the world, week after week, is a major logistical feat. Welcome to Operation Golf on Screen.
A behind-the-scenes look at the DP World Tour’s TV production company is quite literally a look behind the scenes. Even before reaching the entrance of The International, part of the road is taken up by the DP World Tour’s massive fleet. Six mega-trucks are parked behind large screens, and access to this area requires a special pass.
Heavy Equipment
Almost all of these mega-trucks are equipped with slide-outs—extendable panels that create extra space. For the KLM Open, the DP World Tour has arrived with heavy gear. The crane truck carrying the tall antenna mast is hard to miss. Due to strong winds in Amsterdam this week, the mast can’t be fully extended. The DP World Tour’s weatherman monitors conditions closely. Safety is the top priority.
The operation
Two of the trucks arrive a week before the tournament to begin setup. Kilometers of cables are laid. The TV crew even brings their own buggies to events. It’s a massive operation. Week in, week out.
“The KLM Open is a historic tournament—that’s one of the reasons we’re here in full force. But at events like The Open, it’s even bigger,” says Matthew, one of the many British crew members, speaking from a control wall full of monitors. He leads us through the flagship truck of the DP World Tour, as he calls it.
It’s a whirlwind of screens and voices.
Concentration
There are enough cameras on the course to follow around seven flights simultaneously. But the fan watching at home can only see one moment at a time. So much of the footage is recorded and shown with a few seconds delay, allowing the broadcast to be filled with constant action.
“Because we’re constantly hearing the voices of both the producer and the director at once, staying focused is probably the biggest challenge,” Matthew explains, his hand resting on a fader panel that links to the camera audio controls.
Sound Design
Sometimes, mobile camera teams rush across the course because a player outside the show flights is suddenly on fire. It also happens that a great shot is caught on video, but without audio. In that case, Matthew or a colleague conjures up the sound of club meeting ball from their archive. The commentator demonstrates the various sound options. They might even layer in a bit of applause if the shot deserves it—but no spectators are nearby. Matthew smiles, “We just want to make it as exciting as possible for the viewer. Sometimes that means adding a little magic.”
Millions Watching
The footage is sent via satellite to London, then ‘returned’ to Dutch broadcasters. The delay is minimal. So when Joost Luiten strikes the ball live at The International, it appears on screen in less than a second.
Of course, the KLM Open isn’t just broadcast in the Netherlands. The DP World Tour’s live coverage reaches 490 million households across more than 150 countries during a tournament like this.
