The University of Memphis football and basketball teams get enough national recognition. It's about time the golf program got some attention.
The Golf Channel is looking to do just that.
Later this month they will highlight the University of Memphis men's and women's golf programs and the city, which will air as part of its "College Central" show.
"(College Central) is a 30-minute show that spotlights college golf, they go over the past week's tournaments and they have a five to seven minute feature on a golf program in the country, and we were selected to be one of them," said men's golf coach Grant Robbins.
Robbins made a push for the Golf Channel to highlight The U of M during the FedEx St. Jude Classic in May.
"I talked with Steve Sands (a Golf Channel anchor and reporter) over the summer when he was in town for the FESJC. I got to know him a little bit and basically asked him 'What is it going to take to get our program on (College Central)'," said Robbins.
And apparently that's all it took.
Robbins received a call from the show's producer in August telling him they would be in to film on Sept. 17.
There may not be a better time for this type of exposure, especially since the men's team won their first collegiate tournament of the season Sept. 11-12.
The winning of the season ó opening tournament was great for local publicity, said Robbins.
"Throw The Golf Channel on top of that. It all happened in the span of a week and we have quite a buzz about our program," he said.
One would make a case it could be hard to highlight the school's golf program and the city of Memphis in five to seven minutes, but the show is definitely going to try.
Footage was shot at the Colonial Country Club - home of the Memphis Intercollegiate tournament, Graceland, and the FedEx Forum. The crew finished shooting on campus at the FedEx Institute of Technology, Ned McWherter Library and the student plaza.
Cameron Barber, a sophomore on the women's team, joined men's player Allan Thomas as one of the two student athletes to represent Memphis on the show.
Barber, who has had a little time in front of the camera, said she was happy to represent the school and her golf team.
"There were certain things we had to say, but from there we had free reign and it was a lot of fun," said Barber. "It took eight cuts for the first take."
The Golf Channel was filming in Memphis for a little more than six hours and Robbins says this kind of exposure really helps the golf programs.
"A lot of high school kids watch the show and it's great for recruiting," said the second-year coach. "We're slowly building the reputation of having a great golf program. We've got a lot of things to offer: it's a great school in a southern location, we play a competitive schedule, and we have access to great golf courses in the area."
The Golf Channel has yet to release when they will air the feature, but "College Central" airs on Wednesday nights at 9:30 p.m., and is replayed once on Thursday and twice on Friday at various times.
