for Hyundai Matches
Richard Dunn
Not to put a damper on anything, but ... the reality is that recent
coastal fog, which has at times blanketed much of Newport, is a concern
for those with high stakes in the Hyundai Team Matches at Pelican Hill
Golf Club.
Fog is no friend to network television, which arrives next week with
its made-for-ABC-cameras event at Pelican Hill's Ocean North course.
"The weather lately has been nice and the golf course is in superb
condition, but a little rain early next week wouldn't hurt us,"
tournament director Gary Pollard said Wednesday. "We're hoping for nice,
clear weather later next week for television. We're anticipating
everything to be just fantastic. It's very exciting."
I'm certainly not going to predict the weather for Dec. 16-17, but my
guess is that it will probably be similar to today, yesterday and
tomorrow.
It is more likely to be dry than wet, and it's almost assured that
Gaylord Event Television, which produces the Hyundai Matches, and the
Irvine Co., which owns Pelican Hill, are chomping at the bit, while
checking future weather forecasts and praying for color. Preferably, the
colors of ocean and sky blue. Anything but fog, or anything that cancels
the Pacific Ocean views, which happened here not too long ago.
In September, Pelican Hill was the site of a live, two-hour broadcast
of "Power Lunch" on CNBC, the new station for the Senior PGA Tour
beginning in January.
But, the one day it was foggy that week, was the morning of the
broadcast.
"Supposedly," show host Bill Griffeth said on the air that day at
Pelican Hill, "there are gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean from here.
But not this morning."
For the Irvine Co., clear skies for the Hyundai Matches will certainly
sell more real estate in Newport Coast, and no doubt increase ticket
sales for the bottom line.
At least ABC isn't scheduled to hit the airwaves until the afternoon
for the Hyundai Matches, shown from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16-17 (Saturday
and Sunday).
Speaking of Newport Coast, earlier this year officials from the
Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau argued that the televised area
for the Hyundai Matches should be referred to as "Newport Beach" and not
"Newport Coast."
Tournament officials Wednesday confirmed that "Newport Coast" will be
the term used throughout the broadcast.
Prior to and during the "Power Lunch" telecast, CNBC referred to the
area as "Newport Beach."
A change in the date for the Hyundai Matches, a week later on the
