BBC celebrates 60 years of golf coverage
Congratulations to the British Broadcasting Company! This year they are celebrating 60 years of golf coverage on television. And that gives cause for a double celebration, naturally. The reigning ‘voice of golf’ on the BBC is commentator Peter Alliss. He has made an almighty contribution to this milestone having been actively broadcasting for the beeb for 50 years. Even though he is now 84 golf seasons young, his knowledge of the game, his dulcet tones, his wit, and sometimes wicked way with words, still delight and entertain us during the BBC’s coverage of golf tournaments.
As a special preview of this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews, the BBC screened a lovely programme earlier tonight: “An Evening with Peter Alliss”. It was a sort of documentary and one-man theatre show, all in one, including some glimpses into his personal life with wife, Jackie. Near the end, a short film about golf legend Gary Player was shown. In typical Alliss fashion, he rounded off with a crown jewel of a comment. Peter playfully described the golf legend as: “The Queen Mother of all golf – all he needs is a couple of corgis!”
Born in 1931, Peter Alliss played in his first Open Championship in 1947. Alas, he never won The Open partly due to the putting yips seriously affecting his professional golfing career. As a 22-year old, he played in his first Ryder Cup at Wentworth. In fact, Peter and his father Percy were the first father and son to ever play in the Ryder Cup. It was not until 1997 that Antonio and Ignacio Garrido became the second.
Peter’s television career began in 1961 and has never looked back since. Over the years, he has coined a mass of memorable expressions such as: “He’s out with the big furniture” (if a player takes a driver out); and, “He struck it like the pendulum of an old grandfather clock” (to describe someone with a silky touch with the putter). Long may his golden commentary gems about “The silly old pedestrian game that is golf” continue. Peter Alliss is music to the ears.
Thanks for the last 50 years, Peter. We look forward to many more!
Wendy Hoad
Photograph: Peter Alliss in his younger days appearing on television in America. (Archive)