Highway 18 premiered tonight, and it's pretty good. Golf Channel has put together an entertaining clone of TAR, while golfing against the clock. The host, Kari Murphy is no Phil, and she needs to work on her banter with the players. The prize money is not even close to TAR, but it's all about the golf.
($50K air travel @ travelocity, golf clubs, a years supply of balls, and $50K cash).
Five teams of two in a thousand mile road trip, visiting pro level golf courses, playing golf, answering golf related questions, running, running, running (all while carrying a golf bag and clubs).
These are not the brightest bulbs in the bunch, and the pressure effects their golf game... oh the tension....
OK, on to the first leg. Keri gives the contestants the countdown (borrowed from TAR, but with a twist) "Drive safe, hit 'em straight, 3 - 2 - 1 - GO!" The teams must find the keys to their cars hidden somewhere at the starting line (St. Augustine, FL). The teams drive to their first challenge, a golfing/mental event. Reach the island green or sink a 25 ft. putt if they miss. This allows them to race to the Golf Hall of Fame to meet with Arnold Palmer to receive their challenge question. They all give the wrong answer and must go down to the Hall of Fame Museum to find the answer.
Later they drive to a TPC course and pick a hole. They must make par, alternating strokes, to move on to the finish line. These folks are bad under pressure.
First two teams reach the finish line and receive one of four golf balls. The last three teams get in a three-way foot race (including a funny race in golf carts
) to the finish line. WOW..... exciting. No golf ball for the last team... BUT theres a twist....it's a DOUBLE ELIMINATION format, so they are safe. Two strikes and your out.
Overall I give this show a B+ for imitating the TAR format. They could use a more catchy opening theme song, and a tighter musical score during the show. (Production gets a D- for showing the camera people in the shots, a no-no in BVMs book). The teams are well chosen, Dumb Blondes, Sassy Black Girl, Good old Country Boys, etc. Looks like a nice time filler while waiting for the REAL TAR to start in the fall.