(ORLANDO, Fla.) - Golf Channel has bolstered its editorial team with the addition of Damon Hack, former award-winning journalist for Sports Illustrated and The New York Times, and Ryan Burr, veteran host from ESPN. The announcement was made today by Golf Channel Executive Producer Molly Solomon, who currently is in London preparing for her role as coordinating producer for NBC's coverage of the Olympic Games.
Burr, who comes to Golf Channel after seven years at ESPN, will serve as a host for shows such as Golf Central, Golf Channel's flagship studio show based at the network's Orlando studios. He also will report for Golf Central from tournaments around the globe.
"We are thrilled to add Ryan and Damon to our Golf Channel family," said Solomon. "Damon is one of the most highly regarded journalists working in golf today, and his resume and experience will make him an important new asset across multiple programs and platforms on Golf Channel.
"I have been a fan of Ryan's work at ESPN for several years," she continued. "He is one of the rising anchors in our business, and when he told me of his love of golf, I knew he would be an excellent addition to our team."
"I'm so excited to join Golf Channel's deep and talented roster, and feel lucky to already have strong ties to people throughout the organization," said Hack. "In many ways it's like reuniting with old friends, and I look forward to telling stories in a new medium in this boom time for Golf Channel and the game we cover." Golf Channel Executive Editor Geoff Russell, a colleague of Hack's while serving as editor of Golf World magazine, was instrumental in recruiting Hack to the network.
"I am thrilled to be joining the NBC Golf Channel family. The company has great dreams and plans, and I very much look forward to being a part of it all," said Burr. "The game of golf is rich in both tradition and stories, and I can't wait to help those stories come alive."
Golf Channel, which is the fastest-growing network on television following six consecutive quarters of record growth since becoming part of the NBC Sports Group, will introduce Hack and Burr on the air in the next few weeks. Solomon, who also is producing NBC's Olympic primetime show, will return to Orlando to begin her duties full time as Golf Channel executive producer following the London Games.
Prior to joining Golf Channel, Hack was a senior writer for Sports Illustrated for five years, covering golf and the National Football League. Before joining the magazine, he also covered golf for The New York Times and Newsday. Earlier in his career, he covered the San Francisco 49ers for the Sacramento Bee. Hack completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA and received a master's degree in journalism from UC Berkeley. He will relocate from New York City to the Orlando area with his wife and one-year-old triplet boys.
Burr served as a studio host at ESPN for the past seven years, working on such shows as College Football Live and College Basketball Final. He also anchored weekend editions of SportsCenter, served as a play-by-play announcer for ESPN's NCAA men's college basketball coverage and hosted NASCAR Now. Prior to ESPN, he was a studio host for Fox SportsNet in Pittsburgh, Pa., serving as pre-game host for Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins telecasts. He also worked at WTVG-TV in Toledo, Ohio, Bay 9 News in Tampa, Fla., and was sports director at WKTV-TV in Utica, N.Y., where he received a local Associated Press Broadcaster-of-the-Year award. An avid golfer since his high school playing days, Burr is a graduate of Syracuse University and a Pittsburgh native. He will relocate from Connecticut to the Orlando area with his wife and three children.
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