From its inception, GolfTalk Live was a 52-week, 100-percent interview-driven show, unique in the world of golf radio at that time. Show host Tony Leodora was dedicated to providing golfers with all the latest golf destination information, instruction, interesting golf stories and news from around professional and amateur golf, including interviews with people from all facets of the golf world.
In addition to WNTP, the show's flagship station, GolfTalk Live began syndication in 2012 with WOND 1400-AM in South Jersey, the only station that gives high-season weekend traffic reports at the Jersey Shore. In 2015 syndication continued when GolfTalk Live announced the addition of two more affiliate stations - ESPN 1230 and ESPN 1320 in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. In 2016 a third ESPN station - 1160-AM - was added. The stations broadcast throughout the Lehigh Valley and into Central New Jersey and throughout the Pocono Mountains.
Also, in 2014, a significant expansion took place though internet broadcasting. GolfTalk Live joined with the fast-growing Golf Director Network, which now hosts all of the shows. Through the network, www.thegolfdirector.com, GolfTalk Live now reaches across the United States and to 145 foreign countries.
"The growth of the show has been phenomenal and we owe it to the great people with whom we work, the interesting personalities we interview and the spectacular venues we visit," said Leodora, who has logged many miles in order to broadcast the show.
"In the beginning, we thought this would be a show generated from the radio studio each week," he admitted. "We did the first show from the studio and immediately got a call from a golf course that asked if we could do the show from their location the next week. Since then we have done the show on location every week for 10 years except for one week when we were limited by a huge snowstorm and the annual Producer's Revenge show that his hosted by our producers at the WNTP studio."
Over the years, GolfTalk Live has broadcast from locations in 19 different states, plus Puerto Rico. The show also broadcasted from six foreign countries - Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, Jamaica and Scotland.
Regular annual highlights of GolfTalk Live include extended coverage from the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, the weekly summer shows from the many golf courses at the Jersey Shore and the annual package known as the Myrtle Beach Report, which includes reviews of many courses and shows at the start and the end of the world's largest golf tournament - The Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship.
Sponsorship of GolfTalk Live has been an interesting mix of golf and non-golf companies. Presenting Sponsors Norris Sales Company and Yuengling Brewery are joined by returning sponsors Beneficial Bank, Westover GC, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, Kutztown Auto, LanConnect, Black Cat Cigars, Mainland GC, Bella Vista GC, Morgan Hill GC, GolfTec Philadelphia, Play-a-Round Golf, Sheraton Atlantic City, eRose Web and the newest sponsor - the Borderline Restaurant in Bethlehem.
"It's hard to believe the network of great people and sponsors that has developed from this show," said Leodora. "And it's even harder to believe that 11 years has passed so quickly. I guess time flies when you are having fun ... and we are having more and more fun on the show, as we now begin our 11th season."
GolfTalk Live also can be heard any time following each show on its official website, www.golftalklive.net.
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