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What: “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf”

Where: ESPN, Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m

Whether you’re all golfed out by watching the Ryder Cup all weekend or inspired to see more, check out ESPN on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Airing is the first in a series of five new “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf” shows (This one repeats Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.).

Ernie Els takes on Nick Price at picturesque Leonard Creek in South Africa. It’s a great match and a well-produced show. The host is the always-eloquent Jack Whitaker and Gary Player, the designer of the course, makes his debut as the on-course commentator. Bob Rosburg and Judy Rankin will be the announcers on subsequent shows.

The Shell series was originally shown from 1962 to 1970 and included 92 matches. In 1994, Shell and Jack Nicklaus Productions reintroduced it, and the five matches that will be shown this year will bring the total to 120.

Tuesday night’s show features exotic South African scenery, wild game and a hippopotamus who makes his home near the 15th green, which coincidentally is also near Els’ home. The hippopotamus gets into the act, letting out a huge snort just as Price is lining up a putt. “You have to see it to believe it, it’s right on cue,” Els said during a recent conference call.

Another funny moment comes when the golfers are on the 15th tee, and Price plants a little rubber snake in the nearby bushes. He points it out to Els, who jumps appropriately. “Nick knows how scared I am of snakes, especially down there in that area,” Els said.

The Shell shows are a mix of golf and travelogue, because Terry Jastrow, the president of Jack Nicklaus Productions, always picks a great location. Leonard Creek, site of the Els-Price match, is no exception.

The four remaining shows will be on successive Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. (replay times vary), with the last show starting at 4 p.m. because of the World Series. Upcoming matchups are: Jim Furyk vs. Colin Montgomerie in Paris, Fred Couples vs. John Daly on the Cross Water course at the Sunriver Resort in Oregon, Karrie Webb vs. Dottie Pepper at the Longaberger Golf Club near Columbus, Ohio, and Tom Watson vs. Hale Irwin at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton, N.J.