Conference 7.286::golf

    I was (un)fortunate enough to have caught the flu bug going around a
    while back. While I was laid low I managed to drag out some old
    tapes to deal with the daytime TV clutter.
    
    I watched last year's British Open and the 1985 Masters and had
    the chance to see some real differences in coverage. ABC has always
    been my favorite due to continuous high standards and from the fact
    that they carried only the creme of the crop for tournaments. Last
    year's coverage by ABC was dismal but I think much of the problem
    lies not with the network but in the event itself.
    
    Think of why the Masters is such a success. (1) It's played right
    on the verge of our golfing season (2) The course is not only perfect
    but is a known entity (who can't recite the terrain from 10 on in?)
    (3) Somehow the pack on Sunday afternoon ALWAYS includes several
    of the names that make golf history (4) CBS does not cover it like
    a putting contest.
    
    I am sure that there are other reasons but primarily the Masters
    is a gimme and could be covered by virtually anyone (apologies
    to the good and knowledgeable staff of announcers/analysts).

    It wouldn't make sense for me to apologize for ABC. They are an
    aging entity in need of a transfusion (will Roger Twibell be in
    the ABC booth at this year's OPEN?) of new blood. But with the
    exception of the PGA won by Tway's sand shot, ABC has had very little
    in the way of excitement to broadcast.
    
    Last year's British Open should have been very exciting but I never
    had any idea where the players were on any of the holes or just
    what they faced. The fog had something to do with all this but ABC
    should have recognized/anticipated the disorienting affects and
    shown more graphics of hole layout, etc.
    
    The OPEN at Olympic was another example: a relatively boring course
    (for its sameness on TV) made incredibly difficult by the USGA,
    only the hint of a challenge at rounds end by Watson and finally
    won (survived) by Scott Simpson.
    
    I hope that this year The Country Club can provide an exciting OPEN.
    If you have ever seen it set up by the USGA as during the U.S. Amateur
    you can appreciate its potential challenge.
    
    Let McKay have his role as host but let Marr, and now Nicklaus and
    maybe some of the ESPN'ers bring ABC back to the fore.
    
    Good tournaments make memorable coverage.
    
    
    As for the "Made for TV" events. I really enjoy them. In some ways
    they remind me of the old CBS Golf Classic where you could focus
    on one match and get to see some of the strategy and course management
    that might even apply to us weekenders.
    
    The only 'bad' point is the money ( and Sam Snead's persistent
    cussing was cute but grew old ).
    
    It would be nice to see some other variations on the Skins theme
    - maybe even a revival of Shell's Wonderful World of Golf.
    
    

    Last weekend's coverage of the (ex)Crosby contained at least one
    unforgivable error: the director got so interested in someone who
    was swimming in the cold Pacific, he forgot to show us Steve Jones's
    swing on the 18th! When they (CBS) finally got back to golf, it
    was just in time to see Jones watching the ball in its flight. Since
    I like to see the pro's swing, in hopes of learning something and
    as an antidote to a summer spent watching squirrely swings on the
    courses I play, I was just a little miffed.
    
    Earlier, ESPN did an excellent job showing the LPGA Mazda "Classic"
    (why must they persist in labelling minor events "classics"?).
    

    	Television golf is great for picking up tips on swing fundamentals,
    and practice tips.  Mistakes do happen, but overall, they do a good
    job of showing most swings.  Their are even times when they show
    a lot of slow motion comparisons between pros.  But they can't focus
    on just one group.  It's meant to satisfy as many as possible, the
    fans watching, and we all have our own personnal favorites, so they
    have to move around.  But basically they follow the top 5 to 6 groups.
    	If you really want enjoymeant from watching golf, and want to
    follow a particular group, or just watch certain types of shots,
    (drives or long irons or chips and putts), go to a live tournament.
    It's great!!!  If you've never been, you'll be amazed at the difference
    from TV.  You'll actually see how long these guys hit the ball.
    I'd recommend it to anyone.  If you have someone you want to take
    along, who can't stand the rigors of being on your feet all day,
    just bring lawn chairs, and go early and pick a nice spot.  You
    can sit by a green and watch approach shots and putts, or you can
    pick a nice spot where you can watch the landing area of tee shots
    and then the approach shots, or whatever you like.
    
                                                         Beak

    Speaking of going to a live tournament, my perennial favorite is
    the Bank of Boston Classic at Pleasant Valley in Sutton, MA. There
    are usually a sufficient number of good players to warrant the trip
    to Sutton (of course it is not far for me since I live in Marlboro).
    
    One of the best spectator spots at PV is the elbow in the 17th hole's
    fairway. You can sit way up on a hill and watch the entire hole
    being played from tee to green. Binoculars can make it that much
    better.
    
    Mike

    I agree about live vs. tv (was a scorer at last summer's DIGITAL
    Seniors and loved it)...but this topic is supposed to be about golf
    on TV...I can't get enough of it, myself, and am willing to put
    up with just about any announcing team. It does get boring watching
    putting contests, though. Still, it was nice to see Pate make that
    putt on 18 to win the Andy Williams (but wouldn't a playoff have
    been even nicer?). And Arnie's birdie on 18 was also a joy to behold
    on ESPN's coverage of the Senior tournament. And wasn't Bob Toski
    something in the Super Seniors!

    Frank

    Re .0
    
    I saw a note in the Sports TV column in yesterday's Boston Globe
    that Roger Twibell had lost his announcing spot on ESPN Golf to
    Jim Kelly (of America's Cup Broadcasting fame.)  With Bruce Dev-
    lin having joined the Senior PGA Tour full-time, Kelly's analyst
    is Jim Colbert.
    
    		Jack
    

    Anybody see the Frank Chirkinian article in this month's Golf Digest?
    Any comments about his comments regarding ABC's and NBC's golf
    coverage? Chirkinian is CBS's "golf ayatollah," who's been doing
    the Master's for 30 years. Humble he isn't. But while I don't agree
    with everything he says, I do think CBS does the best job of covering
    golf, and I especially enjoy Gary McCord's wry comments. I can get
    along without the pompous Britishers, though (maybe it's just my
    Irish ancestry that makes me feel that way). Still, if I hear another
    reference to someone's "tragic 4-iron on 17" I may toss a nerf ball
    at the Sony.    

    does anybody else wish that brent musburger stick to basketball
    and football.  His masters performance is to sesnationist.  Maybe
    we can get Marv Albert to say yes after each made putt.
    

    
    I wish Brent Musburger would stick to basketball, so I don't have
    to watch him at all. Recently Lee Trevino has been wearing a little
    thin also. It's nice to see some of the new faces and voices that
    the different networks are bringing into the booths. Especially
    the younger players that discuss life on the tour and their swing
    thoughts during the round.
    
    						Fred Deady