[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference 7.286::golf

Title:Welcome to the Golf Notes Conference!
Notice:FOR SALE notes in Note 69 please! Intros in note 863 or 61.
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Tue Feb 15 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2129
Total number of notes:21499

1225.0. "TV announcers" by CSC32::J_KLEIN () Fri May 03 1991 01:49

    
    A couple of questions and comments about TV golf announcers:
    
    1. In Europe, when they telecast PGA tournaments, do they broadcast
       the American commentators, or do they use European/BBC announcers?
       What tournaments, if any, do they broadcast in Europe besides the
       Masters and the US Open?
    
       Here in America, when broacasting the British Open, they mostly use
       American announcers but will use the BBC announcers for periods of
       time.
    
      
    2. Does ANYONE out there actually LIKE Charley Jones? I can't tolerate
       the guy. He laughs loudly at his own stupid jokes and seems to know
       nothing about golf. I used to hate watching golf on NBC, but now
       with Johnny Miller it's enjoyable, except for Jones. I also like
       Joel Myers on NBC. CBS is still the best.
    
                -Joe
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1225.1SIOG::OGRADYFri May 03 1991 07:3829
    I'm an avid viewer of American golf , over here in Ireland.
    We get to see virtually all of the regular PGA Tour events on the
    Satellite TV station Screensport, which also goes out in German and in
    Dutch.
    For the events that they show live, The Masters, The Players C'ship etc
    we get European commentators using the American broadcasts. This can be
    awkward when they have feature items and interviews on the broadcast.
    The Europeans usually fuddle around before they link in with the
    authentic US commentary.
    
    For other regular events, like the Greensboro last weekend, we get a
    condensed last day programme with the American commentary. This is
    usually shown the following Wednesday.  I think it was the CBS team with 
    Venturi, Summerall, etc for the Greensboro. Even though its great to watch 
    the golf when its live, I think I prefer the highlights approach with the 
    original commentary. 
    They leave out all those endless commercial breaks !!
    
    A comment about European ( British ) versus American commentary teams.
    The styles are very different. There is a tendency over here to
    ridicule the US approach. I don't agree. I think that the comments of
    EXPERTS like Johnny Miller, Ken Venturi etc are valuable and very
    instructive. Of the British commentators , only Alliss is really
    qualified to talk authoritatively, but even he wouldn't appreciate the
    pressures of tournament golf like Venturi and Miller.
    Having said that, some of the US commentaries are a little ridiculous
    at times.
    
    martin
1225.2UK ViewCHEFS::NEWPORTPFri May 03 1991 09:1124
    There's definitely more choice now with Satellite TV. I think there's
    USPGA golf on most weekends on one of the satellite channels here in
    England. Unfortunately, I don't have a dish so I only get to see
    coverage that gets on to BBC and IBA networks. That consists mostly of
    the majors, but occasionally there'll be some highlights from a USPGA
    event. 
    
    We get all the European events played in England, whilst the rest are
    again shown on satellite channels.
    
    I'm a great fan of Peter Allis. He knows what he's talking about and
    adds a real sense of humour into his commentary at times. All I can say
    about the US coverage is that it seems there is more time given to
    commercials than to golf!
    
    Any ideas how I can persuade my wife (who likes playing golf not
    watching) that a dish really is a good idea. Paying a green fee at
    Augusta National has probably the same chance of success ... 8^)  
    (Not a word Graham!)
    
    Phil.
    
    
    
1225.3Flame onWALTA::LENEHANFri May 03 1991 11:4620
    
    Hi Everyone,
    
    	I thought it was just me... but I'm glad others are
    	complaining about the commercial (breaks?). I think it's so
    	bad I feel like I am suppose to be watching a three hour
    	commercial, but they somehow stuck a golf tourny in there!
    
    	Now I simply tape the event... and watch it later fast
    	forwarding the commercials. And to be honest with you,
    	it's STILL annoying, because I  feel as though I
    	spend more time fast forwarding than viewing golf.
    
    
    	I don't remember it being THIS bad last year?
    
    	OK I'm done;  flame off
    
    	
    	Walta
1225.4$$$$$$BTOQA::SHANEFri May 03 1991 12:289
    
    re: -1
    
    The higher the prize money goes, the more commercials we'll see.
    
    It's all a mater of big $$$$$$$.
    
    Shane
    
1225.5Commercials at The MastersCSC32::J_KLEINFri May 03 1991 19:3410
    
    Regarding excessive commercials, that's yet one more thing that makes
    the Masters so special. With Cadilac and The Travelers as sponsers,
    they agree to limited commercial interuption, and for the most part,
    their commercials are a bit more classy than the rest.
    
    There is enough golf in between the commercials to maintain the rich
    atmosphere of the tournament.
    
                  -Joe
1225.6MillerHAVOC::DESROCHERS_PI Want More!!!Thu May 09 1991 19:1124
    
    	Speaking of Johnny Miller (who I think was the best ever,
    	for a brief time) there's a really good article in this
    	month's Golf Digest on him.  One thing that cracked me
    	up - he always wanted to have a 5 shot lead on the last
    	hole and have a 1 foot putt.  Then he wanted to take out
    	a 3 wood a blast in OB over the gallery.  Then he'd drop
    	it and knock in the putt for the win!!  Now that would make
    	the headlines on the sports page!!
    
    	I personally detest the British announcers.  They use every
    	grand adjective in the dictionary in every statement.  Everything
    	is "brilliant" or "superlative", etc... give me a break.
    
    	Always liked Johnny Miller - anyone remember when he shanked one
    	on the 70th hole ??
    
    	He also talks about having 3 swings - at least one was always
    	"on" and when all 3 were, lights out.  Couldn't believe those
    	61's and 62's he was shooting.  Every iron covered the pin.
    
    	Best golf ever!
    
    
1225.7SIOG::OGRADYFri May 10 1991 08:107
    I read recently that Millers game went off when he decided to beef
    himself up over a winter one year. He put on a lot of upper body
    weight , but lost his game !
    
    I hope that this doesn't happen to Faldo.
    
    martin
1225.8Miller Knows Why He Went BadBTOQA::SHANEFri May 10 1991 11:0114
    
    Miller once said on the air recently, that one of the reason's his
    game went bad was because he got "Satisfied" with his game.
    
    He compared himself to Jack this way....
    
    "When I got to the top of the mountain I stopped and took time to look
    around and enjoy it.  When Jack got to the top he looked around for 
    another mountain to climb."
    
    One of the most honest statements I ever heard!
    
    Shane
    
1225.9ICS::SOMERSMon Apr 26 1993 17:319
    Usually I like Ken Venturi's commentary, but I take exception with his
    comment during yesterdays Kmart GGO coverage.  He kept repeating the
    phrase "Nobody wants to win this tournament".  At one point, after he
    said it for what must have been the fifth time, even Pat Summerall said
    something like "of course, we don't mean that.  These players are
    trying their hardest".  I was surprised Venturi would downplay the
    tough playing conditions for a Muskberger-like comment.
    
    Gary
1225.10Ken-ismWALTA::LENEHANDo all the good you canMon Apr 26 1993 18:5416
    
    Hi,
    
    	Regarding Ken Venturi...  I guess if I didn't watch EVERY single
    tourny... and tape it, rewatch it ten times.... I probably wouldn't
    be aggravated by him.
    
    	But.  I get the feeling he is NEVER wrong. He'll call a putt to
    break right.. if it doesn't the player screwed up (pulled it,pushed
    it). I don't know about you, but I've seen plenty of putts hit 
    perfectly but still roll off line when they hit a chain of bumps the wrong
    way etc.  He simply won't budge , if it means he was wrong. 
    
    	Ok I'm done.
    
    	Walta
1225.11POWDML::VARLEYMon Apr 26 1993 19:548
    Venturi knows first hand - from the time he entered the Masters as an
    Amateur and had a comfortable lead in the last round - then gagged his
    brains out to lose it. I think (despite his courageous win in the US
    Open at Congressional) this experience changed his life. He never
    really fulfilled his potential, and to me, seems a bitter man. Just my
    opinion...
    
    __Jack
1225.12AIMHI::CORRIGANMon Apr 26 1993 21:497
    
    A recent Golf World article covered that exact subject. He admits
    it was THE turning point, that he never recovered from. 
    And from what I read (Jack must recall from memory ;^) !!! ) he
    really did take the pipe!!!
    
    Joe
1225.13POWDML::VARLEYTue Apr 27 1993 14:3014
    As I recall, after the 3rd round at the Masters, Venturi had a
    comfortable lead - 6 shots, or something like that. For the final
    round, he was slated to be paired with Byron Nelson, who was a friend
    and mentor. The Masters committee didn't like that, thinking that
    Venturi would have an unfair advantage (hard to figure, because you
    can't take advice, etc. from anyone else, under the rules of golf, in a
    stroke play tourney - other than your caddie). So they paired him with
    Sam Snead, arguably one of the greatest "gamesmen" of all time. Venturi
    skyrockets to 80 or 81, and I think Jackie Burke won the tourney.
    
    Snead "froze him to death," and the pressure descended on Venturi like
    a Truant Officer in a "chicken ranch..."
    
    __Jack
1225.14ditka and golf!?CSLALL::WEWINGTue Apr 27 1993 15:4911
    from today's boston globe,
    
    'The Chicago Tribune reported that NBC has signed former 
    Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka to a multiyear contract
    to work as an in-studio analyst.  Ditka also would
    participate in the network's GOLF telecasts.'
    
    Ditka and golf?
    Following in the footjoy-steps of bob trumpy, pat summerall?
    
    
1225.15POWDML::VARLEYWed Apr 28 1993 17:4112
    Ditka is a golf nut. I saw him coming off the 18th green at Bob O' Link
    in Chicago, a few years back. He's a member there. Apparently, he likes
    to gamble for high stakes on the course and in card games. He was
    playing cards in the lounge while we were there, drinking buckets of
    booze and smoking a big cigar. The member we were with said the guy he
    was playing with was one of his regular companions, and that
    occasionally several thousand dollars changed hands. Couldn't believe
    how big Ditka is - the guy is HUGE...
    
    "Da Bears,"
    
    __Jack 
1225.16Oh noooo not Maury !ICS::STUARTWed May 26 1993 17:589
    
    As I was walking by the family room this weekend my kid was
    flipping through the channels and stopped at the Doral ....
    The announcers voice I heard was very familiar but I just
    couldn't place it ..... then.... Maury Povitch !?!?!?
    What the heck is he doing announcing golf ?? Which he does
    very poorly if I might add !
    
    
1225.17Maury's a playerTEEUP::MOOKWhere are you between two thoughts?Wed May 26 1993 18:427
That was the Kemper in Md.  Maury is supposedly a good golfer (4 hdcp) so I
guess they thought that with talk/show host would mix well.  Not.  He might
live or work in the area or have played in the pro/am.  Anyway, I don't 
think announcing is as easy it looks so its hard to get someone good.