Why does every golf broadcast and show find it necessary to have someone with an accent on it?

I'm not trying to be political but is there some unwritten rule somewhere that says if you program a show having to do with golf you must have someone with an Australian, English, Scottish, or Irish accent?

I consume huge amounts of golf on TV as I have PGA Tour live on in the background all day when I work and I don't necessarily have a problem with the accents but I'm starting to find Karen Stupples' accent distracting from the golf. I could exercise my 28th amendment right to use the mute button but that kind of defeats the purpose of having it on in the background.

Do they have the token accent on the broadcasts to make it sound more authentic?

I happen to agree.

I think that it started when Henry Longhurst started doing the Masters telecasts. All of a sudden the TV folks felt that having a Brit lended a certain panache to the show. Longhurst was followed by Peter Alliss, and then everyone needed a Brit accent on the broadcast team.

I happen to believe that there are plenty of good commentators with North American accents suitable for TV broadcasting in North America.

like, a midwestern accent? ... southern accent? ... east coast accent? ...

No, like the ones I listed. Like I said I don't have a real problem with the accent but I just find it kind of strange that they seemingly go out of the way to find someone with an English, Australian, Scottish or Irish accent. If it happens that they have a Southern or Midwestern or English accent that's fine but they don't go out of their way to find anything other than that kind of "original" accent. In fact, I think it would be just as strange if they would seek out one person with a strong Southern accent and plop them on every broadcast.

Because Americans for some reason have always thought non-American accents connote greater intelligence and education.

I agree they've gone overboard with it, though. Was just saying this in the CBS thread yesterday.

I didn't want to get going on CBS so I didn't read it. They're getting to the point where it's unwatchable. That Kostis interview on No Laying Up was great insight to the CBS broadcast.

I love hearing the British angles on the broadcasts. Faldo was hilarious a few weeks ago on Superbowl Sunday when it looked like a playoff was imminent. That other British guy that would often remark after a poor shot, "not his best effort."

None of the America's Got Talent judges are American.

It's for the best.

They probably ask the same question about "token" American Rich Beem on Sky Sports.

Not me, I like Rich Beem, dry humour, humility, insightful and a major winner.

One of these guys should fit the bill for CBS

Hal Sutton commentary would sound nice. Just maybe not at the Open Championship.

Everyone has an 'accent'.

Never thought of Dan Hicks as a token, but he does talk kind of funny.

I don't think they do their hiring based on whether they have an accent or not.

i was wondering when this would start bothering some americans.

You forgot South Africa, New Zealand also represented. It provides a thought of openness culturally...reaching golfing nations. They are mostly former golfers with high achievements relatively :

Immelman brothers

Stupples

IBF

Nobilo

TGC brought in a second English lass. She's not bad.. She's a tall blonde so i would imagine less protest.

It doesn't bother me that they're employing them but I was just curious as to why, literally, every single broadcast has one person with that type of accent.

Honestly, with me, it started during the PGA Tour Live broadcast at Palm Springs. Karen Stupples was talking about how horrible it was to live on a golf course because they cut the greens so early in the morning and she's rally happy now that she doesn't live near a golf course. It turned me against her and extrapolating out I wondered why they feel the need to have one person with that type of accent wherever golf is consumed.

Henry Longhurst, Peter Alliss, Nick Faldo - tokens! Tokens! Three of 'em together wouldn't get you to Picadilly on the tube.

And everyone watching outside of N. America is really bothered by all these American broadcasters who can’t speak proper English and have bad accents.

Yeah, well, regional improper can sound pretty sweet though ; )

Because everyone with an American accent (McCord, Miller, Love, Kostis, Azinger, Begay) apparently sucks.

Just be grateful that you don't have to endure Mark Roe or Paul McGinley.

I just like the Aussie and British women and their accents. There is just something about it.

Makes the broadcast that much better

***Forgot to mention that the accents don't bother me at all with broadcasts. Golf is a game that is played around the world, so it makes sense to have broadcasters from other countries as well....and Aussie and British women accents are a big plus on the broadcast

"no doubt"

Maybe because unlike other sports in the ole USA Golf is a worldwide sport and broadcast around the world on the USA broadcasts

wow.....not sure why it bothers you so much. Just enjoy it.

you turned against Stupples because of where she wanted to live and wanted to get some sleep? How is that related to her accent?

This thread is on the verge of spiraling out of control into a realm nobody wants to see.......

i would like a russian woman ... they have a dominant voice with a submissive personality ...

doesn't have to talk about golf ... could talk about anything ...

that's odd but kinda like a german woman saying she loves you in german. Must as well turn around and run. The Russian Indo- area are some of the strongest sounding languages. Russians are tough.. multiple tribal DNA diversity