CBS coverage Jon Rahm

[North Butte]

If they would model more after the EuroTour coverage, they would show a lot more golf, and a lot more golf viewers would be happy. When I watch Euro tour golf, I feel like I understand the entire top half of the field in under an hour.

You mean you're not into predictions, projections, analysis, personal opinions and recaps after every shot?

 

Love watching the Euro coverage. They do a better job at letting the golf speak for itself rather than telling the viewer what they should be thinking.

 

Bang on. European Tour Coverage both TGC and Sky Sports always allows for this the golf to showcase itself. The commentators also keep quiet and don't babble on about senseless stuff most viewers already know.

 

Actually the European Tour commentators do chatter randomly, sometimes about silly stuff. But they do that on the audio while the video is showing you shot after shot after shot of the actual golf. Honestly, the announcers can babble all they want as long as I can see plenty of golf shots and they manage to also mention, in passing, who it is, what hole, what yardage, etc.

[CrabDaddy]

I will go against the grain and defend the use of paragliders, whales, beach scenes, and other local scenery on cut-outs and cut-ins (terminology?). How much is too much? I don't know, but it gives a context and sense of place. The attraction of those seaside courses and what makes them special is just that - the ocean. Golf courses look pretty homogenous on camera. How many times do you hear, "You just don't get a feel for how hilly ANGC is from TV"? All the greens look flat. I think it would be pretty awkward for announcers to say, " This putt looks straight, but should break toward the ocean" while viewers are thinking, "What ocean? This looks just like the course they played last week in Kansas." It also "brands" the tournament - if you see paragliders, you immediately recognize the Tour is at Torrey Pines. They are iconic. (Celebrities at PB are not!!!! BTW)

I think there is more "method to the madness" than people recognize.

[North Butte]

Sure a "bumper" shot of the scenery going in or out of break should be a given. But it's one thing to spend two minutes per hour on the scenery if you were giving 30-40 minutes of actual golf coverage. These broadcasts are pared down to maybe 6-8 minutes per hour of showing golf shots. At that point as a viewer I begrudge every stinking second of fluff.

 

But it is what it is and it ain't changing. They'll quit putting golf on the air before they make it all about the shots and not the "personalities" (on the course and in the booth) and the "human interest" schmatlz.

[FairwaysToHeaven]

zoom every camera out as far as it will go and then remove the button....

 

i'm tired of cameraman zooming in on the ball or player and eliminating the course. i want to see the hole layout. i want to get a sense of what the player is aiming towards and what where the trouble is. after they hit a shot i want to see their reaction. i want to see the crowds reaction. i dont need the camera to follow the ball through the air or show a zoomed shot from above of the ball hitting the green.

 

the shots with the protracer do it best. even if the protracer is unavailable on that hole, i want the same wide angle before, during and after the shot. no more close ups of the ball. this especially on putts. a 30' i don't need the camera to zoom on the putt. leave it panned out, and when and if the putt drops we'll get to see the atmosphere or the crowd and player reaction. you also get a better sense of the path of the putt when the camera isn't zooming in on the ball.

 

having said this, i don't expect one thing to change. if they haven't figured this out by now not sure they ever will.

[BrianMcG]

I feel for you. The same thing happened to some Nicklaus fellow in the '86 Masters

 

Don't these pros know when they shoot 30 on the back nine on Sunday to come from the pack to win they aren't going to get as much tv time. They need to learn to lead wire to wire more.

[HandsomeDave]

I will go against the grain and defend the use of paragliders, whales, beach scenes, and other local scenery on cut-outs and cut-ins (terminology?). How much is too much? I don't know, but it gives a context and sense of place. The attraction of those seaside courses and what makes them special is just that - the ocean. Golf courses look pretty homogenous on camera. How many times do you hear, "You just don't get a feel for how hilly ANGC is from TV"? All the greens look flat. I think it would be pretty awkward for announcers to say, " This putt looks straight, but should break toward the ocean" while viewers are thinking, "What ocean? This looks just like the course they played last week in Kansas." It also "brands" the tournament - if you see paragliders, you immediately recognize the Tour is at Torrey Pines. They are iconic. (Celebrities at PB are not!!!! BTW)

I think there is more "method to the madness" than people recognize.

 

I have to agree with this. I like the scenery shots from the Hawaii and the West Coast Swing, particularly this time of year. I also agree whole heartedly with the sentiment that the networks don't show enough actual golf. Has anyone ever sent feedback to CBS on their coverage? I have 60-70 posts on this forum, at least 5-10 are bitching about golf coverage on TV- they must know this is a pretty common refrain from the online golf communities.

[golfgirlrobin]

If this week's coverage bothered you, you may as well skip watching the AT&T at Pebble Beach, entirely.

[FairwaysToHeaven]

yep. this is the only tournament during the entire year that i don't even set my dvr to record....and this is coming from someone who's recorded european, web.com, and amateur events.

[North Butte]

Yeah, thank goodness Dubai is this week.