Is it just me, or is Open coverage unbearable?

[drn92]

Decent coverage so far. Really like the protracer when they use it. Course is beautiful on the overhead and panorama shots, especially with the cloud cover.

 

However, I could do without the constant droning of the blimp and/or airplanes. Seems more intrusive on this telecast than other recent tournaments. And what is up with the gigantic headsets the announcers are wearing in the booth. The 80's called and want their earphones back.

 

drn92

[SadTrombone]

I wanted to give Joe Buck a chance, but he's still awful.

 

Darren Clarke should come with captioning.

 

Curtis Strange should stay home.

 

The tracer is neat.

[bigchucksr]

I can deal with the announcer babble but what I cannot stand is that constant drone of the airplane, I assume the one that gives us a "bird's eye" view of the course. I makes listening to the commentary unbearable. I would think that in this age of technology there is a way to somehow mute that sound or, more intelligently, ground that aircraft--we don't need pictures of fan lined golf course enough to have to tolerate a circling, droning, droning, droning, droning, droning plane.

Drives me crazy--the first two tournaments of the year in Hawaii are ruined for the same reason.

 

It's a blimp.

actually it isn't a blimp--it is a single engine towing a streamer--saw it on one shot. I suspect the banner reads "Fox Sports" and is carrying that overhead camera. Since there are no whales to watch frolic, people walking in the surf, cute sea otters to watch, I see absolutely no reason why Fox needs an overhead shot of this course--the views offer nothing and the noise, the constant droning makes watching the thing impossible.

[BMC]

The ambient noise is bad. The announcing is fine. The big headsets are noise canceling, much needed for the announcers.

[south_side_lefty]

Good news and bad news.

 

Good news - Tiger's not playing so we don't have to watch every one of his shots.

Bad news - we have to watch every one of Spieth's shots.

[HighSpeedScene]

First day I've been able to watch any of it, and besides having to watch so much spieth (I like spieth, but he's not doing anything worth diverting that much attention), I find the coverage excellent.

 

I don't mind Buck at all...

[cwolfson]

More Holly Sanders. Less Spieth, Buck, Faxon, Strange, Zinger.

[BMC]

More Holly Sanders. Less Spieth, Buck, Faxon, Strange, Zinger.

 

You got a bunch of $ingles burning a hole in your pocket?

[Hawkeye77]

Just don't show Buck's bad hair dye job any more.

 

Or let him talk, although he's somewhat restrained right now.

 

Have never liked Strange as an announcer, he's still boring and rarely has much in the way of insight, always sounds like he's trying to think of something to say.

[saltcity]

Decent coverage so far. Really like the protracer when they use it. Course is beautiful on the overhead and panorama shots, especially with the cloud cover.

 

However, I could do without the constant droning of the blimp and/or airplanes. Seems more intrusive on this telecast than other recent tournaments. And what is up with the gigantic headsets the announcers are wearing in the booth. The 80's called and want their earphones back.

 

drn92

 

I'm about to turn it off because of the plane noise. My den sounds like an airport.

[bladehunter]

As much as I dislike buck. Azinger is actuallly on my neves more than anyone . He's so negative. A few holes ago on the par 4 Spieth tries to drive green and ends up on top of hill beside pin. He says " it will be a miracle if he gets this on the green." Then as Spieth easily puts it on and close he says " I just can't believe that " looked like an easy pitch to me. . Azinger acts weird when he's wrong. And it comes across very negative and arrogant

[Andrew Bond of Glencoe]

You

[Jasonic]

As much as I dislike buck. Azinger is actuallly on my neves more than anyone . He's so negative. A few holes ago on the par 4 Spieth tries to drive green and ends up on top of hill beside pin. He says " it will be a miracle if he gets this on the green." Then as Spieth easily puts it on and close he says " I just can't believe that " looked like an easy pitch to me. . Azinger acts weird when he's wrong. And it comes across very negative and arrogant

 

Yea he's full of himself. Dude you won a PGA and holed a bunker shot in the Ryder cup. Big deal. Your grip sucks. The fact Seve hated you is enough to tell me who I'd want to hang out with haha.

[Benkross]

Buck is awful. Would much prefer Faldo and anyone else

[Sean2]

I don't know why some of you guys don't simply mute the TV. Enough on screen information is provided so you don't have to listen to these announcers who seem to offend you so much.

[golfheaven69]

Don't have a problem with any of them

[hogans71]

Fox blows every other network out of the water- and it ain't even close.

 

The bitching about announcers... What can ya say. Can't please everyone. As far as I'm concerned, faxon and azinger are fantastic- the rest don't bother me in the least.

[PingGuy68]

There's a guy on local radio in PHX complaining about Fox. I dont get it. I think golf needs a new look. Do they get it perfect? No. Its a breath of fresh air to the geriatric analysts on other networks. Someone else said it before me, no Chamblee and Faldo is good in my book.

[duke2001j]

I think that Fox's coverage overall is actually pretty good. The extra protracers, and Trackman numbers are great. Getting the mics close enough to hear player/caddy convos - all good. BUT, for me the issue has to do with the announcers. Not that I don't like Joe Buck, I just don't think he's the guy for golf coverage. Not a huge fan of Azinger, Faxon or Strange either - and the combo of those guys doesn't help the coverage. There's something about the "dulcet tones" of Jim Nantz, Mike Tirico, or any of the European Tour announcers - even going back to Pat Summerall and Chris Schenkel - that adds to the coverage and makes it easier to listen to. The audio is incredibly important to golf coverage, so I don't understand the ppl that watch it on mute. When I watch a golf shot and I don't hear the audio of the sound at impact, I feel cheated. Good audio (including the announcers) is just as important as HD Coverage for me. But I guess it's all just personal preference.

[madlife5]

I'm with you OP. watched some on Friday and get annoyed pretty quickly with the commentery.

[bladehunter]

I think that Fox's coverage overall is actually pretty good. The extra protracers, and Trackman numbers are great. Getting the mics close enough to hear player/caddy convos - all good. BUT, for me the issue has to do with the announcers. Not that I don't like Joe Buck, I just don't think he's the guy for golf coverage. Not a huge fan of Azinger, Faxon or Strange either - and the combo of those guys doesn't help the coverage. There's something about the "dulcet tones" of Jim Nantz, Mike Tirico, or any of the European Tour announcers - even going back to Pat Summerall and Chris Schenkel - that adds to the coverage and makes it easier to listen to. The audio is incredibly important to golf coverage, so I don't understand the ppl that watch it on mute. When I watch a golf shot and I don't hear the audio of the sound at impact, I feel cheated. Good audio (including the announcers) is just as important as HD Coverage for me. But I guess it's all just personal preference.

 

Amen ! And bravo ! Count me in the camp of those that love good golf announcers. I can't watch golf on mute. It's cheapened without the sound at impact and without a good commentator to go along with. Give me Nance , Teriko etc anyway.

 

Once upon a time I thought I was an azinger guy. But his negativity is pretty irritating , and strange. Well he's been know as a know it all whos better than everyone for years. Faxon I could take and joe buck is good. In his place. Which is baseball.

 

Dream team would be nance and Faldo for the morning wave and duval and chamblee to finish it out.

[prorobo]

I can deal with the announcer babble but what I cannot stand is that constant drone of the airplane, I assume the one that gives us a "bird's eye" view of the course. I makes listening to the commentary unbearable. I would think that in this age of technology there is a way to somehow mute that sound or, more intelligently, ground that aircraft--we don't need pictures of fan lined golf course enough to have to tolerate a circling, droning, droning, droning, droning, droning plane.

Drives me crazy--the first two tournaments of the year in Hawaii are ruined for the same reason.

 

It's a blimp.

actually it isn't a blimp--it is a single engine towing a streamer--saw it on one shot. I suspect the banner reads "Fox Sports" and is carrying that overhead camera. Since there are no whales to watch frolic, people walking in the surf, cute sea otters to watch, I see absolutely no reason why Fox needs an overhead shot of this course--the views offer nothing and the noise, the constant droning makes watching the thing impossible.

 

Looks like the plane had nothing to do with the tournament at all.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/protest-president-trump-comes-u-s-open-204915108.html

[bladehunter]

Do these goons not know what a " brownie point " is ?

[Fairways_and_Greens]

Paul Azinger is excruciating. I only wish they have more swing views

[rockhontas]

Likes:

1) Amount of coverage - starts early, goes late..

2) Don't feel bombarded by commercials

3) Brownie Points - When the graphic came up my initial reaction was 'uuuughh" but I like the segments about the individual holes and design. Rolling the beach ball is cool. More real world, less computer graphics.

 

On the fence:

Pro Tracer - hated it initially and how Fox used it on almost every shot - BUT - it is very accurate. When CBS does it, their version seems so spotty. Ball looks like it's out of bounds and it's middle fairway. Congrats to tech people.

 

Dislike:

1) Joe Buck - Tries to be too dramatic. Talks too much. Saxon is pretty good.

2) Holly - So bad. Cheapens it but hey, it's Fox.

3) Sound issues.. Cant hear some announcers and audio seems to cut out when on course mic's are on.

4) Course on TV - Great track but all the holes look the same and there doesn't seem to be those few "signature" shots.

5) Crowd -Doesn't feel like a major. Maybe the property is so big that crowds are spread out. No "big tournament air"...

6) THE PROPOSED RULE change segments - They aren't approved. Why show them? Can't wait until someone uses one of these at my club's next tournament.

[WidespreadPanic]

I had no idea Azinger was such an insufferable d-bag. He's just terrible. And how about bragging about laughing in the face of a volunteer who asked if anybody would break 70?

[EKELLY]

Holly's dress is interesting.

You should stand right next to her sometime.......WOW!......LOL

[skeetzx250]

Whenever Zinger goes into the low volume golf mode talk, I swear I think I'm hearing Bill Paxton. Keep waiting on him to talk about Twisters or the Titanic.

[Pingfitz]

They have not improved much over their first open.

[Nosebuckle]

Just wanted to chime in and say that Azinger is awful to listen to. So I've turned it off.