US Open technical coverage via Geoff Shackelford

[15th Club]

Like Geoff Shackelford, I have always had some healthy doubts and suspicions about the USGA-Fox Sports contract. Fox Sports' golf commentary reminds us that what CBS and NBC (and even before them, ABC) make look easy is never easy. And that decades of experience in covering golf become apparent as soon as they are out of the picture.

 

But also like Geoff, I am fascinated with new technical tools that Fox brings to golf. It's the one clear good thing that they are doing with golf telecasts, and I like it. More cameras; more and better microphones; drone coverage from offshore. It sounds very interesting and I hope the weather cooperates.

[HERE](https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2019/6/6/us-open-viewing-tip-sheet-and-what-to-expect-from-pebble-beach "HERE") is Geoff's very helpful short blog post on what will be happening with telecasts from Pebble.

[jamie]

I think Fox is better than CBS and NBC. I think the best is probably the early round coverage on TGC.

[bb822]

CBS broadcasts are absolute garbage and depending on the tournament can be borderline unwatchable.

 

The less Fox is like CBS, the better. I don't know what people dislike about Fox, but the US Open is one of my favorite events to watch on TV because of their coverage.

[gioguy21]

i'm more likely to fall asleep listening to cbs than i am fox. fox puts their commercials on crazy loud.

 

...at least i think that's the reason. #jurysstillout

[jamie]

> @bb822 said:

> CBS broadcasts are absolute garbage and depending on the tournament can be borderline unwatchable.

>

> The less Fox is like CBS, the better. I don't know what people dislike about Fox, but the US Open is one of my favorite events to watch on TV because of their coverage.

 

I agree completely!! I think Fox is the best broadcast and it's not even close.

[chillybilly]

With all the technical wizardry, expanded channels, etc. surely we should be able to get a version of the telecast that omits the announcers? Fine with crowd noise, ambient mics, shotgun mics, etc. - just leave the talking heads out of it.

[Celebros]

> @bb822 said:

> CBS broadcasts are absolute garbage and depending on the tournament can be borderline unwatchable.

>

> The less Fox is like CBS, the better. I don't know what people dislike about Fox, but the US Open is one of my favorite events to watch on TV because of their coverage.

 

Honestly, it's really just Joe Buck's dramatic blurting of "DJ!" every time Dustin Johnson as much as adjusts his hat that does it for me. The rest of the broadcast is fine, lol. I even like Dustin Johnson!

[BobMorris]

The problem with Fox is you are saddled with Joe Buck. At that point, the mute button becomes an important part of the equation.

[bladehunter]

> @BobMorris said:

> The problem with Fox is you are saddled with Joe Buck. At that point, the mute button becomes an important part of the equation.

 

Yes. I can’t get past joe buck. I have no idea if the rest is good. Joe buck ruins it alll.

[bb822]

Okay, someone tell me: what is wrong with Joe Buck? Another one where everyone says they hate him, and no one can tell me why. Is it just because everyone else says "Joe Buck sucks!!!"???

[toc]

The improvement Fox has made in just a few short years is fairly staggering.

[GeorgeHWB]

Fox is fine with the exception of the execrable Joe Buck.

[North Butte]

Just by the way, Ben. I love the word "execrable". If I may call you "Ben".

[GeorgeHWB]

> @"North Butte" said:

> Just by the way, Ben. I love the word "execrable". If I may call you "Ben".

 

My friends call me Ben. But you can call me Mr. Hogan.

 

:)

[hell_is_chrome]

Less Joe Buck and less talking in general and FOX coverage would be the best I've ever seen. They need to have a seance with Summerall/Venturi/Chirkinian to see how it's done.

 

> @bb822 said:

> CBS broadcasts are absolute garbage and depending on the tournament can be borderline unwatchable.

>

> The less Fox is like CBS, the better. I don't know what people dislike about Fox, but the US Open is one of my favorite events to watch on TV because of their coverage.

 

 

[bladehunter]

> @bb822 said:

> Okay, someone tell me: what is wrong with Joe Buck? Another one where everyone says they hate him, and no one can tell me why. Is it just because everyone else says "Joe Buck sucks!!!"???

 

He calls golf like a 28 handicap who plays once every 5 years at the bosses Christmas scramble. That’s why. He does not know the game. Period.

[tiderider]

> @jamie said:

> > @bb822 said:

> > CBS broadcasts are absolute garbage and depending on the tournament can be borderline unwatchable.

> >

> > The less Fox is like CBS, the better. I don't know what people dislike about Fox, but the US Open is one of my favorite events to watch on TV because of their coverage.

>

> I agree completely!! I think Fox is the best broadcast and it's not even close.

 

i think they are already the best and getting better ... course it's a major and the only one they have, but they are "freer" to do innovative stuff than cbs, which seems to be stuck in the same mode it was 30 years ago ... and i don't think fox will highlight tiger as much as nantz/cbs would/does ...

[puttfordoux]

Golf (and sports in general) is becoming more and more geared for television, and less and less for the paying ticketholder. Other than being up-close and personal with the pros for what amounts to a few shots per round, when you can get the type of coverage television is evolving to, there will be a point where less and less fans show up to the actual event. And that is what the pros will exactly want.

[Hawkeye77]

Via Geoff = Au Revoir

[golfandfishing]

What makes Geoff Shackelford any kind of authority the last few years? He has a “blog”? Good for him, so do a lot of stay at home moms. I’ve wondered why TGC puts this guy in the air so often - he’s incorrect a lot. But that’s today’s media I guess, no accountability as long as someone likes you. He’s a blogger. Lol.

[Ashley Schaeffer]

> @golfandfishing said:

> What makes Geoff Shackelford any kind of authority the last few years? He has a “blog”? Good for him, so do a lot of stay at home moms. I’ve wondered why TGC puts this guy in the air so often - he’s incorrect a lot. But that’s today’s media I guess, no accountability as long as someone likes you. He’s a blogger. Lol.

 

“Good for him, so do a lot of stay at home moms.”

 

That, sir, drew a horse laugh.

[rangersgoalie]

I’m as anti Shackelford as it gets. But when it comes to writing on architecture especially regarding history, he does a very good job.

All to often he seems like the guy mad at tour pros all the time because he wasn’t good enough to do it. But his writing on golf courses is really pretty good

[Dr. Bombay]

> @golfandfishing said:

> What makes Geoff Shackelford any kind of authority the last few years? He has a “blog”? Good for him, so do a lot of stay at home moms. I’ve wondered why TGC puts this guy in the air so often - he’s incorrect a lot. But that’s today’s media I guess, no accountability as long as someone likes you. He’s a blogger. Lol.

 

The air time he gets baffles me as well, he's fooled 'em good.

[Dr. Bombay]

> @rangersgoalie said:

> I’m as anti Shackelford as it gets. But when it comes to writing on architecture especially regarding history, he does a very good job._

> All to often he seems like the guy mad at tour pros all the time because he wasn’t good enough to do it._ But his writing on golf courses is really pretty good

 

Agreed on both counts. He knows his architecture for sure but that's not a big selling point for 99.9% of the television viewers. As for being mad, he seems to have some unresolved personal identity issues that play a part there...

[BM5D]

No problem with Joe Buck but the best way I can describe why some people don't like his commentating style is that he tries to create more excitement than is warranted. He tends to hype mediocre shots and moments which can take away from the real drama and shots that are actually exceptional. I suppose that's a good thing for non-golf watchers who find golf boring or who don't understand what they just saw. That and when it comes to team sports he has been accused of playing favorites during telecasts.

[buckeyefl]

> @golfandfishing said:

> What makes Geoff Shackelford any kind of authority the last few years? He has a “blog”? Good for him, so do a lot of stay at home moms. I’ve wondered why TGC puts this guy in the air so often - he’s incorrect a lot. But that’s today’s media I guess, no accountability as long as someone likes you. He’s a blogger. Lol.

 

Now you did. Aint no crush like a man crush and someone has one for GS. Your lecture will be coming shortly. Did you know he wrote books to? Just giving you a head start.

[jmkenn0]

Personally still PO'd about Joe Buck's rant when Randy Moss pretended to moon Lambeau field - he strikes me as a self-important d-bag, but then again that may be a requirement for the job. Fox has vastly improved since it had a camera follow Jason Day's every footstep at Chamber's Bay (?) waiting for him to keel over.

[King_Slender]

I love what Fox has pushed in regards from a technology standpoint. I wish every shot from tee to green had the "sidecar" top tracer - it's awesome. I'm sure there will be growing pains with this new "live view" top tracer, but if you never push the bounds, you never improve. I'm assuming this being the third year of having the US Open they will have camera guys that can follow the ball in the air.

 

The next big innovation is going to be VR - they already do this with the NBA where you can sit "courtside" in a VR broadcast - can you imagine how awesome that would be a golf tournament, watching Tiger from "inside the ropes" for an entire round?

[Rangeballz]

> @golfandfishing said:

> What makes Geoff Shackelford any kind of authority the last few years? He has a “blog”? Good for him, so do a lot of stay at home moms. I’ve wondered why TGC puts this guy in the air so often - he’s incorrect a lot. But that’s today’s media I guess, no accountability as long as someone likes you. He’s a blogger. Lol.

 

I couldn't agree more. What gives this guy the chops to be an authority on anything? Just another paid mouthpiece IMHO.

 

Back to Fox, I think they do a fine job. I don't mind Buck, Azinger is solid, and Faxon talks way too much. And their technical innovations are miles ahead of the competition.

 

 

[golfortennis]

> @rangersgoalie said:

> I’m as anti Shackelford as it gets. But when it comes to writing on architecture especially regarding history, he does a very good job.

> All to often he seems like the guy mad at tour pros all the time because he wasn’t good enough to do it. But his writing on golf courses is really pretty good

 

He does bring a lot of info about the PGAoA, USGA, etc., that doens't get a lot of play in other media, so he does have that. Also, with a couple of exceptions, there are pretty good reader comments.

Of course, that has to be balanced against the fact he will delete stuff he doesn't like. Which is his right as the blog owner, but does harm his credibility, IMHO.