Golf Channel's Tournament Coverage

[CPHoya]

I'm wondering if anyone else starts to get a very frustrated sensation watching The Golf Channel's coverage of PGA events? There is a lot of chatting going on while shots are being struck elsewhere on the course. Other times, I'd much prefer watching Tiger work on his putt read to watching a collage of fist pumps. Makes me yearn for the Masters, or at least weekend CBS coverage. Anyone else with me on this?

[Wisco-Kid]

YEAH It sucks plain and simple! They make it all out to be a big soap opera instead of a sporting event. I dislike most of the commentators and think the camera angles are horrible, and out of sync. Not to mention the camera stays glued to one player (TIGER). I watched the coverage last night and there were many, many great matches going on (Tiger and JB included) but I only saw the Tiger match. I wanted to see at least a little of the Stricker Chopra match. I didnt see anything until the 20th hole....LAME-O.

I am grateful that I can come home from work and watch the the tournament though...

[CPHoya]

Like right now the Golf Channel has cut away at least 5 times from the Immelman - Stenson match, which is on the 24th hole (!!!!!!) to show a news analysis of a different matchup, a 2 minute Golf Channel ad, a Michelle Wie update, and some Fields Open tape delayed coverage.

Right now there's a fantastic match going on! SHOW IT!

Ugh. I love being able to watch golf but I hate the Golf Channel. So much.

[Lefty39]

Ya the camera angles suck, you can never tell where the ball is going till it lands. And that mutual of Omaha putting line is a little annoying. They only focus on Tiger and Phil too, I was watching coverage yesterday, and today, there was some really good matches, but what you only saw was Tiger and Oberholser play. I do like Nick Faldo though.

[nandoal28]

Ugh. I love being able to watch golf but I

Would you rather not be able to watch golf at all during the week?

[immts007]

Would you rather not be able to watch golf at all during the week?

Exactly. I'm not going to whine about a channel I get for free that lets me watch golf when I otherwise wouldn't be able to. Is it perfect? No. Would I rather have it, warts and all, rather than not? Yes.

[Craig Mac]

the Golf Channel has cut away at least 5 times from the Immelman - Stenson match, which is on the 24th hole (!!!!!!) to show a news analysis of a different matchup, a 2 minute Golf Channel ad, a Michelle Wie update, and some Fields Open tape delayed coverage.

I was thinking the same thing too! They were doing a show that was basically: here is what is going on with what you WERE watching, and some highlights of what we are ABOUT to show. It's is a GOLF network, so why woud they cut away from the GOLF to show some hack analyst? Completely pointless, and plus they have some female commentator that makes my ears hurt.

However, I must add that today they added the Golf Channel to our HD lineup, I am very pleased about that.

[CPHoya]

Would you rather not be able to watch golf at all during the week?

No, which is why I expressed my "love" for being able to watch golf. What I would prefer is the Golf Channel improving its coverage, which is remarkably poor for a specialized station. Do I want it gone? Obviously not, and that's obvious from my original post.

One constructive improvement for the Golf Channel: actually show the tournament you paid for the rights to televise. Edit: Also, the Golf Channel is not free, but part of a cable lineup.

[hawkeye]

My favourite tournaments are on BBC - no ad's, great commentators, and they show everyone.

European Tour coverage on Sky Sports is also brilliant, apart from the ad's but they're not off putting.

I watch PGA Tour coverage which comes via The Golf Channel and various others - It annoys me that they only seem to have camera time for Tiger or Phil. There are 70 odd other golfers playing at the weekend. I didn't see it but my parents tell me they say Padraig Harrington ONCE on Sunday at Riveria. He came 3rd!

I'm grateful to see any golf at all - i guess they like to showcase the superstars to broadcast to a wider audience. You guys would be amazed to see BBC/Sky coverage!

[JaY_B]

The coverage of the Immelman - Stenson match is disgraceful

[shredfit]

I tried watching the Mayakoba Golf Classic coverage last night(golf channel) and most of it looked like they were using a $40 pawn shop cam corder from the late 80's to film it...

[Undr Par]

Exactly. I'm not going to whine about a channel I get for free that lets me watch golf when I otherwise wouldn't be able to. Is it perfect? No. Would I rather have it, warts and all, rather than not? Yes.

Bingo, being able to watch this event on TV (no matter who covers it) works for me.......

[g-funk13]

Exactly. I'm not going to whine about a channel I get for free that lets me watch golf when I otherwise wouldn't be able to. Is it perfect? No. Would I rather have it, warts and all, rather than not? Yes.

You guys are so all or nothing. YES I WANT TO WATCH GOLF ALL WEEK but why can't they be BETTER. WE are watching and we deserve good coverage. I got the same flack from people on this forum when I complained about NFL coverage and the lack of choices. . .

Here's an example: GC has a split screen feature in its broadcasting which it only brings out once in a while. Why couldn't that have that bad boy on the whole time Tiger/Baddely and the Stenson match were going or overlapping? WHY WHY WHY? Cause the wrong guy is in the booth making that call, THAT'S WHY. Complaining about it might help. . . don't think that they don't read The Sand Trap.

[immts007]

You're right. It could be better. But that could be said about most things.

[Clubswinger21]

I agree in the sense that i despise watching golf on the golf channel. Pretty much everything about it is crap, except for the thing that shows the players cub and ball speed. I was watching the womens coverage in primetime and the picture looked like a vcr tape on my LCD, and there was a loud buzzing interfering with the sound. It was pretty awful.

[TourSpoon]

I am a little more impressed with the amount of events they are covering compared to years past when TNT would get the first two days. The TNT formula was pretty relaxed as it is now. I don't mind the banter (but then again it depends on who it is), but they could be showing more of the matchplay that is going on. Some of the angles were tough, but I did like how they would repeat the shot with the aeriel view. Right now, my favorite has to be CBS with that really cool angle that shows you the ball flight. The putting line is good to show you the line, but I would like to see them take it away when the putt is struck.

[golfchief]

Yea they need someone new to call the shots on the GC, than ran over to show Tiger and Badd match ending,while showing how well Wie was doing in the LPGA tournament for two hours, then leaves the LPGA match with Wie waiting for a ruling standing in the road. Not that I'm a Wie fan but I'd have like to see her hit the shot.

[CPHoya]

I completely agree with golfchief. They cut away while Wie was waiting for a ruling, standing in the road with traffic being redirected. During the cutaway they ran a scoring recap for almost 30 seconds, and during that time she hit the shot . Then they cut away from the tournament. The shot happened while the tournament was still on the air , but we didn't see it!!!!

They also decided, during Woods-Baddeley, that they simply had to cut away for a studio update, half of which was about the Woods-Baddeley match! The upshot of this move was missing the tee shots on the 19th hole.

We should all e-mail the Golf Channel, imploring them to show the golf. I'm glad we have the station, but if things continue this way I know I'll watch less and less; I won't abandon the channel on purpose, I'll just naturally avoid the frustration.

It's golf . Only golfers are watching. It shouldn't be that hard to please them by showing the golf.