What Golf Announcers Could Learn from Wimbledon

[iacas]

During today's fairly epic final set between sisters Venus and Serena Williams, the announcers were dead stone silent. Not a peep for 5-10 minutes. Not until the winner had been decided, and a very small celebration, did the announcers say anything.

The drama, the story told itself. All an announcer could have done was mess it up, and they recognized that. I applaud them.

Golf announcers could learn something from that.

[Harry Longshanks]

During today's fairly epic final set between sisters Venus and Serena Williams, the announcers were dead stone silent. Not a peep for 5-10 minutes. Not until the winner had been decided, and a very small celebration, did the announcers say anything.

Amen brotha!

[cbe_golfer]

I see this a little differently. Part of the ambience of Wimbledon comes from the crowd..I would rather call them spectators. They are truly in the moment and know the difference between a winner and an unforced error. The tone of the applause itself is different depending on what happened during the point. And the announcers in a sense have it made when it comes to setting the scene for the unfolding drama. In golf, on many events on the PGA tour, you have that get-in-the-hole guy fretting himself into a delirium on the back nine.

[Harry Longshanks]

iacas-

On this subject, here is the definition or irony.

I am watching the AT&T; National and David Feherty is doing his "5 Questions" segment* with 2007 winner KJ Choi who, of course, does not speak English as his first language. Choi answers most questions with a simple "yes" or "no" and does not expand, although his smile indicates that he clearly "gets" Feherty's jokes.

When they cut back to Faldo and Lundquivst, the 2 laugh and Faldo says "A man a few words." Lundquivst responds "Why be polysyllabic when mono will do?"

Indeed Mr. Lundquivst and Mr. Faldo. Indeed. :D



*One of the few "filler" items I actually like. Please NBC and TGC, no more Jimmy Roberts or Rich Lerner.

[b-squared]

During today's fairly epic final set between sisters Venus and Serena Williams, the announcers were dead stone silent. Not a peep for 5-10 minutes. Not until the winner had been decided, and a very small celebration, did the announcers say anything.

Saw the match as well, and it was great to watch. What they did was pure class...

[Scratch-Hopeful]

I see your point in general but what do you expect? Golf is a lot like baseball in the fact that it is mostly moments of nonaction with some shots (like pitches) scattered throughout. Where as tennis has pretty consistent action so the announcers can let the play speak for itself. Plus, people watching tennis can see about how well a shot will do because its on a smaller court with a visible and larger green ball. Where as a golf course is huge and it is nearly impossible to track a golf ball on tv and see where it will be going. Granted I do think that golf commentators could cut down on the chit chat a little but I think you're overreacting.

[iacas]

Granted I do think that golf commentators could cut down on the chit chat a little but I think you're overreacting.

Yes, I'm over-reacting by posting a forum topic about it. Ooooh.

A lot of fans have suggested "less talking" to golf announcers. I'm not the first, and I'm giving credit to the tennis announcers for doing it. Yes, golf has more downtime between actual shots, but there's lots of things they could fill the time with. I'd love to hear more player-caddie conversations. They could even show MORE GOLF SHOTS rather than the four we see between commercial breaks nowadays. And golf doesn't have to have NO talking - I'd still like to know the yardages, the wind, and maybe what club someone finally chooses. But beyond that, I don't need to hear a bunch of talking. Let the drama of the moment sell itself more frequently. It's not an "over-reaction;" it's just a suggestion.

[ganjagolfer]

my remote has a "mute" button

[spyderwerks]

I'd still like to know the yardages, the wind, and maybe what club someone finally chooses. But beyond that, I don't need to hear a bunch of talking. Let the drama of the moment sell itself more frequently.

One reason I like watching the European tour coverage on the Golf Channel. Many times they concentrate their 'chatter' at least on the shot or conditions of the shot at hand. Heh, they even sometimes have little wind direction graphics on the screen or course contour mapping.

Who would have ever thought the viewer may be interested in the technical aspects of the game?

[iacas]

my remote has a "mute" button

Yeah, that kinda misses the point that I want to hear everything else, just not the announcers 100% of the time.

[InTheTwenties]

....

You're preaching to the choir. Too many commercials. I counted anywhere from 3 shots to 10 before going to commercial. And the chit chat of the announcers would put a office social to shame.

I can see the future: Sand saves brought to you by: up and in Viagra. Long tee shots of the day by Enzyte and tough putts sponsored by Ambian.

[Ben]

Basketball games too. Now we're bombarded with organ chants, cheerleaders, and rap music during a game. I say, turn it all off and let the crowd fuel the players.

[Lemay427]

I would like the announcers to give yardage, club (if they know for sure. most of the time they are wrong IMO), and thats it. I would rather hear the convo between caddies and player, which is more insightful.


I like the "color" guys like Feherty and McCord. The rest of them suck. Miller is OK sometimes.

[Harold]

I generally don't have an issue with the announcing in a golf tourney and can't recall that I have ever though it has been over the top. It's sets the stage for the next shot for any number of players and it makes it easier keeping track or who is doing what, how, and where, especially if you doing other things and not really watching it. Kind of like baseball. Tennis is a totally different tv sport. The entire stage fits neatly on the TV screen, it's quite fast once play starts, and it's one vs one, at least in singles.
The announcerless option was tried in one NFL game a couple of decades back. Nothing but silence and TV cameras. Went over like a lead zeppelin. Same thing would happen in golf. Plus it gives us something more on the forum to complain about.

[Mr Eagle]

Most sports commentators in general are only stateing the bloody obvious during the action and talking rubbish during the quite periods.
"Tigers hit one to three feet !" they scream ,yes I know Im watching it on the box

I think golf would lend itself well to having comedians as commentators with the strict instruction of not talking during the action. They could then tell us a few jokes during lulls in play or take the micky out people as the cameras scan the galleries


just a thought

[Chas]

Most sports commentators in general are only stateing the bloody obvious during the action and talking rubbish during the quite periods.

This is a good point. I often find myself thinking,

.... tell me again, how much are they paying that guy to say that ? (i.e. something we all can plainly see or deduce for our little own selves...). But I do like it when they give insights that only an exprienced pro can give, or speculate intelligently about choices that a player and his caddy are probably making at that particular moment. I'm always amused when they make the wrong call, e.g. when Phil elected to hit over the tree with the 7i rather than hit a fade to clinch the tourney - the rest was history. But it's good that they do it - no complaints. If commentators have played the course in tournaments many times before, they've got a huge advantage naturally and there's no substitute. For the record, I agree with the premise of the thread: too much talk. Sometimes silence is golden, no matter what the cost in commentator (unearned) pay. I must admit that Miller did a fairly decent job at the LPGA recently, somewhat redeeming himself after the US Open IMO. He actually does have some good insights much of the time. Let's hope he doesn't get too careful in atoning for you-know-what and lose that edge of his ..... I also agree with whoever said that some of the wasted time can be better spent with more shots of players NOT at the top of the leader board. Of course they do this sometimes (chip-ins, major catastrophes, etc), so we're talking incremental change here. It's a good thread. We're all unpaid commentators with an open mike so what the hey ....

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

I do think it's a bit more difficult for golf announcers. With tennis you have two players and one setting. Golf is all over the place, different holes, various players, can't see all the shots so how did player x get to this point but I agree with the general idea. Especially during big moments which is I think what we're talking about here. Announcers get credit for dramatic calls (ie Koch's better than most) but a truly great play doesn't need to be called.

I totally agree with anyone who said they'd like to hear more conversation between player and caddy. This is something that really bothers me. I cannot tell you how many times I have been totally intrigued by the conversation to have the announcers start yapping away (usually something pointless) so I can't hear them. So annoying. I don't need the announcers translation of what's being said, just let me listen to it!

[iacas]

I do think it's a bit more difficult for golf announcers. With tennis you have two players and one setting. Golf is all over the place, different holes, various players, can't see all the shots so how did player x get to this point but I agree with the general idea.

No, you've bastardized the original point. The Wimbledon announcers weren't quiet the whole time, just in the last game. This is like having two guys come to the 18th tied, or Tiger coming to 18 needing a birdie to win (like at Bay Hill).

I'm not advocating silence for the entire golf broadcast, and I didn't think I had to make that point clear, but apparently...