Golf Channel

[oiler69]

I have my own opinions of the on air talent at THE golf channel but I'm interested in hearing yours. Quite frankly, my loathing of Rich Lerner, Kelly Tighlman and that Gary guy on "morning drive" colors my opinion at times. I admit it so I'm curious to know what others think.

I'll just add, I think it is improved, at least in tournament coverage, with the NBC talent.

I'm curious about your opinion of the "fastest growing network" ( that reminds me, ours was the fastest growing family on the block when we went from one child to two.)

[RayG]

I normally only watch coverage of events. I don't spend hours watching chit chat or more confusing golf tips. My game is in a tough a state as it is. If I'm channel surfing and the Asian tour or Euro tour has something going on, I'll stick around for a bit. I don't need to hear "...he's an excellent striker of the ball, but can't seem to put it all together, blah, blah..," from all the talking heads about nearly everyone. Talking heads are just that, don't need it or want it.

[Crim]

Michael Breed is the only guy that bothers me.

[Billy Z]

Sometimes I watch it to get away from it all in the Michigan winter. With a little imagination, i'm on the golf course in the middle of golf season. I also turn on my 'sun light' lamp to further the feel !

[3putter]

I have my own opinions of the on air talent at THE golf channel but I'm interested in hearing yours. Quite frankly, my loathing of Rich Lerner, Kelly Tighlman and that Gary guy on "morning drive" colors my opinion at times. I admit it so I'm curious to know what others think.

I'll just add, I think it is improved, at least in tournament coverage, with the NBC talent.

I'm curious about your opinion of the "fastest growing network" ( that reminds me, ours was the fastest growing family on the block when we went from one child to two.)

Those two along with Chamblee make me not wanna watch the channel. I was thinking the other day that they should poll to see who the viewers view favorably and who they don't. I watched the last few PGA events mostly on 1/2 mute, but I watch the Euro tour with the volume up.

[rehmwa]

I watch the tournament coverage all the time, and Feherty once in a while - or the specials with only the pros (like the roundtable thing they did with Jack, Arnie, Gary and Lee).  Or the historical specials.

Pretty much anything as long as it doesn't involve listening to the full time staff.

I really don't like listening to ANY of the full time hosts (except maybe Winn, but I'm not listening).  Not even a little bit.  hate the McLessons.

[nevets88]

I like Frank Nobilo. When they do the slow motion analysis, always seems to be the same players. Wish they would switch it up a bit.

[boogielicious]

My opinion of Chamblee is well documented on this site,  as is my opinion of paper cuts and canker sores.  The School of Golf host has a really annoying voice and Michael Breed is not bad, but really loud.  Why are you yelling dude!  The golf coverage is good IMO.  I do like Playing Lessons with the Pros and the Champions Tour shows.  I don't watch Golf Central if BC is on.  Feherty is a bright light for the network.

I really like when they have dual coverage of a Tour event with NBC.  You can flip back on forth depending on what is happening.

[Spitfisher]

Kelly, comes across as so fake and disingenuous I could puke. Pom pom waver! If they want to have a women that can speak intelligently about golf, the tour and maybe have a clue of humor, bring back Stephanie Sparks cute, fun and most of all genuine. Win McMurray or the other blond are fine too. Gary is fine. Charlie is fine, often ridluled about his eating habits like a frat house member, which was kind of amusing once, now it seems to be the on going daily joke......a joke is good once. Holly, does nothing for me as far as content, heels lipstick and a cocktail dress looks so out of place. Outside of looks what value does she really bring? I now she's a good golfer, her previous role of reading headlines worked. Thank god they got rid of Rhishad, took bad he didn't take Kelly with him. Notah Begay, too monotone to come across as authoritive or interesting. Damnon Hack has improved and shows enthusiasm for the sport and learning process. Matt Ginella, there is a need for travel segment, I think its pretty obvious why Matt is on camera and for which demographics . Micheal Breed, the show shows promise, but he talks way to much and too fast,it cmes across as irritating, slow it down.

[Hammer 4]

GC has gone to the " glam" look..as all of the Big network sports shows have. IMHO GC was way better back in the late 90's, where it was simple and totally geared towards the golfer. No need for fancy sets, so called girly eye candy, well not much any ways. I might old fashioned but what the hell..

[Meltdwhiskey]

I agree that Tilgman doesn't bring much.  Don't enjoy her on TV.  And I agree with Spitfisher about Rishad.  Terrible fit.

I do like:

Charlie Rimer

Feherty

Sonders

Martin Hall

Hack

Gary is OK too.  He helps move things along.  I don't mind Chamblee as much as most do.

[nevets88]

I only watch tournaments on GC, maybe Big Break once in a blue moon. YouTube isn't quite there yet, but more and more golf content everyday - instruction, people playing, travel, equipment, etc... Fewer commercials, fewer preening talking heads.

[Tailgater]

I primarily watch the Golf Channel and I love it quite a bit. My problem is the lack of original programming on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. All they show is reruns on these days.

Here are my comments on the on-air hosts:

Gary Williams - I think he is really good and does a good job of keeping the show on task and topic. He is like what Chris Fowler is for College GameDay on ESPN. I get the impression that he is quite smart.

Kelly Tilghman - I think she is fine. She handles the serious topics very well and will call out Chamblee. She does need to loosen up and not be so serious all the time. It is like she is determined to be the opposite of Sonders, Thompson, and McMurry.

Holly Sonders - She pretty good on camera. She can participate in the give and take with the guys. She is hot, no doubt, but she is talented in terms of hosting. Her rivalry with Charlie Rhymer gets old and she does stand the same way every time they show her.

Charlie Rhymer - He should only do the teaching/golfing session. He odes a good job of proving tips to amateur golfers without being too technical. But his dad jokes get out of hand.

Damon Hack - When he is serious and offering serious commentary, he is good and you can tell that he is a really good researcher. He needs to remove himself of being the class clown.

Brandel Chamblee - the Golf Channel's own Skip Bayless. Blowhard. Yes, he is smart. Yes, he is knowledgeable, but his desire to be a jerk overrides his intelligence.

Lauren Thompson - sweet, pretty, and capable stating the news.

Win McMurry - does she still work there?

Matt Ginella - I enjoy his segments above all else. He has a great gig and makes the most of it.

[Thrash13]

I watch The Golf Channel quite a bit because of the PGA Tour coverage on a weekly basis, but I don't watch as much other stuff as I used to.  I'll still catch Golf Central, Top 10, and Big Break some, but they really disappointed me with the direction they went with 19th Hole.  It was my favorite show on TV until they took out John Hawkins and Jeff Rude on a weekly basis.  They also moved it to Thursday which was dumb.  I'm not sure if it's back for 2014 or not, but I really hope they get it back to how it used to be.  John Hawkins and Jeff Rude were compelling TV, so bring em back!

[club ho]

I primarily watch the Golf Channel and I love it quite a bit. My problem is the lack of original programming on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. All they show is reruns on these days.

Here are my comments on the on-air hosts:

Gary Williams - I think he is really good and does a good job of keeping the show on task and topic. He is like what Chris Fowler is for College GameDay on ESPN. I get the impression that he is quite smart.

Kelly Tilghman - I think she is fine. She handles the serious topics very well and will call out Chamblee. She does need to loosen up and not be so serious all the time. It is like she is determined to be the opposite of Sonders, Thompson, and McMurry.

Holly Sonders - She pretty good on camera. She can participate in the give and take with the guys. She is hot, no doubt, but she is talented in terms of hosting. Her rivalry with Charlie Rhymer gets old and she does stand the same way every time they show her.

Charlie Rhymer - He should only do the teaching/golfing session. He odes a good job of proving tips to amateur golfers without being too technical. But his dad jokes get out of hand.

Damon Hack - When he is serious and offering serious commentary, he is good and you can tell that he is a really good researcher. He needs to remove himself of being the class clown.

Brandel Chamblee - the Golf Channel's own Skip Bayless. Blowhard. Yes, he is smart. Yes, he is knowledgeable, but his desire to be a jerk overrides his intelligence.

Lauren Thompson - sweet, pretty, and capable stating the news.

Win McMurry - does she still work there?

Matt Ginella - I enjoy his segments above all else. He has a great gig and makes the most of it.

I pretty much agree with your analysis of each cast member.

- My favorite is Holly Sonders just really dig seeing a super hot chick hit great golf shots.

- Charlie Rhymer  is excellent with a great self deprecating sense of humor

-Brandel Chamblee while very intelligent lost it with me when he went Nancy Grace on Tiger Woods. I noticed a lot less of him lately and I really like it that way.

Morning drive is my favorite way to start the day in my office watching on my old 50 inch plasma TV  sipping my coffee while doing the books.

[oiler69]

Quickly, since I already mentioned my loathing of Tighlman, Lerner and the Gary guy.......Tighlman and Lerner share the problem of Tiger drool and neither can go more than fifteen seconds without mentioning him. They could be talking about caskets or marbles and they'd find a way mention TW, w/Kelly in a "historic" way. I swear they put her on suicide watch if TW fails. Lerner seems to wet his pants with each mention of TW.

Lerner just ruins any tournament broadcasts. He must think he gets paid by the syllable and obviously thinks that using a dozen words when two or three will do is better. Frank Chirkinian would have had him whacked. He's the king of the meaningless. Fancies himself as an "essayist" and golf historian when what he really is someone who talks over dramatic music and a trivia geek. Reminds me of the wannnabee who handed out towels in the high school football locker room.

Gary........acts like is dog died.

The eye candy...well, seem to rotate it and I just don't get the golf world obsession with Holly Sonders. Maybe there are too few women in golf that anyone with good makeup and a substantial investment in silicon is special. She seems pleasant enough and seems to fit well enough, but come one she's not the super model looker so many seem to think she is. Winn, glad she's gone. I understand she is hooked up with Federer.

Someone mentioned Nobilo and I'm glad they did. He's excellent in my book though given some goofy assignments some times. Kind of makes me think of those really good actors in bad movies. They can't save the project but they make it better.

[oiler69]

also, someone mentioned the European Tour coverage....excellent. The calm and thoughtful commentators along with the distinct lack of hype is something I enjoy.

[WilsonWedgeMan]

I have sat tv now for 1st time ever....saved alot of money over the past 30 years!!  as for GC, it's in a higher cost package that I will NOT buy. I've watched GC @ my brothers ho use before, and was not impressed with it AT ALL. it's pay-for TV that isn't worth the money...sorta like most of this low-end sat tv,,utterly worthless. I'd rather read a good book about golf/golfers,of which there are many.

it's 3* this morning,and my golf balls are under a foot of snow..... glad I brought the net in .