Would You Watch More Golf On TV If...

[Patch]

Would you watch more golf on TV if the networks programmed less of  the talking heads? Showed more actual golf shots? I watched a little of the US-O, but every time the talking heads came on, I would get up and find something else to do, while waiting for the actual players, and their golf shots to start being shown again.

Of the four days the US-O was televised, I probably watched less than 5 hours total of the actual play.  Most of that time was spent on finding out about Day's vertigo issue. I wanted to know if he was not suffering a career ending issue.  Woody shooting 15 over par was not of any interest to me, since it was not unexpected. Plus, I was on a local golf course playing, three of the four days the US-O was televised.

This why I think it's better to play the game, than to watched the game.

[Gunther]

I listen to very little of it as I DVR all golf tournaments. Way too much of what you describe and commercials.

[Club Rat]

Rained all week here in St Lou, so, US Open coverage was a great means for enduring the foul weather in the cabin.

With live streaming on USGA, Fox Sports Go and local Fox coverage in the evening, along with a personal record for

posting on TST over the four day timeframe, I pretty much got my fill of golf on the tube.

I endured the long periods of face time with the announcers and ranted as much as everyone.

When I finally had my fill, I'd switched back and forth from stream to TV coverage and reading TST.

But, this was the Open week, I typically don't watch golf during the summer, except final rounds.

Like all sports, seems like events are 50/50, 50% of the time the announcer's are shown and the other 50% actually viewing the event.

I will say, there were less commercials on the stream feeds.

Club Rat

[Parker0065]

I listen to very little of it as I DVR all golf tournaments. Way too much of what you describe and commercials.

Bingo!

DVR is the magic box! I record absolutely everything nowadays from NBA playoffs to PGA Tour events. As soon as FOX started their yapping and little sidebar stories at the US Open I would simply fast forward to the action back on the course.

Easier to plan your life around it as well. Go play golf on Sat/Sun afternoons then go home and watch the golf action in prime time. I would go absolutely nuts without my DVR at this point!

Next to putting a man on the moon, the DVR is man's greatest accomplishment,,,lol!!!!

[boogielicious]

Would you watch more golf on TV if the networks programmed less of  the talking heads? Showed more actual golf shots? I watched a little of the US-O, but every time the talking heads came on, I would get up and find something else to do, while waiting for the actual players, and their golf shots to start being shown again.

Of the four days the US-O was televised, I probably watched less than 5 hours total of the actual play.  Most of that time was spent on finding out about Day's vertigo issue. I wanted to know if he was not suffering a career ending issue.  Woody shooting 15 over par was not of any interest to me, since it was not unexpected. Plus, I was on a local golf course playing, three of the four days the US-O was televised.

This why I think it's better to play the game, than to watched the game.

Fox did spend too much time with the talking heads and following Day.  Why do I have to see Buck and Norman?  Can they talk while we are watching players hit?

The Euro Tour has less talking, but they also show a lot of nothing going on too.  So the optimal for me is in between.

[nevets88]

No. I basically just watch the majors now. The highlights on Golf Channel's website are enough and if anything goes viral, the video is on the internets. This is golf's perennial broadcasting problem, it's hard to fill all that non-action time.

[MrDC]

Nope, because I probably couldn't watch much more golf, it's seems to be all I watch, the only stuff I don't like are golf movies, interviews like Feherty and Altered Course, otherwise I like it all. That being said I'm not home all that often, free time= playing.

[imsys0042]

I would watch more. I like the coverage to be all about the on course action and don't mind the talking heads if they are talking during the shots. I don't like cutting away from the golf. And I tend not to care who it is. Those guys are awesome and I like seeing their swings and how they hit the ball. I don't care what a pro had for breakfast and analysis for why he's hitting it left because he had too much oatmeal.

[Lastpick]

The great thing about the DVR is that once it gets down to the leading groups on the back nine, it takes about 45 minutes max to watch.  Just be sure to extend your coverage in case the tournament goes to extra holes.  Couple of years ago, my recording cut off just as Bubba hit the big hook onto the green to win the Masters.  Also extend the dvr coverage to past dark at the tournament.  Extra holes can run at least an hour, but when dvr'd, they last about 15 minutes.

[Missouri Swede]

The great thing about the DVR is that once it gets down to the leading groups on the back nine, it takes about 45 minutes max to watch.  Just be sure to extend your coverage in case the tournament goes to extra holes.  Couple of years ago, my recording cut off just as Bubba hit the big hook onto the green to win the Masters.  Also extend the dvr coverage to past dark at the tournament.  Extra holes can run at least an hour, but when dvr'd, they last about 15 minutes.

The other thing I've learned to do is to set up golf channel to record (also) after the regular broadcast is supposed to be over. There have been a few times when cbs or nbc cut away to something else and "we'll continue broadcast of the playoff on the golf channel."

[Lastpick]

Yea this^^^^

[Mac62]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunther

I listen to very little of it as I DVR all golf tournaments. Way too much of what you describe and commercials.

Bingo!

DVR is the magic box! I record absolutely everything nowadays from NBA playoffs to PGA Tour events. As soon as FOX started their yapping and little sidebar stories at the US Open I would simply fast forward to the action back on the course.

Easier to plan your life around it as well. Go play golf on Sat/Sun afternoons then go home and watch the golf action in prime time. I would go absolutely nuts without my DVR at this point!

Next to putting a man on the moon, the DVR is man's greatest accomplishment,,,lol!!!!

I have some kind of weird thing where I just can't DVR sporting events and watch them later.  I know the outcome has already been decided and I'm not seeing it as it happened, so it somehow diminishes the interest for me.  About the best I can manage is start recording them and then start watching an hour or so into it, so I can fast forward through all the commercials and stuff and eventually catch up to live action somewhere near the end.

[Golfingdad]

I have some kind of weird thing where I just can't DVR sporting events and watch them later.  I know the outcome has already been decided and I'm not seeing it as it happened, so it somehow diminishes the interest for me.

I'm absolutely the same way.  I'll only do it out of necessity - I have other plans and cannot sit and watch it live, then I'll dvr it and IF I manage to stay dumb to the outcome, then I'll watch it and FF through the commercials.

Otherwise I'm just setting myself up for disappointment if I don't lock myself in a technology free room.  Can't look at text messages, can't loot at facebook or any sports related internet sites, can't check your email, can't answer the phone from certain people, can't change the channel and check on anything else that might be going on lest you accidentally see the ticker, etc, etc.

[mvmac]

Added a poll.

Would you watch more golf on TV if the networks programmed less of  the talking heads? Showed more actual golf shots? I watched a little of the US-O, but every time the talking heads came on, I would get up and find something else to do, while waiting for the actual players, and their golf shots to start being shown again.

I'd watch about the same. I tune in to watch the golf so I'll just deal with the other stuff. I rarely dvr golf.

[Golfingdad]

I voted "the same."  The announcers and how much they talk or don't talk doesn't factor into my decision to watch a tournament - my interest lies with the stakes, the field, and the course.

[Valleygolfer]

Web coverage seems to have much less commentary so I watch it quite often. I usually use the talking head time to catch up on the trap...

[Kingkat1954]

My DVR is the best device I have ever owned!!!!!!!!!!!!! I voted to watch MORE!

Just love to fast forward thru the commercials, and some of the endless commentary. More action, less comments.

Henry Longhurst , the announcer of CBS golf telecasts, never tried to say more than necessary during the program. He knew the action was what the viewers wanted, not his talk. He was the gold standard of golf announcers. Much like Ken Venturi was. I sincerely miss those two!

[GolfLug]

Commentary has never mattered that much to me one way or the other. I would watch it the same I think.