ronzo60

Not sure if any other traditionally minded golfers were displeased with Jason Day, and his disrespect for Si Woo Kim during the Trophy presentation at the Players? I think that someone from the PGA Tour should have pulled him aside and schooled him on proper attire. I can't believe that Finchem would have accepted a t -shirt and jeans. He looked as if he was going to an after event BBQ. Show some respect, Jason. You throw away more golf shirts and slacks than the average guy will have in a lifetime, how about a jacket at least?

Just my opinion, like the one you have. Uhhhhhh, I am sure you watched the display at the HERO?

Yes, I think the game is fine. TV was only meant to entertain us, in between the times when we can't play. Too bad the golf coverage is less about watching shots and appreciating the aptitude versus listening to a has been or never was and the "over hype" of the moment or drill endless blather about things unrelated.

I think he is in Augusta to get in a practice round for the Par 3. Guessing on his Tournament shot/hole count would be a great contest, but I can't imagine that he is has improved enough in only a couple of weeks to risk the embarrassment that Augusta could dish out. The Masters doesn't deserve the distraction that Woods' represents every time he shows up. https://youtu.be/ag-WokbWz7U Due to his failing health, maybe he needs to go into "Furyk Mode" and accept he can't hit 340 and just try and get it in the hole. Of course, therein lies the problem he now has. I can't speak for anyone else, but it has been enjoyable watching Speith, Walker and others who are at the top of their game.

For 27 minutes of Golf Central last night, I still had no clue who was leading the Tournament. No-Tah as Rolfing likes to say put it best when he stated; " This is not world class and Tiger would admit it". Gannon had a great response to the Tiger impromptu speech in the parking lot, "I do not understand that last statement and I have never heard of an athlete using those words". I thought Brandel was going to hand Kelly "Let's hang 'em" " Tighlman a hanky.

Sorry, I had to amend my list and make mention of Steve Sands. How that one slipped by is unknown. Seems as though he is falling in line as yet another color man with no golfing knowledge, who constantly "fishes" for answers to rhetorical questions. Ok, I'm done.

See my review of the course in the Golf Talk Forum, for those looking for something new in the Orlando area. You guys/gals are spoiled over there, that's for sure!

Update : This is a brand new track right behind the existing Champions Gate Complex. The best way to get to it: From I-4, Go North on Hwy # 27 4-5 miles until you get to Bella Citra Rd. You have to turn right and then go about 1.5 miles and look quickly right for the Lennar Homes entrance. There is no Clubhouse at this time, but the Grand opening was this past weekend. Obviously, the greens are pristine and the remainder of the course looks great for this time of year with the dormant grasses. Although not long at 7,000 from the Tips, 6404 from the Mens' tees, the green complexes are very challenging. I couldn't get over how little the ball broke, given the slope as seen by the player. Definitely no grain yet ! Speed was anywhere from 10.5 to 11-ish? Front 9 is unspoiled with no homes to pollute the experience. It is a challenge NOT to wander over to the rough line and snag a few tangerines, as the remaining trees from the old orchard are loaded!! Lots of elevation changes throughout the course. The Back 9 gets the housing treatment, but it appeared that Lennar had done a better job than most by keeping the homes well away of the golf experience. Westchase in Tampa, it is not! The Staff was extremely friendly, as they try to attract new Members. The clubhouse isn't expected for at least 1.5 yrs, as I was told. As most developments go, this is not a pitch and putt and you'll need a few trips around to play smarter. Go play it BEFORE it is swallowed up by Brown Houses with Brown screened-in porches! LOL

It would be great IF the golf networks would realize that the "golfers" are the entertainment. Frank Chirkinian, Ebersol(NBC), Schenkel, Mckay, Longhurst, Wright, and Summeral i.e. knew this, and that is why I would agree that the Euro talking heads are better. The never ending talking before, during and long after a players' shot really wears a viewer out. With today's technology, did you know it's possible to actually hear the players/caddies talk? LOL Who needs to know "How the putt breaks"? Lets' all watch and see if the player guessed right. Just because Gary Kochs been looking at the same hole for 6 hours doesn't make him all knowing. Duh! My Top 10 list of announcers that should be covering Extreme Cup Stacking are as follows: 1.) Jim Nantz - I still recall his arrogant, selfish promotional On-Air diatribe regarding his book, during Anthony Kim's victory walk down the fairway at Quail Hollow. His "Crypt Keeper" delivery and his inability to string words to---- get----- her. 2.) Dan Hicks - Quite possibly the worst announcer EVER! His delivery is horrible and constant repetition of Miller's comments is brutal. He was good at Luge/Bobsled. 3.) Mark Rolfing - Mr. Self Anointed Analyst who should shut his yap when commenting on a players' shot/aptitude. Glorified Hawaiian Tour Guide...LOL 4.) Terry Gannon - The endless chatter about nothing...followed by the stupid questions he asks of other announcers. Metro Basketball is calling YOU!! 5.) Mumbles Maltbie - Apparently positions himself to close to the green because he can't talk normal. Which BTW, he Talks right up and beyond the point where the players takes it back. Shut up Rog !!! 6.) Jerry Foltz - Awful, and only because he is relatively new to the rest of this crew, do I list him at #5. Quote; " The shot seems like it should go right but if he aims just left and tries to hold it off just a little bit, the slope should take it straight". OMG! 7.) Gary Koch - 'No question" this guy needs another gig. Awful diction and voice inflection. Calm down Gary, it was just a chip...Oh, Man! 8.) Nick Faldo - Go and hit balls and play on the Senior Tour and or quit taking spots away from legitimate golfers trying to make a living. Sergio said it best. 9.) Gary McCord - The Magic Man fails time after time to extricate a "rabbit from the hat". Gary would be ideal for the early bird show at Sunrise Retirement Village for the Blind. It's never been a surprise that the Masters pulled his chain a long time ago. 10.) Mike Ritz - Mike, you would be puuurrrfect for the PBA ** Honorable Mention- Frank Nobilo - A much better player by far, ole' Nobs! Sometimes the experiment doesn't work - Peter Jacobsen - No comment required "Now let's go over to 11 and pick up the action with our on course, resident player adviser _____________."

I 've always enjoyed saying from time to time; " Well, there's another Oral Roberts".... Referring to the great healer himself after a heeled effort.

The Copperhead Course can be demoralizing! I know for a fact as a former Staff member at the "Brook. The rough is especially brutal where the players walk off the green. For sure, it has been wet lately in this part of the world. I posted a 72 from the back at The Bayou Club on Sunday. Cheers!

Understanding that instruction has a place in the game, I was posting in part to the real need for high speed video, GolfTech stats, i.e. I totally agree that pounding balls at a range is not productive if the golfer has no clue. However, since the average swing takes place in less than 4 seconds let's say, is it counterproductive to break it down in to 450 positions? Even though I have a lower Handicap, experience has proven that a majority of people respond better to insight at real speed. The lack of motion in most Amateurs' swing emphasizes the "Paralysis through Analysis". Stopping a golfers swing to identify the right arm as it relates to the path is a bit much, as a keen eye could tell you that after the ball is struck. Enjoyed the posts!

Being an avid golfer for 39 years, I learned with persimmon woods and blades and Hogans' Fundamentals. Fast forward to 2014 and the monumental leaps in club/ball technology, I would postulate that the modern game does not need the incremental tuning brought about by hours of video study, position breakdown, blah blah. If a golfer hit a straight ball in the 70's it was by accident, not design. A balata ball preferred by a better player made side spin at a rate which produced a shot shape. WHY, would a Tour player or any player of aptitude in this day in age choose to break down the swing, get trapped in position analysis, when the ball and club design make it incredibly easy to just hit a straight ball. Instruction is such a subjective thing. Most golfers are still trying to get command of their grip, forget the golf swing. I was afforded the opportunity to learn from Toski, Elliot, Runyan and Love Sr, to mention a few greats. They all had a different approach to the "process" of golf, but in the end it was easy to see that at some point the action of the ball was the biggest teacher of all. Their "job" was attempting the golfer him/herself to understand just exactly what was causing the reaction after impact. I have always taught and recommend that same approach to anyone who is willing to practice, and practice some more to become familiar with their swing. I see the game as never being easier to learn and enjoy. As the clubs/ball have evolved to narrow the fairway, might a return to simple observation of the golf shot teach the Modern player better than 400 frames per second video? Any thoughts Gentlemen/Ladies?

If Tiger spent the last 3 months chipping/putting, then one has to wonder what influence Sean Foley had on that, to have performed so poorly. Tiger of the past could salvage a bad score and get by, not any more. "How", is it that a golfer with Woods' past and success, cannot figure out a way to play golf? Was the 2000 season and others just smoke and mirrors? Yes, the results were there, but was Tiger just a shell that Butch Harmon filled? It's interesting that Earl wrote a book about "How to raise a ....", but it appears that without a Coach to light the way, Woods' is searching in the dark. I contend that when the drivers became in excess of 460cc, and then were subsequently trimmed down, Woods' has never been able to sustain accuracy. It appears that Tiger has fallen into his own "trap" of regaining the distance edge he once had. The mini-tours are filled with Pros that became obsessed with that. Tiger Woods has entered the time where he putts like a Top 15 player, so he plays like one. His issues with accurately driving the ball are well documented, so no amount "hype" from the GC or any network can prevent him from being on the 4th page of the leaderboard. Slapping it around Vahalla like he did was embarrassing to watch. Tiger does'nt need a Coach at this point, he needs to chill out, SMILE and enjoy the walk. He has had a great career and can still attend the WGC events with no cut and hang out with the boys.

Absolutely! The event only comes along every two years and unlike the past where the Captain was saddled with a player who came in playing in a slump, they can pick someone who is hot. Langer knows how to play in the wind and given last weeks' effort, I think he would be better than a wildcard who has never seen that kind of pressure. The majority of the Ryder Cup is Team oriented anyway, what better way to showcase a great short game and consistent driving? Since the Ryder Cup is about sportmanship and pride, having Langer on a team with Euro/PGA regulars would also in my opinion advance the Senior Tour. Courses do not have to be a mind numbing yardage if the rough is tough and hazards are strategically placed. Ryder Cups are usually set up to produce crowd pleasing scoring, which is just exactly what Langer does, make birdies. I think that when the casual viewer watches golf, the majority of them respond to "what" the producers throw at them. Rather than just have another incredibly "BORING" diatribe by Dan Hicks et al regarding the Phil and Tiger effect, why not have the ability to discuss the diveristy angle of Langer and the younger players on his Team.

Being one of the Tours' poster boys for distance, I only mentioned DJ, because he was in the mix again in a Major and his short game let him down. Granted, when you approach the green on average from inside 125 yds the stats will reflect that. Putting typically comes after chipping/pitching, and he didn't show up for that part either. Impressed? Sure, I've seen him pound it in person, but his bunker play was not impressive at all. The goal of the Post was to reflect on distance versus the act of playing golf, not bash DJ. It just seems redundant to carry 14 clubs when an 8 iron from 196 is possible. Since the USGA has lost control of the ball and club, I'd like to see a " Starter Set" only event. It would showcase the lack of need for 45%-(Unofficial percentage value) of the clubs in an average bag. I'll even take a bet that most players would play better without all of the choices.

After watching the Open Championship coverage, I came away weary of "DJ hit that tee shot 364 yds" commentary. Who cares about how far the player hit the ball, when he can't hit a green from inside 100 yds? C'mon, you 've got to be kidding me. Dialing it back would probably void any SLDR ad he has done, but it might win him a few more Tourneys. Tom Watson shot 68 the last day at 64 and should be a wake up call to the egos of the modern Tour. To me that is absurd, and that is why REMAX has a competition especially for that garbage. Checkers sells more than chess I am aware, but "playing" golf involves a h*ll of alot more than bashing a ball from a perched location with an implement the size of a pita pocket. Go to any driving range and see how many people are chipping/putting as opposed to breaking rocks on the range. It would be nice if the people who control what we see from the Tour, would focus not on some obscure driving distance STAT, but influence the causal golfer as to the Art of the Short Shot and emphasize that just wailing away is not playing golf. Traditional am I, and my rant is supported by the myriad of Tour/Web.com players who can hit it a mile, but have a putting stroke average of 1.78. Ahhh, how about the GC doing a Ken Venturi "Stroke Saver" special. Those episodes during the broadcasts were Classic. I enjoyed the effort that CBS made earlier in the year with McCord/Baker Finch bantering about the Rules.

Great posts, Gentlemen! I have always enjoyed Euro Golf coverage. I recall when GC first started and Euro coverage was hilarious, because they would give the viewer barely enough time to see a shot before they moved on to another one. No time for fluff! Interestingly enough, the casual viewer in the USA would be suprised to learn that on the weekend there is at least 30 guys still on the course when the tv lights come up. Sure, we like to see the Top 10 or so that week, but wasting time on personal stories and videos unrelated to the reason the golf is being shown in the first place is ridiculous. It's no wonder why the GC and others market the same 2-3 players each week and then scramble for "filler" when they don't make the cut or play poorly. Golf is golf. Some would argue that it was Senior golf, but if you are a golfer at heart, watching Oak Tree was as interesting as watching the LPGA play from 6300 yds at Pinehurst. For me the most disturbing aspect of the broadcasting is the person(s) who have never played competitively, judging a players' shot selction or performance. We can all see that the putt didn't break right, or the 8 iron came up short....But to challenge the players' aptitude. Not everyone has earned the right to be Johnny Miller, and even he has his moments where he should chill, considering the putting problems he endured. No one is immune from golfs' perils, not even a Tour guide from Hawaii like Mark Rolfing. To the issue of Euro coverage like a "nature show", well, if you think about it, it is outside and the players provide the action for us to "watch". It isn't drag racing or MotoGP, two of my Favs. Prognosticastion by some clown sitting in a tv tower for 7 hours doesn't make the outcome anymore compelling. That is what the crowd is for. I enjoyed the Scottish Open as well. Nobs' goes better with Euro golf. Now on to The Open Championship! If only Mike Tirrico can supress those hand spiders!! Go Adam Scott!

Dan Hicks is enough to drive any viewer batty, with his redundant, repetitive stories about the players'. Viewers of the Senior Open were treated to Gary Koch (I made an 8 on #13) and Peter Jacobsen bantering back and forth about what they would do in a situation. For the love of the game, when will the Producers at NBC ever get a clue on "How to" conduct a broadcast? Yes, I know there is a thread about the worst announcers on air, but this goes beyond the fluff and to the point of golf coverage. Less has always been more when it comes to a "has been or a never was" blathering about a player and their particular shot selection, i.e It is unfortunate that Gene Sauers couldn't close the deal yesterday, but reminding the viewers every 20-30 minutes about his struggles must have made his support group feel as if they were reliving the ordeal over and over...... Noting that a person has made great strides in conquering a personal situation is a credit, but belaboring the issue is an embarrasment. The Producers of NBC and GC golf should get a grip and learn to hit the dump button on Dan Hicks'. The announcing is amateuristic at best, with the "Hey Rog, what's he got?", "Gee Gary, I don't know why he would do that?" Yes, the MUTE button is an option, albeit an easy way out. I think the on-course announcers have wore out their Welcome with the audience. Simple graphics from Shot Link and a little arrow showing wind direction can easily fulfill the viewers need. Mumbling off to the side about the lie adds nothing to the skill of performing the shot. As golf tries to attract new people to the game, the "up close and personal" tactic is tired. Like most things, if CBS, GC and NBC would just dummy down the coverage, I think the causal and knowledgable golfer would get the jest. It's not rocket science. Ok, I"m done now.

Pappy, Don't head to the pawn shop just yet. If you will agree that the swing is a rotation and not a straight lie drawn between two points, then taking the club away inside is natural. Without "seeing" your swing, I can only surmise that if your move away from the ball at the start of your swing is too severe to the inside, then you leave yourself no way to "turn" back to the ball and then on to the target. In all swings, Yes, even Furyks', the club will return to the ball on the downswing from an inside path a bit shallower than the take away. Pay attention to your downswing and examine wheher or not your arms are in control versus your lower body? While teaching the game, I can't begin to tell you the number of golfers who do not allow the lower body to turn thru the downswing. Imagine throwing a bowling ball while dragging a leg! My bet is that you do not turn the hips at a rate that keeps pace with the arms, causing a disconnection between the upper and lower half of your body. Is balance an issue? Watch tv this weekend and ask yourself if the Pros' look like they are just swinging with their arms. Struggling golfers often question why the better player makes it look so easy. Mainly, it is because the better player uses both halves of his body and it looks in balance. Try lifting your fork from the plate tonight in a segmented motion...then do it normally and you'll feel an uninterrupted motion. Golf is hard Pappy, look at the utensil! Even though the only part of your body that touches the club is your hands, your hips/legs must direct their "path". Remember, your lower body(hips/legs) must rotate. When you follow thru when hitting a shot, is your belt buckle facing the target? Keep at it, even after 39 years I haven't got it figured out.

Place a tee in the end of the grip, leave an inch or so exposed. Go ahead and address the ball with your normal grip. Take the club back in slow motion and begin your wrist action so that the tee points at the ball as you approach waist height. At that moment you will see and feel the wrist movement as natural as can be, and when combined with the arms continue on to the end of the backswing. Now begin your forward swing, at which time you will begin to feel as if you are returning the hands to the starting position right about the time you would make contact with the ball...then as you proceed forward in the swing roll your hands so that the tee once again points at the ball when you reach waist height. It's the reverse of the backswing, plain and simple. You'll find out very quickly that the proper wrist rotation will add speed and flexibiltiy to your swing. The hands are the only part of your body touching the club and have to be relaxed and pliable. Go hit balls....slowly..... to learn the above movement. However, breaking 100 will occur faster if you spend 2X of your range time chipping and putting. Have at it!

dchoye, If you really want to snicker, go to youtube and search Shell's WW of Golf where Jack plays Miller at Olympic in the late 80's early 90's. Throttles him as Miller yips it up BAD!

The All Star announcers were in no particular order: Jim McKay Tony Jacklin Frank Gifford Bill Fleming Henry Longhurst On 18, you would have heard Chris Schenkel(famous for PBA bowling events), and Dave Marr ( 1965 PGA Champ, and who's son is on the Champions Tour announcing staff) Guest Commentator of course was Lord Byron Nelson. I agree about the HDTV aspect, but it is suprising how they had no clue as to how to follow the ball. No one knew where the golfers shot eneded up unless it was camera centered. Amazing advances over the years. However, too bad the "Art" of speaking when appropriate was LOST............

No, you're right on target. As I said, "The agronomy" improvements has made the playing field better. Pop putting or rather "wristy" putting was required due to the speed of the surface. That combined with different degrees of the putter face, something you don't hear much about these days due to the smoothness of the greens. I had a conversation with Mike Souchak about Augusta and he told me that back in the day, the guys used to miss #9 green short on purpose, so as to not have to putt downhill. LOL Funny story. If you watched the telecast, did you get a load of the lie Arnie had on 11, just outside the bunker? Brutal. I think that the main reason the British Open was considered the truest test of golf, was because most of the courses on the rotation not that long ago had limited if any sprinkling systems. Yu got what you got. Golf stills remains a tough, hard game no matter what. I mean look at the stroke averages over the years. It hasn't dropped all that much, even when you consider the advancements in every aspect of the game.

Agreed, but the ball was soooo different and allowed for so much more shot making. Anyone starting the game in the last 20 years wouldn't believe how much the ball used to curve. Those were US Open greens and the agronomy today has made for much smoother surfaces, no doubt. I got a kick out the Arnie's animated responses to his shots, just a taste of why he was/is so popular. The robots created nowadays could'nt handle the mood swings that those gemtlemen went through. To watch a professional struggle with that course reminded me of the people who used to come to the Resort at which I taught, with Sam Snead Blue Ridge, Hogan Directors' and other seemingly impossible clubs to hit. Let's not open that thread again about which Pros in what era were better. To have seen the comparison of club/ball in person, there is no debate.