Is golf turning boring to watch?

[HomerJSimpson]

I think the problem is the fact that the South African coverage comes directly from SA TV and so is reliant on what the director wants to show. Once it comes into the Middle East next week, European Tour Productions will be in charge and I think it'll become much better with a greater variety of shots and players covered.

I actually like Murray. He is knowledgable having been there and in my opinion trys to give the viewer an understanding about what is going on in the players swing, his approach and how they are feeling (making the cut, in contention etc). Sadly the one guy who is starting to show that time is catching up on him is Peter Alliss. He seemed very dated in the limited BBC coverage last year.

 

[madandra]

I turned it on the other day and after 15 minutes I switched to the doscovery Channel. I agree that the US coverage is focusig too much on the putting but I also feel the courses they are using are rather boring also. I just wish they would use some more testing courses where they will have wind, rain and rough.

 

[clubchamp07]

I didnt watch much of it but over the last 4 weeks it seems to be going down hill. Ewan Murray rambling on about whatever he seems fit to ramble on about. As for the play its self, who are half these guy's. I know we cant get the "top" guys out every week but lordy lordy. Snooker and Darts to name a few sports are trying to liven their game up (sex it up if you like) Golf seems (to me anyway) to be going the other way. I watched a bit on Friday for an hour and only seen 3 fairway shot's in that hour. The most of the coverage was on putting, I know thats where the money is made but if thats all their going to show why have 18 holes and not just a putting green. I seen different players on a few different greens, my god it was like watching paint dry. I know these guys are trying to make money and win but ffs could they liven up a bit and at times it would be nice for them to smile.
Have you been watching any of the snooker, now that is paint drying, but with sky's coverage on the golf, I think IMO golf is going the same way. We only get to see the leaders and few very few chosen other's. I want to see most of the guys. There was a guy today who shot a 64 came 2nd, how many times did we see him? not many! Come on sky give us more and better coverage.

 

[SharkAttack]

Not to worry, it won't be long until Tiger is back then we can watch Tiger playing 18 holes and all the others putting.

 

[Herbie]

I have always found golf boring to watch, even more so these days they take so long, though at the same time admire the skill displayed. On TV my enjoyment comes from great commentators with a sense of humour, (slightly lacking among the new breed) and very well selected coverage.

 

[clubchamp07]

I think the problem is the fact that the South African coverage comes directly from SA TV and so is reliant on what the director wants to show. Once it comes into the Middle East next week, European Tour Productions will be in charge and I think it'll become much better with a greater variety of shots and players covered.

Homer we have the same problem whenever the Open is on, or whatever. It dosent matter where their playing it's always the same. I went to to Irish open last year, we knew whenever a "big" name was comming our way, because the camera's arrived. I felt sorry for the also rans behind them because the camera's cleared off.

 

[beck9965]

I timed the actual live golf coverage the other night and for a programmed hour of golf (US PGA) only 30 mins was actual golf the rest was filled with boring tripe.
I know it's sad but i was on the JD's

 

[DCB]

Well, it's better than having to watch the Disney Channel and that Hannah Montana crap.....

 

[beck9965]

Well, it's better than having to watch the Disney Channel and that Hannah Montana crap.....

Yes you are right, I did like the "what's in the bag" sections it's nice to see what clubs and rubbish the pros have in their bags.

 

[Fyldewhite]

I have always found golf boring to watch, even more so these days they take so long, though at the same time admire the skill displayed. On TV my enjoyment comes from great commentators with a sense of humour, (slightly lacking among the new breed) and very well selected coverage.

Totally agree. I probably watch the Masters and the Open and that's about it. Even when I used to have the full Sky package I'd probably only watch the last 2 hours on a Sunday night if it was close. Golf is one of the worst spectator sports going. Watch it live and you automatically miss 90% of the action. TV gives a better return but nothing really matters until the back 9 on Sunday.

 

[CrapHacker]

At least you guys get the chance to watch it.

No Sky, so it's Celebrity Come Ice Dancing Out of Here for me.

Even poor golf coverage has got to be better

 

[Imurg]

On the subject of the Masters, I hope they show everyone coming through Amen Corner again. Ok you only see the approach to the 11th but you get all of the 12th and all of the 13th too - all shots. I thought it was great to see the different ways they all played the holes.
I think it was on the red button - hope they do it again.

 

[madandra]

Imurg, your spot on m8. The other good thing was you could watch it in the afternoon before the live coverage started.

 

[Fyldewhite]

On the subject of the Masters, I hope they show everyone coming through Amen Corner again. Ok you only see the approach to the 11th but you get all of the 12th and all of the 13th too - all shots. I thought it was great to see the different ways they all played the holes.
I think it was on the red button - hope they do it again.

Yeah, I hope so too. The main attraction of the Masters is the timing (just as all this crap weather looks like getting better) and the fact that it's the same course every year (we all feel like we know it even though we've not a chance of ever playing it!).

There's two ways of watching golf live, follow a group, or camp on an interesting hole and watch everyone come through. I think the Amen Corner on the red button gives the TV viewer the same choices which is great.

 

[kid2]

Wait for radar to come back,He'll liven things up a bit....

 

[Robobum]

Watched the final round live today whilst doing some decorating. Loved every minute of it, masterly display of golf from Schwartzel, interesting & knowledgable commentary.

The only thing I didn't like was seeing those lucky b*****ds playing on green coloured stuff in glorious sunshine wearing short sleeve t-shirts.

Looking forward to watching the desert swing.

 

[USER1999]

I can't watch golf on telly. Played in shirt sleeves, on decent greens. It bears no resemblance to the golf I play. Even in the summer, if I hit a putt like they do, for a 60 ft putt it would go 6 ft.

To me it is always unrealistic. It is impossible to maintain a course at this level, so it is a nonsense. They play a different game, on a different course. And on the course they play, it is that good for 4 days, and the rest of he year it is rubbish.

Do you know it took 6 months to get the bunkers at The Grove perfect for the WGC event. It took a week to get them back to the level they are now. Fine, but not how they had to be for the pampered darlings of the tour.

TV /Pro golf sucks.

Bring back greens cut by sheep. Mine seem to be. At least it would be the same for every one.

My pet hate is tosser commentators who waffle on about amateurs being unable to play from bunkers. Apparently we decelerate, and can't get the ball out. There is a damn good reason for this. It is called flipping great stones buried 1mm deep in the sand. Put me in a bunker prepared for the masters, and we will see if I can play a half decent shot.

Miffed of Watford.

 

[Dodger]

Wait for radar to come back,He'll liven things up a bit....

In the middle of a lot of poorly thought replys to this thread comes along someone talking 100% truth!

This fella is without a shadow of doubt the best guy on our 'golf t.v.'

I could listen to the mans knowledge mixed with wit all 4 days long...an utterly superb professional at his profession.

 

[doc17]

Do you know it took 6 months to get the bunkers at The Grove perfect for the WGC event. It took a week to get them back to the level they are now. Fine, but not how they had to be for the pampered darlings of the tour.

Miffed of Watford.

And that was a waste of time as it pi55ed down all that week! I went on the Thursday and saw fack all but miserable golfers who didn't want to be there because of the weather but turned up just for the appearance money. And to top it all Sky had a number of differnt descriptions of where The Grove actually was, for example: Chandlers Cross or Hertfordshire. They just couldn't bring themselves to say it was in Watford!

 

[freddielong]

Tiger is the one of the few golfers I enjoy watching on the USPGA all this middle of the fairway middle of the green gets a bit tedious, Tiger is one of the few that has a bit of Seve about him, although I quite like the two Argie's Cabrera and Romero.