TV Coverage + Architecture

[Matt_Cohn]

If you watched the final round from Dubai, you saw this on the 18th hole. The announcer and cameraman walking with Els + Jimenez did a live report from right next to Els' ball in the fairway while the players walked to their teeshots.

First, with the camera directed back towards the tee, the announcer (who was also in the shot) pointed out the line over the trees Els ball must have taken. Then, the announcer and camera pointed out Jimenez's ball 60 yards back in the fairway. Finally, the camera swung around and we got an exact view of Els' second shot - again, from right next to his ball - explained by the announcer. We even got a close-up of Els' lie in the fairway.

I loved it. It was a great way to understand the hole, and it was fun to be inside the ropes, getting the exact view from the player's perspective.

I don't think I've ever seen a live-from-the-golf-ball report like that before, complete with a helpful announcer, especially from the middle of the fairway, and especially one that highlighted the hole's design so well.

Who else saw and enjoyed (or didn't enjoy) this?

[Rick Shefchik]

I didn't see it, but you can expect to see TV and still cameras working their way closer and closer to the action in golf coverage of the future.

I was surprised how close to Phil Mickelson the NBC cameraman stood when Phil was preparing to drive to the driveable par 4 16th. It looked like Phil could take out the guy's lens with a slightly longer extension on his takeaway.

Then there were the still photographers behind the green on 17, just a couple of feet from where Phil was chipping back to the hole. He had to step away when one of them clicked the shutter before his shot. Immediately after his shot, you could hear all the cameras going off. Apparently the pros are used to that.

I think they're going to have to get used to cameras being even more intrusive in the future.

[JESII]

I think they're going to have to get used to cameras being even more intrusive in the future.

Then they'll all wish they had Stevie Williams on their bag .

Will this end up with steroid testing for caddies?

[David_Tepper]

Matt-

I did see the Dubai tournament on the Golf Channel. The on-course reporter was Ken Brown and I enjoyed his preview of Ernie's situation in the 18th fairway as well. Of course, Els making eagle certainly made it more memorable.

DT  

[Andy Doyle]

During last year's match play at La Costa, Corey Pavin made his debut as a TV analyst and did much the same thing.  He didn't talk that much about the architecture of the hole, but he did talk about the ball's position and lie, and discussed the potential shots that were available to the player.  I thought Pavin did a great job, and the on spot analysis was really interesting.

Andy

[Jerry Kluger]

Nick Faldo appears to be commenting more about architecture than other announcers had in the past and he is not afraid to be critical.

[TEPaul]

It's always amazed me how those tour stars can play with people, cameras, things, almost anything so close to them when they swing. Watch them on the range before teeing off sometimes---they swing within a foot of each other sometimes. It really is something how close people or something can be to them without bothering them. Movement and noise while they're swinging is all they don't put up with.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

Matt -

I thought that the coverage from the 18th Fairway at Dubai added a great deal to the "Look" at the shot that each player was facing.  An immediate cut to a blimp shot or animated eagle eye view would have expanded the explanantion.

Overall, the on-course reporting from the lie in the middle of the fairway was an excellent look that we rarely see in the U.S.

I am sure that we all wish that there was a quick architectural run-down on the course fact sheets beyond the designer/renovator and year, e.g.,

"Seth Raynor designed similar holes at many of his courses.  Those of you who remember the Redan #7 at Shinnecock last year will also see a similar hole here at Wailae's #..."

JWK

[Kyle Harris]

On a more categorical side, did anyone catch Geoff Shackelford on TGC during Riviera?

That's a trend I'd love to see, a brief 5-10 minute interview with a known architectural expert on the architectural merits (if there are any) of the course being played that week.

Kudos to Geoff and The Golf Channel.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

Kyle-

I would like to see more architectural elements/history/explanation, but 5 minutes is an eternity in "TV Time".

Perhaps a short piece once per hour as we head to commercial would do the trick.

JWK

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