JAY
What makes a great golf writer?
I suppose it needs to be fun to read - something that brings the game to life.I loved Curt Sampson's Eternal Summer for that.
Great writers have opinions they justify with sensible,logical argument. I grew up reading Peter Thomson in The Age and he did it brilliantly.He was never scared to argue an unpopular case - e.g against appearance money and the adoption of the American ball, disappointing play by Australians, the poor condition of The Old Course and more.
I think John Huggan is good at that - certainly one of the very few in Europe with an opinion worth reading.
Of course it is impossible to have a worthwhile opinion of you don't know and understand the game.
What makes a great sports broadcaster?
You have to know the game - and the best I have heard is John McEnroe. He did the Australian Open for a few years and never boasted about how good he was - and he understood the mental and physical aspects of what was happening on the court.
I think former players who commentate have to forget they were players and be journalists reporting on what they see without worrying about what the players are saying about them in the locker room.
Cheerleading is no good for anyone - writing or talking.
It's the same with design - the last thing we need are people telling us everything is great.Constructive criticism is the most useful thing of all.