Opinion: golf commentators say too much
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2025 1:55 pm
Why the perpetual need to tell you while the ball is mid-air where the shot is going to end up? It's like they are just trying to flex their own observational abilities, how they can tell what kind of shot it is just by the strike. This does nothing for the viewer. And actually, it kills a lot of the suspense inherent in watching golf shots hit in competition. All the more so in this age of high definition TV and shot tracing technology.
I wish they would shut up and let the action speak for itself, which golf does quite well. Even for those just watching on tv and who don't play golf, the basic premise is pretty self-explanatory. I was watching the Tour Championship today, and a player left a greenside bunker shot well short of the green and an announcer exclaims "That was a poor shot!" I get that they can't all be gems but wow, what a shitty attempt at broadcasting.
Golf on TV could be so much more dramatic and compelling without all the verbal gang-banging. Scottie Scheffler was making a charge at the lead and on the treacherous par 3 15th, he hits the ball and right away the announcer just has to blurt out that it's headed for the water. Just immediately killing the suspense of the moment. Would have been more fun to just watch the ball in the air, not knowing where it's headed. In the real world there is name for these acts--spoilers, and nobody appreciates them. Jesus Christ facepalm.gif.
I wish they would shut up and let the action speak for itself, which golf does quite well. Even for those just watching on tv and who don't play golf, the basic premise is pretty self-explanatory. I was watching the Tour Championship today, and a player left a greenside bunker shot well short of the green and an announcer exclaims "That was a poor shot!" I get that they can't all be gems but wow, what a shitty attempt at broadcasting.
Golf on TV could be so much more dramatic and compelling without all the verbal gang-banging. Scottie Scheffler was making a charge at the lead and on the treacherous par 3 15th, he hits the ball and right away the announcer just has to blurt out that it's headed for the water. Just immediately killing the suspense of the moment. Would have been more fun to just watch the ball in the air, not knowing where it's headed. In the real world there is name for these acts--spoilers, and nobody appreciates them. Jesus Christ facepalm.gif.