By GameDayDog        

GolfWRX Contributor             

I love golf. I love writing about golf. I love playing golf. I watch slow motion golf swings on the internet. I love the golf channel. I love following my favorite players on the leaderboards. One thing that is losing its appeal to me is watching golf. Maybe golf will be better to watch during the Masters tournament, if I obtain a 3D television, but I doubt it. With the exception of Chris Berman during last years U.S. Open, the announcers never mattered much to me.

What I started to notice was the growing amount of television air time being devoted to putting. Every golfer has heard the phrase “drive for show, putt for dough,” but unless the putt goes in the hole from 300 feet and breaks 13 ways, I begin to lose interest in the broadcast.  Admit it — when was the last time you searched you-tube to view someone draining a 4-foot putt? Yeah, that’s what I thought. My goal isn’t to eliminate putting from television broadcasts, just limit them. Putts that give someone the lead or ties them for the lead should be shown, as well as those on the final green by those in contention. That would be tolerable.

What would I prefer golf television broadcasts to consist of? After my last paragraph, the safe answer is probably everything except mundane putts. I would like to see slow motion golf swing replays of golfers hitting driver. Take time to illustrate how the golfer hit a draw or a fade and how can I incorporate that into my game. To go a step further, give side by side golfer comparisons of both players hitting a draw or fade.

The game isn’t just about the big stick, so I would like them to show more approach shots. Broadcasters can illustrate the differences in a golfer’s ball position or swing when they use a fairway wood or iron when compared to their driver. I believe the vast majority of us enjoy seeing approach shots that end up within a few feet of the flagstick. The shot can land a mile from the flagstick and still be shown on television if it has enough spin to back up at least six feet.

I think golf shots that go extremely out of bounds or into water must be televised and replayed 10 times per broadcast. The average golfer that loses four balls per round should get reminded that the professionals hit bad shots too. Television broadcasts should also include both good and bad fairway and greenside bunker shots. Bonus points get awarded if the shot is replayed in super slow motion.

Finally, I would be interested in hearing more of the course management aspect of the golfer’s round and how we, the viewers, can apply the thoughts to properly navigate golf courses.  Sure the goal is to bomb it off the tee, then stick an eight iron within four inches and tap in for birdie. Unfortunately it doesn’t work out like that for the weekend golfer. Take a moment to discuss what the course designer was doing with the hole. The slope of the fairway isn’t always obvious on television — and yes, I’m viewing it in high definition. Hopefully the announcers can go into more detail about — why — the players are hitting golf balls to a certain landing area.

Broadcasters may need to insert a golf instructor in the booth to discuss swing details during golf tournaments. That shouldn’t be a problem since plenty of them travel with or meet professionals at tournaments to fine tune things on the range. Consider it a way to promote their swing thoughts and sell their instructional products and training aids. Overall, the golf tournament may become more of an instructional aid to the weekend golfer, which would attract more viewers — especially if the household names aren’t playing.

Currently, golf tournaments aren’t must see television for me. If we can all pick up instructional suggestions that would improve our golf game, every tournament may get viewed and recorded on the DVR.

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