US Open at Chambers Bay

FL4WL3SS

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Reflecting back on Fox's broadcast, I actually thought they did a few things really well and hope they build on it for the future.
 
  • They caught and replayed a lot of player and caddie banter, which, to me, is fascinating. I'm sure NBC and CBS catch a lot of the same on-course banter, but rarely play it. Fox was on point.
  • Their execution of shot tracker was spot on. They had it on a lot of holes and from angles that we normally look at when playing golf.
  • It seemed like they had less commercials than other golf broadcasts, but I can't prove this out.
  • Willingness to try new technology (like the shadowing on the greens). Even if it wasn't perfect, I'd like to see more of the technological advancements in the future.
  • Corey Pavin and David Fay were great for the broadcast
  • I like the use of the drones in some cases and would like to see more creative ways to use them
I think we've read enough of the complaints in this thread about the overall broadcast, which were justified. Joe Buck sucks and the camera work left a lot to be desired (zooming in on a golf ball after every tee shot is worthless). The first day they left the leaderboard in the lower right of the screen, but never had player stats up when they completed a hole or were stepping up to a shot - they rectified this after day 1 and it was nice.
 
I hate Fox Sports as much as the next guy, but I thought they did a lot of things right that they can build from. Hopefully they go in the right direction.
 

johnmd20

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The player and caddie banter was great. Also, the final 90 minutes were played without commercials but I don't think it was light on commercials outside of that. The announcers, as a whole however, were horrible. Pavin wasn't great.
 
It was a terrible broadcast but it was their first major one. It figured to be lousy. They need to learn and build.
 

Number45forever

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Outside of Norman's unabashed rooting for Jason Day, I thought he and Joe Buck were OK.  I'm not Joe Buck fan, but he seemed to do a good job considering it was their first US Open.  That said, Pavin, Flesch and whoever else they had were all awful.  Pavin is maybe the most boring person ever given a microphone.  David Fey is great, I think.
 
The visual aspects of the broadcast were great though.  Shot tracer a lot...even on non tee-shots, which you rarely see on other networks.  The green shading thing was pretty cool too.  If we get to a a world where every full swing gets shot tracer, that'd be fine with me.
 

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)

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When they had dialogue between Norman and Joe Buck from their desk (and the four person panel at the end), Norman was awful.  But when he was just talking about golf and shots there were played I thought he was pretty good.  I think Faxon was really good as well.  There were quite a few times where Faxon and Norman were just talking about golf and that two of them were great together.  I guess I'm saying that Norman was good when he was just naturally reacting and talking about golf, but failed when it was forced commentary.
 

Corsi

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Did FOX ever really use their on-course reporters?  I think I heard Julie Inkster once and Natalie Gulbis was out of breath every time they brought her on.  I love the Feherty/Kostis spots on CBS, where they'll be right down by the green and will whisper "This is a slippery downhill put and I expect it to break a few inches to the left."
 
I felt like we didn't get any of that from the FOX broadcast.
 

cshea

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I wonder how much of the announces sucking is due to us being so conditioned to the CBS and NBC crews. I mean, Faldo is the newest voice and he's been with CBS for almost 10 years now. Those channels change on-course announces here and there but Maltbie, Feherty and others have been doing this for close to 30 years now. We're accustomed to them, and they're experienced and good at their job. We haven't had a wholesale new broadcast crew like this in forever.
 

HoyaSoxa

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What would it take to reanimate Bob Rosburg?
 
Seriously, Fox will improve, but it would probably help if they poached a bit from the ESPN after they are done with The Open this year, or at least used some of their pro broadcasters to pitch in beside Buck: Chris Myers, Tim Brando, Thom Brennaman, Kevin Burkhardt. At least next year Rob Stone should be available with no major FIFA event to cover. Also, someone with a sense of humor would be nice - maybe McCord is sick of being banned at Augusta? 
 

Comfortably Lomb

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The need dedicated golf announcers who are former tour players. That's Joe Buck's biggest problem (other than being insufferable). He isn't qualified.

Pretty much everyone watching that broadcast plays the game and has an opinion based on having some idea of what's going on out there. People of a higher knowledge and skill base have to be talking otherwise they're bringing nothing to the table.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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Comfortably Lomb said:
The need dedicated golf announcers who are former tour players. That's Joe Buck's biggest problem (other than being insufferable). He isn't qualified.

Pretty much everyone watching that broadcast plays the game and has an opinion based on having some idea of what's going on out there. People of a higher knowledge and skill base have to be talking otherwise they're bringing nothing to the table.
How is Buck any different than Nantz or Gannon or Hicks or Tirico or Summerall, etc?  The lead guy isn't a former tour player.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Corsi said:
Did FOX ever really use their on-course reporters?  I think I heard Julie Inkster once and Natalie Gulbis was out of breath every time they brought her on.  I love the Feherty/Kostis spots on CBS, where they'll be right down by the green and will whisper "This is a slippery downhill put and I expect it to break a few inches to the left."
 
I felt like we didn't get any of that from the FOX broadcast.
 
Pavin was on course and I believe Faxon was splitting time between on course and the booth, or at least it sounded like it at times. 
 
Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:
How is Buck any different than Nantz or Gannon or Hicks or Tirico or Summerall, etc?  The lead guy isn't a former tour player.
 
Or Henry Longhurst, or Ben Wright, or Pat Summerall, or Jim McKay, or Jack Whitaker, or Vin Scully, or Dick Enberg - all of whom ranged between "pretty decent" and "pretty damn outstanding" at golf commentary, if you want to get all historical. Or Verne freaking Lundquist - "Maybe...yes sir!!!" is still my single favorite piece of golf commentary of all time.
 
By the by - and with the caveat that I'm based in the UK and haven't heard more than a few snippets of Fox's commentary - Geoff Shackelford (with a hat tip to Chris Chase of USA Today) absolutely ripped the USGA into pieces yesterday over its deal with Fox:
 
http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2015/6/23/falling-out-of-a-tree-and-crushing-the-us-open-brand.html