NBC's coverage is godawful

[Mr.Cleeks]

2 hours ago, OBbogey5 said:

How many desk people does NBC need??? So much fat to trim. Can’t keep Kizz. I don’t want to s*** on the guy, but really..? Who at NBC was behind this. He says nothing. He’s won nothing. It’s absurd. Maybe, maybe, If he became a whisky drunkard that chugged cigars all day.. but it would probably still look and sound like the only in Tom Sawyer’s class that turns in his homework. A manly man, Kizz izz not.
 

Of the current talent, put Faxon and McGinley (if he’d take it) next to Hicks (I guess) and cut the crap out with the rotating voices that all sound the same. 

As Soon as I hear Tirico take over I know what’s coming: pointless, meaningless stat graphics that wedge big fat company ads into the flow of playing coverage. What a turn off.

 

The camera shots are ancient and schizo. Perfect camera of Li pitching on #5, and instead of staying with the shot, which could’ve looked awesome with the blue water/sky and Irish green tiered putting surface—pin up on top—it wa age same old same old cut away to a extreme close up of the ball rolling back to almost his feet. Could’ve caught the pitch in its entirety in same shot. Completely uncreative. 

You hit the nail on the head. NBC has so many people, too many cooks in the kitchen. With CBS they have Dottie/Colt on the course, and then Nobilo/IBF in the towers plus Nantz/Trevor in the booth. It’s just so much more organized and CBS’s camera work is head and shoulders above NBC. I remember watching the Rocket a few weeks ago and even that felt elevated to me with how they covered it.

[scotts33]

If we're talking great golf announcers we have to g back to the ages of Peter Alliss, Verne Lundquist, no one can beat the old CBS team of color Ken Venturi and  play by play Pat Summerall.  Nantz's "hello friends" shtick is getting old he is as much a story teller as Tirico.  Immelman and Faldo OK nothing great.  

 

The best on course was Bob Rosburg who invented the on course role.  Judy Rankin was good.  Rosburg and Johnny Miller would say what needs to be said the others are very much sanitized.   

 

I switched to watch the Sky Sports feed on Peacock when Damon Hack and whoever was with him can't stand his "World #1" statements every other sentence.  That has to be the most over used phase in golf.  

 

I think NBC brought on Smylie Kaufman and Kevin Kizner is to interject some young blood.  Colt the same thing (youth) perspective for CBS.  Dottie is over the hill.  I still like Andy North when given the chance.  

 

We're lucky that Fox gave up golf we might be forced to hear Joe Buck!  Ugh!!!  Consider us lucky as golf fans.  lol

[braincramp52]

I don't normally crap on networks and announcers (except Curtis Strange) too much because I know doing golf coverage is tough but,  NBC could do a lot to improve their coverage to say the least. They aren't even on the same planet as Sky sports.

[Ferguson]

55 minutes ago, braincramp52 said:

I don't normally crap on networks and announcers (except Curtis Strange) too much because I know doing golf coverage is tough but,  NBC could do a lot to improve their coverage to say the least. They aren't even on the same planet as Sky sports.

 

Curtis - same lines every tournament. 

 

1. Golf takes time and practice. 

2. Winning is about scoring. 

3. I like to warm up with drivah. 

[Holy Moses]

Kisner isn’t bad, but not great either. That’s why NBC has Faxon on also. Kisner doesn’t seem to jump right in and there’s often a little dead air when he should be saying something. That will come with time. He does seem to be a little too buddy-buddy with a few players which hurts his credibility. See his comments on blaming Oakmont and the USGA for Clark's locker room bashing. 

[Mr.Cleeks]

1 hour ago, Holy Moses said:

Kisner isn’t bad, but not great either. That’s why NBC has Faxon on also. Kisner doesn’t seem to jump right in and there’s often a little dead air when he should be saying something. That will come with time. He does seem to be a little too buddy-buddy with a few players which hurts his credibility. See his comments on blaming Oakmont and the USGA for Clark's locker room bashing. 

I actually really like NBC's on course reporters. John Wood, Bones, and Smylie are all really good at their job. They've too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to the booth, but my biggest issue is the actual production of the broadcast. I was so pumped about Portrush after watching a lot of the youtube content (see video below) but NBC failed to capture any architectural nuance or the intricacies of Portrush.

 

 

[OBbogey5]

1 hour ago, Mr.Cleeks said:

I actually really like NBC's on course reporters. John Wood, Bones, and Smylie are all really good at their job. They've too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to the booth, but my biggest issue is the actual production of the broadcast. I was so pumped about Portrush after watching a lot of the youtube content (see video below) but NBC failed to capture any architectural nuance or the intricacies of Portrush.

 

 

I also like those three on-the-course pros. Boots on the ground steals my heart and soul every time. My only gripe is that they all sound so similar (again.. whiskey.. they need their own voices! Dottie, Roger, Rossy, Feherty.. I recognize instantly). Hope NBC doesn’t get smart and throw out there a tee-box-reporter; a fairway-reporter; a pitching-reporter; a bunker-reporter; a chopping-reporter; a putting-reporter; a player-dips-under-the-rope-and-takes-a-free-drop-because-of-a-bee-reporter.. for the Rory group. All with the exact same voice timber. 
 

You wanna see bad production. When Golf Channel presents the LPGA, the production is no better than kids play. It’s sad, and depressing what they think they’re doing over there. 

[subrew]

If Peacock didn't have the SKY coverage as an available option to stream, I simply wouldn't have watched any of The Open.  Before the SKY coverage I turned on the main NBC feed.  It immediately went to commercial break, which lasted 3 minutes.  Then they showed 5 minutes of golf, 2 of which consisted of scenic vistas and showing players walking.  Then 3 minutes of commercials.  Then a 60 second promo for other NBC shows, then 3 minutes of announcers sitting in a booth.  I'm just not watching that garbage, no matter how good the golf could have been. 

 

Instead of 20 different companies buying 30-second ad spots that run through the day, they need to have each of those 20 companies sponsor a 30 minute commercial free segment.  Have their logo on the screen, let Dan Hicks say:

 

"As a reminder this 30 minute segment brought to you by Helman's Mayonnaise.  It's rich and creamy, like Scotty's footwork."

 

"Wells Fargo is bringing you the next 30 minutes commercial free.  So let's them thank them for that, and try to forget how many millions of people they scammed with illegal fees before getting sued by the department of justice."

 

etc.

Edited July 22 by subrew

[Mr.Cleeks]

1 hour ago, OBbogey5 said:

I also like those three on-the-course pros. Boots on the ground steals my heart and soul every time. My only gripe is that they all sound so similar (again.. whiskey.. they need their own voices! Dottie, Roger, Rossy, Feherty.. I recognize instantly). Hope NBC doesn’t get smart and throw out there a tee-box-reporter; a fairway-reporter; a pitching-reporter; a bunker-reporter; a chopping-reporter; a putting-reporter; a player-dips-under-the-rope-and-takes-a-free-drop-because-of-a-bee-reporter.. for the Rory group. All with the exact same voice timber. 
 

You wanna see bad production. When Golf Channel presents the LPGA, the production is no better than kids play. It’s sad, and depressing what they think they’re doing over there. 

NBC/GC doesn't give 2 hoots about the LPGA but that's not really NBC's problem. For some reason the LPGA thought it would be a good idea to bundle their media rights deal w the PGAT and obviously it wasn't. The LPGAT always takes the backseat to any tour associated with the PGAT (KFT, Champions Tour etc)

[kwcsports]

Dan Hicks- please RETIRE!!!!!

[islesmb]

34 minutes ago, kwcsports said:

Dan Hicks- please RETIRE!!!!!

I thought I was the only one who didn't care for him. lol

[StoutKing]

47 minutes ago, kwcsports said:

Dan Hicks- please RETIRE!!!!!

I like Dan Hicks, but he was better with Johnny.

[FriedEgg]

1 hour ago, kwcsports said:

Dan Hicks- please RETIRE!!!!!

 

And take Tirico with you

[Titleist99]

Dan Hicks and Mike Tirico, two of the best in the business.

 

IMO

[Holy Moses]

23 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

Dan Hicks and Mike Tirico, two of the best in the business.

 

IMO

I agree. They are not the problems with NBC’s broadcast.

[Duct Tape]

My personal summary after reading this thread and multiple comments in numerous others - 

 

There are no TV or on course talking heads that most of us, or even a simple majority, like. 
 

🤓🤪🏌🏼‍♀️

 

PS.  Not personally immune. I’ve made several comments about Jim Nantz in the past. 

[grm24]

Not NBC related but one WRX whipping boy is retiring from CBS next week after the Wyndham. Ian Baker Finch is hanging it up. Will make many of the perpetual WRX announcer whiners here happy. 

 

Golfweek and others have stories on it.

Edited July 22 by grm24

[Holy Moses]

23 minutes ago, grm24 said:

Not NBC related but one WRX whipping boy is retiring from CBS next week after the Wyndham. Ian Baker Finch is hanging it up. Will make many of the perpetual WRX announcer whiners here happy. 

 

Golfweek and others have stories on it.

Not going to do one last Masters, huh

[Titleist99]

41 minutes ago, grm24 said:

Not NBC related but one WRX whipping boy is retiring from CBS next week after the Wyndham. Ian Baker Finch is hanging it up. Will make many of the perpetual WRX announcer whiners here happy. 

 LOL!

Golfweek and others have stories on it.

Nah, the whiners won't stop until they get Morgan Pressel fired. lol

[kwcsports]

20 hours ago, StoutKing said:

I like Dan Hicks, but he was better with Johnny.

Johnny was the best. Hicks just says stupid stuff at every turn haha. Also if there is a chance to link anything to Tiger, he's off and running. I wish they would all learn that less is more. Hicks and most of the rest all talk too much IMHO. 

[NV825]

Promote Terry Gannon to be the lead play-by-play, have both Kiz and Faxon be permanent co-analysts, and keep the trio of Bones-JWood-Smylie as on-course reporters.

 

Most importantly, they need to shift their shot angles to be from the ground to give us a better view of the green complexes after NLU shared how glaringly bad it was between the world feed and the US NBC coverage. 

[StoutKing]

18 hours ago, grm24 said:

Not NBC related but one WRX whipping boy is retiring from CBS next week after the Wyndham. Ian Baker Finch is hanging it up. Will make many of the perpetual WRX announcer whiners here happy. 

 

Golfweek and others have stories on it.

IBF.  Incredibly nice man and good announcer.  Will miss him

[ShowMe]

On 7/22/2025 at 3:32 AM, OBbogey5 said:

How many desk people does NBC need??? So much fat to trim. Can’t keep Kizz. I don’t want to s*** on the guy, but really..? Who at NBC was behind this. He says nothing. He’s won nothing. It’s absurd. Maybe, maybe, If he became a whisky drunkard that chugged cigars all day.. but it would probably still look and sound like the only in Tom Sawyer’s class that turns in his homework. A manly man, Kizz izz not.
 

Of the current talent, put Faxon and McGinley (if he’d take it) next to Hicks (I guess) and cut the crap out with the rotating voices that all sound the same. 

As Soon as I hear Tirico take over I know what’s coming: pointless, meaningless stat graphics that wedge big fat company ads into the flow of playing coverage. What a turn off.

 

The camera shots are ancient and schizo. Perfect camera of Li pitching on #5, and instead of staying with the shot, which could’ve looked awesome with the blue water/sky and Irish green tiered putting surface—pin up on top—it wa age same old same old cut away to a extreme close up of the ball rolling back to almost his feet. Could’ve caught the pitch in its entirety in same shot. Completely uncreative. 

 

I'm with you on Kizner.  He adds no value.  Faxon does a much better job of being the analyst.

[ShowMe]

On 7/22/2025 at 7:12 PM, Titleist99 said:

Nah, the whiners won't stop until they get Morgan Pressel fired. lol

 

She is the Paul Azinger of LPGA broadcasting.  The dislike is valid.

[Mr.Cleeks]

On 7/23/2025 at 12:01 PM, kwcsports said:

Johnny was the best. Hicks just says stupid stuff at every turn haha. Also if there is a chance to link anything to Tiger, he's off and running. I wish they would all learn that less is more. Hicks and most of the rest all talk too much IMHO. 

Hicks should just stick to Notre Dame Football and the Olympics. He has no business calling golf

[braincramp52]

A guy like me who has the attention span of a gnat makes listening to golf a lot more fun and less aggravating. 😂

[Titleist99]

7 minutes ago, braincramp52 said:

A guy like me who has the attention span of a gnat makes listening to golf a lot more fun and less aggravating. 😂

 

I find it hard enough concentrating on the golf to concern myself with the chatter and background noise of the commentators. The complainers must have rabbit ears like Collin Mongomery.🤣

[Mr.Cleeks]

On 7/23/2025 at 12:26 PM, NV825 said:

Promote Terry Gannon to be the lead play-by-play, have both Kiz and Faxon be permanent co-analysts, and keep the trio of Bones-JWood-Smylie as on-course reporters.

 

Most importantly, they need to shift their shot angles to be from the ground to give us a better view of the green complexes after NLU shared how glaringly bad it was between the world feed and the US NBC coverage. 

I listened to that NLU pod/watched their Northern Ireland video and NBC butchered the broadcast awfully last week. Portrush is a superior venue to Quail Hollow yet CBS did a way better job showcasing Quail as a venue. 

I'd argue NBC gets some of the best venues given with their golf package but continuously fails to showcase the design nuances. Their best effort is the Players but they do that one every year and it's kind of tough to screw up. They were awful at Pinehurst last year but got bailed out since that was an all-time US Open.

The most infuriating thing is NBC's coverage of every other sport is really good. SNF is far and away the best broadcast in the NFL. I got Peacock for the Olympics last year and it was worth the money.

[Holy Moses]

52 minutes ago, Mr.Cleeks said:

I listened to that NLU pod/watched their Northern Ireland video and NBC butchered the broadcast awfully last week. Portrush is a superior venue to Quail Hollow yet CBS did a way better job showcasing Quail as a venue. 

I'd argue NBC gets some of the best venues given with their golf package but continuously fails to showcase the design nuances. Their best effort is the Players but they do that one every year and it's kind of tough to screw up. They were awful at Pinehurst last year but got bailed out since that was an all-time US Open.

The most infuriating thing is NBC's coverage of every other sport is really good. SNF is far and away the best broadcast in the NFL. I got Peacock for the Olympics last year and it was worth the money.

I wonder if NBC just doesn’t broadcast enough golf compared to CBS to invest in it like they should

[WesternRacing]

On 7/22/2025 at 4:12 PM, Titleist99 said:

Nah, the whiners won't stop until they get Morgan Pressel fired. lol

 

If only. The Scottish Open women’s event was awesome the last two days without her on the tele.  Unreal how much more enjoyable the LPGA is to watch when she’s not doing the broadcast.  I’d raid my retirement fund to contribute to a GoFundMe to get Morgan Pressel off the air.  The LPGA has so many great players and personalities, yet is hamstrung by the worst commentator in golf right now.

 

Edited July 27 by WesternRacing