Comments on Grouchy Golf Blog: Augusta National - One of Golf's Axis of Evil?

I've always thought the Masters is a bit of a ...

2011-10-14T16:30:44.754-07:00

I've always thought the Masters is a bit of a joke for many of the reasons already stated. In fact, I don't even see it as a Major, it's just too ridiculous.

AL

The worst part of CBS coverage of the Masters is t...

2011-04-01T08:01:38.287-07:00

The worst part of CBS coverage of the Masters is the syrupy, sentimental background music. Gag me with a spoon. I notice that the Golf Channel or whoever it is doing the first two days gets the music thing right. That's about my only complaint, though the too obvious elitism is also a little hard to take

But I want the Masters to stay "hi-falootin." Did...

2008-03-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

But I want the Masters to stay "hi-falootin." Didn't anyone else grow up with dreams that someday they'd play courses like Augusta? - with perfect greens, blooming shrubs, whispering pines, sun glinting through the trees, as your crisp 7-iron arcs over Ray's Creek...... This was something to dream about, but it was real. A golf heaven to hope for as I played Hill n' Dale Par 3 because that's all I could afford.

Well, I for one wish they'd keep it as it is.
However, finding a more likable representative than Hootie would be a plus. Though I'd suffer a thousand hooties if they'd just get rid of the know-nothing hair-brained Clampet, and the know-everything hair-less Kostis. I've taken to simply muting the TV when they start speaking, because they annoy me so much with their inane commentary. Both exert maximum effort to "sound" smart, and this works as well as when someone "tries" to be funny. And they're wrong, about nearly everything they say - every analysis, every green read (despite sitting in the same booth all day, watching the same putts), every everything. Good NIGHT! They're awful. With all the washed-up has-beens out there, surely CBS can find two others out there whose egos don't taint EVERYTHING they say.... surely...? CBS??

What a fantastic post. Listening to Hootie announ...

2007-09-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic post. Listening to Hootie announce the "Toonament" was annoying to me. Pompous comes to mind.

Sure, The Masters is one of the majors and a beautiful track, full of tradition. However, I alwasy get the feeling they think they are bigger than the game. No golf tournament is bigger than the game....period.

With respect to commentators, I love David, but can tire of Gary. Both have their niche. Lanny Wadkins....thank goodness she is gone. My 96 year old gramma complains less than Lanny and is way more positive. Jim Nantz is tolerable. My fav is Mike Tirico.

i don't even wanna ask how you know that you're a ...

2007-04-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

i don't even wanna ask how you know that you're a size 4 at ann taylor's... maybe don imus and gary mccord are the same person?!?! they probably bikini-wax those nappy-headed holes!!
-jamie

It was a 63 at Oakmont, and at least it's better t...

2006-10-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

It was a 63 at Oakmont, and at least it's better than listening to Lanny Wadkins drone on about his respectable-yet-unnoteworthy career.

I like "Masters Moments" the best. I never get si...

2006-09-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

I like "Masters Moments" the best. I never get sick of the 86 Master's highlights. Any real golf fan wouldn't. It doesn't really matter who broadcasts the Masters because you can't really mess it up. There is so much history and so many highlights they could go on for hours with extra stuff. How long have they been using that same music everytime they come back from commercial or when they're showing the leaderboard? Maybe they could change that up a little. I'm also wondering why in the hell they didn't show Tiger Woods's second shots into the par 5's this April? What was up with that? He was in contention and was going for it on Par 5s on the back 9. Did Augusta tell CBS not to show it? You know they did. There is no way in hell CBS would show Mike Wier's chip on a par 4 instead of Tiger Woods's second shot to the Par 5's on the back 9 (second 9!) without some sort of outside influence. Anyway...let's just hope and pray NBS never gets the rights because then every April of every year we get to hear johnny Miller talk about his 61 at Oakmont.

Great site and blogs!Mixed emotions here.....the g...

2006-02-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

Great site and blogs!

Mixed emotions here.....the growth of golf has skyrocket in recent years, no doubt due mostly to Tiger. With that growth comes a much more diverse group of fans or "patrons" that has, at times, started to get a little loud or out of hand at some events (the Ryder Cup has been plagued by this in recent years). I thnk what the people at AN are trying to do is offer an event that maintains the reverence that once was. Are they going overboard? Maybe, but it gives everyone a more insightful look at golf, it's history and the games personality as it once was.

Phantom

First off, great site and blog. Mixed emotions her...

2006-02-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

First off, great site and blog.

Mixed emotions here....golf has grown in recent years many times over what it had in the past, mostly, of course, due to Tiger.
With that growth comes a great deal more diversity in the individuals that play. Some crowds have become rowdy and overbearing (many problems at recent Ryder Cups) and, in my opinion, many of the "patrons" of other events have become too loud and boisterous. I think what the people at the Masters are trying to do is maintain the reverence of the game that is in jeopardy of going away. Are they a little overboard?...Probably, but I see it as a measure taken in the right direction. The Masters is the one tournament each year that gives us a look at how things once were, a look at another aspect of the game and its personality that many are not familiar with.

Thaks for the opportunity to read and reply here.

Phantom

Juantex,You sound like a true golf nut!Thanks for ...

2006-01-03T22:08:00.000-08:00

Juantex,

You sound like a true golf nut!

Thanks for reading and commenting. I really do appreciate it. I hope to write some stuff in the future to keep you coming back!

Juantex back. Boy, life is one big paradox. I was ...

2006-01-03T20:54:00.000-08:00

Juantex back. Boy, life is one big paradox. I was an undergrad at NM A&M, grad school at Southern Cal, kids at North Texas and UT Dallas.

So who to root for? I prefer any number of teams before the Horns. As long as the sun rises on Thursday, and I get in my nine holes after work each day, life is good, and whoever walks away as Nat'l Champs I'll live with it.

I believe there's a little to-do in Hawaii this weekend. I'll watch that with much more fervor.

Juantex

Hey Juantex,Thanks for the comments. There's quit...

2006-01-02T22:16:00.000-08:00

Hey Juantex,

Thanks for the comments. There's quite a number of Texans around here gettin' ready for the Rose Bowl. It should be a great game.

I had tickets, but I couldn't resist selling them on eBay!

Lessee now. Yup, I'm a Texan. Naw, no democrats in...

2006-01-02T20:04:00.000-08:00

Lessee now.

Yup, I'm a Texan. Naw, no democrats in this house. Insecure? Maybe... I'll ask my wife (if she ever comes back home).

Anyway, it was a nice article, a good rehash of many things I've heard before, and, yes, some new accusations, uh... revelations.

Love the Masters (golf), tired of the Cabin-fever interviews, appreciate the general lack of commercials, and have managed to cope with McC's absence without having a breakdown.

I stumbled on to your site a day or so ago. Think I'll stay around awhile. From one who will tee it up just about anyplace there's a hole in the ground, keep up the great work. Very enjoyable.

Juantex

this is some great dialog. Thank god for stuffy r...

2005-06-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

this is some great dialog. Thank god for stuffy rich old southern farts and nitwits like gary mccord - they make life more interesting.

i just wish the "augusta whipped" golf pros would band together and serve hootie and his anal retentive croonies a shitburger sandwich at next year's dinner! now that would be a great news story.

I watched the USA golf coverage last week and thru...

2005-04-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

I watched the USA golf coverage last week and thru the first 20 minutes, I think I saw 2 golf shots, 10 commercials, the leaderboard 20 times, the lighthouse 15 times and 4 interviews. We need to start the crusade.....Please watch the golf channel do a tournament on the weekends.........all they do is show golf shots. They don't have 10 announcers on the course annoying the hell out of us.

You guys amaze me. The fact that Gary McCord can'...

2005-04-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

You guys amaze me. The fact that Gary McCord can't say a goddamn thing without it being amusing is about as annoying as CBS's golf coverage. These announcers think it's more about them then the viewers watching golf shots. If I have to watch the Masters one more time with Jack Nicklaus memories, I'm going to puke. I can't stand listening to Jim Nantz talk about this guy like he's the next coming of Christ....SHUT_UP and show golf shots

ddd

2005-04-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

ddd

Jack,Of course Augusta can "do whatever the heck t...

2005-04-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

Jack,

Of course Augusta can "do whatever the heck they want" and I have no problem with that. Just like the Soup Nazi can can "do whatever the heck" he wants since he owns his own business.

But how boring would it be if Seinfeld couldn't comment on the Soup Nazi's ridiculous rules?

Can someone please help Jack find a sense of humor? He really needs one...

"Let me guess, you are a democrat?" Let me guess,...

2005-04-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

"Let me guess, you are a democrat?"

Let me guess, you are from Texas? Because only there would someone be so politically insecure to infer someone's party affiliation from a golf blog.

"It seems to me like another rant of a marxist..."

Wow, that's a lot to infer from an article about a golf course. Seems as if you're the one bringing politics into the conversation.

"It is people like you that need to get out of your fantasy land and enter real life."

It is people like you guys that need to get a sense of humor.

You guys are definately nit-picking. I don't see ...

2005-04-11T00:53:00.000-07:00

You guys are definately nit-picking. I don't see a problem with Augusta National wanting to make the course look good on TV. Why wouldn't they want their course to look pleasing in the national spotlight? Green wrappers for the sandwhiches? That sounds like a pretty good idea. The course looks nicer when it doesn't appear to be crud infested.

It seems to me that most of you just want to hammer AN because you will never get into the club. As a private club, they should be allowed to pick and choose who they want to admit. If they only want the best people, then they should only allow those they see fit. If they don't want women, who cares? How many women would REALLY be interested in joining anyway? And besides, I don't see men protesting outside of Curves because they don't allow male members.

It seems to me like another rant of a marxist who can't handle the fact that there are places he can't join, and is overly concerned with "equality", but turns a blind eye to reverse-discrimination. It is people like you that need to get out of your fantasy land and enter real life.

Just stick to talking golf... not politics.

Come on. Your post was ridiculous. Let me guess,...

2005-04-10T17:51:00.000-07:00

Come on. Your post was ridiculous.

Let me guess, you are a democrat?
Augusta National can do whatever the heck they want. They are a private organization. Kim Jung Il? Hahaha......get a grip.

Jack

you know what's great? A man gets fired for sayin...

2005-04-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

you know what's great? A man gets fired for saying something looks "bikini waxed" but isn't that fun? I mean most of us enjoy a little sexual humor, why not? It's just another example of people repressing what's actually entertaining on TV.

Great rant.During this "Toonament" I am wondering ...

2005-04-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

Great rant.

During this "Toonament" I am wondering about the course itself. Sure, it's pretty on TV (can't wait to watch it in HD today), but doesn't it seem like there is quite a bit of "fakeness" to it? The green wrappers are news to me, but are more of what I'm getting at. It's the blue-dyed water, the spray-painted grass and the pumps under the greens that make me wonder what the players really think about it.

Heaven forbid a player ever spoke out about it, but seeing the way the greens have treated some players has to make me believe that some think it's a joke, and not real golf.

I also wonder what the course plays like the rest of the year? What does the average elitest southern-state senator shoot on a course like that? 150? 200? Or do the greens get shaggy so he can save double-bogey?

Got to disagree somewhat with you and the comments...

2005-04-07T03:39:00.000-07:00

Got to disagree somewhat with you and the comments above. Evidence suggest that AN knows how to present a major golf tournement. It is revered by professional golfers around the world. It is the most difficult ticket for a fan to get (and thats for a practice round). TV ratings are through the roof, and, of course, when Tigers in the lead there to the moon.

As far as Feherty and McCord are concern, its a matter of taste. I think Feherty occassionaly is funny and does a much better job when McCord is no where in sight. McCord is just silly-stupid and IMHO stinks as an announcer,

Finally, while we might disagree about AN and their presentation of the Masters. let me say that I'm glad you put up a blog about golf and I plan to stop by often.

Hit it where you can find it, BB

I too am bummed that McCord and Feherty don't do t...

2005-04-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

I too am bummed that McCord and Feherty don't do the Masters gig. Augusta, with it's amazingly sloped and extremely fast greens would give plenty of ammo for those great annoucer's guns.

There is another course that is highly exclusive and does not allow women. I played it and have some stories to tell....

Mediaguru @ https://hookedongolf.blogspot.com