Golf Channel's Social Media Experiment needs tweaking.

Nationwide Tour

Some golf fans enjoyed Golf Channel's social media "experiment" on Saturday while others claimed that the format just "did not work" but one thing is for sure; kudos go out for trying!

Golf Channel's Twitter acknowledgment that their announcer-lite format might need work, "Don't worry we have announcers today," was merely a response to angry viewer commentary on the Q and A forum. Sound issues from mic noise and the lack of narration from the broadcasters actually detracted from the Nationwide Tour's Boise Open.


Here are a few fan complaints about the Golf Channel announcer-lite Satuday:


Mark Boyd Said on 09/18/2010, at 6:18 PM EST

“This simply does NOT work!! Should have learned after the NFL tried this tears ago - didn't work for them either!!!!”

albegolfin Said on 09/18/2010, at 6:15 PM EST

“we watch golf every weekend. Commentary free golf is "for the birds". As I timed it, we only get to see about three golf shots and then a whole bunch of commercials. As the cook of the family, I cannot go to the kitchen and listen to what I am missing. When a shot lands on the fairway, we have no information about yardage or obstacles in the players way. Are the players really this quiet in reality? We won't be watching any more of these. PS We do agree with the Johnny Miller comment. We have been muting him for years. ”

bigbwana1 Said on 09/18/2010, at 6:13 PM EST

“No comentary! Who had this bright idea? If I wanted just to watch the golf, I would mute the TV. I especially like to hear what each shot is likely to accomplish, given the condition of the lie, elevation to the green, the slope of the putting surface etc. PLEASE bring it back to normal!!!!!”

In all fairness, some golf fans thought the announcer-lite format worked well:

Shizzle Said on 09/18/2010, at 6:04 PM EST

“Hi Jerry and Curt, I like the format today. It's nice to hear the players thoughts and when they are joking around it's like they are human, not just superhuman! So, can you tell me which player on the Nationwide Tour is the practical joker?? Hunter seems funny... Thanks, Kirk Carter, Elk Grove, CA ”

boardsnower Said on 09/18/2010, at 5:51 PM EST

“This no annoucer format is GREAT! Nothing against Kurt and Bryan but this is how golf was meant to be watched. PLEASE, PLEASE continue with this format more often!!”

As with most new ideas, Golf Channel probably went a bit overboard with this one but perhaps a bit of tweaking will improve this "announcer-lite" format in time for the 2011 PGA Tour season.


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Nationwide Tour

Nationwide Tour
United States

he Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School (the main tour's qualifying tournament, popularly referred to as "Q-School") to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level. Those who are on the top 25 of the money list at year's end are given PGA Tour memberships for the next season.

South Georgia Classic

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Match scheduled:
Start: 25-04-2010 from 23:00 until 01:30(GMT)
Day 4 - Final Day :: South Georgie Classic Presented by First State Bank and Trust Company :: Kinderlou Forest Golf Club :: Valdosta, Georgia, USA

Live Golf Nationwide Tour Live Fresh Express Classic 2010 Online Streaming On PC

Nationwide Tour

Nationwide Tour
United States

he Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School (the main tour's qualifying tournament, popularly referred to as "Q-School") to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level. Those who are on the top 25 of the money list at year's end are given PGA Tour memberships for the next season.

Fresh Express Classic 2010

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Match scheduled:
Start: 17-04-2010 from 22:30 until 01:30
Day 3 :: Nationwide Tour 2010 - TPC Stonebrae :: Hayward, Calfornia, USA



Jerry Rice had trouble sleeping Thursday night. He struggled mightily in his Nationwide Tour debut earlier that day, and he was eager to take another crack at the hilly TPC Stonebrae course in Hayward.

"I woke up at 2 staring at the clock," Rice said Friday. "I couldn't wait for the sun to rise. I had to get out here and redeem myself."

He achieved his goal, in many ways, by posting 5-over-par 76 in the second round of the Fresh Express Classic. That didn't prevent him from missing the cut by a country mile, but it provided some satisfaction - he pocketed three birdies and 10 pars and improved on his opening-round 83 by seven strokes.

Rice soon will get another chance on the Nationwide Tour. His manager, Sasha Taylor, told The Chronicle that Rice has agreed to play in the Nationwide event in South Carolina (May 13-16) on another sponsor exemption.

He also expressed interest in returning as tournament host - while also playing - when the tour returns to Stonebrae next year.

So, no, Rice was not deterred by going 17-over in his inaugural whirl on a professional tour. He entered the event with realistic expectations, knowing tournament conditions would make scoring difficult.

"I'm just going to continue working at it - this is a game you have to work at every day," Rice said. "... I had to fight my way back, but I'm very happy about shooting 76."

Rice regretted changing his swing (and his putter) before Thursday's opening round; he wanted more distance off the tee, but the tinkering led to several wayward shots. He returned to his old ways Friday, with better results.

David Hearn, a 30-year-old Canadian who attended the University of Wyoming, took the lead by shooting 65 on Friday. He moved to 13-under, two shots ahead of Miguel Angel Carballo and Frank Lickliter after two rounds.

A grueling Masters finally caught up to K.J. Choi on Friday at the Verizon Heritage — and Jim Furyk, Charles Howell III and Greg Owen took advantage to top the second-round leaderboard in the PGA Tour event.

Furyk (68), Howell (67) and Owen (69) were tied at 7-under-par 135, a stroke ahead of a group that included two-time Verizon champion Boo Weekley (68) and Stuart Appleby (67).

Choi, who played alongside top-ranked Tiger Woods all four rounds at Augusta National, opened with a 64 Thursday at Harbour Town Golf Links. After a second-round 74, Choi was tied for 22nd place at 138.

"Yeah, the fatigue is setting in right now," said Choi, who tied for fourth with Woods on Sunday at the Masters. "But no excuses today. I had a tough time reading the greens."

Furyk didn't have Choi's problem entering this tournament. "I didn't play enough to get tired," he said of the Masters.

The world's sixth-ranked player missed the Masters' cut for the second time in 14 appearances. Furyk wasn't happy with the early exit. But instead of dwelling on it, he enjoyed what was left of Masters festivities.

He stayed late at a Friday-night party with friends and sponsors. He drove to Myrtle Beach with his wife, Tabitha, for a "Monday After the Masters" outing put on each year by Hootie and the Blowfish, including a concert by the group.