If you’re going to be on TV, then you better look the part.
While golf course superintendents realize that perfection is not possible, they don’t like it when they see something that can be improved without much effort or cause. That is why, for televised golf events, host superintendents will venture into the production truck for a run through on all of the camera angles to make sure the presentation is as desired.
On the eve of the Ryder Cup, Medinah CC's director of golf course operations Curtis Tyrrell, CGCS, MG, got more than he bargained for when he joined NBC producer Tommy Roy and staff. With the various announcers on headset, Roy and staff went through the various camera positions on the course. As Tyrrell dutifully took notes, a running dialogue with Roy, ESPN analyst Curtis Strange, ESPN host Mike Tirico and NBC host Dan Hicks evolved on the various aspects of course set-up and maintenance. Suddenly, Tyrrell was on a headset and offering running commentary throughout the 30-minute session as more than 30 monitors switched from shot to shot.
In fact, his voice was so prevalent that Hicks, using an overstated announcing voice, boomed: “Okay, let’s go to the booth where Curtis Tyrrell brings you the action.” Discussion included rough height, green speed, heat, drought, Sergio’s tree, Davis Love’s course-set up ideas, tree management and a few other items.
“That was cool,” Tyrrell said as he departed the truck and went back to his day job. “I could get into doing that. It was interesting to see how it came together. The questions were great, too. You could tell they had an interest in what we were doing.”
— Jeff Bollig, GCSAA senior director of communications
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