Hooked On Golf Blog

This is part one of two in a series:
Behind The Scenes Of Golf Channel’s Live Coverage On The PGA Tour

Intro

I was looking for some unique stuff to cover while down in Puerto Rico for the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open.   Yes I could write about the same old stuff every other media person would at this event like John Daly, Puerto Rico etc, and I will.   But I wanted to come up with something original and unique.  Something perhaps which people are curious about but haven’t had the chance to satisfy that curiosity.

I walked into the TV compound with cameras in hand and knocked on Golf Channel’s door.  I was a bit nervous and hoped that they would be cool and not tell me to get lost.  After a few seconds I knocked again.  Nobody home.  I knocked on the doors of about four trucks there and there wasn’t anybody in any of them.  Then I heard screaming, laughing and general chaos coming from a tent a few yards away at the end of the compound.  Inside was the whole Golf Channel crew.  They were done for the day, eating lunch, and having a raffle.  I asked who was in charge and they directed me to a guy named Eric.  I introduced myself to Eric while he ate lunch, and told him I’d like to do some “behind the scenes” stuff.  Eric was very nice and said the idea sounded great, but the crew was done for the day so I should come back tomorrow.  I thanked Eric and came back the next day.  I had a terrific time meeting all the Golf Channel crew as well as seeing the amazing gear and work they do.

Compound Overview

At this gig Golf Channel had about five big rigs there.  Two appeared to be where they stored cameras and staged some general logistics.  One was the power source, with generators on board.  Makes sense.  They have to be in control of their power source so that if there’s a local outage their broadcast doesn’t go down.  The two remaining trucks were the real fun ones.  Those two housed the talented members of the production team and the mega cool high tech equipment which collects, edits and broadcasts the program.

Production – where it all comes together

Graphics

Overview of media flow (audio, video, graphics) for Golf Channel’s on course broadcast

The audio and video sources (microphones and cameras) head to engineering.  From engineering the signal is distributed to graphics, audio, tape, live broadcast or wherever the signals need to go.

Graphics, video and audio is edited and/or sent to live broadcast in the production truck.

Live Cameras

All over the course are camera towers with cool cats like my pal Darren running them.  Darren can be seen doing his thing in the first video of this two part series, which is embedded in this post.  The cameras connect to the gut of one of the Golf Channel trucks via thousands of feet fiber optic cable.

Pre-Production

Cables coming into engineering

Engineering

The video signals from the cameras as well as all the on course audio signals route into “engineering” where wiring guru Freddy, another new pal of mine, routes it to the production section.  I interview Freddy in part two / video two of this series.

Graphics – Fiber – Effects

The graphics/fiber/effects section is where replay is done as well as graphic overlays like score tables, stats etc are generated.  Effects microphones which capture audio from the course are in this same truck, next room over.  My buddy John Thompson talks us through this section of the rig in video one, embedded in this post.

Production

The production truck is where it is all put together.  The production truck assembles the content into the live program as well as produces ahead of time, the small vignettes they cut to during the course of a show or breaks in the action.  The director and producer orchestrate the show from here, as seen in my 2nd video in part two of this series.

Engineering and my pal Freddy

Audio Effects

Related Links

All of my behind the scenes Golf Channel images can be found in the HOG TGC Gallery.

Part Two of Behind Golf Channel’s Live Broadcast is coming soon.  I’ll make a hot link here when it is posted.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Media, Golf Videos, Miscellaneous, PGA Tour Golf Channel

I finally got to meet my pals from Tattoo Golf in person at this year’s PGA Show!

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Equipment & Accessories, Golf Accessories, Golf Apparel, Golf Balls, Golf Videos Tattoo Golf

At the PGA Show demo day I walked by a covered booth and saw this guy hitting balls about one per 1-2 seconds via an automated ball dispenser.  He was over three hours into his world record attempt for the most golf balls hit in 12 hours.  He did break the record and ended up with 7721.

Below they’re taking a quick break to tape up the blisters…

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Equipment & Accessories, Golf Balls, Golf Equipment, Golf Media, Golf Videos

I was watching Stina Sternberg at the PGA Show demo day. She was doing some reporting for Golf Channel. She just couldn’t keep her eyes off me. I even have video proof. I think it is love at first sight for Stina…

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Videos, Miscellaneous Golf Channel, PGA Merchandise Show, Stina Sternberg

I apologize but for the life of my I can’t remember this basher of the ball’s name.  He was a long drive clinician in the Bridgestone Golf tent at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show demo day.  I watched him hit a couple of shots.  The ball goes so far and so fast that I lose track of it.  The ball is still ascending when I lose sight of it about 280 out…

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Equipment & Accessories, Golf Clubs, Golf Equipment, Golf Media, Golf Videos Bridgestone Golf

I haven’t typed anything in about 36 hours now. Why? Because my hands have just thawed. I couldn’t wait to get back home from Orlando to Salt Lake. I couldn’t wait to get back to 4200 feet above sea level, 12 degrees farther north in latitude than Orlando FLORIDA so I could WARM up. The big decompression day after my biggest and most exhausting PGA Show ever turned out to be nearly a complete train wreck, except for the fact that I got to spend it with two great pals.

I should have known when we couldn’t find a Starbucks within a 500 mile radius yesterday morning that it was going to be a rough day.

Orlando Golf Blogger and I had a rematch of the now world famous Guru vs Orlando Golf Blogger v1.0. This time we had a 3rd join us, John Duval from Into The Grain.  John can play.  In fact, I think he’s probably the lowest handicap golf blogger on our planet, and possibly several others.

The setting, Falcon’s Fire GC in Orlando

Thanks to our pals at Falcon’s Fire for playing host to this year’s battle.  Unfortunately for us it was so cold and windy we were battling hypothermia, rather than battling the golf course.  The winds were high and the temps down.  After blading three irons on the range, numbing my hands, then hitting two low worm-burners left with my driver, I was ready for play after a two month golf hybernation…  Right.

Time for some excuses

Until yesterday I hadn’t played golf for almost two months.  That is like John Daly going 6 minutes without cracking a beer, Obama going 34 seconds with saying the word “change” and Tiger going three hours without picking up a busty waitress at Perkins…  Oh, did I just go down that road?  My apologies.

On the first hole I hit the fairway with my driver and I was 100% fairways hit for the decade.  That’s as good as it was ever going to get.   That stat would soon vanish, as would many of my shiny Srixons and Bridgestones in my bag.  My confidence as well as my cash faded away as well, as I flamed out in the frozen wind blown tundra of Orlando.

I didn’t manage even one solid iron shot.  It could be because my hands were frozen, or that I hadn’t played golf in weeks, or that I’d just worked my ass (or lack of one, since someone told me at the show that I didn’t have one) off for days at the PGA Show.  It could just be because I’m a hack.

Whining aside…

OGB and Into The Grain are fun cats and I hope to play many holes of golf with them in the future.  I gladly handed my hard earned cash to Dave (OGB) for his triumphant victory, and like a good sport congratulated him on his victory while watching him celebrate.  The taste of defeat is bitter, but a character builder for sure.

16th hole fireworks

Because we were so cold and our scores were all blowing up, John and Dave decided to have some fun on the 16h.  Could John, a right handed player, beat the left handed Dave with his own clubs on a hole?  The video below contains the answer.  Be sure to watch for the incredible green side bunker shot.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Videos, Hackers, Miscellaneous Golf Blogs

For those who wanted to get the flavor of my club’s Hell Day tournament, here’s a YouTube video below for your enjoyment. When I posted the 2008 video, YouTube killed the audio because I used a Disturbed song. To avoid that this time around the soundtrack for this one is some cuts from band called Spazz, which play the drums in…

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Videos, Hackers, Miscellaneous

I wish I could have spent a few hours writing up a great tribute to Payne Stewart, one which would do him justice.

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of his death in that strange accident on that private plane.  I just spent a few minutes explaining to my lady who Payne Stewart was and darn near started crying as I showed her pictures of his fist pump and some youtube videos of him.  I was especially somber when I told her about his 1999 U.S. OPEN win when he beat Phil Mickelson, then cupped Phil’s face in his hands and told him “you’re going to be a father.”  Tissue please.  Wow.

It would have been so great for Payne’s life and career to continue, rather than ending so suddenly.  It would have been great to see how many more major championships he would have recorded in the last 10 years, and how many times he would have gone head to head with Tiger Woods.  I doubt he would have succumbed to that fear other players had when they play against TW.

Hats off to you Payne.  Thanks for the memories.

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Videos, Life, Miscellaneous, PGA Tour Payne Stewart

Back in February 2009 I did a review on the “Upright Caddy Racr.” The Racr is the only four wheeled golf push cart where the golf bag is mounted in a vertical position.  As I stated in my previous review, the vertical orientation of the bag makes accessing clubs way easier than any slanted cart.  The clubs go in and come out of the bag so much easier.  The vertical orientation also makes accessing the various pockets of the bag more convenient as well.

Upright Caddy Racr Features

• Unique vertical mounting of the golf bag for ease of use with accessing clubs or bag pockets

• Four wheels

• Super lightweight aluminum tubing

• Folding design and removable rear wheels for ultra compact size during transport and storage

• Adjustable handle

• Handle mounted parking brake

Racr video

Improvements for the new 4th edition Racr

In my previous review I raved about how great the Racr and the concept was, but I also had a few critiques which I felt needed to be resolved before I could fully endorse the product.   I met in person with the passion and brains behind the Racr, Mr. Andrew De Carlo, and we talked at length over the design strengths and weaknesses.  Andy didn’t waste any time revising the Racr and making huge improvements in the 4th edition of the unit.

Improvement 1: Airless tires

How many times have you gotten to the course and your push cart’s wheels were flat?  This has happened to me more times than I can count.  Naturally the pump was nowhere to be found, so I’d have to leave the cart in the car and carry my bag or ride a motorized golf cart.  If I was assertive enough, I’d find the cart barn and use their pump to pump up my tires.  PITA.

The new Racr has airless tires.  No longer do I have to worry about pumping up the tires on my cart before my round, or worry about a tire going flat during a round of golf.

Improvement 2: Ball, cup, scorecard, pencil holder

One of my biggest problems with the previous Racr was the ball, cup, scorecard, pencil holder.  The old ball holder’s holes were too small and the pencil holder was about 2x too big to fit standard golf pencils.  Those problems have been resolved.  The cup holder has been improved as well, but I’d still tweak that a bit if I could by adding two additional straps to cover the bottle/cup on four sides.

Impovement 3: Handle padding and features

One problem with the previous revision of the Racr involved the pad on the handle of the cart.  When folded up the pad could stick to other parts of the frame, then tear off pieces of the padding when unfolding.  The new version of the Racr addresses this problem and improves the handle.  Thicker padding covers the handle, and a Velcro section around the handle replaces the area where the tear would occur with a place to hang a golf glove to dry.  Great idea.

Improvement 4: Longer strap and telescoping frame

One problem with the old unit was on very large bags the straps weren’t long enough.  This problem has been resolved with straps which are much longer and now can handle any bag I threw on the unit.

The Racr has a telescoping frame which supports the top and back of the golf bag, where the aforementioned strap attaches to.  The new tubes are slightly longer to accommodate taller bags.

Improvement 5: Bottom strap

The old Racr’s bottom strap, which secured the bottom of the bag, had a ball and loop fastener.  This worked OKAY, but sometimes was a bit tough to work with.  A new hook and loop system are a good improvement in the new Racr.

Improvement 6: Lever added to help release frame locks during folding

To fold the main frame down on the old Racr it took two hands, one for each back frame lock.  It also helped to have the brake on and/or stabilize the unit with a foot to pull them up.  Now folding can be initiated with the ease of one hand with the new crossbar which attaches to both locks.   What took two hands and possibly one foot, takes one hand now.  That was a bit tough to describe but please see my new Racr video to get the concept.

Improvement 7: Front mount straps for accessories or small cooler

To take advantage of the space behind the front wheels and in front of the golf bag, the new Racr has some straps which could hold a cooler.

New color

Last year’s model was silver/gray in color.  The new Racr can be identified by the deep semi-metallic red color.  More colors may become available down the road.

Conclusion

The new edition Racr 4 wheel golf push cart is ready for prime time.

I love to walk the course but having a bad back makes carrying my bag a tough option to swallow.  Pushing my bag on the Racr is very easy and fun, and allows me to walk the course without tweaking my back.  Having my bag mounted vertically is so great.  The Racr is very easy to set up, tear down and transport.

Related links

Buy the Upright Caddy Racr at The Golf Space SHOP

The HOG Racr photo gallery

Racr web site

Original Racr Review

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Equipment & Accessories, Golf Accessories, Golf Equipment, Golf Reviews, Golf Videos Golf Push Cart, Racr

Thanks to my pals at Oakley for sending me some cool links to a video series they put together with Ian Poulter on YouTube. There are a bunch of cool videos to check out.

A few instructional videos from Poulter include alignment, lob shot, draw shot, trees, practice and trouble shots.

I hear they’re currently in production of a four part instructional video series where Ian takes you through the necessary steps to create “Poulter Hair.” And finally, you can’t have an Ian Poulter feature without discussing fashion:

Tony Korologos a.k.a. mediaguru Golf Media, Golf Videos Ian Poulter, Oakley