Buck Reveals Golf’s Unique Broadcast Challenges

While at Fox, Joe Buck became a household name announcing MLB and NFL games, but he also covered a few U.S. Opens. Recently, Buck shared insights into the distinct challenges of broadcasting golf compared to other sports.

The Unseen Game

Buck told Dan Patrick that, unlike sports played on a visible field, golf’s expansive courses mean commentators often rely on monitors. “Because you’re not watching any of it with your own eyes, like, live,” he explained.

He added that announcers get information fed to them, then relay it to the audience, saying, “It’s a little unnerving to be relying on other people’s information.” He concluded that he’d rather rely on his own insights, adding, baseball, football, way easier, way slower than you would think, compared to golf.”

Building the Narrative

Buck also addressed the challenge of creating compelling TV moments in golf. He noted the importance of strategically revealing information to build drama, instead of just showing every live shot.

The former Fox commentator recalled that, early in his golf broadcasting career, it was difficult to withhold information he already knew. “You have to hold stuff to make it build a narrative as to where the thing is going,” he said. “It’s a lot of convoluted stuff that’s handled better by smarter people.”

Golf’s Popularity Surge

The popularity of golf has seen substantial growth in recent years. According to the National Golf Foundation, the number of golfers in the U.S. increased to 41.1 million in 2023, up from 36.9 million in 2020, indicating a significant rise in participation (NGF).