Dottie Leaving NBC To Spend More Time Growing The Game

Steve DiMeglio reports the unfortunate news for those of us who've been ordered by physicians to limit Mark Rolfing intake: Dottie Pepper will end her run with NBC/Golf Channel after Tiger's World Challenge and the PNC Father/Son Challenge. 

Pepper was elected to a three-year term to the PGA of America's Board of Directors last week.

Pepper's goal is to increase golf participation, especially in the junior and women ranks, and her experiences in golf -- and her passion to see the game she loves grow and grow -- will not be ignored.

"NBC wanted me to work more. And I can't do the things I want to do for golf if I'm in a suitcase for half the year doing announcing," Pepper told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. "I really want to get more people playing golf and more women playing golf. We are totally missing the boat. I hopefully can help. It's the perfect time to step back and give a little more back to the game than taking from it."

Comments

[Chuck]

I liked Dottie Pepper. I hope she's back announcing someday. Could NBC hire the fabulous Judy Rankin?

[Chuck]

It just dawned on me, in this day and age of rapid media mergers and acquisitions. By virtue of her being a Golf Channel emploee, Judy Rankin already has been hired by NBC...

Anyway, two of the great female voices in golf broadcasting...

[Average Golfer]

Love Dottie with a mic. Understated and knowledgeable. Her announcing brethren could learn a lot, but won't. Agree Chuck on Judy Rankin.

[Chicago John]

She's gone? Choking freaking dogs...

[Mark]

This is also a nice break to setup her up for a potential Solheim Cup captaincy

[trapdraw]

thats a shame, she is great, at least there is still Rolfing, Rog and Gary, so along w/ Berman there is still plenty to claw our ears out to.

[KLG]

Too bad. Dottie was better than most. Much better.

[digsouth]

I'm a Dottie fan, but Judy is the best, male or female, with the Johnny being as good, though different.

Back to Dottie- she's got it.

[LA Man]

One of the very best in the business. Always insightful and articulate with no tiresome schtick. Once she finds out the kind of job the PGA of America and the First Tee are doing growing the game, she'll be back on the air.

[Golden Bell]

If anyone can get the First Tee and PGA of America to really do what they say they're doing, it's Dottie Pepper. She'll goad and guilt them into it. I'll miss her on the air, though. A fresh voice. But yes to more Judy, as forthright, if more subtly.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

"We are totally missing the boat."

Sounds to me like she's fed up with all those pesky furriners dominating the women's game in the USA and decided to take matters into her own hands in an effort to try and redress the balance ... as in ... the yanks winning everything!

Shame though ... excellent commentator.

[Bobby D]

Agree with most comments. D. Pepper was excellent on the mic. I always thought she was the top female golf voice next to Rankin.