Golf Channel Adds Ted Robinson, Has Unenviable Task Of Saying "Bear Trap" 4,599 Times This Weekend

Emmy-winning NBC/USA play-by-play man Ted Robinson has been added to the Golf Channel team, and as a huge fan of his work on NBC's tennis coverage, this should a great move.

Unfortunately, someone at the corporate office clearly does not like Robinson--no relation to the late golf architect--because his first Golf Channel gig consists of anchoring the "spotlight" coverage at that icky three-hole stretch known as "The Bear Trap."

You can hear Robinson Saturday and Sunday while NBC is airing traditional network coverage of the Bear Trap Classic from Bear Trap National in Bear Trap, Florida.

Ron Sirak addressed the whole Bear Trap deal in this week's Golf World Preview.

...brace yourself for this inevitability: Slow pan of the bear statue (above) at No. 15. Zoom in on the plaque proclaiming the next three holes will kick the stuffing out of you. The announcer's voice takes on a tone both ominous and excited. Then sit back and enjoy as the Bear Trap mauls the field. Cutesy name, annoyingly overused, but great entertainment.

Anyway, For Immediate Release:

GOLF CHANNEL'S SPOTLIGHT COVERAGE AT HONDA CLASSIC TO CAPTURE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THREE-HOLE STRETCHES IN GOLF - 'THE BEAR TRAP'
 
Traditional Coverage of The Honda Classic on NBC and ‘Spotlight’ Coverage on Golf Channel Both Begin at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday

Emmy Award-Winning Sports Broadcaster Ted Robinson Makes Golf Channel Debut as ‘Spotlight’ Coverage Play-by-Play Announcer

NBC Sports Group Airing 20 Hours of Live Coverage of The Honda Classic

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2013) – NBC Sports Group’s tournament coverage of The Honda Classic this weekend will feature the return of Golf Channel’s Spotlight coverage, featuring live action of players navigating traditionally one of the toughest three-hole stretches in golf – “The Bear Trap” – and complementing NBC’s award-winning traditional coverage.

While NBC is on the air live from 3-6 p.m. ET this weekend with traditional coverage, Golf Channel also will be on the air live, but focusing on ‘The Bear Trap,’ the challenging signature stretch of holes encompassing Nos. 15-17 on the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA National Champion Course. Golf Channel’s Spotlight coverage will conclude at 5 p.m. ET each day, when viewers will be directed to the final hour of NBC’s third- and final-round coverage. Spotlight coverage made its Golf Channel debut at the 2012 Honda Classic.

The Spotlight coverage on-air team includes Ted Robinson, who will be making his Golf Channel debut, handling play-by-play responsibilities. Robinson, an Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, has served as play-by-play host for NBC’s and USA Network’s tennis coverage for more than 20 years, has covered eight Olympic Games and, currently, is the radio voice of the San Francisco 49ers. Joining Robinson will be Curt Byrum as lead analyst, Tom Abbott as tower analyst, and Scott McCarron and Phil Parkin reporting from the course. Todd Lewis will conduct post-round interviews.

NBC’s production, which will be overseen by Emmy Award-winning producer Tommy Roy, will operate side-by-side with Golf Channel’s Spotlight production unit led by producer Keith Hirshland.

HONDA CLASSIC – LIVE TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES

Thursday    3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live traditional coverage)
Friday    3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live traditional coverage)
Saturday    1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live lead-in coverage)
Saturday    3-6 p.m. ET (NBC live traditional coverage)
Saturday    3-5 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live Spotlight coverage)
Sunday    1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live lead-in coverage)
Sunday    3-6 p.m. ET (NBC live traditional coverage)
Sunday    3-5 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live Spotlight coverage)

Comments

[JSS]

Add in Tiger talk and it's a Golf Channel ejaculation. Can it get any better? Bring in David Feherety and TGC shows a commercial every 30 seconds. Ka-Ching$$$

[BenSeattle]

The benefit of receiving this informatino is that finally I am secure in the belief knowing I AM NOT ALONE.

This business of "signature holes" and "branding" of a few holes of a golf course has reached epidemic proportions and this truth is demonstrated nowhere more than the the persistent and unnecessary drone that comprises the moniker "Bear Trap." For YEARS my sensibilities have been assaulted by the oh-so-easy crutch that is cliches -- from the pitiful and confusing "Glory's Last Shot" to the limp and tired "A Tradition Unlike Any Other" to this dreadful nails-on-a-chalkboard "Bear Trap." Okay: we get it -- three hard holes designed by Jack Nicklaus... SO WHAT? Why is it that broadcasters are SOOOO dependent on worn-out phrases.... there's not enough lameness in the ad lib stuff they say already.... they're determined to compound the crime by resorting to the meaningless and overly familiar? Do they somehow believe that persisting with the weary and worn-down phase will somehow attract viewers or convey a sense of expertise that would be absent otherwise. Only the gods can answer.

In a phone call Sunday night to my brother I ended with this: "Oh yeah... what's the over/under on how many times "Bear Trap" is used this week?" (Mentally, I was thinking about one thousand.) But his immediate response was "Oh, probably about 5,000." I'm thinking he's right.

Finally, on Monday's "Morning Drive," I give credit to Charlie Rymer who promised.... guaranteed... that he WOULD NOT be saying "Bear Trap" this week. I don't know if is possible to fulfill an impossible goal but I give him credit for having the right sentiment.

"Bear Trap?" Clap Trap!

[Kevin part deux]

Big fan of Ted Robinson. Great addition.

[RickABQ]

I much prefer the warning in the clubhouse at Black Mesa Golf Club outside of Santa Fe, NM...

"Big course, big medicine, it will kick your butt".

[Bob]

Has Ted Robinson been briefed by NBC always say, "This, just a moment ago" before every shot. Oh I'm sorry, not before Tigers, they always have a live camera on him. ;-)

[Tim in New Zealand]

A bear trap is designed to trap bears; this has been designed by one. This is beyond hopeless.

[DTF]

4th of July in March, who knew?!!

As for Golf Channel, my expectations for Notah were very high and I can say without reservation he has exceeded them all...eloquence personified! Go Notah!

Noticed Mark Brooks in the studio, what's his connection with Tiger?

[Adam Clayman]

"Play by play" Now that's funny.

[BenSeattle]

<< Joining Robinson will be Curt Byrum as lead analyst, Tom Abbott as tower analyst, and Scott McCarron and Phil Parkin reporting from the course. >>

Are you sure this is enough announcers? Careful, you mind find yourself with two seconds of dead air someplace.

[Gabe]

I, too, am a fan of Ted Robinson. But would like him more if he weren't a UCLA alum and didn't do play-by-play for Stanford football.

Go Bears! (Trap)

[Bud]

Let's have a contest...

Sunday telecast only.

My guess. Announcers will mention "bear trap 27 times"

[ol Harv]

Hey Bob, maybe an even worse phrase heard throughout an NBC telecast, especially by Johnny, Rog and Mark Rolfing, is "he got unlucky on that one." How can a player that backs the ball up 20 feet be unlucky because he's now on the lower level of the green? How is that bad luck? Bad luck is Van de Velde's ball NOT going into the water the first time.

[Bobby D]

It's a hiring spree at Golf Channel! Everybody gets a piece of the Comcast pie...they've got a zillion announcers on the course and a zillion in the studio...get in there Shack!

[Bdub]

Robinson is a pro. Great for golf. Does not talk too much, lets the action speak. Love his work with the Northern California teams. Of note, my buddy who does not follow golf as closely as I asked, "What the tournament this week?" I answered, "The Honda." He asked, "Is that that crappy Bear Trap tournament? I can't watch that one."

[Steve8x]

If I decide to watch this, I'll mute the sound.

[Marker81]

I'm finding that while constant fawning over the "Bear Trap" is annoying, the coverage is better because of it. Since they are focusing on those holes, we are see more players. Also, I'm getting a better feel for the shot in front of the player or how difficult a recovery might be because of seeing the same hole played in a variety of manners. Not cut to a recorded shot where you know the player will either hole it or knock it close.

[fourputter]

The repeating of the words "bear trap" by the announcers appears to be a contagious nervous affliction for which there is no known cure, a St Vitus's dance of the tongue.

[fourputter]

The repeating of the words "bear trap" by the announcers appears to be a contagious nervous affliction for which there is no known cure, a St Vitus's dance of the tongue.

[20/20 rearview]

Will there be palm trees and waterfalls on set with Mr Robinson?