Free Golf Channel

[DaveE]

I was flipping through the channels Sunday morning and after finding nothing to watch I went to TGC thinking I might investigate signing up for it again. To my surprise I had it now.

I'm not sure if it's a temporary promo but I'm hoping they made a change to my basic package.

I enjoyed the early round coverage Sunday but I was home sick yesterday and couldn't believe the amount of paid programming during the day.

Anybody here ever buy the stuff they're selling? Or maybe I should ask, anybody here admit to buying the stuff they're selling. Well, besides EZ and Rockford.

[warbirdlover]

Some is garbage but other stuff, like the Skycaddie and Guein Rife putter, are not. They are quite the salespeople though aren't they? Love the driver trainer sold by somethingorother "The Beast" somethingorother, long drive champion.

[packerfan1]

We switched from Comcast's best digital cable lineup to Dish Network's TV200 a few weeks ago...Golf Channel is not in this mid-tier package, so I basically lost access to that channel.

I find, to be quite honest, I don't miss TGC all that much. I always enjoyed the Monday night clinics, but those disappeared with the new coverage of the PGA Tour.

I miss Fine Living...and their show 'The Wandering Golfer'. Good stuff.

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by packerfan1

I miss Fine Living...and their show 'The Wandering Golfer'. Good stuff.

That show is good but I haven't seen it they signed a new host.

[Rockford35]

Nope. I've watched those infomercials for entertainment tho.

We get the GC as part of basic cable. One diamond mixed in with the dogshit that they give up with basic. Piss poor, other than that.

R35

[Pa Jayhawk]

Ours has always been free part of the standard package that gives us things like the 4 ESPN channels, Sci Fi and such. They likely just added it to that package for you

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by Pa Jayhawk

Ours has always been free part of the standard package that gives us things like the 4 ESPN channels, Sci Fi and such. They likely just added it to that package for you

That's what I'm hoping. I've looked in to it before and to get TGC without giving up FSN I had to buy their most expensive package. No way TGC is worth $50 a month.

[mont86]

I like the learning shows. And the early coverage of the tournys.

[golfer1]

I have been with Directv since 1998 and have the basic (Choice) package plus HBO. They gave me the next package upgrade about a year ago which included the Golf Channel for $10 more per month, but I didn't feel it was worth it.

About a month ago I tuned into the Golf Channel and now I get it for free!

I'm thinking that maybe it's because they carry all the PGA Championships now, or maybe they will be calling soon asking me to sign up again.

[ezra76]

The infomercials piss me off but the other stuff is great. I'm watchng Jim Flick with Tom Lehman right now. I love the exta coverage and watching events not televised on reg. TV.

[Augster]

Directv switched TGC to basic programming at least 2 years ago. All you need is a total choice package (I really don't think there are that many other options.)

I don't know if DirecTV has added TGC in HD yet. Though, in the next year, I guess DTV is adding something like 150 HD channels.

Funny you should mention this golfer1. I just had an argument on Saturday with my dad, who has been a subscriber to DTV since 1994, that he does indeed get TGC now included in the basic total choice package. He was complaining about the shitty quality of the digital cable(which he also has) for TGC for the Wed, Thurs, and Friday of Match play. I told him just to watch it on DTV.

TGC in HD sure would be pretty.

[Loony Toons]

I get the golf channel with the basic comcast service. I don't see why other companies don't have this channel for free. Most of the stuff is infomercials during the day. They have the speed channel & fishing network on most services and that is about the same as the Golf Station just a different sport.

[My Name is Nate]

That is my main gripe about dishnetwork. I can't get golf channel unless I bump it up to the highest level. Top 250 or some crap. I really wish they made tv 'ala carte' where you can pick and choose whatever channels you want and pay that amount.

[Lemonhead]

I get TGC as part of the Tier2 for TimeWarner (level above Basic). I have a love/hate affair with the channel. Too many infomercials. I can understand that at 3am every channel turns to infomercials, but TGC shows them during the day.

What's funny is that many people who play have sound judgement in most areas of their lives. I don't think the majority of golfers are regular callers to The Psychic Friends Network (BTW, if they were Psychics wouldn't they know you were going to call? ). However, tell them that if they buy a magic amulet with "special metal" they will become a scratch player and they plunk down their hard-earned money. Makes me laugh.

My favorite is, in fact, the necklace with the special metal to put your "energy field" in balance. Especially when the guy says something to the effect of "I put on the _____ and sank my next three putts. This thing really works!".

As for TGC programming, I enjoy Playing Lessons with the Pros, although I don't like the In-Studio learning segments on Your Game Night because they just aren't produced very well. Has a local PBS produced feel.

Lemonhead