The athletics has live coverage of Round 3 of the masters.
Golf canal TV analyst Brandel Chamblee was on a golf podcast from Barstool Sports earlier this week, and there is a fascinating clip in which Chamblee discusses the words or sentences where TV broadcasters are given guidance not to pronounce when treating the masters. They are being replaced by more Hifalutin expressions that are more on the brand for the event and the organizers at Augusta National.
Here is the clip:
Broadcasters are not allowed to say “fan”, “Driving Range”, “Back Nine” & more in the air at the Masters @Forplaypod pic.twitter.com/czice7le24
– Barrstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 8, 2025
It goes without saying (and is not so unreasonable) that an event like the masters never checks the announcers, checking other event sponsors (it is never “Valero Texas open”, it is just “Texas open.)
Here are the five that I found most interesting, arranged in order of how exaggerated even more they seem:
Can’t say: “Fan”
Can say: “Patron”
As Chamblee says, there is a concern that ‘fan’ Steno is for ‘fanatic’.
Can’t say: “Rough”
Can say: “Second cut.”
For a tournament on TV defined by the dulcet tones of Jim Nantz, I understand – the concept of “Rough” does not exist in a country club – sorry, it is always “golf club” – like Augusta National.
Can’t say: “Sand Trap”
Can say: “Bunker”
Again, the idea of something at Augusta National is a “fall”, does not fit at all with his finely taken care of image.
Can’t say: “Driving Range”
Can say: “Tournament -Arenfacility”
“Rough?” “Fall?” I can at least see the sketch of negative connotations attributed to the event. And although the range is certainly for more than just driving, this feels unnecessary but unnecessary.
Can’t say: “Back nine”
Can say: “Second nine”
It is not that one of the other is worse, but “Back Nine” is such a standard part of Golf Vernacular that it feels like Augusta National is just trying to make how much they can bend TV.
I asked colleague Richard Deitsch if there is a formal policy. He said that a branch source (given anonymity because this is finally a story about what you should not say) told him that no written magazine has been given to broadcasters, but producers and on-Air talent know what the expectations of Augusta National are about how things will be described.
(Photo of Dottie Pepper: David Cannon / Getty images)