CA Course Reporters: Friday afternoon

Editor's note: The CA Course Bloggers -- Ellie Maniery, Desi Brantley, Stefano Diaz and Philip Spano -- will be taking PGATOUR.COM fans behind the scenes at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship this week. The bloggers will be filing a total of 32 entries over five days, so check back frequently to see what they have discovered.

Other blogs: Wednesday | Thursday morning | Thursday evening | Friday morning

Almost on television
By Ellie Maniery

For anyone who watched the tournament begin on GOLF CHANNEL this afternoon, I want you to know that if the camera had panned about 2 feet to the immediate left of Nick Faldo you would have seen all four of us squeezed into the corner and trying not to make any noise. We were there for the first few minutes of their broadcast today, and it was fantastic! We went in there about 15 minutes before the broadcast started and we got to meet them as they prepared, and they told us a bit about what it's like to be the television announcers for a PGA TOUR event. Kelly Tilghman and Faldo were both awesome. I have to say that struck me as impressive, considering that they are crammed in a tiny broadcasting shack with three other people for four hours at a time. Mr. Faldo entertained us all by drawing on his touch screen TV, outlining random things we saw on the footage and sketching out extravagant ball flights for players before they made their chips.

It was another example of stuff that goes on that you would never see otherwise. The desk they sit at while they're on the air is covered with papers and food and information to keep the two announcers up-to-date at all times. Less than 10 feet in front of the desk there are two monitors, one showing everything that is happening outside on the course and the other displaying the scores of all the players. In the middle of these two TV screens there is another that shows the two announcers as they are broadcasting. I asked if that ever spooked them and they jokingly replied that they just liked to watch themselves and were used to it because they spent so much time staring at themselves in the mirror. Before the broadcast started they let the four of us stand behind them and we got to see ourselves on that same monitor. They look a whole lot more awesome on TV than I do, I've got to say.

The only downside to this was that once we left the broadcast booth and had moved on to watching more of the tournament, I realized I left my bag in there. I actually still haven't gotten it back yet, but I know I will -- and hey, now everyone knows that for hours of Friday's broadcast Ellie Maniery's backpack was directly to the left of Nick Faldo and Kelly Tilghman!

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TV set a little more humble than one might think
By Stefano Diaz

I saw Nick Faldo and Kelly Tilghman from GOLF CHANNEL introduce the second round coverage of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Doral on the famous Blue Monster. You'd think that the set would be a big room with sofas, decorated nicely and very comfortable. Well, let me tell you something -- IT'S NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL.

The set is still real cool. They film in a small shack that they build a week before the tournament starts. The shack was filled with Cheetos and a lot of junk food. It definitely was a sight that I would never have seen without being a CA Course Reporter. Also, we got the chance to watch while they were on-camera live. We were sitting in the corner of the room right next to Nick when Kelly announced that Tiger had made another eagle. The moment she said it, every person in the room nodded there heads.

Before that we went to the SHOTLink truck and saw how it's managed by only eight people. In addition, 32 volunteers help out on the course on a daily basis. They showed us how all the information is arranged, sent to the station and spread out all over the globe. One of the directors showed us how they track the player -- so you can see what hole he is on and what he is wearing. Isn't that insane? That is so cool that you even know what he is wearing. Well I've got to go -- see you tomorrow.

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Learning the ropes from a different perspective
By Desi Brantley

Wow! Stefano, Philip, Ellie and I walked to the place where they have computers to tell how far shots go and how far they are from the hole. The guy who runs the system told us how they use lasers on the course like cameras to follow the ball, and then it beams signal a to a satellite that sends the information to the computers in his truck. Then reporters can use special computers to look at how a player is doing.

We walked under the ropes and went to the GOLF CHANNEL studio, which is in a tent up on a raised platform. On our way out there, we passed some crazy-looking ducks.

As we went in, we shook hands with Nick Faldo and Kelly Tilghman, who work for GOLF CHANNEL. Kelly brought us behind the desk where you see them talking when they're on TV. Kelly put the headphones that she wears when she's not on TV on my head. In one ear, I could hear how Tiger Woods made a birdie. In the other ear, I could hear people talking about the TV show. Kelly said it was her producer. They told us we could sit on the side while they were on TV, and we sat quietly while they talked to the cameras about Tiger Woods making shots. We could see the great shots on a TV by the camera.

After that we walked to the tee and saw some golfers come and hit their shots. We saw the same ducks from the TV tent walk by in front of the golfers while they were trying to hit the ball. The caddie for Niclas Fasth had to run after the ducks and chase them away.

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Something to write home about
By Philip Spano

This afternoon I was able to see Nick Faldo and Kelly Tilghman give a live news report on what's happening at Doral this week. It is absolutely amazing to see what goes on behind-the-scenes in a news room. I sat about 2 feet from Mr. Faldo when he was on-camera. They told me that I could sit there but I had to be very still because if I moved just a little, I could shift the ground and disrupt the cameras. Mr. Faldo and Ms. Tilghman told me that they also had private lines in their headsets and had to manage two other voices besides their own.

I would like to thank Mr. Faldo and Ms. Tilghman for allowing me the opportunity to sit in on their news report. It was a great pleasure to see what it takes to put on their show. I have a greater appreciation and respect for them and their jobs.

I also got the privilege of learning about SHOTLink, a tool used to determine the exact distance that a golf ball travels after a player hits it. Jason Philips, a really nice guy, gave me the tour of the SHOTLink truck and told me how it works. He said that you first use a laser gun to measure the distance the golf ball went. Then, the distance is sent to a satellite that turns around and sends the information to any computer that seeks the information. I found it really cool that you can find out how far a golfer hit his ball within a few seconds after he hits it because of this amazing technology.

I would like to say "hi" to my brother, Peter. I hope you're enjoying your spring break. And I would also like to say that I miss you Mom, Paul, Peter, Grandma, and Aunt Madeline. I wish you where here with me enjoying this great experience.