For a couple of straight shooters, they don't shoot very straight on the golf course.
Joe McGrane, with producer Ken Van Baber, hosts the popular "I'm Teed Off" golf show every Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on WTAN-AM 1340 and WZHR-AM 1400, both easily accessible in Pasco County. Neither McGrane nor Van Baber has a strong game, and on the air, they take golf about as seriously as they do on the course.
"Our goal is to make the listeners laugh," McGrane said. "We like to make it entertaining and just have a lot of fun."
The show has gone through a series of changes since it started in 1996 as a radio show, then moved to television. In 2002, McGrane went back to radio and the show has been there since. During his tenure, McGrane has made connections throughout the sport, talking to everyone from Tiger Woods to Martha Burk.
Don't expect McGrane to ask Woods about his problems with his game or his swing. Leave that for the Golf Channel.
"I like to ask zany questions that keep them off guard," McGrane said. "I'll ask Tiger how he feels about being on Blackwell's Best Dressed List. I asked Jack Nicklaus whether or not he fainted, as was reported, during the birth of one of his children. We like to make the listeners laugh, but we also like to make the golfers laugh."
McGrane also can do dead-on impersonations of some of the game's celebrities.
During the controversy surrounding the 2003 Masters, when Burk, the head of the National Council of Women's Organizations, attempted to persuade sponsors to boycott the event, McGrane mastered Burk's voice, as well as Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson, and had on-air "conversations" between the two.
He has others down as well, so listeners should not become too irate if one of their favorite players is on the air sounding like a buffoon. It's likely just McGrane having some fun.
"We like to fool people," McGrane said. "I can get the listeners to listen by painting pictures. It's easy to pull the wool over people's eyes."
Van Baber is the show's sidekick, asking the goofy questions McGrane slams out of the park.
"I ask all the crazy questions and just act like I'm stupid about golf," Van Baber said. "That's my role on the show."
He has a much greater role, actually. In addition to being the sidekick, he does the production and is responsible for sales and marketing. He has gained inroads in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, as well as Pasco, and has sponsorship deals with many area courses. The duo is on the air two hours, but sometimes it takes them at least an hour before the talk turns to golf.
McGrane is a huge Boston Red Sox fan and doesn't mind trading his insights on the team. He's also been known to sound off on the Tampa Bay Lightning or anything else listeners might be talking about.
"We talk a little local golf, some national, but sometimes we get off base," McGrane said.
"It's entertainment," Van Baber added. "It's not a show where we talk about technical stuff all the time. If you want that, turn on the Golf Channel if that's what you want. That's the way we do things and it isn't how others do it."
ON DOWN THE ROAD: The Mitchell High girls team, and sponsor Steve Pitts of Steve's World of Golf, are hosting a scramble to benefit their team Aug. 1 with a 1 p.m. shotgun start at Crescent Oaks Country Club in Tarpon Springs. All proceeds benefit the girl's golf team.
Magnolia Valley Golf Club will host a tournament to benefit Operation Home, a not-for-profit organization to help military families in financial need. The tournament will be held Aug. 28 with a 1 p.m. shotgun start with a four-person scramble format. Entry fee is $45 with dinner provided by Pit Boss. Contact (727) 842-7602.
Junior Fox University will present its camp for youths ages 7-14 at Fox Hollow Golf Club throughout the month. Each session includes instruction, range balls, video swing analysis, course experience and awards. Cost is $99 for Fox Hollow members, $19 for non-members. Call (727) 376-6333.
Seven Springs Golf & Country Club will host a golf camp for kids age 6-12 for three weeks, starting July 12, July 19, and July26. Registration is $200 per child. For questions, call (727) 376-0039
Plantation Palms Golf Club (Land O'Lakes) will host clinics for players ages 8-17 on July 6-9. The program consists of five days of two-and-a-half hour lessons ranging from driving to putting and etiquette.
Fox Hollow will host a weekly series entitled, Beginning Golf for Women on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout July. Cost is $125 per player and includes instruction and a subscription to Golf for Women magazine, and will be hosted by LPGA member Kandace Dean. Call (727) 376-6333 for details.
TAKING REQUESTS: We are trying to expand our Pasco County golf coverage to provide information on anything and everything that might be happening at your club. If you have anything you want publicized, e-mail jberlinicke@att.net
