Author Archives: Keith Hirshland

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About Keith Hirshland

My name is Keith Hirshland and I am a four decades television veteran who has spent time both in front of and behind the camera. During nearly forty years in broadcasting my path has crossed in front of, behind and alongside some of the best in the business... And some of the worst. Many of those people I count as friends while others wouldn't make the effort to spit on me if I was on fire. This television life started early watching my Mom and Dad found, fund and run a local affiliate TV station in Reno, Nevada. As a teenager approaching adulthood I worked for them, first as an on-air sports reporter/anchor and later as a director and producer. Jobs in the industry took me across the country and then to many places around the world. Sports is my passion and putting it on TV has been my business. Production credits include auto racing, baseball, basketball, bowling, college football, field hockey, soccer, volleyball and water polo but the majority of my time "in the chair" since 1990 has been invested in the game of golf with both ESPN and The Golf. Channel ( I was one of the first forty people hired by TGC in 1994 ). I am a fan and I watch TV sports as a fan but I also have hundreds of thousands of hours watching from inside a production truck. I think that makes me qualified to comment, my hope is you agree. I have written four books, Cover Me Boys, I'm Going In (Tales of the Tube from a Broadcast Brat), a memoir that is a tribute to my parents, the hard working, creative people who started ESPN2 and The Golf Channel and a look back at my life in television. Cover Me Boys was awarded the “Memoir of the Year” in 2017 by Book Talk Radio Club. In February of 2019 it was released anew by Beacon Publishing Group. My second book is a novel, Big Flies, and is a mystery that tells the story of a father and a son with four of the world's most notorious unsolved robberies as a backdrop. Big Flies was named “Solo Medalist” in the True Crime category by New Apple Awards. My third book, another mystery titled The Flower Girl Murder, was published in 2018. Book number four might be the most fun I ever had on a writing project. Murphy Murphy and the Case of Serious Crisis is a mystery, a love story, and an homage to good grammar. It is both the Book Talk Radio Club BOOK OF THE YEAR for 202 and a TopShelf Awards first prize winner in the mystery category. All four are available at Amazon. Book five is in the capable hands of the good people at Beacon Publishing Group and should be available soon. I look forward to sharing new thoughts about golf, golf television, sports in general and the broadcast industry with you. The views expressed here are mine and mine alone. They are not connected to nor endorsed by any other person, association, company or organization.

All of The Masters Coverage Today Makes Me Happy and a Little Sad.

As exciting as The Masters Tournament has been lately, or the 2015 edition might end up being, I can’t shake this feeling that something is missing. Maybe better said, something has been lost. I am an avid golf fan, with … Continue reading

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A Sail Through Paradise Part Four

If this is a return visit, you know this trip started on St. Thomas where we boarded a catamaran and set out for St. John and then Tortola. The journey included me, my wife, mother and father-in-law and my wife’s … Continue reading

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A Sail Through Paradise Part Three

Overnight the wind had gone from blasting to merely blowing which meant we could unfurl the mainsail, let out the jib, and spend the morning of our next day on the water, riding the breeze, under sail. The next destination … Continue reading

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A Sail Through Paradise Part Two

After dinner, drinks and a good night’s sleep we woke early and visited the coffee shop/breakfast spot near the dock. I savored the last triple espresso, vanilla, breve latte I would have for a week. It was delicious. Back on … Continue reading

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My Most Memorable Golf Channel Moments

On January 17th The Golf Channel celebrated its 20th birthday. I know these days it’s just Golf Channel but in those days, 20 years ago, the “The” was still part of the name of the network. I was hired in … Continue reading

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A Sail Through Paradise Part One

I am a landlubber. In fact I just might take “landlubbing” to the extreme. I get little enjoyment from going in the water. I see nothing relaxing about lying under the sun, at a beach, on the sand. Landlubber IS … Continue reading

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Would a Return to Wordsmiths Make American Golf Broadcasts Better?

Another golf season is upon us which, for me, most certainly includes plenty of time sitting in front of the television imploring various announcers to just “Shut up!” I produced golf on television for two decades and spent some of … Continue reading

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Is This Golf’s Best Kept Secret?

Nestled among the pine, oak and maple filled hills of western New Jersey you can find one of golf’s treasures. While this bounty is not buried you will definitely need a map to discover the spot. The jewel is the … Continue reading

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In Your Perfect World Which Pro Golfer Wins Next?

The world of golf had reasons to celebrate recently when a couple of the “good ones” found their way back to the winner’s circle. Just two weeks ago good guy Charley Hoffman won on the PGA TOUR while long suffering, … Continue reading

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MLB Should Change How and When it Votes for Post Season Awards

This month Clayton Kershaw was awarded both the 2014 National League Cy Young and the NL Most Valuable Player for his work as the “senior circuit’s” best pitcher. It was the Los Angeles Dodger lefty’s second straight “Cy” win and … Continue reading

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