It’s the end of an era for NBC and Golf Channel.
Golfweek has confirmed that both Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch won’t be returning to broadcasts in 2023. The network told Maltbie and Koch the decision was made to “refresh” the team for the future.
“Roger and Gary have been synonymous with NBC Sports’ golf coverage for decades, having educated and entertained multiple generations of viewers and having made some of the most memorable calls in the history of the game,” said Golf Channel Executive Producer Molly Solomon via a statement to Golfweek. “Their professionalism and prowess is only exceeded by their character as they have been great teammates and friends to so many of us here. We will be honoring their careers during our coverage of the PNC Championship in December.”
Maltbie was originally told 2021 would be his last year before Jim “Bones” Mackay left his on-air role with the network to caddie for Justin Thomas. He returned as an on-course reporter for 2022 but wasn’t renewed for 2023. A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Maltbie, 71, had been covering golf for NBC Sports since 1992.
Koch, 69, joined NBC Sports full-time in 1997 after he debuted as a course reporter at the 1996 Players Championship and U.S. Open. The six-time winner on Tour was an analyst in the tower for the network’s PGA Tour and major championship coverage.
Not only did they work together on-air, but the pair also teamed up to win the PGA Tour Champions’ Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf three times in the Raphael Division in 2003, 2008 and 2009.
Article originally appeared on: Golfweek.usatoday.com
These were very good reporters. I met Roger Maltbie at the WGC at La Costa a bunch of years ago, along with Curtis Strange and a few others. Very nice people. I get it, young voices for the young people watching the show. But please, and I mean please, don’t get anything that resembles what the NFL did with Peyton and Eli Manning sitting on the couch predicting each and every play and down. I can’t watch the NFL when they’re on it. Get someone who has a good voice, knows their stuff and is willing to educate the viewers. Tiger Woods comes to mind if he can’t play anymore. Give him a golf cart, a hover board, or something and let him have at it. He’d be better in the booth, anyway. Wouldn’t have to test that busted leg all the time. That way, when Charlie does make it to the tour, Tiger can announce for his son.
It seems that they want to get rid of everyone that knows golf inside and out, to bad thet don’t get rid of Lanny Wadkins he sounds like a broken record all the time and his famous word “Duable)
I am sure they want a “younger visage” to attract youngeraudiences. But this is just another strp of dishonoring the wisdom gained through age and experience. It isn’t as if those two are doddering old fools, they aren’t and their experience will not be replaced by fresh young faces.
That being said, I very much like hearing from experienced caddies, how refreshing!
I’ve been watching golf on tv forever and, without a doubt, Roger Maltbie is the best on-course reporter ever!