Your Match Play Fix: 38% In Favor Of Stroke Play Qualifier
/Doug Ferguson reviews the mystery that is the WGC Match Play's future and
Read MoreWhen one comes to the quality of the bunkers and other hazards we pass into realm of much dispute and argument. Primarily bunkers should be sand bunkers purely, not composed of gravel, stones or dirt. Whether this or that bunker is well placed, has caused more intensely heated arguments outside of the realms of religion, than has ever been my lot to listen to. C.B. MACDONALD
Available via Amazon (US): Golf Architecture For Normal People
Barnes And Noble (online and in stores)
Bookshop.org option to support local independent bookstores.
Reviews:
"Golf Architecture for Normal People . . . should be required reading for those who are not ashamed to admit they know little about the subject, and for those who think they do . . . . Golf course architecture geeks have trouble slimming their thoughts down to bite-sized chunks, but Shackelford has achieved a remarkable success here." —Independent (Ireland)
"From the relative newcomer who’s slowly getting hooked to those that have played the game for most of their lives and think they know a thing or two, Golf Architecture for Normal People provides a solid and sober perspective that will help everyone recognize why some golf courses are worth playing more than once while a single trip around others is all you’re ever likely to want or need." —Links Magazine.
“It’s a wonderful book. An easy read that arrives just in time for your summer reading list. If you’ve never thought about how an appreciation for course design could heighten your enjoyment of the game, you must check this out.”—The Peterborough Examiner
"As in his prior publications, in his newest book Shackelford shows a deep appreciation for what can be done to create a golf course that appeals to the broadest possible golfing audience…Shackelford’s prose is succinct, often witty, and accessible."—Cape Gazette
"Author, blogger and golf architecture expert Geoff Shackelford, who helped Gil Hanse design Rustic Canyon and restore 2023 U.S. Open host Los Angeles Country Club, taps into his passion by creating a guide that helps every golfer understand the nuances of course design. Published by Tatra Press, the 164-page hardcover book is a must-read for every golfer to better understand the game they love." —Golf Pass
"Shackelford provides an informative picture [and]...sprinkles in history lessons about those who planted the game's architectural roots, defines common terms and helps you hone your eyes when it comes to identifying some of the tricks of the trade."—FORE Magazine
"This new book does a great job demystifying golf course design ideas for average players, but can also be a beneficial read fro PGA Professionals and other golf course employees to get a better understanding of their home courses." —PGA Magazine
Referee Of Sergio-Fowler Match Elaborates
/Thanks to reader Patrick for sending in Dale Jackson's excellent roundup of his referree duties during last week's WGC Match Play match between Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia.
He explains the situation with the bees in which Garcia was well-within his right to ask for relief, and then tries to make sense of the strange concession by Sergio. Jackson comes away impressed by both players:
It quickly became clear that both Sergio and Ricky had made use of Rule 2-4, which sets, in part, “A player may concede his opponent’s next stroke at any time, provided the opponent’s ball is at rest.” In language most golfers are used to, they had agreed their putts were “good for good”. It was a very unusual move by Sergio to concede Ricky’s lengthy putt but he stated afterword he felt the bee incident on the previous hole had not been fair to Ricky who had a makable birdie putt that he missed. The concessions by both players was sportsmanship of the highest level and it was consistent with how they conducted themselves throughout the match. They were complementary of each other’s shots, seemed to enjoy each other’s company but played a hard fought and well played match.
Update on 2014-02-26 04:43 by Geoff
**Meanwhile Golfweek Staff reports that Sergio would have given Rickie the putt if it were a Ryder Cup, too. Paging Captain Paul McGinley!
Video & Roundup: Jason & Victor's Epic WGC Match Play Finale
/Just another dreary, forgettable WGC Accenture Match Play finale.
Read MoreInstant Poll: Which Match Play Format You'd Most Like To See?
/Something is going to change with the match play, but what remains the question.
Read MoreSpieth: "I was a little mental midget out there."
/Naturally a day after I wrote about how
Read MoreThen There Were 8: Wacky WGC Match Play Friday Roundup
/Many love the opening day of the WGC Accenture Match Play
Read MoreVideo: Sergio's Bizarro Putt Concession
/I'm guessing we'll hear more about this after the match,
Read MoreTop Four Seeds Gone And Who Cares With These Match-Ups?
/The mood seemed somber on the WGC Accenture Match Play telecast today
Read More"Head-to-head play is hunting-and-gathering golf. It's about bringing a victory back to the clubhouse, regardless of method or style."
/There has been so much annual numbingly cliched chatter about match play
Read MoreHarding Park As A Match Play Venue? Please, No!
/I'm all for Harding Park as a site of a future playoff event or a Schwab Cup
Read MoreThat Was Awkward: Kuchar Closes Out Match, Twice
/Rex Hoggard with the details of Matt Kuchar having to take his hat off
Read MoreVideo: This Is Why They Call Them Jumping Chollas Files
/Apparently jumping to get out of the way of Rory McIlroy's recovery
Read MoreSaving The WGC Match Play From Itself
/As John Strege noted
Read MoreWGC Bracketology: Three Major Options, Your Favorite?
/I remember the good ole days when we were begging for brackets and lucky to win a dozen balls, but now there are at least three major brackets with prizes for this week's WGC Accenture Match Play.
The PGA Tour's official bracket provides a seemless registration process for newbies, and warns rather ominously: "the Accenture Match Play Championship is a volatile event with underdogs dominating the favorites more often than you would think."
Golfweek.com also offers an easy registration with a Facebook option so that you can say to your friends, I really have no life, I'm immersed in filling out Accenture Match Play brackets. Golfweek is offering a Stay and Play for 2 at La Quinta for the winner and SeeMore Putters to the 2nd-4th place finishers.
GolfChannel.com is very easy to use if you are already registered for their fantasy league, and appears to be offering the most prizes with 64 winners getting a new driver and "one Grand Prize winner will receive a trip for two to the 2015 WGC Accenture," wherever that may be.
I know we have some fantasy players out there. Which are you using? Oh, and if you've had time to look at the revitalized PGATour.com, this would be a good place to comment too. It's certainly prettier!
Flashback: Accenture Has Been Upstaged Before
/Granted, Tiger Woods surrounded by the dreaded blue curtains and seat-filling PGA Tour SVP's in the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse
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