When 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

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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

“Shackelford will guide the reader to an enriching understanding of design. Consider it a primer on the fascinating subject of course architecture. If you don’t know what a template hole is, or a Biarritz, or a Redan, or a Punchbowl, you will be gently educated, and perhaps enjoy playing a course with any of these holes that much more. There’s a lot here, packed into 160 pages.” LORNE RUBENSTEIN, ScoreGolf

May 19, 2014

Miscellaneous Updates From The Design World

May 19, 2014/ Geoff Shackelford

On Monday's Morning Drive we did a run through of some big-name design projects. Segment one is here talking about Tiger and Jack, segment two gets into The Donald at Turnberry, Philly Cricket Club and a reminder to see Mid-Pines.

Here is a rundown of topics covered and not covered due to time.

Rex Hoggard with the news on water in Rio flowing to the site. Hopefully, with none of the sewage and trash that the New York Times revealed has made the windsurfing and sailing courses places you don't want to get wet.

Ty Votaw reaffirmed earlier reports from the IGF's Peter Dawson that a test event a year out from the Olympics wasn't looking possible based on the state of things.

If nothing else, Team Tiger's clever marketing of the El Cardonal course at Cabo's Diamante speaks to lesson's learned from other false-starts in Dubai and North Carolina, fairly normal stuff in golf course design circles. Especially with a market collapse thrown in. The Tweeted or Instagrammed teaser photo from this week.

As previously noted here, Jack Nicklaus has a stunning looking course in Cabo as well. Here is a GolfCourseArchitecture.net story with a few more details on Quivira.

If there was ever any doubt about the healthy of the economy…Fred Funk has landed his first "signature" design job in Colorado. RainDance National is the name of the project according to Golf Course Architecture. Of course it is.

Philadelphia Cricket Club's 1922 A.W. Tillinghast course re-opens this week after a Keith Foster restoration. Foster also did a restoration at Colonial, host to the tour this week. Here's GolfClubAtlas discussion on the reopening.

The course hosts next year's PGA Club Pro as a possible audition for a major. You can see some before-after images here, though things are pretty raw and I'm waiting for more views as superintendent Dan Meersman gets things going with some decent growing weather.

Geoff Shackelford

Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning Drive, is co-host of The Ringer's ShackHouse is the author of eleven books.

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