The only course that will remain difficult under all conditions will be one that is designed and kept for golf of a stereotyped, monotonous character, and this makes a most uninteresting proposition. BOBBY JONES
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
South Africa Balks At $29 Million Presidents Cup Price?
/In his Golf World I Think, I Saw, I Heard notes, Tim Rosaforte says the PGA Tour blew a chance to return the Presidents Cup to South Africa in 2019 where Ernie Els would be perfectly aligned to captain.
You'll be shocked...shocked..to learn that it was all about the money for the Finchem administration.
Rosaforte says the PGA Tour asking price was $29 million to hold the cup, South Africa balked, and Australia will be ponying up $25 million to host the Cup as well as next year's World Cup.
Tape-Delayed Presidents Cup Ratings Way Down
/A Final Word About Jack Nicklaus Golf Club
/2015 Presidents Cup Wrap: So Many Winners
/Brandel: Tiger And Phil Don't Deserve To Be Cup Captains
/Tiger Ready And Willing To Be A '16 Ryder Cup Cart Driver
/Spoiler Alert: Presidents Cup An Instant Classic
/Presidents Cup Actually Close! Note Viewing Window Change
/2019 Presidents Cup Headed To The Sandbelt!
/Wrap: Mickelson Wrong Ball, Wrong Ruling Antics
/AP's Doug Ferguson leads with the oddity of a veteran like Phil Mickelson encountering a situation he'd never seen (a match adjustment penalty), and one started by his switching to a harder ball in hopes of reaching a par-5 in two.
But with this score adjustment for a rules violation element, reader RM makes a fair point: there is no such thing as dormie if you're two down with one to go! Woohoo!
Anyway, from Ferguson's story:
"I was talking with Jay and I just thought, 'Gosh, I'm going to ask. I'm sure it's not an issue,'" Mickelson said. "And it turns out that there was a one-ball rule and it was an issue. As a player, you need to know that. You need to know the rules, and if you have a question, you do it beforehand."
No one knew the ramifications.
The penalty for violating the one-ball rule is called a one-hole adjustment, meaning the one hole is awarded to the other team.
But the rules committee erred when it told Mickelson that he was out of the hole, and Mickelson picked up his ball. Because the one-hole adjustment already had been assessed, Mickelson should have been able to finish the hole. He was in the fairway just over 290 yards from the hole, which he could have reached with a good shot.
But he never got that chance. Day made birdie and won the hole, so the International team went 2 up heading to the eighth hole.
Steve DiMeglio explains the committee's effort to remedy its error.
Although the Match Committee realized that it incorrectly advised Mickelson, under Decision 34-2/6 of the Rules of Golf, the committee is not allowed to have Mickelson go back and play in an attempt to correct the error. According to a statement released by the committee, "Once any player in the match plays a subsequent stroke allowing a correction could potentially undermine the strategy already employed by both sides in the match in completing the hole."
Here is the committee decision released to the media, tweeted by Ferguson:
Sean Martin covers the other key match moments for Mickelson-Johnson v. Day-Scott, which was halved.
The post round interview with Phil and Zach, along with Todd Lewis's thoughts on Golf Central.
All of this added up to some much needed controversy, as Rex Hoggard notes, but it did not create any new tension between the teams.
Maybe Phil Mickelson's post round comments will:
Love Troll Phil. Wish he'd tried to get in Tiger's head like this more often in the 2000s. pic.twitter.com/NzxgGKNqQN (Via @BunkiePerkins)
— Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) October 9, 2015
**If you're still confused--and many of us are--Mike Johnson at GolfDigest.com has a nice FAQ summary.
Video: Phil's Fairway Bunker Hole-out, Presidents Cup
/Video: Presidents Cup Opening Ceremonies Goes Pixar...ish
/If You Care Files: Why Sangmoon Is Sitting
/Day One '15 Presidents Cup Pairings Are Out & Will Remain Out!
/Not quite the kick-off we were hoping for is it for Wednesday night's 10 pm PT start, is it?
Especially when the first match out may be the most intriguing? And they're playing a video game course. In the middle of the night. And all of the players get along.
Oh well! G.C. Digital with the day one foursomes matchups that left Bill Haas, Chris Kirk, Charl Schwartzel and Sangmoon Bae (!?) on the bench.
Because, why would anyone in Korea want to see him play on day one?
Maybe the camera noise will generate a little necessary controversy? Steve Elling explains.
**Steve DiMeglio in Korea on how the Jordan Spieth-Dustin Johnson foursomes pairing came about.
Rex Hoggard concurs, the potentially exciting matchups didn't happen.
Add Alex Miceli to the list of uninspired by the pairings, too.