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
The Forecaddie says he wanted this extremely expensive custom Porsche in time to tootle down Magnolia Lane, but alas his Masters-themed car arrived just in time for Patrick Reed to say goodbye as he tees up in this week’s…European Tour Porsche European Open.
Tiger Woods should have another gift basket waiting on his doorstep today, this time from Sean McManus to go with the ones from Mark Lazarus, Mike McCarley and Fred Ridley. Okay, maybe The Masters doesn't do gift baskets.
Anyway, Tiger helped deliver a 6.1 overnight final round rating for the 2018 PGA Championship. The audience peaked at 8.3 late in the round.
From Paulsen at Sports Media Watch, who has several other anecdotes about the ratings this year:
Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship earned a 6.1 overnight rating on CBS, up 69% from last year (3.6), up 56% from 2016 (3.9) and the highest since 2009 (7.5). The previous mark was a 6.0 for the 2014 final round.
The 6.1 is tied as the highest golf overnight outside of the Masters since the final round of the 2012 U.S. Open (6.6).
Some might point out that the 6.1 much better than 2014's 6.0 at Valhalla featuring the unforgettable Rory-Rickie-Phil finish. However, sports ratings have been on a decline and sizable numbers have moved to streaming, making the rating that much more impressive for CBS.
Also worth noting: the strong final round means the U.S. Open was the lowest rated final round of the four majors this year. The overnights for 2018:
Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post landed an exclusive interview with Patrick Reed, who discussed just how likable his pro-am partners find him. Bobby Joe Grooves is alive and well!
More fascinating, however, was Rickie Fowler's analogy for Reed's win. (Thanks reader Mike.)
Fowler said he notices the negative perception attached to Reed and called it “unfortunate.’’
“Not to compare it but, hey, Donald Trump’s our President,’’ Fowler said. “He got elected. Accept it. That’s our President. Patrick Reed, whether you like him or not, he won the Masters. He went out and won it. There’s no politics involved. He played better than everyone else that week. He beat everyone.’’
The former Champion Golfer of the World may need a food tester at Carnoustie this year, though his comments were clearly made with an understandable bias toward wanting to win the Masters and become a career Grand Slam winner.
From James Corrigan's Telegraph story, with comments made before this week's Wells Fargo Championship.
"I don't care about the US Open or The Open Championship – The Masters is now the biggest tournament in the world, the most amount of eyeballs, the most amount of hype, everything is at Augusta,” he said. “It's the most special tournament we play and it's the one everyone desperately wants to win.”
The story goes on to say that McIlroy's wife had to push him out of the house after suffering an understandable bout of post-final round misery following the 2018 event where he trailed by three heading into the final round.
Good take here from Jay Rigdon at Awful Announcing on the jabs and other criticism of Patrick Reed for wearing the green jacket wherever he goes.
But people love Phil Mickelson! And he’s earned it, too, for the most part. So things like that slide off of him, while people go out of their way to paint Reed as a clown for wearing the green jacket to a basketball game. The lesson, as always, is that the media (social and traditional) tends to cover people they like more favorably, fair or not.
There are plenty of legitimate reasons to be annoyed by Patrick Reed. Wearing the green jacket everywhere shouldn’t be one of them.
Kyle Porter also touched on this and Reed's inconsistency as reasons he's not getting the same respect as recent major winners.
John Strege files a nice follow-up read with U.S. Mid-Amateur champ Matt Parziale after his Masters missed cut. The firefighter chimes in everything from the practice rounds and amateur dinner to his fiance's newfound interest in golf.
On the helpful nature of players in practice rounds:
Helpful, too, to a Masters rookie attempting to learn Augusta National’s nuances and mysteries in only a few days. “Golf is strange in that sense. The Patriots aren’t helping the Eagles get ready for the Super Bowl. That’s why our sport is so great. They were so great helping me around the course and showing spots where I might not want to hit it. Everyone is helpful.”
He enjoyed the perks to which every player in the field is entitled, the Mercedes-Benz courtesy car, for instance. “Probably the nicest car I’ve ever driven,” he said. There were the eight tickets a day he was provided and a few extras that he bought. “The toughest thing was getting tickets for everyone,” he said. “But the guys I couldn’t get tickets for found their own.”
Just a reminder that the world's best somehow managed to play The Masters without green reading books and yardage books feature grade-adjusted yardages.
Sun did the whole rise from the east, set in the west thing each day.
Players had to play by the club's rules and all still showed up. File that away.
As Karen Crouse writes for the New York Times, some of today's best even prefer the freedom to play
Away from Augusta, competitors typically use two books, one with tee-to-green details for each hole and the other, which often has a price tag, focused solely on the greens. The Masters provides a single one, at no cost, that covers both elements, offering rudimentary information. It is left to the caddies and the players to do their own legwork and fill in the blanks. In that respect, the Augusta National book is like the course itself, designed to reward those with the most creativity, imagination and discipline.
“I like it that way,” said Michael Greller, who caddies for Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion. “It rewards people who put the work in.”
It's interesting to see Patrick Reed suggesting his Masters win validates a strategy to go equipment-deal free. I wonder if other players will forsake the money and full support of a tour team?
Wait, this just in, sources close to 300 of the world's best golfers just whispered in my ear and said no &^$#%* way.
Bill Speros with a roundup of Reed's New York visit following his Masters win.
“This has freed me up to use whatever equipment I want. On the equipment side, I’m just out there doing my thing. I’m using whatever I want to use,” Reed said. “I’m able to put 14 golf clubs and a golf ball in the bag that I feel are the perfect fit for me. To do that and come out with a my first major, it was a risk. But it was a risk that was the right one.”
Both Alan Shipnuck of Golf.com and Ian O'Connor of ESPN.com talked to Patrick Reed's parents Sunday after their son won the 2018 Masters.
Bill and Jeannette have not been in touch with their son for six years, with Shipnuck reporting they were escorted off of Pinehurst during the U.S. Open at the request of Justine Reed, Patrick's wife.
From Shipnuck's report:
A friend of Bill and Jeannette's had extra tickets to the 2014 U.S. Open, so with some trepidation, they went to Pinehurst No. 2 and followed Patrick throughout the second round, hoping to perhaps reestablish contact and meet their granddaughter for the first time. Justine was also in the gallery, but no words were exchanged. Walking up the 18th hole, Bill, Jeannette and Hannah were surrounded by police officers. They ultimately were escorted off the grounds and had their tournament badges confiscated by a USGA official who, according to Jeannette, said he was acting on Justine's wishes. (In previous interviews Patrick and Justine declined to comment on any aspect of their relationship with his parents.)
O'Connor wrote that he joined Bill Reed in tears.
So we cried together Monday morning, two 50-something fathers talking about regrets and family divisions and the things people wished they would have said and done before loved ones passed away. We talked about green jackets, too. Patrick won the Masters 3 miles from where his father Bill and mother Jeannette and younger sister Hannah watched with family friends Sunday evening from their Augusta home. They were uninvited guests to the coronation of golf's brash new 27-year-old king.
Saturday's third round of the 2018 Masters saw a nice increase while Sunday's finale with Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy in the final group was up 16%.
We see ratings increase numbers like that all the time, but when it's The Masters that means we're talking about a lot more eyeballs, two million to be exact: 13.027 million average television viewers versus 11.051 million last year.
Also note the streaming numbers at the very end.
CBS SPORTS’ 2018 MASTERS THIRD-ROUND COVERAGE EARNS RATINGS INCREASE OF 24%
CBS Sports’ third-round coverage of the 2018 Masters on Saturday, April 7, earned an average household metered market rating/share of 5.7/13, up 24% from last year’s 4.6/11.
This year’s third-round rating peaked with a 6.1/14 rating/share from 5:45-6:00 PM, ET and a 6.1/13 from 6:15-6:30 PM, ET.
Top Five Rated Markets:
1. Ft Myers-Naples – 10.1/22
2. Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville- 10.0/18
3. Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem- 9.7/17
4. Dayton- 9.6/18
. Louisville- 9.3/18
And Sunday's news...
CBS SPORTS’ 2018 FINAL-ROUND MASTERS COVERAGE DELIVERS INCREASE IN VIEWERSHIP OF 18%
MASTERS FINAL-ROUND IS HIGHEST-RATED AND MOST-WATCHED GOLF TELECAST SINCE MASTERS IN 2015
DIGITAL STREAMS OF ENTIRE TOURNAMENT DRAW RECORD VIEWERSHIP
CBS Sports’ final-round coverage of the 2018 Masters on Sunday, April 8 was seen by an average of 13.027 million television viewers on CBS, an increase of 18% from last year’s final round (11.051 million), according to Nielsen live plus same day fast national ratings.
Yesterday’s coverage earned an average national household rating/share of 7.9/18, an increase of 16% from last year’s 6.8/16.
This year’s final round was the highest-rated and most-watched golf telecast since the final round of the Masters in 2015 (8.8/20; 14.231 million viewers).
The final round peaked with a 9.9/21 rating/share and 16.836 million viewers from 6:15-6:30 PM, ET.
CBS Sports’ live streaming video coverage of the 2018 Masters Tournament, featuring four channels of golf action available on CBS Sports and Masters digital platforms, drew record viewership with 873 million total minutes of coverage streamed, an increase of 110% from 2017.
There was plenty to kick around from a Masters that lived up to the hype, even if the winner might not have been the mega-star or legend some hoped.
We cover a bit of everything in the latest ShackHouse, presented by Callaway and on The Ringer podcast network.
As always, an iTunes subscription or other locale is best for subscribing and listening.
You can always listen here too:
Also, House, Bill Simmons and Bon Appetit editor Adam Rapoport broke down the Masters concession food and more in this episode:
We've got a ShackHouse in the can that should push overnight and I'll be on Morning Drive to discuss a sensational Masters which, I believe, lived up to the hype.
Patrick Reed won't be the most popular champion on a day Rickie Fowler came excruciatingly close to winning his first major, Jordan Spieth played possibly the best round of his career until a branch intervened, and Rory McIlroy missed an opportunity to be a career Grand Slam winner.
Eamon Lynch considers what makes Reed a worthy, if complicated winner.
Ryan Lavner is well versed in the Reed backstory and does a lovely job summing up the day and the mixed-feelings about the win.
I penned a few conclusions and assessments of the week for Fowler, McIlroy, Spieth and Rahm.
George Willis of the New York Post on the sordid family history that makes Patrick Reed a Masters oddity.
Bill Fields on this being a Sunday to remember.
President Donald Trump Tweeted his congratulations.
The champion's final round in under 3 minutes:
Watch 2018 Masters champion @PReedGolf's final round in under three minutes. #themasters pic.twitter.com/iKjPTYRt74
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 9, 2018
Webb Simpson had a special final round not long after losing his father, who brought him to The Masters, notes The Forecaddie.
Paul Casey had an amazing run at Amen Corner Sunday.
Jim McCabe on the unusual role No. 12 played Sunday as an enabler of birdies.
Classic Sports TV’s roundup of shots shown, you might be surprised who got more airtime than others.
A beautiful shot of Jordan Spieth's fantastic 234-yard hybrid off the pine straw at 13, en route to what almost was the greatest comeback in Masters history, writes Randall Mell. A beautiful image of the scene:
A final-round 64 from @jordanspieth electrified patrons today at #themasters.
A post shared by The Masters (@themasters) on
Will Ricky and Carley Bobby become part of Masters lore Sunday, or will the Jean Girard in this drama become the sixth player to complete the modern Grand Slam. Or did they peak, opening up a chance for someone to come from far back?
It's a tradition unlike any other and the hole locations for Sunday's 2018 Masters final round appear...traditional. Here are five things we learned from Saturday, including insights on a tee shot distance disparity between the leaders, Rory as a mudder and Reed's streakiness.
It's 2-2 at Golfweek in picking a winner.
As Rex Hoggard writes for GolfChannel.com, this one is likely about Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy and fistrionics. But who has more pressure, Joel Beall considers that for GolfDigest.com in a match play format.
Beth Ann Nichols has the Reed angle covered after his Saturday 66.
Eamon Lynch points out the redemption factor for Rory McIlroy and the other intangibles his potentially historic day. Alan Shipnuck reminds us that Mclroy currently fits into that class of players who should absolutely have won the Masters and have not.
Ian O'Connor talks to a former Reed instructor who explains how Reed's inspiration has always been
And remember what the Forecaddie reported, Ricky Bobby will be deprived of his power color.
Jon Rahm moved into contention with a 65 and credits how he paced himself coming in along with a driver head change, writes GolfChannel.com's Ryan Lavner.
It wasn't all bad for Tiger, whose 72 and made cut likely has him landing back in the world top 100, writes Bob Harig.
Make sure to read Doug Ghim's diary from his Saturday round with Bernhard Langer. Ghim will be low amateur and in Butler Cabin this evening.
Happy 60th birthday to Amen Corner, writes Bill Fields for Masters.com.
Also, it’s the 70th anniversary day of Claude Harmon’s improbable win, writes Guy Yocom for Masters.com
Your Sunday tee times and TV Times. Remember Amen Corner Live should start around noon when Vijay Singh and Jeff Knox arrive. Yesterday, btw, member Knox was the only player to birdie the 11th hole.
Sunday's 2018 final round hole locations look mostly similar to recent Sundays:
The pin placements for the final round of #themasters. pic.twitter.com/rxasxs49pF
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2018
Chris Schenkel fans will love this introduction to Masters Sunday featuring vintage sound from the longtime broadcaster juxtaposed over today's scenes.
Some things never change. The voice: Chris Schenkel, 1975. The visuals: the Masters, 2018. #themasters pic.twitter.com/jLBcALniwZ
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2018
If you missed it earlier this week Gene Wojciechowski filed this piece for ESPN's coverage on the Green Jacket, the most famous sports jacket on the planet which will be presented in the ceremony for the 70th time this year.
For our story on the 13th hole, Ben Crenshaw spoke of the 13th tee and the completely unusual quiet the leaders face as they pursue the green jacket.
And this from the official Masters social coverage, narrated by Jimmy Roberts.
Work with me here...open your minds, breathe in and consider the possibilities.
It is, after all, a tradition unlike another other for slightly zany things to occur on Masters Sunday.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
