Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes, July 28, 2022
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Another busy edition of the free weekly News and Notes edition of The Quad.
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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
Lowry: "Cantlay pissed me off a little bit"
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Nice spot by GolfWRX’s Gianni Magliocco to catch Shane Lowry’s post-Ryder Cup comments.
As I noted in the Quadrilateral Sunday wrap and Monday awards, Shane Lowry seemed peeved at the end of his singles match with Cantlay, and overall came off a little over amped at last week’s event. Well, there was a reason.
Speaking on a Paddy Power Instagram Live chat, Lowry explained.
“Yeah, he (Cantlay) p****d me off a little bit on the 8th, to be honest. I was lining up my putt and he was riling up the crowd which I didn’t think was great. In Rome, we’ll hopefully win and win in a different style, that’s how I’m looking at it.”
Game on!
During the interview, Lowry revealed that Cantlay wasn’t the only U.S. player who got under his skin in Wisconsin and took aim at both Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau for their demonstrations on the greens over a couple of short putts not being given.
“For a start Bryson Dechambeau’s putter shaft is about four feet long so it was definitely not a gimme. Justin Thomas did the same thing and then I did the same thing but purely because Justin Thomas did it.
“They made me hit a putt from literally 18 inches on the first so I did the exact same thing as Thomas did just because I was annoyed with the picture I’d seen of him that morning.”
Lowry went on to admit he and Tyrrell Hatton did not give putts—yippee—but at least we now know what irked him so.
The Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes, September 2, 2021
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ESPN.com: 2020 Ryder Cup Postponement To Become Official
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One can only imagine the stories they’ll be able to tell about what went on behind closed doors in the 2020 Ryder Cup discussions.
The PGA Tour’s first day back after the hiatus was dominated by Ryder Cup questions.
Almost three weeks ago, the Guardian said we’d soon learn about the fate the event slated for the end of September.
A majority of the readers here thought the event should be postponed but a surprising number were open to some option this year with limited or no fan access.
As has been well documented, players do not feel it’s a Ryder Cup without fans, led by the top two players in the world.
The European Tour has not sounded excited at all about the business prospects of this notion and even Captain Padraig Harrington came around on this front. But others saw the split with players potentially causing unnecessary disharmony.
The PGA Tour does not want to give up its 2021 Presidents Cup date at Quail Hollow and even tried to poll players acting like budging was not an option..
The PGA of America has to manage the above’s needs plus those of media partners NBC/Golf Channel, Sky and host site Whistling Straits.
And suddenly, managing difficult bank clients all looks like child’s play to PGA CEO Seth Waugh!
ESPN.com’s Bob Harig says the decision has been made, the accountants appeased and the 2020 Ryder Cup will be pushed back a year.
"There will not be a Ryder Cup this year," the source said. "The Ryder Cup will go to 2021, the Presidents Cup to 2022, and then they will alternate from there."
2022 Ryder Cup Set For Traditional Fall Date, Images Of Simone Golf Club Revealed
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It’s a go!
Long-rumored to be in jeopardy, the 2022 Ryder Cup outside Rome seems to be on track, and without a power line in sight! Then again they are graphic depictions including the all important buggies so prospective Vice Captains can start planning routes.
For Immediate Release:
It will be the first time The Ryder Cup has been played in Italy, with the country following England, Scotland, Spain, Ireland, Wales and France as European nations to host the biennial contest between Europe and the United States.
The dates for the 2022 contest – which include the three build-up days of Tuesday September 27, Wednesday September 28 and Thursday September 29, 2022 – were confirmed today by Ryder Cup Europe at the start of the Italian Open week, with six players from Europe’s victorious 2018 Ryder Cup Team – Paul Casey, Tyrrell Hatton, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose – in the field for the Rolex Series event, alongside the winning 2018 Captain Thomas Bjørn and the 2020 European Captain Padraig Harrington.
Marco Simone, which is on the outskirts of the Italian capital Rome, is currently undergoing an extensive renovation programme in preparation for hosting golf’s greatest team contest.
These graphics, in addition to a flyover animation of the tenth, 11th and 16th holes, offer the first glimpse of what the course will look like when it welcomes some of the world’s leading golfers in three years’ time.
These holes are part of nine constructed since last September and they are now in the growing phase, with the overall project set to enter its second phase this week.
This second phase comprises the construction of the remaining nine holes with work due to be completed by May 2020, allowing growing to take place over that summer. Alongside the work to the course, the clubhouse and practice facilities will also be fully refurbished, to allow Marco Simone to host the Italian Open in autumn 2021.
European Golf Design is responsible for the redesign project, creating a world-class golf course inside the ropes, in addition to a purpose-built venue outside the ropes to allow spectators to view The 2022 Ryder Cup from as many natural vantage points as possible.
Guy Kinnings, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “The success of Francesco Molinari at last year’s Ryder Cup, alongside his Open Championship and Race to Dubai victories, has been a huge boost for golf in Italy. Interest continues to build and today’s announcement of the dates is another significant milestone in the country’s journey to hosting its first Ryder Cup.”
Gian Paolo Montali, General Director of the Ryder Cup 2022 Project, said: “Our commitment for The Ryder Cup 2022 project is not only to host an iconic sport event, but also to leave a legacy for Italy and the Italian people. With the work being carried out at Marco Simone, The 2022 Ryder Cup course will become a sporting “pilgrimage” site that will continue to attract golfers for many years and will help develop to economic income through golf tourism.
“We are ambitious and these images give fans around the world a taste of what they can expect in September 2022. Today marks another important step in our journey towards hosting Italy’s first Ryder Cup with the announcement of the dates and we must say thank you once again to Franco Chimenti. He is the one who had the vision and the courage to bring this fascinating competition to Italy.”
Lavinia Biagiotti, President of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, said: “We are very proud to be the host venue of The 2022 Ryder Cup and the announcement of the dates makes today an exciting one for everyone involved at Marco Simone.
“We have been working closely with Ryder Cup Europe and the Italian Golf Federation, along with European Golf Design and Tom Fazio II, to use the natural environment around the millenary tower of the Marco Simone Castle to create a top class venue designed to host The Ryder Cup, one of the world’s biggest sporting events.”
The impact of The Ryder Cup is also being felt further afield in Italy through the Road to Rome initiative run by the FIG.
Last October, the Road to Rome visited Terrazza dei Cannoni on Castel dell’Ovo in Naples for Golf in the Piazza and a month later, more than 2,500 people visited Città di Lombardia in Milan, where the centrepiece was a putting green inside the Belvedere on the 39th floor of the Palazzo Lombardia.
In February, more than 100 students met the players from Italy’s national teams met at Marco Simone and Golf in the Piazza then visited Parma, with more than 4,000 people attending the event at Piazza Garibaldi.
To launch the Italian Open week, the Ryder Cup visited Villa Borghese for Golf in Piazza for the latest stop on the Road to Rome on Sunday and this Wednesday (Oct 9) the third Junior Road to the 2022 Ryder Cup takes place between two teams of 12 of Italy’s best young players.
The 10th, 11th and 16th holes were posted 10 months ago from European Golf Design working in conjunction with Tom Fazio II. This is the same footage used for the release today:
Europe Explores Colosseum Ryder Cup Opening In 2022, But Will There Be A Decent Course To Play?
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Rex Hoggard talks to European Tour Chief Keith Pelley, who says the 2022 Ryder Cup is very much headed to Italy despite no shortage of reports about ongoing instability that jeopardizes government assistance of the Cup. And Pelley teased a potentially big opening ceremony location.
“I’ve said all along the Ryder Cup in 2022 is going to Italy,” said Pelley, who added that the tour’s Ryder Cup support team is in Italy this week meeting with local officials. “Italy in 2022 is a story that people talk about but we had conversations this week about the opening ceremony being in the Colosseum. These are serious conversations with Italian decision makers and officials.”
Hoggard notes that Marco Simone, the host course, is of even greater concern, with Pelley conceding it is behind schedule.
Much of the concern over Italy as the ’22 host has been focused on the course, Marco Simone, which Pelley described as a “construction zone.”
A recent press release suggested a vast construction undertaking underway.
But a reader played there two weeks ago, shared photos of a course not under construction and offered this assessment:
Played it at €90 for the day. Terrible course on an awkward piece of land (hilly) with a clay - read mud - soil base. A real stretch to see a RC here. Kicker is apparently - according to the member I played with - that the massive overhead power lines which blot the landscape are to be relayed underground - a project in itself. I’m no expert, but with less than 4 years to “balls in the air” it seems a real stretch to imagine the event there - unlike other Euro venues which had been there for years and needed a bit of tweaking. Basically a total reconstruction is required - incl the clubhouse IMHO, but is there time ?
Two new holes are under construction at least. And the Colosseum could have lights and proper presenters in 2022!
