January 27, 2012

Olympic Design Derby Preview

January 27, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

Thanks to reader Chris for John Paul Newport's reminder that next Tuesday and Wednesday the Olympic golf architecture finalists will be making their pitches to the jury panel, with a decision to come on the winning bid later in the week. Just a month ago, I handicapped the finalists here.

January 26, 2012

PGA State Of The Game: "Certainly it feels like there is recovery in the industry."

January 26, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

The PGA of America's State of the Industry Roundtable at the PGA Show is an annual gathering of bluecoats talking up the great state of the game and their latest initiatives. Thursday appears to have been no different as they unveiled the 2012 intiative, Golf 2.0, complete with a Boy and Girls Scouts component.

January 24, 2012

“They’re not going to make decisions based on rankings. They trust what goes on inside the ropes.”

January 24, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

Tod Leonard looks at the possible impact of the Golf World player course ranking on venues like Torrey Pines, printing some of the player issues with the designs and with last year's high-rough and narrow fairways.

January 19, 2012

"So be it. Cog Hill No. 4 is a terrific layout and will continue to be a must play for the people who matter most to the Jemseks: the public golfers."

January 19, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

Ed Sherman reviews the Golf World Player Course Ranking and says player reaction to Cog Hill has doomed its chances of hosting a future BMW Championship.

January 16, 2012

Whitten: Bandon Overrated, Badly Needs Sink Stoppers

January 16, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

Ron Whitten is also reading the Jobs bio and it got him inspired to suggest that Bandon Dunes Resort is not a "Great Golf Experience" but instead, "Merely Adequate." Apparently, Ron hasn't been to Myrtle in a few years.

January 13, 2012

Ballyneal Auction Update

January 13, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

Pete Finch updates us on the financial affairs of bankrupt Ballyneal and it's awkward. The course goes to auction March 7 with $1.7 million in debt.

January 13, 2012

Ogilvy: "The quality of the courses is so much more important than the powers-that-be seem to think."

January 13, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

To accompany Golf World's PGA Tour course ranking project, contributor Geoff Ogilvy penned a column sharing his thoughts on the ranking, players as architecture critics and the important role good design plays in shaping our perception of tournament golf.

January 12, 2012

Golf World PGA Tour Course Ranking Goes Live...

January 12, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

Golf World subscribers will get the full presentation--a whopping 9000 words worth--but until then GolfDigest.com will be sharing components of our PGA Tour Course Ranking Survey, starting with this slideshow of the top 10 along with some highlights of the player comments.

January 10, 2012

Golf World Tour Players Course Ranking: Augusta #1

January 10, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

John Antonini reports in Golf World Monday that Augusta National landed in the top spot of Golf World (or anyone else's) first ever PGA Tour player ranking. I can confirm this is correct as this has been a special project in the works for over a year, with reporting work done mostly by Craig Dolch and the package pieced together by yours truly.

January 06, 2012

Irish Open Finally Confirmed For Portrush; Will Today's Masters Be Able To Handle Three Links In Four Weeks?

January 06, 2012/ Geoff Shackelford

Long discussed and mercifully not a reality, the Irish Open will be played at magnificent Royal Portrush this year in what the golf world can only hope is the audition it needs to land an Open.

December 27, 2011

Only One Genuinely Difficult Par-5 Left On The Tour?

December 27, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

Loads of good stuff in Doug Ferguson's weekly notes column and since it's a slow week, I'll start with this gem of a stat he unearthed. I'm not sure what this speaks to more, the dearth of old-style three-shotters or the sheer genius of the tour's physio's who enable the lads to hit the ball so far.

December 21, 2011

Darwin's Golf Courses Of The Isles Coming To TV

December 21, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

I think it's safe to say Golf Channel could right many the wrongs perpetrated by the Big Break Series by picking up Landmark Media Productions' "The Golf Courses of the British Isles" based on and using the words from Bernard Darwin's classic book.

December 21, 2011

Raynor's Fox Chapel To Host Senior Players

December 21, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

I've always heard great things about Seth Raynor's Fox Chapel Golf Club design near Pittsburgh. Now we'll get to see it and Brian Silva's restoration work there next summer in what is a new date for the Champions Tour major.