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
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 PGA Tour Driving Distance average dipped from 288.3 after the Masters to 287.6 following the Heritage.
I knew those overhanging trees were good for something! By the way, how do they grow grass there!?
There was 1 350-or-longer drive, with the season total at 845.
The PGA Tour Driving Distance average rose dipped a bit from 288.66 after the BellSouth to 288.3 after the Masters.
There were 0 over-350 or longer drives, with the season total to 844, then again, it's not clear if they were actually measing on all holes.
ShotLink was supposedly coming to the Augusta National for the first time, but with not a mention anywhere and a few trusted spotters insisting they did not see the measuring devices, it would seem that only the measuring holes were used.
Adam Van Brimmer of the Morris News Service reports on a USGA release apparently handed out at the Masters.
The USGA recently released a list of eight myths about golf equipment and performance. The scientific findings, at the least, cast doubt on whether something significant should be done to rein in the equipment advances many say are changing the way the game is played.
"We thought that people who are avid golfers would be interested in actual facts and measurements with respect to the performance of golfers in today's world with new technology," said Walter Driver, USGA's president and an Augusta National member. "We want to give people access to some of the facts and dispel some of the myths that develop around every golf era, and new golf technology in particular."
Note that Walter Driver was available for a quote on this document. The myths are not available on the USGA website. Here they are, according to the USGA:
MYTH 1: Golfers with faster swing speeds hit today's advanced golf balls farther than they did balls introduced before 2000.
MYTH 2: Golf-ball distance is not currently limited.
MYTH 3:Driving distance on the PGA Tour is rapidly increasing.
MYTH 4: The long hitters on the PGA Tour finish higher on the money list.
MYTH 5:Most PGA Tour players swing at 120 mph or more.
MYTH 6:The USGA ball test doesn't control ball distance well enough because pros' swings are different than the test method.
MYTH 7:The average distance for 5-irons on tour is more than 200 yards.
MYTH 8:You get more distance by putting topspin on a drive.
Van Brimmer offers these rebuttal points:
- Though the golf-ball distance is limited, the USGA's overall distance standard limit made a quantum leap from 296.8 yards to 320 yards in 2003 to account for advances in club technology. The swing speed used in the test increased from 109 mph to 120 mph to reflect these changes.
- Though driving distance has flattened out in recent years, as the USGA statistics show, it certainly grew unabated throughout the 1990s and earlier this decade. For example, 29-year-old John Daly led the PGA Tour in driving distance in 1995 with a 289-yard average. Seven years later, an older and heavier Daly led the tour at 306 yards off the tee - a whopping 17-yard increase.
- While fewer long hitters reign on the money list, most of the top players average 300 yards or better. Half of 2005's top 10 money winners, including the top 3 of Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson, crush the ball.
Top players rely more on length now than two decades ago. In 1985, none of the top 10 money leaders ranked among the top 10 in driving distance. In 1984, only three did.
The lengthening of Augusta National and other courses is an architect's way of keeping up. Augusta has added nearly 500 yards since 2002, about the same time the increase in driving distance leveled off.
Now, contrast this with the two speeches USGA's Jim Vernon has given (Annual Meeting and Arizona).
Talk about sending mixed messages.
The PGA Tour Driving Distance average rose just a bit from 288.12 after the BellSouth to 288.6 yards. That's nearly 9 yards longer than last year at this point.
There were 12 over-350 or longer drives, bringing the season total to 844. The average percentage of over-300 yard drives rose from 23.8% to 24.04%.
With ShotLink coming to the Augusta National for the first time, it will be interesting to see if the PGA Tour includes the Masters in this year's statistics.
The PGA Tour Driving Distance average dropped again from 288.956 yards after Bay Hill, to 288.12 following 
The PGA Tour driving distance average dropped from 288.956 to 288.5 in spite of the Bay Hill rough harvest.There were 2 drives at 350 or longer, bringing the season total to 830 (there were 2059 in 2005).
As for the percentage of drives over 300 stat, the PGA Tour average dropped slightly to 25.3%, down from 27% after the Honda.
The PGA Tour driving distance average finished up 1.5 yards to 288.956. Oh heck, let's call it 289!
But here's the post-Honda Classic eye-opener: there were 288 drives of 350 yards or longer for the week, bringing the season total to 828 at 350 or more (they're nearly halfway home to 2005's total of 2,059 and haven't played a major yet!).
Despite the onslaught of big tee shots, only 1 over-400 yard drive was added, bringing the total to 16 (19 in all of 2005).
As for the percentage of drives over 300 stat, the PGA Tour average remains 27% of drives finishing over 300 yards.
A PGATour.com notes column pointed out that of the 828 drives over 350, only 1 was by Tiger Woods.
Thanks to Doral's mysterious pre-tournament course watering, the PGA Tour driving distance average actually dipped every so slightly from 287.8 yards to 287.5.
8 drives were added to the 350 and over club, bringing the season tally to 540. There were no 400 yarders last week, so the season total remains 15.
Looks like the boys are back in the weight room (well maybe not David Duval), as the PGA Tour driving distance average jumped nearly two yards last week, to 287.8 yards following the WGC Match Play and Tucson.
39 drives were added to the 350 and over club, bringing the season tally to 532. There were no 400 yarders last week, so the season total remains stuck on 15 (4 shy of last year's total).
And even though I don't really know what to make of the percentage of drives over 300 stat (without past comparisons), right now, the PGA Tour average is 27.2% of drives finishing over 300 yards.
The cold and kikuyu at Riviera kept the PGA Tour driving distance average nearly the same at 286.1 yards.
ShotLink at the Nissan also says that the Tour driving distance average for all drives is 285.6 yards (it was 279.8 at the Nissan).
And 5 drives were added to the 350 and longer club, bringing the season total to 493.
Poking around ShotLink today, I wanted to see what the players were averaging on all drives versus the two measuring holes. Here are a few players, with their average and their rank. (The NA's don't have enough drives to earn a rank).
Player Driving Distance Avg. Driving Distance
(2 measuring holes) (All Holes)
Bubba Watson 320.5 (1) 310.5 (2)
Tiger Woods 306.3 (NA) 305.6 (NA)
Phil Mickelson 298.9 (17) 301.8 (4)
Davis Love III 292.8 (50) 291.5 (44)
Charles Howell 287.7 (81) 287.2 (80)
Jeff Gove 293.5 (47) 287.2 (80)
Jason Gore 292.8 (50) 294.6 (26)
Sergio Garcia 282.4 (125) 293.7 (30)
Jim Furyk 267.5 (180) 275.8 (168)
Brad Faxon 257.3 (187) 263.1 (188)
John Daly 302.2 (NA) 298.5 (NA)
Olin Browne 272.6 (174) 273.5 (174)
J.B. Holmes 313.5 (2) 314.6 (1)
Jim Nantz told viewers to put another log on the fire, sit back, and enjoy the Pebble Beach scenery.
Well, I searched for a piece of driftwood down at the beach, but figured it was a little too hot here in the Home of the Homeless to start a fire. 85 degrees today. Brilliant, as Bobby Clampett might say (I was torturing myself listening to the audio feed).
Hey, and you east coasters who had to shovel snow, remember, you get to enjoy the seasons. We don't have them.
Anyway, they must have measured drives on some pretty interesting holes at the AT&T, because in spite of Monterey's record temps Thursday, the PGA Tour driving distance average dropped nearly 3 yards, to 286.08 yards despite what seemed like a whole lot of wedges hit into 450-yard+ par-4s.
Of course, some big bombers weren't playing and bums like Tiger aren't even eligible for the list right now, which might just influence the numbers.
In the 350-yard or longer drive category, the tally was boosted by 7 tee shots, pushing the season total to 488. There were 2059 drives of 350 yards or more in 2005.
More from Tiger's Masters media day:
Q. I wanted to ask you about moving to new technology, getting more distance, is that a reflection of what was happening on Tour the last couple of years versus what you could see was going to happen with guys like J.B. Holmes and Bubba Watson coming up?
TIGER WOODS: Well, the guys -- I know I didn't use technology, the advances in technology for a couple of years. Guys were sacrificing some of the spins that they would normally have for distance, and they have gone longer and lighter in shafts, bigger, hotter heads and obviously higher launching and less-spinning golf balls. All of that equates to a lot more yardage. What I've always told the guys at Nike is that I've always wanted a golf ball that would spin around the greens. So can I actually hit the ball further? Yeah, there's no doubt about that, if I went to the golf balls that other guys are using. I decided to use technology in the driver only and not necessarily the golf ball. I've got more of an overall-performing golf ball than some of the other guys because my ball does spin a little bit more, but I am able to hit it further than the old golf balls I used to play.
From The Australian:
"It's amazing to me," said Couples, who is in Australia for the first time since 1997 to compete in this week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth. "I played with Adam Scott in Florida in the off-season and we were talking about a couple of things. He's got another gear when he drives it a long way and a couple of times I got it up with him or past him and we were laughing about it because I'm twice his age.
"But I saw this kid (Holmes) at Tour school and I physically saw him hitting some balls in Phoenix and it's hard to believe.
"You know, to sit here and try to explain it - well, how far does he outdrive you? Fifty yards. Fifty yards. I don't know if I've even ever semi-missed a drive and then been outdriven by 50 yards. And this guy is going to do it most of the day.
"And there's another guy Bubba Watson, who hits it further than him. I can't quite figure out how to hit it that far. To me it's just goofy. He hits a three-wood 280-290 yards and a seven-iron 210. I have no idea. It just doesn't make sense. I hit a seven-iron maybe 155 and sometimes up to 170."
J.B. Holmes in this USA Today story on the shift to power/flogging:
"It's better to have a wedge in the rough than a 7-iron in the middle of the fairway. That's just the way it's going now."
And this, which is hard to imagine since he seemed to have wedge into every par-4 at Scottsdale:
"I'm not overswinging or anything. That's just my normal swing to try to get it in the fairway. There's probably been times I've hit the driver better. When that happens, I can go low because I have so many wedges in my hand."
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
