It’s back!
Twenty years later Tatra Press has kindly allowed me to bring back Grounds For Golf now that golf architecture is of more interest to the masses. A new Introduction looks at what’s driven the interest growth and two new chapters I had a blast adding (plus a few edits to keep things up-to-date).
The Amazon purchase page for the book arriving June 15, 2026.
Vartan Kupelian spent a few too many days in the hot Flint sun last week, because he's proposing that Detroit find a way to build the first ever Tiger Woods design to replace the "too easy" Warwick Hills. Oh and he wants to pair Tiger up with Tom Doak.
Apparently Vartan is trying to make enemies in IMG Design Services, Inc.
According to Doug Ferguson, she's fired Greg Johnston, making it number four (not including B.J.). She's almost gone through as many drummers as Spinal Tap. Of course, the fictional band had their drummer blow up and disappear. Johnston will resurface.
Love the quote from the PR guy at, no joke, the "Ken Sunshine" agency:
"Greg Johnston's hard work and dedication made him a great partner for Michelle, as he would be for any other golfer," Wie's spokesperson Jesse Derris of the Ken Sunshine agency said in a statement released on Tuesday. "His departure comes as part of Michelle's maturation as a golfer, part of which is learning from many different bright golf minds. We wish Greg the best, and are sure he will have a long and successful career."
Ed Sherman reports on Phil Mickelson's quest to find some semblance of design character at Medinah. Accompanying Phil were his caddy, dad and of course, senior advisor to The People's Champion, Dave Pelz.
"They broke down every green complex," [Medinah Head Pro Mike] Scully said. "They looked at every possible putt, and every possible chip or bunker shot. Then he practiced those shots. He studies it hard. It was very impressive."
SI.com features this tough give-and-take session with Natalie Gulbis and supplements this historic coverage with a photo gallery of Gulbis posing in a mobile home kitchen. Not exactly Walter Iooss Jr. Best of the Swimsuit Issue here.
In other words, no bathing suit shots (in case you were on the fence about hitting the link.)
Thanks to Pete the Luddite for this.
Actually, he just likes the milkshakes and I'm sure he'll be teeing it up in his first non-senior major at the Jeld-Wen in a few weeks. Oh wait, that's a major! Hard to keep track.
Speaking of the Champions Tour, check out John Hawkins' take on the ratings deprived Tour that once used to be popular when it didn't care about catering to 18-34 year olds and was called the Senior Tour.
Here is the San Diego Union Tribune's Nick Canepa on Phil's latest photo op charitable foundation event.
Meanwhile, thanks to reader Chuck for the head's up on the latest infomercial debuting Saturday on CBS, and hopefully not coming to a DVD anytime soon. From PGATour.com:
Humble in nature and quick to deflect praise and attention, Mickelson himself would point to the personal and professional support network that has helped him achieve his lofty status. “The People’s Champion” will talk with each of the people who have played such a pivotal role in his success story.Just making sure you were still reading.
Amy Mickelson. Phil’s dedication to his game is perhaps equaled only by the dedication to their charitable foundation. We’ll find out where their energies have been most pointedly directed and which charities the foundation will target throughout 2006.
Rick Smith and Dave Pelz. Both of these men have helped shape the game that has developed into the most complete on the PGA TOUR. We’ll watch one of their many practice sessions and study the unique approach to refining Phil’s world class skills.
We'll also see the two legendary teachers fight for the co-pilot's seat when Phil takes the wheel of his jet as cameras roll.
Jim McKay. Balancing the dynamics of a relationship that is both personal and professional is never easy. No one can argue with these results. “Bones” has been by Phil’s side for 15 years, sharing the joy and the pain. We’ll watch and listen as they work together in their office; the range.Again, just wanted to see if you were reading. Because now you have to read carefully.
Steve Loy. Phil’s former golf coach at Arizona State was on the bag in Tucson in 1991; the first of 29 PGA TOUR victories. He’ll offer a first hand account of the two-decade progression from college freshman to two-time Masters champion, and for the first time ever, will take off his sunglasses as cameras roll.
Without any special access, “The People’s Champion” will also document, in a behind-the-scenes style, the week of the U.S. Open as Mickelson chases his third consecutive major championship at Winged Foot Golf Club amid the electrified atmosphere that can only be generated by his passionate New York fans.
That's right, they are touting the fact that they did NOT get special access! Gee, makes you just want to run to the TiVo!
Interspersed within the show will also be footage and interviews already gathered, describing Phil’s introduction to the game in Southern California. We’ll hear stories from Phil, his dad and those in the San Diego area who saw his enormous potential at a very young age.
Produced by PGA TOUR Productions, “Phil Mickelson, The People’s Champion” airs Sat., Aug. 12 at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports.
See, the PGA Tour doesn't consult Mark Steinberg on everything they do.
Well Tiger is starting to make MacDuff wonder about awarding points equally from week to week, and wonders if an average points per event system my work better? Frankly, I doubt a system that leaves David Duval out of the top 144 despite his all around great play and contributions to humanity.
1 Furyk 25112.5 16
2 Mickelson 23734 16
3 Singh 23321.87 17
4 Gf. Ogilvy 20012.5 14
5 Pettersson 19983.33 17
6 Glover 18591.66 14
7 Cink 18246.33 15
8 Weir 18209.37 16
9 Pernice 18075 14
10 Bohn 17938.33 17
11 B. Quigley 17625 14
12 T.Woods 17584.37 9
13 Verplank 17425 15
14 A.Scott 17325 12
15 Donald 17176.87 12
16 Z.Johnson 17125 15
17 Immelman 17112.5 12
18 Funk 16637.5 18
19 Appleby 16437.5 13
20 Pampling 16397.5 16
21 Van Pelt 16340 18
22 Toms 16196.87 11
23 Senden 15900 14
24 C.Campbell 15737.5 14
25 Gay 15675 16
26 Jerry Kelly 15625 13
27 Mayfair 15329.16 16
28 Vn Taylor 15075 14
29 Sabbatini 14829.16 13
30 Oberholser 14712.5 14
31 Choi 14656.25 14
32 Sluman 14650 18
33 Goosen 14350 11
34 T.Clark 14335 14
35 D.Wilson 14231.25 15
36 Olazabal 14187.5 11
37 Austin 14187.5 17
38 Ames 14037.5 11
39 Allenby 13925 12
40 Hoffman 13800 15
41 N.Green 13771.25 16
42 Chopra 13633.07 15
43 Villegas 13500 14
44 J.Ogilvie 13396.78 14
45 Imada 13142.5 15
46 Crane 13060 13
47 Els 13040 12
48 Sean O'Hair 12749.5 14
49 JJ Henry 12687.5 11
50 Warren 12541.66 15
51 Harrington 12450 10
T52 S. Maruyama 12450 12
T52 Rollins 12450 12
54 Branshaw 12433.33 14
55 Purdy 12375 12
56 Flesch 12243.21 18
57 Kenny Perry 12212.5 13
58 Slocum 12062.5 13
59 Love III 12050 12
60 Palmer 11954.16 14
61 Watney 11935.71 14
62 Bertsch 11731.25 16
63 Wetterich 11525 10
64 Stricker 11375 10
65 Pavin 11362.5 10
66 Herron 11247.5 12
67 RS Johnson 11230 11
68 Lehman 11075 11
69 Bryant 10944.5 12
70 Rose 10891.66 13
71 Garcia 10887.5 9
72 Hart 10830 12
73 Leonard 10820.83 12
74 Barlow 10787.5 13
75 Parnevik 10767.5 12
76 Lonard 10610.71 13
77 Micheel 10512.5 11
78 Leaney 10300 11
79 Andrade 10182.5 11
80 Lickliter II 10150 12
81 Jobe 10067.5 12
82 Poulter 10062.5 10
83 Dickerson 9991.07 14
84 DiMarco 9909.37 10
85 Waldorf 9862.5 13
86 G. Owen 9850 10
87 Mahan 9837.5 14
88 Curtis 9762.5 12
89 Gove 9750 10
90 Lowery 9725 12
91 Maggert 9700 10
92 F.Jacobson 9675 10
93 JB Holmes 9658.33 10
94 Estes 9650 12
95 D. Howell 9587.5 8
96 Sindelar 9487.5 13
97 Azinger 9450 12
98 Br.Davis 9342.5 11
99 Beem 9318.75 11
100 Baird 9305 10
101 Gronberg 9200 11
102 Howell III 9187.5 14
103 Sutherland 9137.5 13
104 D.Maruyama 8766.07 11
105 Bub Watson 8700 9
106 Goggin 8600.25 7
107 Kent Jones 8600 11
108 Cook 8575 10
109 Gore 8503.57 8
110 Couples 8437.5 10
111 J.Smith 8425 12
112 Durant 8368.75 15
113 Calcavecchia 8321.66 16
114 B. Haas 8262.5 11
115 O'Hern 8200 6
116 Faxon 8150 11
117 Fischer 8137.5 12
118 Franco 8112.5 9
119 Frazar 8087.5 10
120 Olin Browne 8025 14
121 Overton 8003.57 13
122 Kaye 7900 11
123 Kendall 7873.21 10
124 Cabrera 7862.5 7
125 M.Wilson 7852.5 10
126 Bjornstad 7742.5 11
127 Armour III 7687.5 9
128 Atwal 7575 9
129 Geiberger 7506.25 12
130 Trahan 7400 8
131 Triplett 7208.33 9
132 Langer 7079.16 9
133 Baddeley 6962.5 8
134 JL Lewis 6937.5 11
135 J.Byrd 6862.5 5
136 Barron 6606.25 9
137 Gamez 6537.5 11
138 K. Cox 6466.66 8
139 Pat Perez 6350 8
140 Stankowski 6315.5 11
141 Ridings 6312.5 11
142 S.Jones 6280 11
143 Bob May 6187.5 7
144 Westwood 6150 6
Thanks to readers Scott and Noonan for this Robert Bell story exposing the interesting relationship between IMG's Mark Steinberg and PGA Tour brass in delivering an improved 2007 date to Greensboro despite having no sponsor on board.
In May of last year, Brazil suggested to Long and other foundation board members that he contact Steinberg about lobbying on behalf of Greensboro.This is fun...
Brazil knew the tournament, which had struggled in recent years under the Greensboro Jaycees' direction, was turning the corner. The Jaycees were about to relinquish control of the event to a board of directors made up of some of the Triad's most influential business leaders -- a move that would give the tournament much-needed credibility with the tour.
The problem, Brazil said, was getting the tour to recognize this. Like other tournament directors across the country, Brazil couldn't get an audience with PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who was counseled in the restructuring by two trusted advisers.
One was Ed Moorhouse, the tour's executive vice president.
The other was Steinberg.
Finchem and Moorhouse did not return phone calls, but Henry Hughes, chief of operations for the tour, said Greensboro did not receive consideration over other tournaments because of Steinberg.
"But certainly when Mark comes to us with an idea, the tour is going to listen," Hughes said. "That's what we did in this case. He's very knowledgeable on this business. It would have been foolish not to consider his expertise."
Long said Greensboro had little choice but to hire Steinberg. Since he sold his insurance company three years ago for $403 million, Long has been inundated with business and charitable requests. One of his financial advisers is charged with screening who gets an audience with Long and, more importantly, who doesn't.
"There's a big difference between sending a letter to an executive and knowing someone who can get you an audience," Long said. "A letter might sit on the executive's desk for weeks -- if it even gets to him. To have someone like Steinberg in the room when decisions were being made ... Can you put a price on that?"
Of course, now that we know this final event before the FedEx Cup finale amounts to a shootout between spots 140-150 for those final places in the playoffs, and that it's before a stretch of four straight weeks of golf, is it really that great of a date?
Why would Tiger, Phil or Vijay or any other stars play Greensboro after playing the PGA/WGC Firestone and before the four-week stretch?
Okay, so none of the stenographers asked anything that silly, but check out these beauties following Tiger's win at the Buick.
For fun, I've supplemented Tiger's answers with my own versions of what he might really like to say. You can go to ASAP to read his actual answers to these thoughtful questions.
Oh, and note that not ONE "reporter" asks about the apple that rolled by his first putt on 17, or how it is that he didn't flinch when it happened!
Q. Your relationship with Buick, what does it mean to win the 50th tournament here, the birthplace of Buick?A. Actually, it really tops everything I've ever done. The Masters, The Open Championships, the Foundation, the four majors in a row. I'd trade them all in for more wins in Buick events.
Q. We're used to seeing you wear red on Sunday and used to seeing you win. How far back does that good where you've worn red? Have you done that since your rookie year and what's the story behind that?
A. Wow, it's funny, but no one has ever asked me about that or ever written about that. Your name again?
Q. You have 50 wins now. Do you see yourself getting to 83?
A. No, no, winning this Buick is it for me on the PGA Tour. The rest will be majors, no more Tour event victories. So 83 is likely out of the equation.
Q. When is the last time you felt like you were playing this well going into a major?
A. Hmmm, well let's see. I just won a major and I played well the tournament beforehand, so I'm going to have to say the Western Open.[This is why Tiger gets the big bucks. His actual one word answer: "Western."]
Q. You win the British, you win here, what does that do for your confidence level coming into the PGA?
A. It's tough, you know. I'm battling a lot of demons right now. Since I three putted the 18th at Hoylake and almost three putted 17 today. I'm only 42-under in my last two events, so I'm searching. But I'll regain the confidence soon. I'm sure of it.Q. We watched you cross drivers and have good approaches and putts and also get in and out of trouble, and one fan in the gallery said you were only in trouble if you were in the water. Looking back, are they both as enjoyable when you look back at a tournament and seeing how you scrambled for par on 2 or had a spectacular hole? How does the enjoyment compare for you?
A. Great question. Lucid, succinct, really on point. But uh, just for clarification, when you say cross drivers, is that like on Entourage when Drama and Turtle crossed swords?As for the rest of the question, it just doesn't make any sense and wow, look at the time! I really need to get to the airport as Citation X's aren't allowed by Federal Law to sit idling on Michigan runways for more than 30 minutes. Hey, it's been great.
With a major at Medinah looming, I'm under doctor's orders to limit this month's viewing of pro golf on back-and-forth, soulless designs. So I did skip most of Tiger's 50th (!) win at the Buick, though I did listen to portions of the telecast at the beach, and by golly, Bobby Clampett's bored tone did help induce my afternoon nap.
But more importantly, I understand from those who insisted on watching that Tiger Woods allowed himself to be interviewed by his favorite on-course reporter and swing commentator, Peter Kostis.
Whoever engineered this short-but-sweet reunion really should be included in any upcoming Middle East peace negotiations. If these two egos adversaries can patch things up for an exchange of inane post round comments, surely this middleman could help Condi and Koffi out too?
The PGA Tour driving distance average plummetted to 289.0 yards following the Buick in Michigan, down from 289.1 yards after Milwaukee. Next stop, Castle Pines!
According to PGATour.com, winner Tiger Woods led the field in driving distance (316.0 yards), the highest average by a winner this season.
Just imagine if the course wasn't drenched! After all, it is the "agronomics" driving this distance madness.
Lawrence Donegan reports on Colin Montgomerie's latest architectural triumph.
Colin Montgomerie, who blew his chance of winning his first major championship when he double-bogeyed the 18th hole on the last day of the US Open this summer, has come up with a solution for golfers who have trouble coping with the pressure of playing the last: a course with an extra hole.And...
Normally they would play the 1st or 18th again to reach a result. At Rowallan they will be able to play what the Scot calls the "money hole".Key word there: Scots.
"We just thought, why not? The 19th is the stuff of golfing legend," he said. "It was time to make it a reality. When players finish their round they will be able to come in, have a drink and check their scores. And if there's anything still to settle they can go back out and play the money hole."
These player architects are so innovative! Always on the cutting edge.
No offense to Henry, Wetterich and Rollins, all fine players, wonderful Americans, fine philanthropists, etc... BUT, Tom Lehman must be pleased to see the emerging Vaughn Taylor vaulting into the top 10 while Scott Verplank's strong play at the Buick moves him to within striking distance in the final two weeks.1 1 Tiger Woods 36 4,150.000Meanwhile in Europe, nothing has changed. (Those with hyphens by their names would be in if the points race ended today).
2 2 Phil Mickelson 42 2,474.375
3 3 Jim Furyk 51 2,076.000
4 4 Chad Campbell 51 1,129.602
5 5 David Toms 48 1,072.250
6 6 Chris DiMarco 49 830.000
7 11 Vaughn Taylor 60 780.833
8 7 J.J. Henry 61 778.750
9 8 Zach Johnson 58 756.477
10 9 Brett Wetterich 46 746.000
11 10 John Rollins 57 685.000
12 12 Jerry Kelly 62 653.750
13 13 Lucas Glover 60 641.376
14 14 Davis Love III 47 631.875
15 15 Fred Couples 38 627.727
16 16 Tim Herron 54 621.667
17 17 Tom Pernice, Jr. 63 615.000
18 22 Scott Verplank 49 595.667
19 18 Arron Oberholser 44 557.500
20 19 Stewart Cink 51 556.894
World Points List
-1 David HOWELL 207.27
-2 Colin MONTGOMERIE 205.90
-3 José Maria OLAZÁBAL 202.09
-4 Henrik STENSON 201.76
-5 Luke DONALD 192.25
6 Sergio GARCIA 187.96
7 Paul CASEY 165.33
8 Padraig HARRINGTON 154.46
9 Carl PETTERSSON 154.12
10 Robert KARLSSON 137.06
European Points List
1 Colin MONTGOMERIE 2413016.11
2 David HOWELL 2274635.98
-3 Robert KARLSSON 1870581.77
4 Henrik STENSON 1782888.71
-5 Paul CASEY 1721833.85
-6 Sergio GARCIA 1634091.27
-7 Padraig HARRINGTON 1514027.44
-8 Paul MCGINLEY 1455992.24
9 José Maria OLAZÁBAL 1381698.05
10 Paul BROADHURST 1336905.57
You have to love her honesty. And while they'll never be confused with Grisham, she probably should brush up on them a bit.
The Independent's Andy Farrell reporting from Royal Lytham:
And this is the basis of the problem with Michelle, which is ours as much as hers. Wie has done has great things, getting into contention in the majors, almost winning last week at the Evian Masters, and through to final qualifying for the men's US Open.
But she is not the finished article, and at 16 why should she be? She is still learning her trade and is still not a full-time golfer. This is her summer holiday, and yet already her every score, every shot, every action, every word is scrutinised.
Last autumn she turned professional, earning millions in the process, but in many ways she remains a talented amateur, albeit one with great potential. While she remains in mainstream education, she will not be able to complete her golfing apprenticeship.
It's the little things. She cheerfully admitted to not being quite ready for her early tee-time on Thursday and promptly bogeyed the first three holes. It's also the not so little things, like not being aware of the rule about sweeping away a loose impediment on the backswing in a bunker.
A two-shot penalty resulted when she did just this on Friday. "It's not a great read," she said sweetly when asked if she would be examining the Rules of Golf more closely. But an important read, and the fact that a shocking number of players have a limited knowledge of the rules is no excuse for a professional.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
