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.
Thanks to reader Smitty for these photos of the historic clubhouse at Rackham, the Donald Ross designed Detroit public golf course that may be developed.
I don't know what it looks like on the inside, but the exterior architecture is pretty extraordinary.
(click on image to enlarge) 
There is a Christy Strawser story in today's Daily Tribune on the efforts to save Rackham.
Golf Digest unveils its latest Best New Courses awards, and a couple of things stand out.
After a decade of using a $50 green fee to separate affordable from upscale public courses, we believe an increase to $75 reflects the economic landscape of the times.
Sheesh, couldn't even raise it to $60?
No major embarrassments like last year's award of a Best New Remodel to a former Best New Course Award winner, though the panel gives longtime Top 100 course Stanwich the Best New Remodel. And since Tom Fazio did the work, the course is setting itself up nicely for another Best New Remodel award in ten years.
Here's the best new private list, the best new upscale public list, the best new affordable list, and the best new Canadian courses.
From the wires:
Seve Ballesteros is heading back to professional golf and will compete in the Masters and British Open next year.
The five-time major winner said yesterday that he also wants to join the Champions Tour in the United States when he turns 50 in April.
"My plan is to continue withdrawing for another four or five years," Ballesteros said.
Wait, I meant to copy and paste the version where he says he will continue playing for another four or five years.
The art department would like your thoughts...personally, I think it captures the essence of the brands quite nicely.
Doug Ferguson on the USGA selling its soul creating a brand alliance with American Express:
"This is new ground for us," USGA executive director David Fay said. "We hope this is the beginning of a long relationship with Amex. For some of those elements of the USGA that don't get much publicity, we hope this relationship helps us. And we'll do our part to provide Amex with some benefits for its members."The question this begs is, why now, after 112 years? Any thoughts. Anyone, anyone?
American Express had been the title sponsor of a World Golf Championship the past eight years, a relationship that ended two months ago in London when Woods won the event for fifth time.
And while Woods has not signed an extension of his deal with American Express, the world's No. 1 player made a series of phone calls last week to talk about the USGA's first corporate partner in its 112-year history.
"It's a tremendous opportunity," Woods said. "This is two enormous brands coming together to help golf."
Yes, the USGA is one enormous brand. I'm sure that's what CB Macdonald and friends were hoping for back in the day!
Here's a clip of Tiger answering boring questions about his Dubai project. If anyone has seen the video presentation that was sent out to the press and which appeared on my local newscast, please let me see the link. Naturally, the footage of Tiger and entourage looking at the property (complete with massive power lines) is worth seeing.
Thanks to reader Mark for this audio clip of Greg Turner talking about Tiger's entry into the course design world.
It's been a while since I've read some of that epic New York Times intellectual horsepuckey, but I got a nice pile of it while reading Charles McGrath's Sunday review of David Cannon's $195 coffee table book:
Many of the courses were photographed, moreover, either at dawn or at dusk, when most golfers never see them. The deepness of the colors — reds and yellows and shadowy greens — together with the lushness and grandness of the whole book and the great number of panoramic and aerial views, suggests that Cannon is less interested in the traditional aim of golf photography, which is to show you what it looks like from the tee of any given hole, than in evoking what the Romantics called the Sublime: an experience so dizzying it verges on the spiritual.
Or, maybe that's just the best time to photograph a golf course? Oh no, big metaphor coming. See if you can read this without rolling your eyes:
His photographs are a little like the nude paintings of Bouguereau: they’re erotica that aspires to the condition of art.
From that classy gang in Far Hills (hey, Barry Hyde finally did something!):
AMERICAN EXPRESS BECOMES FIRST-EVER
UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION CORPORATE PARTNER
Relationship Will Enhance the USGA’s Mission for the Good of the Game
No, I'm not making this up. Just go to the website if you don't believe me. And love the big AmEx logo on he home page today.
American Express Cardmembers Gain Full Access to the Golf Lifestyle Now With Exclusive Trophy Club Ticket Packages for 2007 U.S. Open® and Beyond
New York, NY and Far Hills, NJ (December 4, 2006) – American Express and the United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced a landmark agreement that makes American Express the USGA’s first corporate partner in the Association’s 112-year history. The multi-year agreement strengthens American Express’ association with the game of golf by bringing a premium level of customer service and unique benefits and experiences to Cardmembers and golf enthusiasts. In addition, this agreement will allow the USGA to broaden its communication with golfers.
Love that last line. Yeah, they get their logos on ads, like the full pager in today's L.A. Times. That's broadening its communication...
Beginning December 4, Cardmembers will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase daily or weekly otherwise sold-out Trophy Club tickets to the 2007 U.S. Open® at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. American Express will also deliver benefits to Cardmembers across a broad range of golf experiences. These experiences will include exclusive access to some of the USGA’s championships, exclusive access to play U.S. Open® courses, past and present, on select USGA-hosted days and a variety of benefits to enhance the enjoyment of the game.
I bet the members at some of those courses past and present are looking forward to hearing about the access they've sold to AmEx cardholders.
Okay, it's quote time.
“American Express is thrilled to be the first corporate partner of the USGA, the national governing body for the sport of golf,” said Jud Linville, President of the Consumer Card Services Group, American Express. “This relationship is just one of the many ways we bring special access and experiences to our Cardmembers in the world of golf and across all of their passions, and we’re thrilled to offer them Trophy Club tickets to the 2007 U.S. Open®, an event which has sold out every year for the last 20 years. Today is just the beginning of this great relationship and we look forward to working with the USGA to continue to bring our Cardmembers exceptional access to the golf lifestyle as well as increase awareness of all that the USGA has to offer.”
Access to the golf lifestyle. Hmmm...not one platform mention.
“We are very pleased to announce this new agreement with American Express, a company whose programs and values we’ve admired for a long time,” USGA President, Walter W. Driver Jr. said.
What values would those be?
“We believe this partnership will allow us to reach more golfers and make them more aware of our many programs that benefit their golf game. For example, we want more golfers to have a USGA Handicap Index®, know the Rules of Golf, join our Members Program, and abide by and appreciate the game’s etiquette and traditions. We believe that American Express is well positioned to help us make such outreach programs a success.”
Oh please.
While attendees can expect an enhanced experience, corporate signage displayed on the grounds at the U.S. Open® will remain limited, as it has been in the past.
Will remain limited? Uh, as far as I know there hasn't been any corporate signage. Will this be changing?
In a list of "benefits" for cardholders, this caught my eye...
· Access to the USGA’s collection of golf memorabilia and content, for example private tours of the USGA museum and private rules seminars
Maybe they can actually photocopy stuff from old magazines, since no one else can?
Yes, it's a landmark day.
Anyone else see this as the prelude to the 2008 U.S. Open Presented by American Express?
You all leave so many great comments on posts, but now it's time to test your creativity...and knowledge of Arabic in the first ever site translation contest.
I'm not sure what the winner will get, probably a signed copy of Masters of the Links since I can see a stack of those from where I'm sitting.
But here's the contest: translate Al Ruwaya, the name of Tiger Woods's first design in Dubai.
For bonus points, include the actual translation of Al Ruwaya. And please, have fun with this! Don't worry about insulting him. He's got 40 million reasons to not care.
PS - I see there's a novel named Al Ruwaya. That poor bastard of a writer will probably get sued any day now!
Wow, so many great suggestions. This also came from a reader familiar with the region: :Al Ruwaya is, as far as I know, an area in Dubai (Al Rowayah / Al Rowayya) and the name of an interchange on the Dubai outer bypass road. The meaning could be translated to ‘serenity’ but also to ‘a brass wire’. Probably the developers are thinking on the first word..."
A nice Wynn Gray story on Renton Laidlaw for you Golf Channel European Tour fans...
I really don't even know where to start...
Tiger Woods –in Dubai-Unveils His First-Ever Signature Golf Course
“The Tiger Woods – Dubai” a Residential Golf Course Development Designed by Tiger Woods and Developed by Tatweer
Dubai: December 3, 2006 –Tiger Woods, the world’s number one golfer and chairman of Tiger Woods Design, and Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding a leading UAE holding Company, announced today plans for ‘Al Ruwaya’, the first-ever course designed by Woods in “The Tiger Woods – Dubai”.
“The Tiger Woods - Dubai” will be an exclusive golf community that will include ‘Al Ruwaya’, a Tiger Woods designed Golf Course, professionally-staffed golf academy; a 60,000-square-foot clubhouse with the latest amenities and comforts; an 80-suite boutique hotel for VIP guests; 300 luxury villas; 20 mansions and a community retail area.
‘Al Ruwaya’ will be a 7,700 yards, par 72 championship-quality course, embodying Woods’ vision of the ideal course design. The course will include dramatic elevation changes, lush landscaping, stunning water features and an overall design program that will challenge and entertain golfers of all playing abilities.
“Why Dubai? Because I am excited about the challenge of transforming a desert terrain into a world-class golf course,” said Tiger Woods. “I have a vision of creating something that is uniquely mine – from the detailed layout of each hole to the Mediterranean architecture to the top-line gym equipment in the clubhouse - unlike anything else. And through my partnership with Tatweer, I want to realize this vision in Dubai.”
Okay, I was wrong. I do know where to start. Yes, he just said he has a vision that includes top-line gym equipment in the clubhouse. Sign me up!
The landmark golf course community is scheduled for completion in late 2009 over an area of 25.3 million sq ft at ‘Dubailand’, the region’s largest tourism and leisure project along Emirates Road, an outer by-pass road in Dubai.
H.E. Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Executive Chairman of Dubai Holding said: “This initiative reinforces the great development pace that Dubai has achieved within diverse domains to become one of the most recognized cities in the world.”
Woods, who launched Tiger Woods Design in early November 2006, made a dedicated trip to Dubaito showcase his first golf project and to continue his hands-on involvement in the design of the golf course.
And...
About Tatweer
Launched in December 2005 Tatweer is one the region’s most promising enterprises and a Member of Dubai Holding. It owns nine market-leading companies and managing an ambitious business development plan.
Its current portfolio is divided into Energy & Healthcare, Tourism & Entertainment, Industry & Knowledge. Its entities are Dubai Healthcare City, the region's hub for world-class quality healthcare services; Mizin, one of the most advanced real estate companies in the region; Dubailand, one of the biggest leisure, entertainment and tourism destinations in the Middle East region; Dubai Industrial City, an industrial township to develop Dubai as a leading manufacturing hub; Bawadi, the world’s leading hospitality and entertainment project bringing 31 hotels and more than 29,000 hotel rooms; Dubai Energy, investing in regional and global energy opportunities and building a diversified investment portfolio; Dubai Mercantile Exchange, the first commodity futures exchange in the Middle
East; Global Village, which brings together 160 different countries showcasing myriad cultures; and Moutamarat, the first Arab initiative organizing research-based conferences and exhibitions.
A Member of Dubai Holding, Tatweer and its entities will continue to consolidate a group of life-improving industries. In addition, it has pioneered the market with joint venture initiatives with leading companies such as the New York Mercantile Exchange or the Saudi Research and
Publishing Company.
Tatweer will continuously strive for world-class performance implementing leadership development to drive and sustain business excellence, quality and high performance.
About Tiger Woods Design
The philosophy of Tiger Woods Design is to further elevate the standards of golf course design and create enjoyable, challenging courses worldwide. At the heart of this vision is Woods’ desire to apply his first-hand knowledge and personal experience to the design of each golf course. For more
information on Tiger Woods Design, visit www.tigerwoodsdesign.com.
It seems The Donald is threatening to take his sensitive linksland development ideas to an undisclosed location in Ireland.
“I do have an option on another piece of land in another location,” he said. “It is not an option I want to exercise because the first choice is Aberdeen. I believe it’s the finest piece of land in the world for a golf course and my loyalty is to Mary Trump, my mother, who was born in Scotland.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
