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
"It's not going to be set up like a Canadian Open, with deep rough."
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Randy Phillips looks at the records of various President's Cup participants at Royal Montreal, and briefly explores the recent renovation. He also drops a very encouraging comment from Mike Weir about the PGA Tour's setup, which sounds much more promising than recent Ryder Cups and mini-majors where excessive rough seems to be a foregone conclusion.The Blue course has changed since 2001, undergoing a major renovation by renowned course designer Rees Jones. In addition to being lengthened from 6,982 to 7,153 yards (it remains a par 70), the most significant change has been the reversal of the 12th and 13th holes, formerly a par 3 and par 5, respectively. The 12th is now a 570-yard par 5, while the 13th is a 224-yard par 3.
Weir, who is playing in his fourth Presidents Cup, played Royal Montreal a few weeks ago and liked what he saw.
''The driving areas are better now,'' the native of Bright's Grove, Ont., said. ''A few changes on the greens seem to be pretty good. It's not going to be set up like a Canadian Open, with deep rough. They want some scoring. So I think it's going to be a good golf course."
Apathy Builds On Eve Of Presidents Cup
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You can just sense the underwhelmed enthusiam in the various Presidents Cup preview pieces.
Lorne Rubenstein offers the Canadian perspective while Doug Ferguson previews the Cup by considering its recent history.
golf.com's Michael Walker says the world isn't watching and offers this interesting comment from Rubenstein about the future of the matches:
"The one problem I could see is if Tiger or Mickelson decided not to play," Rubenstein said. "They'll play as long as Nicklaus is captain because they're not going to snub Nicklaus. But if there's a new captain and Tiger decides not to play, then I think the Presidents Cup would have a real problem."Gary Van Sickle says "few serious international golf competitions have received less buildup than this week's Presidents Cup, to be played in Montreal," then rants about the FedEx Cup ad saturation.
But as he notes in his entertaining look at the teams and possible scenarios, it may all be worth it if we can get this on Sunday...
1. Tiger Woods vs. Rory Sabbatini: The mouth of the south against the king of the hill.
If the Captain's have any heart at all, they will give us the pleasure of watching these lovebirds in singles play.
Huggan On Weir Selection
/John Huggan is so excited about the President's Cup, he actually wrote about it and loves the International selection of Mike Weir, a Canadian who loves his country so much he lives in the predominantly Mormon province of...Utah.
Quoting Captain Gary Player:
Quoting Captain Gary Player:
"Mike, as we know, won the Masters and has been a very, very good player throughout the years, a very, very good match player," babbled Player, who clearly had no idea that he was talking about a man who, four up on the 15th tee, lost the last four holes to Australian Geoff Ogilvy in last year's World Match Play Championship at La Costa. "Mike is a terrific competitor, a real fighter."
Yet again, that assessment has little basis in reality and more to do with the diminutive Weir's lack of inches because, as we all know, every little guy (see Player himself) just has to be a "battler," especially in head-to-head match play. Then again, maybe not. The Canadian, it should be noted, has only once made it through more than one round in the aforementioned WGC Match Play, a record that hardly commends him as a "fighter" or a man to fear when holes, not strokes, really count.
Plus, the numbers don't lie. This year the former Masters champion has but two top-ten finishes in 19 PGA Tour starts, lies 84th on the money list and his statistics are off the charts.
Driving distance? 110th.
Driving accuracy? 89th.
Greens in regulation? 155th.
Putting? 64th.
Scoring average? 54th.
World ranking? 46th
With All South African Family Friends Already Qualified, Player Tabs Weir To Ensure President's Cup Exhibition Status
/Convinced that his 2005 selection of No. 22 points man Trevor Immelman vaulted the family friend rising star to even greater success, International team captain Gary Player expects to boost gate receipts resurrect the career of Mike Weir by adding him to the President's Cup team.
Mike, as we know, won the Masters, and has been a very, very good player throughout the years, very, very good match player. Even though he didn't finish in the Top-10, you know, it's a different story when you're playing match play and medal. And Mike is a real -- he's a terrific competitor. He's really a fighter, and I've got tremendous confidence in him. He's a wonderful -- you couldn't ask to have a better team member than Mike. If you don't put him in, he doesn't sulk. If you put him in, he always says he's willing to play anybody. As a captain, you know, it's always a difficult position because you can't satisfy everybody, even though you're trying your best. But he is a terrific team member.
And being played in Canada, if we didn't have a Canadian in the team in my team and playing in Canada, I can assure you in my opinion only, the series would be quite flat amongst the Canadian people. Mike is a hero in his country, deservedly so. And I'm sure the Canadian people are going to be relieved, because I continuously had questions every week: "Are you putting Mike, are you putting him in?" And I said, we have to wait till the end obviously.
Jack Nicklaus rounded out the American squad with Lucas Glover and Hunter Mahan. I'd make a joke, but the state of American golf just isn't very funny anymore.
And Then There Were Three...
/According to Martin Blake, it's down to Kingston Heath, Metropolitan and Royal Melbourne for the 2011 President's Cup.
2011 President's Cup To Melboune...But What Course?
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To the readers in Australia, tell us where it should be played if Royal Melbourne is not the course...
The Presidents Cup to Return to Australia in 2011
(PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.) — PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem today announced that the ninth staging of The Presidents Cup will be contested November 14-20, 2011, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Melbourne becomes the first city outside of the United States to host the prestigious match-play competition more than once, as the 1998 event was held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. The host course for the 2011 Presidents Cup is expected to be named by the end of 2007.
“We are thrilled to be bringing The Presidents Cup back to Melbourne in 2011,” said Finchem. “Every player, fan and TOUR staff member who either attended or watched the 1998 Presidents Cup still vividly remembers the incredibly warm welcome extended to the participants and the first-class atmosphere Melbourne created. Melbourne’s government and citizens staged a superb competition then, and we are confident they will only exceed expectations when we return in four years. I know the world’s best golfers will look forward to another trip down under for this thrilling competition.”
The Presidents Cup, a team match-play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top golfers – 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe – is held every two years, and since 1996 has alternated between United States and international venues. The Presidents Cup was developed to give the world's best non-European players an opportunity to compete in international team match-play competition. The U.S. Team has won four of the six previous Presidents Cups, and the only outright win by the International Team came at the 1998 event in Melbourne. The 2003 Presidents Cup ended in a tie.
“We are delighted to have secured the return of The Presidents Cup to Melbourne in 2011,” said Ben Sellenger, Chief Executive Officer, PGA TOUR of Australasia. “The impact of Australian players has been felt on golf tours around the world, and the staging of this prestigious event on the world renowned sand belt in Melbourne is a further reflection of the strength of our country in world golf. After a hugely successful Presidents Cup here in 1998, there is little doubt the excitement and anticipation for this event will build exponentially over the next four years, and the PGA TOUR of Australasia looks forward to fully supporting the return of The Presidents Cup in 2011 and continuing to bring world class golf to the Australian sporting public.”
Nicklaus Prepares For '07 President's Cup By Watching As Little Of Ryder Cup As Possible
/From a story by Garry Smits:
Nicklaus said the U.S. Ryder Cup team had the same intangibles going for it as the European team.
"They [the U.S.] played for pride and their country, the same things as they other guys," he said. "They played as a team. They just got whipped. The Europeans just played better."
Nicklaus said he didn't watch all the matches, but he guessed that the U.S. team played with as much desire as it did last year in the Presidents Cup.
"They probably played just as hard for [captain] Tom [Lehman]," he said.
Nicklaus said reversing the U.S. Ryder Cup fortunes had to start with developing younger players who had an instinct for winning.
"The big problems is we don't have any young players," he said. "Tiger was the youngest player on our team, and he's 30. We've only got one player in the U.S. under 30 who's won more than one more tournament.
"I think the colleges are developing players who are good at winning college tournaments, but that promotes playing conservatively. I don't think they come out of college knowing how to win yet."
