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 NRH for John Ourand's lengthy Sports Business Journal story questioning the platformable synergies of ESPN. There isn't really anything golf related here, though somehow I suspect PGA Tour players who question the Tour's 15 year Golf Channel deal may find this in their lockers with a nice note from Tim Finchem that reads, "This is why you overpay me. Love, Tim."
I'll be away for a few days and Internet access appears to be dicey. I'm staying at a five-star hotel that touts their in-room VCR's, so you can imagine why I don't have high hopes for high-speed Internet anywhere nearby. (Bet you can guess what country I'm headed to!).
Should this be my last post through Wednesday afternoon, I thought it would be a nice one to let simmer for a few days. And what better time to kick off the pre-Masters hype?
Now, you've all been subject to my rants about the envy that drives the mentality of "relatable golf," better known as wanting to see the world's best players brought down to a level of mediocrity.
Still, knowing how much criticism there has been of Augusta's par-protecting ways in recent years this April Golf Digest online survey question and reponse blew me away:
8. How do you feel about Zach Johnson's winning score of one over par at the 2007 Masters?
Great. I love to see the players suffer—52.6%
Hated it. I watch the Masters for birdies and eagles—39.2%
Zach Johnson won the Masters?—8.2%
I'm hoping for at least one eloquent explanation why the Masters is better when it's a celebration of suffering, as opposed to a contest of skill where, on occasion, someone might shoot 14-under par for the week. Don't be shy!
Just how powerful is Tiger? He can distract an online poker player.
From the comments under Steve Elling's story recapping Sunday's final round, a reader named lelandjr posts:
OK. Just how 'wow' was that last birdie! I was sitting at my computer playing online poker and foolishly going all in on a pair of cowboys and was so sure that I would low. Then I look up as El Tigre's putt rolled ever so nonchalantly back towards the hole and I bent over waiting, waiting just to see what it would do. Of course, as always at these big moments, the Golf Zen Master himself soundly rolled the putt over twenty feet into the hole. And then... he gave a resounding celebration, which was well deserved after the comeback he staged this weekend. Anyway, while I was busy watching El Tigre, I thought I had went all in when in fact I still had 30 chips left. Of course my opponent raised me all in and while I wasn't paying attention, I was forced to fold (for taking too much time) and lost. There went $200. So this much I know, don't watch Tiger play golf while playing poker for money... Incredible tournament.
Of Sean O'Hair's practice swings during the final round at Bay Hill? Worse was O'Hair not being in position to begin his pre-shot preparations when the 17th green finally cleared after a long wait. He apparently hadn't realizes it was his honor, but did not make up for lost time as Johnny noted that he'd take 1:25 to get to the point where he was over the ball and about to pull the trigger.
Let's hope Johnny keeps up the slow play watch.
That's right, Tiger beats out Bart Bryant and Denis Watson stops Brad Bryant in a playoff on the old geezers tour. Or did Tiger beat Brand Dennis beat Bart?
Anyway, Tiger also happened to match Ben Hogan's all time PGA Tour victory tally while winning his fifth official event in a row, and his sixth or seventh straight worldwide win, depending on whether you count the Target World Challenge.
But really, doesn't that pale when compared to stopping the Bryants?
Doug Ferguson's game story also includes these notes:
His average score during the PGA Tour streak is 66.13, and his dominance is such that he has more career victories than Mickelson and Vijay Singh combined.
Woods finished at 10-under 270 and earned $1,044,000, putting him on the cusp of going over $80 million for his career.
And because even the AP writer can't always get in the most important facts, Tiger's FedEx Cup points total is at 13,725, well ahead of Phil Mickelson.
Golf.com features the year in Tiger pictures spanning all, gulp, three starts.
...probably knowing that with greens that bad, the only way Tiger's only coming back if he's defending.
Steve Elling reports after Saturday's third round at Bay Hill:
Palmer, who sauntered over to Phil Mickelson on the putting range and later visited Woods on the practice range, was a fount of goodwill, and coincidentally or not, the world's No. 1 seemingly took it to heart.
"He came out and watched me hit a few shots," Woods said. "He liked what I was doing with my swing and said, 'Just keep going, you're headed down the right path. Just go shoot a low one today.'"
Yes, your majesty.
Besides, what's not for Palmer to like? The king and the crowned prince have been inextricably tied for a few weeks now, ever since Woods moved past Palmer on the PGA Tour's all-time victory list, moving one peg ahead with his win last month at the Accenture Match Play Championship. It was Woods' 63rd win and he's only 32 years old.
"The way he's playing, he could double that," Palmer said Saturday.
He's allowed to dream a little. Well, a lot...
Anyway, with Finchem out of the way – no bad thing in any circumstances – control of the WGCs must pass to a committee formed by those who run the four major championships. While far from perfect – the R&A and USGA, for example, have badly let down the game with their neglect of the various technological issues over the last decade and a half – their hearts are at least in the right place.Oh yeah, that'll happen.
Besides, in these days of multi-million dollar/pound/euro incomes, the only things capable of exerting any real influence over Tiger and the gang are the game's four most important titles. They certainly don't pay much attention to the pathetic posturings of the various tours when it comes to the currently appallingly slow pace of play worldwide. So it should be that, if a player misses a WGC for any reason other than injury, illness or a family crisis, he will automatically be banned from competing in the next major. You don't fancy that trip to Australia in February? Then don't bother making any plans to visit Augusta in April.
Imagine, a World Match Play Championship at, say, Morfontaine or Royal Dornoch, or even the Old Course at St Andrews. I'd love to see a top player chipping to the second green at Dornoch, or, one up with two to play, deciding whether or not to risk all and go for the green at the Road Hole.Yeah, but where are the partner's chalets going to go?
The possibilities, of course, are almost endless. But I would expect my committee to come up with an Open Championship-like rota of maybe 20 courses worldwide. Places like Kingston Heath, the Emirates club in Dubai, Barnbougle Dunes, Muirfield, Sunningdale, Fontainebleau, Portmarnock, Royal County Down, the Durban Country Club, Cape Kidnappers, Royal Portrush, Royal Porthcawl and Carnoustie, where the very best players and shot-makers will be suitably inspired rather than bored by their surroundings, never mind the inherent drawbacks of modern clubs and balls.
Maletis said it takes about $5 million “on the average” to run an LPGA event.
“But that also depends a little bit on the level of participation by the sponsor, so we wouldn’t necessarily need a $5 million commitment in order for a sponsor to get involved with our tournament,” he said.
Last year, a record 151,000-plus fans turned out to watch Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, win the Safeway International. The tournament also raised $1 million for charity with an economic impact on the East Valley estimated at over $21 million.
Uh, Marty Hackel, can you send The King some socks? David Walberg took this shot that's up on golf.com. What's Arnold thinking?
Michael Garten is out as the executive director of the WGC Match Play and Greg Hansen explains the factors that led to a change.
A tepid Southern Arizona economy took a bite out of Match Play's second season. Ticket sales were off by about 8,000 from the 2007 inaugural event. That's roughly $1 million in revenue shortfall. In addition, corporate sales didn't match '07 totals. That should have been predictable and unavoidable.
Moreover, the novelty had faded. Many potential ticket buyers were scared off by reports that The Gallery Golf Club's hilly South Course was decidedly not friendly to spectators. Unlike 2007, this year's tournament was not a five-day sellout.
Some first-year sponsors, such as now-defunct First Magnus, which spent about $100,000 as a Match Play booster, didn't return. The six-figure financial involvement of home-building giant KB Home also diminished greatly. And so on.
The irony is that interest in the WGC event has skyrocketed since it moved from La Costa, Calif., where it was staged for seven years, some of them with fewer than 3,000 fans on the course. This year's TV ratings established records for the Golf Channel (the Tiger Woods factor).
"The event really found a new life in the Southern Arizona market," said Garten. "Our brand equity has solid footing. The future is promising."
I'm wondering, who actually decides when you have brand equity? Is it the brand equity fairy? The Grand Master of brand equity?
In case you missed it, Feherty has given up drinking and golf for his new passion of cycling. He talks about the drinking part here in this Connell Barrett piece, recently chatted with Jeff Rude about the tendency of motorists to hit cyclists, and was featured in this Cam Cole story talking about his beloved bike.
Now, I don't care if you never pray. This is the time to get down on your knees. Send every good thought you can David's way. He must enjoy a speedy recover in time for the Masters.
Why, you say?
I have two words: Bobby Clampett.
After rumors that it would not be ready after lousy weather hampered their turf grow-in, it seems the course formerly known as the TPC Las Colinas is not only ready to host the Byron Nelson, it's been rebranded!
2008 EDS BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE PLAYED ON REDESIGNED TPC FOUR SEASONS
Irving, TX – The completely redesigned TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas will host the 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, April 23-27, according to officials from the PGA TOUR, Four Seasons Resort and Club and the Salesmanship Club Charitable Golf of Dallas, the Championship’s sponsor.
After a thorough review of all aspects of the golf course by PGA TOUR, BentleyForbes, Four Seasons, and Salesmanship Club of Dallas, the PGA TOUR is pleased to announce the TPC Four Seasons will host the 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship.
"So many parties have pulled together under challenging weather conditions to get the course ready and make this announcement possible,” said Henry Hughes, Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR. “D.A. Weibring has been the driving force with tremendous support from both BentleyForbes and Four Seasons. The Salesmanship Club will undoubtedly continue to produce record charity dollars to benefit the less fortunate in Dallas. The PGA TOUR is proud to congratulate all involved in this huge accomplishment."
Immediately following the 2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, D.A. Weibring/Golf Resources Group embarked on an $8 million redesign of the TPC Four Seasons.
“In redesigning the course, our goal was to honor the legacy of Byron Nelson,” said Weibring. “To that end, we created a cleaner, more defined course that incorporates traditional tee, bunker and green elements
throughout.”
Cleaner, more defined. Translation: ugly.
“PGA TOUR players will be faced with more shot options from tee to green, creating additional drama for spectators and TV viewers. At the same time, for resort guests and Sports Club members, we created a very playable layout for all skill levels,” he said.
Utilizing input from dozens of PGA TOUR players, Weibring and his partner, Steve Wolfard, redesigned every hole on the 76-acre course, including all tees, fairways, and green complexes. The course is now distinguished by traditional square tee boxes, softer mounding, better sight lines and dramatic white faced bunkers framing the fairway and green complexes. PGA TOUR professionals Harrison Frazar and J.J. Henry served as player consultants on the project.
Bring your sunglasses boys!
“The changes didn’t require us to dramatically lengthen the course. We added just 200 yards overall,” Weibring said. “Instead, PGA TOUR players will see the biggest impact in the realignment of tee shots and better contouring of bunkers and greens.”
The changes start at a redesigned 20,000 square foot putting and chipping green, designed to meet the exacting standards of PGA TOUR professionals. The course culminates on the beautiful and dramatic 18th hole, highlighted by a series of four lakes with cascading waterfalls and a challenging risk/reward decision by the player.
Not three lakes, but four lakes. Nothing but the best for Las Col...Four Seasons.
Little-known Tony Carolan leads the Euro Tour's Ballantine's Championship in South Korea after an interesting first day. Trent Baker reports, but here's Carolan's press conference:
Q. Glad to get in?Hmmmm....
TONY CAROLAN: Very happy, yeah. Put a new driver and 3-wood in the bag this week, and I was quite happy with my 3-wood. There's a lot of holes out here where I can hit my 3-wood 250 and leave myself a solid 8- or 9-iron to the green.
Got to have to a good start and made a good 2-putt par on the first and hit it close off the two, made a nice birdie from three feet. And the next, I hole it from about ten feet. Didn't birdie the next but three in a row, the first four holes.
Then I got a new caddie. He was jiggling clubs while putting; moving; he had soft spikes on, so he wasn't allowed on the greens. I just told him to go.
After I went par, birdie, birdie, I sacked him. He was just terrible. I'm paying him a USD$160, and he couldn't walk on the greens. I said man, you've got to stay off the greens. The other caddies were doing too much work.
Q. First time you've ever sacked a caddie on the course?
TONY CAROLAN: No. I think it's the second time. The other guy raked a bunker while I was in there after I told him not to. Actually I didn't sack him then, I sacked him the next day.
Q. So you've never sacked someone during a round?
TONY CAROLAN: I don't think so but I think I've been sacked by a caddie, though!
Q. What's your background?Translation: who the hell are you?
TONY CAROLAN: Played in the mid 90s early onwards on the Asian Tour, and then I went to Canada and played on and off there for six years, one year where I played Challenge Tour, had conditional status in 2000. Then had some injuries, and in 2004, I got a full exempt card on the Nationwide Tour and was exempt and played the whole year with a torn cartilage. The physios out there had no clue, they just kept saying, you've got to stretch more, you've got to stretch more. I'm driving 20 hours in a car week-to-week; do you think I'm just getting out of the car and going to bed, of course I'm in the stretching after long drives. So I had pretty much 2005 off. I didn't do much, played some Pro-Ams.
End of 2005 I went to Asian Q-School, so I had the whole year off and went to Q-School, got my card. That was when the caddie raked the bunker. I got a two-stroke penalty and went from 13th to 31st at the Q-School, cost me a category and stats in all the big events. So I had to really work to get exempt and finished 34th last year.
This year, I think I'm about 20th an the Asian Tour Money List. I've played every week, first week at Emaar, withdrew after 15 holes, sick as a dog, and then I think I was 19th at Jakarta and then 14th at the SAIL Open, so I was a little disappointed with that. I went into Johnnie Walker and finished 17th, and last week I shot 3-under and missed the cut by a shot. 12 birdies, 3-under to miss the cut, I just made too many mistakes. Today I made the 6-footers.
And fired a caddy. All in all, just another ho-hum day on the European Tour.
Serves me right for not paying attention to Steve Elling's piece on Paul Azinger and his sit down with the scribblers last week. Seems the Ryder Cup captain is open to the idea of picking the hottest players, no matter what tour they are playing on.
His approach gave Jim Achenbach and Rex Hoggard something to debate. Achenbach got a good chuckle out of Azinger's remarks while Hoggard likes the Captain's open mind.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
