In golf construction art and utility meet; both are absolutely vital; one is utterly ruined without the other. GEORGE THOMAS

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.

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org (supporting independent stores and 10% off)

Available via Amazon (US): Golf Architecture For Normal People

Barnes And Noble (online and in stores)

Amazon Australia

Bookshop.org option to support local independent bookstores.

July 28, 2009

“I lost 30 pounds after last season thinking I was going to work out and get better. I got worse.”

July 28, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

I'm smelling a golf magazine instruction spread by Carl Pettersson: How dieting ruined my game and how McDonald's can help you find your swing.

July 28, 2009

Kleenex Alert: Jack Has Only 40 Courses Under Construction

July 28, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Darren Rovell writes that Jack Nicklaus was on CNBC today "to talk about his new branding alliance with designer David Chu and Howard Milstein" and was asked about his design business:

July 28, 2009

Brave Strangers

July 28, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Only Tiger could lure the attention shy Bob Seger out for a round of golf. I'm guessing

July 27, 2009

“The objective of this change is to limit the effectiveness of grooves on shots from the rough to the effect of a traditional V-groove design.”

July 27, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Bowl and Grass flesh out the notion that Bomb and Gouge golf might not be impacted by the groove rule change because most irons already had conforming grooves and their well-paid brat handlers haven't had U-groove on their mind

July 27, 2009

"As far as the fan base goes, a rising tide of interest lifts all ships."

July 27, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Steve Elling raises a question I'm sure many of us will be asking as the U.S. Senior Open tees off the week after the Senior Open Championship and during the Women's Open Championship. Who is doing the scheduling for these fledgling tours?

July 27, 2009

"Those fat old guys riding around in golf carts and chomping cigars on the Champions tour are playing for more money than the LPGA players. That's demeaning to female athletes!"

July 27, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

After months of behind the scenes investigation and source cultivation while reporting for Golf Magazine, Alan Shipnuck tackles the not-to-delicate question of

July 27, 2009

Olson's Bank Shot Ace

July 27, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Thanks to reader Tim for spotting a posting of Leif Olson's incredible hole-in-one last week's Canadian Open, now on YouTube.

July 27, 2009

"In what has to be one of the craziest rulings I’ve ever witnessed on the PGA Tour..."

July 27, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Bob Weeks says the latest bizarre rules incident involving grounded clubs and intent was driven by viewer phone calls, despite the claims of tournament officials otherwise.

July 26, 2009

Armed With Modern Equipment, Watson Unable To Defeat His Old Geezer Peers At Sunningdale

July 26, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

The premise goes something like this: Tom Watson would not have been competitive at Turnberry had he not been armed with modern technology. Big driver head, Pro-V1, new hip, etc...

July 26, 2009

Norman Fades In Senior Open Championship Despite Chrissie's "Different Thought Process" Instillation Efforts

July 26, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Loren Roberts won the Senior Open Championship after Greg Norman faded following Saturday's 64. Earlier in the week, The Australian's Patrick Smith

July 25, 2009

"There's no pretence. That's what I love most about the game over here. 'Let's go play.'"

July 25, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

John Huggan talks to Tom Watson about the Open, Scotland and how he loves the more respectful youth of Scotland.

July 25, 2009

Calc: Nine In A Row!

July 25, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

John Nicholson of AP reports that Mark Calcavecchia broke the tour record for consecutive birdies Saturday, breaking one of the more incredible tour feats:

July 24, 2009

"Going to perhaps more of a flex schedule where we actually move some tournaments around to two or three dates so that they can take advantage of reaching more players."

July 24, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Robert Thompson notes Tim Finchem's remarks about a possible "flex" schedule concept and considers how it could impact the Canadian Open.

July 24, 2009

Seve Again Vows To Be At St. Andrews

July 24, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Poignant comments in this unbylined report:

July 24, 2009

Golfweek: Next Buick Open To Be The Last

July 24, 2009/ Geoff Shackelford

Adam Schupak with the scoop, which includes word

Geoff Shackelford

Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning Drive, is co-host of The Ringer's ShackHouse is the author of eleven books.

What Is The Quad?

TheQuadrilateral.golf

_______

Book

Golf Architecture For Normal People now available for pre-order!

INSTAGRAM

Labor Day Sunday sunset shots, in reverse order. Today saw the highest recorded temperature in LA County. 🥵

Better than most sunset

Thanks to @collin_morikawa for capping off a great week in style with the lowest final 36 holes in major history, and to the @pga and @pgatour for putting on a safe, well orchestrated week in tough circumstances. Nice of @stephencurry30 to stop by fo

@rorymcilroy, 15th fairway, 2020 @pgachampionship @tpchardingpark. Hoganesque!

@tigerwoods practicing at Harding Park, 2020 @pgachampionship Monday. He looks focused and flexible. Watch the first shot, his tee ball on the 4th with such a full throttle swing he had a bit of a Greg Norman follow-through. With an unfriendly breeze

Unorthodox at the (almost) top, Classic at the finish. @matthew_wolff5 @thegenesisinv

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