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.
Tiger Tests Out New Edgy Nike Ad Slogan On Suzann Pettersen
/From her post-Canadian Women's Open win press conference:
Q. Looking back at yesterday, Karrie said that it was probably going to be daunting to be all alone in front with a five-stroke lead, a big lead. And you look at her, and she's an LPGA Hall of Famer; did it feel like that out there? Did you think about that? Did you have the nightmares from last night that we talked about?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: To be honest I didn't sleep that well. I tried to – actually, it was funny, tried to look an all of the press conferences on the U.S. Open last night before I went to bed and there were a few kind of big wins yesterday and a few surprises, and I tried to look at all the underdogs and what they said in their press conference. Everybody kept saying, you never give up, you keep grinding and you've got to believe you can do it. And I tried to bring those words kind of with me today, just keep believing what you do and don't fear anything. The door is wide open and you've just got to keep doing what you're doing.
Alright, enough with the cliches. What was Tiger's text message?
In that way, I used a lot of other sports and performances in kind of an inspirational way. I got a message from Tiger this morning, ‘Keep doing your shit.' So I guess I did keep doing my shit. (Laughter).
Why "just do it" when you "keep doing your %$#@" is so much more bold, direct, global, iconic and 21st century brand worthy?
****See Tiger Do His Best Tommy Bolt Impersonation
/18th tee, water hazard in front. Sound familiar?
Okay he didn't launch into the premediated, full driver eradication like Bolt at Cherry Hills, but you have to love watching Stevie going into the wetlands to retrieve his man's club.
False Alarm: Woods Just Tweaking His Backup Putter Fleet; Nike Reps Flood Norton Pubs Overnight
/Doug Ferguson tells us Tiger Woods was not mulling a putter change, but instead merely fixing his back up set of Nike putters to his weird grip configuration should his Scotty Cameron (A) accidentally get dragged from the back of Tiger's Buick Enclave, as Dan Jenkins suggested he do, or (B) get dropped in a lake by Stevie.
Woods was only checking the alignment of the grip on his backup putter. He prefers it to be 1 degree to the right, which slightly closes the blade on impact. This grip was too square, and the glue had already dried before Woods could twist it where he wanted it.
He has several backup putters, which hardly anyone ever mentions.
"That's because I haven't needed it," Woods said.
TPC Boston Tweaks
/"Sharp Park, the creation of famed course designer Alister MacKenzie, deserves to stay open."
/Tiger Mulls Putter Change; Nike Reps Seen At Assorted Norton Area Chapels
/“We got the first one from Staples"
/"Patty is the best person I could have asked to be on my bag, not only is she a great caddie, she is a great person and a legend on the course."
/First Tee grad Alex Phillips is filing PGATour.com diary items from the Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, and it was fun to read that her caddy for the week is none other than Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan.
"Only Seve Ballesteros ever showed as much emotion or brought as much charisma to the Ryder Cup as Monty."
/"None of the greats go a career without having a futile moment with the putter."
/"It's sort of confusing, but let's try."
/"It's just way too much."
/The PGA Tour Gets It? Volume...
/...uh, I'll have to go back in the archives, but we do have a growing list of examples that the PGA Tour continues to move in the direction of downplaying rough, emphasizing the recovery shot, setting a proper example for the game and preparing us for a return to more flyer lie-golf in 2010 when groove rules are changed.
Thanks to reader Al for this Ed Sherman item about Cog Hill, site of next week's BMW Championship:
Received a call from Frank Jemsek the other day. He said he heard us speculating on our radio show ("Chicagoland Golf," WSCR-AM 670, 6-8 a.m. Saturday) about the rough the pros will encounter next week for the BMW Championship.
It turns out the rough might be as rough. Mr. Jemsek, the owner and operator of Cog Hill, said the PGA Tour has asked him to leave the rough at No. 4 at the same level of the facility's other three courses.
"That would be about 2 1/2 inches," Mr. Jemsek said.

