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.
"MacKenzie’s Sharp Park Under Siege"
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Richard Harris and Bo Links pen a GolfClubAtlas.com In My Opinion piece analyzing the history and evolution of Alister MacKenzie's endangered Sharp Park. And for more of the past coverage here on the Sharp saga, check out the archives.
"Mention of Woods and Mickelson will no doubt prompt the PGA Tour's marketing gurus to point that the involvement of the game's two most compelling figures rendered all objections inconsequential."
/"In addition to their equipment, players may also need to spend considerable time changing their course strategy and technique."
/I was poking around Stan Utley's new website and he posts a few thoughts on how he sees the groove rule change impacting the sport.
He also links to Titleist's groove report, which I had never read. Naturally I enjoyed a warm chuckle reading this alarming revelation:
The magnitude of these changes is far greater than most players anticipate. All players will be required to make time and resource consuming changes to their game to address the impact of these performance differences. Beyond wedge and iron changes, players will likely consider other equipment changes such as their golf ball, driver and set composition. In addition to their equipment, players may also need to spend considerable time changing their course strategy and technique.
Brain cells might move around, forehead wrinkles could develop and players are likely to use their arms to support their chin to ease the burden of extra brain activity. Now you see why we need universal health care in this country. It's all the USGA's fault. Always is!
Hyler Nomination Reaction
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There's not a whole lot to say about Jim Hyler's nomination to be the next USGA President, and that's about the highest compliment you can pay the USGA these days!Golf As It Should Be Files: Marion
/"It's a golf tournament, not a swap meet."
/In an especially lively Up and Down column, Steve Elling shares this anecdote from last week's telecast which I did not see. Several have mentioned it though:
Every week, the CEO of whatever company sponsors that week's tour event gets a few moments of blather time during the broadcast to toot their corporate horn and spout clichés about what a great week it was. In Atlanta, the top dog at Coca-Cola used his TV opportunity to hoist a bottle of Coke during his live interview with NBC's Dan Hicks. Then the guy showed up for the awards ceremony with Mickelson and Woods on the 18th green drinking from yet another bottle of the company's product. Times may be tough, but this is way beyond gauche and bordering on crass. It's a golf tournament, not a swap meet.
I do wonder if this rather desperate move speaks to Coca-Cola feeling like it's been lost in the shuffle at East Lake? Most of the event is focused on the FedEx Cup and if it weren't for the Coke bottle sets as tee markers, I would not have any sense of Coca-Cola's presence as Tour Championship sponsor.
"Confused NASCAR Driver Runs Over 30 Golfers During Attempt To Win FedEx Cup"
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Thanks to reader thusgone for catching this Onion story on the FedEx Cup. Just the kind of brand recognition the golf playoffs were looking for.
Road Hole Still Unsafe For Passage
/McIlroy Demonstrates Team-Player Cred By Showing Up To 7:30 A.M Meetings...Early!
/2009 Tour Championship Photo Caption Fun
/What's on Phil's mind? What's the Commissioner saying to Tiger? From Rob Matre's final round photo gallery:


