Rory: America Can Have Its Tour!
/Brian Keough on Rory McIlroy's abrupt reversal to not take his PGA Tour card in 2011.
Read MoreWhen one comes to the quality of the bunkers and other hazards we pass into realm of much dispute and argument. Primarily bunkers should be sand bunkers purely, not composed of gravel, stones or dirt. Whether this or that bunker is well placed, has caused more intensely heated arguments outside of the realms of religion, than has ever been my lot to listen to. C.B. MACDONALD
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 the difference in lobster tail and hot dogs."
/It's hard to argue against Shane Bacon's assertion that the Fall Finish is more interesting than the FedExCup.
Read More"Blame it on the FedEx Cup!"
/Bob Harig on the reason we're playing in October in Wales.
Read MoreRolfing On Why FedEx Cup Is A Success: "I gauge my enthusiasm for thing by how I'm feeling going to Kahului airport. This week, I couldn't wait to get here."
/Mark Rolfing, the noted Tim Finchem fishing companion, Hawaiian tourism board chair emeritus, brilliant pronouncer of Fred Funk's name and NBC roving reporter spoke to a group of PGA Tour "partners" and as Bob Carney reports, is beating the FedExCup drum no matter how ridiculous it sounds.
Read More"It was as decipherable as an IRS audit."
/
Steve Elling's sendup, I mean, write-up of the fourth FedExCup finale probably means Tim Finchem won't be nominating him in any Hall of Fame lifetime achievement category meetings. Doesn't mean it's not spot on though.PGA Tour Fines Department Looking Into Kuchar's Alleged FedExCup Criticisms**
/Surely a sweety-pie with a smile like that, a family man to boot, a Southern gentleman, couldn't have said this. It just couldn't be!
Matt Kuchar must have been misquoted by the subversives in the media center. Paul Newberry reports:
Not that he had any idea what was going on, given the complex nature of the points system.
“It’s impossible to be aware of it,” Kuchar said. “Who really was aware of it? Maybe some kid in front of a computer. But certainly I was not.”
Kuchar was preparing to tee off at the final hole when thunderstorms swept into the area, leading to a two-hour break. Even then, he didn’t bother looking at the possible FedEx Cup scenarios.
“I watched football,” he said. “I had no real idea and was completely unconcerned with it today. It was not even on my radar screen. I was out there trying to hit good shots and really didn’t give the FedEx Cup one ounce of thought today.”
Update on 2010-09-27 06:15 by Geoff
**I wonder if this influenced Kuchar's (purported...I refuse to believe) crankiness. Farrell Evans, from the SI roundtable:
Evans: Remember that they reset the points at the start of the playoffs. If they don't do that, Kuchar wins the Cup easily.
Van Sickle: Best point nobody has made so far, Farrell. Kuchar was running away with it until the reset backed him onto the same lap. Just as it happened with Tiger.
Hicks, Sands May Vie For Emmy In Lead Actor Comedy Series
/Of course, the FedExCup would have to qualify as a comedy but I think Sunday's tape would convince the nomination committee in no time that this farce should be recognized for the passion and salesmanship of NBC's Dan Hicks, and The Golf Channel/soon-to-be-nauseatingly-reinforced-NBC-sister-network announcer Steve Sands, given the hideous job of trying to make sense of the FedExCup points chase. Steve Elling wrote:
Read MoreAlgorithms Said To Be Rested And Ready For Sunday's FedExCup Finale
/Here's all you need to know about the silliness of a sports competition decided by geeks as much as its decided by the athletes:
Read MoreThis FedExCup Finale Actually Should Be Exciting...
/...but it could be epic with a tweak. More on that in a moment.
This will be the most exciting FedExCup finale yet. Not say much, I know. But of the players with a shot at the $10 million
"Confused NASCAR Driver Runs Over 30 Golfers During Attempt To Win FedEx Cup"
/Thanks to Digsouth for this Onion take on the FedEx and Chase. If only they were this interesting.
Read More"There are so many ways the Tour could have regulated Tiger to East Lake next week, starting with the stipulation that the defending FedEx Cup champion gets the chance to defend."
/I thought Cameron Morfit was going for a tongue-in-cheek/April Fool's deal with his suggestion that the tour should have figured out a way to get Tiger to East Lake--kind of like when NBC scrambled to figure out a way to keep Charles Van Doren after he intentionally lost on Twenty One. But it appears Morfit is serious in his criticism that the FedExCup has taken a hit because the PGA Tour did not rewrite the rules to get Tiger to the Super Bowl, even though he's got a .500 record.
Read MoreThe Worst Thing About The FedEx Cup?
/FedEx Cup groveling seems pointless these days since (A) the PGA Tour will not admit what a convoluted mess they've created, (B) the likeliehood of FedEx returning after 2012 doesn't seem great, and (C) the opportunity to have created something water-cooler worthy seems to be the last thing the risk-averse legion of play-it-safe VP's would ever consider.
Read MoreBattle Of The Computer-Generated Suspense: Phil Going For #1 Versus Jason Day Vying For #1
/Which faux quest for supremacy will be more exciting Monday: Phil Mickelson trying to grab the top spot in the world golf ranking or Jason Day looking to vault to the top spot in the FedEx Cup.
"When they say he didn’t play enough or isn’t committed enough, look at the numbers."
/The Irish press appears to be on the only sizable audience excited about Padraig Harrington's selection to the Ryder Cup team, with former U.S. Captain Paul Azinger openly mocking the choice on Twitter, as Lawrence Donegan reports. Even Padraig probably became a little less thrilled when his nemesis Sergio was named as an assistant Captain.
Read More“And again, how the commissioner let that slide or get through is ridiculous.”
/Jeff Rude says the tour really needs to come up with a better way to deal with players missing their pro-am tee time, especially in a meaningless vital competition such as the FedExCup.
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