When 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
From the beloved you-can't-make-it-up files, Lawrence Donegan writes about the European Tour considering a revamp of their disciplinary procedures now that it looks like Elliot Saltman's suspension may not stand up to legal scrutiny. And it was Colin Montgomerie, who received what many declare to be one of the great caught-cheating free passes ever, who sat in judgement of Saltman. But that's not what they want to overhaul!I see the ESPY's of the Isles gave Monty its coach of the year award. Rightly so considering all of the clever moves he and his five assistant captains made to give the Euro team that extra 1/2 point it needed to prevent what would have been deemed a humiliating home soil loss.
The victorious European Ryder Cup side won the Team of the Year award after they defeated the United States by a single point to win back the trophy after a rain-affected competition at Celtic Manor in Wales.
Rain-affected? That's putting it kindly.
"It is an honour to be here on behalf of that team," said team captain Colin Montgomerie as he accepted the award.
"We thank you for your support and votes and we want to thank every spectator that turned out to support the team in Wales."
Colin Montgomerie was named Coach of the Year but paid generous tribute to the other members of his Ryder Cup coaching team - Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Mark Roe and Sergio Garcia.
"They are unsung heroes, the guys you don't hear about but who get our team on form and prepared," said Montgomerie. "It is a fantastic year for European golf."
Yes, yes, heroes! They strapped on those walk talkies with their earbuds and drove buggies around the course despite some of the muddiest conditions known to man! Warriors I tell you!
The Ryder Cup Captain explains a key move he made to take Celtic Manor's 5-foot (!?) long beds with 6-footers. Take that, you tall Americans!
'I looked at the rooms and thought they weren't big enough, so we all got connecting rooms. Then on the Saturday morning we got a removal company in and they brought six-foot beds and took the five-foot beds out.
'We were on the ninth floor and the Americans were on the eighth floor, but they didn't know about it.'
Corey Pavin and his side arrived two days later.
'We also had six physio beds put up on that floor and there were tailors up there as well to make sure all the outfits fitted. It was all laid on.
'You have one hit at this and I wanted to get it right.'
The Daily Record has all of the details of Monty's car A80 accident.
A shaken Monty said: "I was driving through road works when a van travelling towards me suddenly burst through the cones and slammed into me.
"A fraction of a second later my car was hit by a lorry and another car as well and I began spinning out of control.
"I was trapped as the side of the car was compressed and the air bags were holding me back - but the passenger door suddenly opened and I was pulled to safety thanks to other drivers who had witnessed the accident.
Wow, those are some strong people! I mean, emotionally, to gather themselves and help such a large, err...significant man out in a time of need.
"It was a terrible shock and I am lucky to have come out of it relatively unscathed - thanks I am sure to the car I was driving."
Well it's good that he has such a sturdy car, since after all, he does have a bit of history with speeding and a suspended license.
A spokesman for the golfer said: "Colin Montgomerie suffered shock and severe bruising to his left side after his BMW 7 series was struck by a transit van that swerved across the road into the path of his car.
Chop, chop Guy Kinnings, get Munich on the line. The synergy here is too good to be true!
Dermot Gilleece catches up with Paul McGinley, likely 2014 Ryder Cup Captain and 2010 assistant Captain who shares some behind-the-scenes moments from last week's Cup. There's the inevitable stuff that Captain Monty could have been one of Churchill's generals if he'd just been born a few decades earlier.
But this was fun:
Between Twitter bickering and Monty's dubious claims of little course setup tinkering, Alistair Tait says "Friday can’t come soon enough."
However, it's hard not to comment on the setup and the hoped-for outcome.
Ian Poulter said the course is set up like a U.S. Open venue. “I’d rather be 260 yards in the fairway than 310 yards in the rough,” Poulter said. “That’s how penal it is around here.”
Of course, Monty’s favorite major is the U.S. Open, the one he’s come closest to winning on three occasions. No surprise, then, that Celtic Manor would be set up U.S. Open style.
There is no question course setup plays into the Europeans’ hands. With the U.S. containing more long-bombers than the Euros, it makes sense to grow the rough to catch the big hitters who hit it off-line. Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Jeff Overton, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson might struggle if they don’t put it in the fairway.
FYI Monty...Dustin Johnson led the U.S. Open through three rounds and the Woods/Mickelson combo each scored top 5's this year.
In an unbylined Irish Times piece, Monty is quoted this way about the Celtic Manor setup:
However, when asked if the course was set up as for a standard European Tour event, Montgomerie admitted: "Hence to our advantage, if it is a European Tour set-up. I was hardly going to set up to a US Tour set-up.
Soft, green and rough lined fairways does scream European! We sure don't have golf like that here!
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
