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.
As rivetting as it was to learn from Jimmy Roberts that Camilo Villegas banged his fist on a table upon learning his rejection by the ShotLink algorithms at Sunday's BMW Championship, it turns out that the Presidents Cup points battles on both sides made for far more compelling reading.
Stuart McKinley reports on what I thought was nothing more than harmless Twitter banter between juveniles in the Chubby stable. It all started when Rory sided with the European team in the Seve Trophy. Just the kind of thing that starts wars over there.
This is getting awkward!
An unbylined AP story explains that if Lexi Thompson wins the Navistar Classic, she becomes the youngest LPGA winner by a bunch. Golf Channel is covering the final round live from 2-5 ET p.m.
Brad Klein reports on former B.C. Open and current Champions Tour host En-Joie Golf Course closing indefinitely due to flooding. The story includes stunning aerial photos from Ed Aswad.From today's New York Post, an advertisement spotted and photographed by reader Tuco saluting architect Rees Jones (or a dead ringer for Phil's favorite designer). I believe today is number 70, so happy birthday Rees!
Rex Hoggard catches up with Dave Stockton during his book tour stop at Golf Channel headquarters and asks about the belly putter.
“(Mickelson) is only going to get better at doing it. He’s got the eyes, he’s got the feel,” Stockton says. “With it anchored like that you’re only going to repeat (the stroke).”
To be clear, Stockton has no plans to convert to a long putter, nor would he advise one of his students to try one, at least not from the outset. In fact, he’s still not sure the long putter’s use should be legal, at least at the highest level.
“I’m old school. I don’t understand how you can anchor it on your body,” he says. “Nobody can tell me how Sam Snead’s croquet (putting style), where nothing is connected but just because you’re straddling your line is illegal, and then tell me (the belly putter) is legal.”
Alex Miceli reports that Cog Hill head man and all-around nice guy Frank Jemsek would like to talk to Phil Mickelson about why he finds Rees Jones' butchery of nice golf courses so awful.
Larry Dorman features some interesting comments from players about the current system and the word playoff, and tantalizes us with the (somewhat slim) possibility that Matt Kuchar would win the whole thing without winning a tournament (playoff or otherwise):Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
