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
A glorious day with huge galleries and Royal Melbourne shining made for some great viewing. After first vowing to plant myself on a green, I opted to go with the fascinating Ogilvy-Schwartzel v. Haas-Watney match. Though it ended in a draw and both teams struggled at the finish, the energy combined with the genius of Royal Melbourne made for fun viewing.
A few images from the day, where the U.S. leads 4-2...
Golf Channel will be going live with tee times moving up 2 hours:
Due to the threat of inclement weather for day 2 of The Presidents Cup tomorrow (Thursday), tee times are being moved up two hours. Golf Channel has adjusted its schedule to continue to air live coverage of the event. Listed below is how Golf Channel’s schedule is now going to air on Thursday (all times Eastern), with Live From the Presidents Cup now starting at 4 p.m. ET, followed by live tournament coverage of day two now starting at 5:30 p.m. ET. CME Group Titleholders round one coverage is the same time as previously scheduled.
Let me know of questions, thanks!
Jeremy
1:30PM – 4:00PM Round 1 CME Group Titleholders (L)
4:00PM – 5:30PM Live From the Presidents Cup (L)
5:30PM – 12:00AM Day 2 Presidents Cup (L)
12:00AM – 1:00AM Live From the Presidents Cup (L)
1:00AM – 2:00AM Live From the Presidents Cup (R)
2:00AM – 3:00AM Live From the Presidents Cup (R)
3:00AM – 4:00AM Live From the Presidents Cup (R)
4:00AM – 6:00AM Round 2 Iskandar Johor Open (TD)
Note that Tiger makes the move while Stevie appears to not know what to do. Your deepest insights, please...
So sorry I walked away from Greg Norman's opening ceremony speech to miss his advice to the wives, as tweeted by the official Presidents Cup account:
This tweet suggested the Shark was a little more blunt:
Captain I-Think-I'm-Fantastic and The Brown-Ecco-Wearing Cowboy didn't pass the smell test with their no "premeditation" nonsense Wednesday in Melbourne. Ron Sirak howled the loudest and best:
"It played out the way it played out," Norman said in the very next sentence. "There wasn't any premeditation by it." Oops, my bad.
Now let me get this straight: It needed to be done but it wasn't done intentionally? Is Rosemary Woods taking this all down?
Fred Couples, who at times has the ability to make Norm Crosby sound like Bertrand Russell, actually came a lot closer to making sense than Norman, but still had one foot firmly in murky.
It's going to South Korea. No course selected, announcement came at a 6 p.m. (2 a.m. ET) press conference on the eve of highly anticipated matches...oy vey.
I had the distinct joy of walking the final 7 holes of Royal Melbourne's 2011 Composite Course and shot a few videos (links below) which include some insights about some of the more interesting features from local Chris Kane.
After taking in the entire layout, I'm giddy with anticipation, namely because today's Hogan's and Snead's have so rarely played approaches and greens with this melding of firmness and clever design.
For viewers at home, many of the best holes will come early in the round, something touched on by John Huggan in this interview with Mike Clayton looking at the current composite of the East and West.
Nothing is ever perfect, however, and the latest composite is no exception "The problem now is that the very best holes all come along early in the round," points out Clayton. "The most spectacular holes -- 3-4-5-6 West is arguably the best four-hole run in golf other than maybe 11-12-13-14 at St. Andrews -- are all over with before the turn. Which is not to say the course "dies" at the end, but there is no doubt that the later holes are not quite as strong.
"On the up side, the 16th hole on the East course -- a really good par-3 -- is now part of the composite lay-out. And the 2nd West is a really strong finishing hole. So it's all a bit subjective really. All three versions have their plusses ands minuses. The first was the best course but the worst for the spectators. On both the second and third, however, it is a lot easier to create drama and noise and atmosphere."
I personally like all of the matches going through the best holes because it's never very satisfying when great holes are not reached. That said, there are some beauties along the finishing stretch, including the par-4 11th where my favorite green resides on the property. Watch this short 4 to see some truly wild and weird shots.
As for the green complexes, Greg Norman is right (no, not: “Royal Melbourne will give you a look up her skirt and shut you down very, very quickly."): you are wise to look at every hole from behind the green.
It's so rare when you see golf course photos from behind greens showing much, but at Royal Melbourne I'm constantly wanting to take in the greens from the rear view and seeing so many elements that were not evident from other angles. It speaks to just how complex many of the greens are and just vital local knowledge will be.
As for videos, here's what I Tweeted Wednesday:
A very shaky look at the bunker maintenance at Royal Melbourne where the faces are raked with a board to promote firmness.
Video take from behind 11th at Royal Melbourne, normally 1East and one of the most best greens on the course...or anywhere.
Here's a heads up for when you might see someone drive into the 17th fairway for the 16th hole. Not sure the players will think this way, but anything's possible.
John Huggan and Ron Sirak do the point-counterpoint thing, with Huggan making the case for the International squad and Sirak going all patriotic for the US of A.
In this week's Pond Scrum Huggan and Elling kicked around the possible outcome.
Elling: To begin with, the only time the U.S. team lost the Presidents Cup was at Royal Melbourne, and it wasn't even close. It's a fast, nuanced course, and with a slew of hometown Aussies in the lineup, this road game looks like a tough ask for the Yanks.
Huggan: I'm going with the Internationals because of the golf course. Royal Melbourne isn't the longest or the toughest test, but it does take a lot of knowing, especially if conditions play fast and firm. If we get a hot northwest wind like they had at the matches in 1998, there is only going to be one winner -- the team with five Aussies.
Huggan: Uh-oh, so we agree? That tired "ole-ole-ole" song the Euro fans sing at the Ryder Cup? This time, the Americans might be tired of the "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy" chant.
Elling: A crucial player for the Yanks is Steve Stricker, who hasn't played in two months and has been battling a nerve issue in his neck. Stricker practiced in the Arizona desert as a warmup, but the lack of live fire seems problematic. The dream team of him and Woods is the biggest question of the week, to me.
Huggan: I think you may be right about Stricker. His game is made for this course. But if doesn't bring it with him, he likely isn't going to find it here.
George Begg spotted the resemblance to today's pairings showdown at the Presidents Cup:
Dave Shedloski reports the bad news for the blogosphere: Greg Norman is captaining his last Presidents Cup.
Norman went further saying that Nick Price is his likely successor. "I've heard Nick Price is going to be the next captain," Norman said. "I've heard Nick Price is in. I would love to do it. I've thought about it, going to Muirfield, but I don't think that's going to happen."
The place lives up to the hype as one of the world's great courses thanks to the green complexes and bunkering. I studied the first 10 holes of the Composite Course plus several others on the property, but it's impossible not to love some of the features. A few of which I explore in these Tweeted cell phone video snippets.
The 1st hole this week (3 West) will be pivotal this week and has some great hole location-based strategy I try to explain in this short cell phone video.
*******Links should now work. Hopefully the PGA Tour will be kind enough to extend the 24 hour grace period by a few minutes.
********And now I see the host, YFrog, is down. Good times!
Just a few images...
Bob Verdi questions Fred Couples on this year's Cup team room atmopshere without asst. captain Michael Jordan, who stayed home to help resolve the NBA lockout.
Do you miss Michael Jordan?
"I know Phil does. They had some nice card games in San Francisco. Gin. But all the guys miss him. And the caddies. He fit in so well at Harding Park. The guys loved having him there. He even gave a little pep talk to the team. And you saw how he helped out. Almost adopted Sean O'Hair."
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
