The only course that will remain difficult under all conditions will be one that is designed and kept for golf of a stereotyped, monotonous character, and this makes a most uninteresting proposition. BOBBY JONES
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
With the continued chatter about the USGA surprising the field by playing the par-5 16th much shorter, it's worth understanding that at least one contender, Michael Thompson, had a preview of the setup in 2007.
Of course, you'll also notice in this video of Jamie Lovemark teeing off in the U.S. Amateur that the fairway is much, much wider. Thanks to reader Kevin for this:
Michael Hiestand notes this about NBC's final day 6.6. rating up against the NBA Finals.
The U.S. Open on NBC Sunday drew a 6.6 overnight. Predictably, that's up from last year's final-round coverage -- by 29% -- when the event's finish wasn't close and, more importantly, it didn't run in East Coast primetime.
But compared to two previous West Coast U.S. Opens that has similar primetime schedules -- in 2008 and 2010 -- NBC's Sunday coverage was down. It was down 22% from 2008 and 4% from 2010.
Jeanne Moos scores the hard-hitting exclusive with the "Jungle Bird" who reveals that no charges will be filed by San Francisco Police. They watched his U.S. Open trophy presentation act in the station and deemed it not worthy of further prosecution.
This is mildly disturbing:
Some fascinating comments from Jim Furyk about his surprise at playing 16 tee from the 575 yard plate (Mike O'Malley has the short version of the tournament turning point in this GW Daily item).
Even though Mike Davis has been open about this possibility and course setup spontaneity, and even though the tee is right next to the 10th green, Furyk still sounded a bit peeved by the move. Which is why I love when Davis does this. Some view it as contrived because a human being is doing it instead of a surprise wind shift orchestrated by Mother Nature.
Q. 16th hole. Tell us everything from the tee box on.
JIM FURYK: The tee was a hundred yards up. So I'll be quite honest, it was 99 yards up from the back of the very back tee. I know the USGA gives us a memo saying that they play from multiple tees, but there's no way to prepare for a hundred yards. So there's no way that you're, I thought that they put the tee up like they did, maybe 65 yards up on Friday, but to get to a tee where the tee box is a hundred yards up and the fairway makes a complete L turn, I was unprepared and didn't know exactly where to hit the ball off the tee. And I took a little bit more of an aggressive route with that 3‑wood.
In hindsight, I like the way Graeme played the hole. He played it 2‑iron, 2‑iron, and sand wedge. And I don't know what to say, other than there's no way anyone else in the field was prepared for the tee to be that far up. I just didn't handle it very well. And I'm not sure I hit the wrong club off the tee, but probably hit the wrong shot off the tee. And that probably as much as anything forced me to make a poor swing.
Q. How unsettling is that to get up on the tee box and really not have a clear picture of thousand manage that hole?
JIM FURYK: It's awkward. That happens, that's happened quite a bit in the setups here in the last six and seven years and I want to be clear, I really like the way Mike sets the golf course up, I think he's done a great job. But there's always one round where, towards that late in the day, where you grab a hole and it's much different than you would expect it. And there's no way when we play our practice rounds you're going to hit a shot from a tee a hundred yards up unless someone tells you.
But the rest of the field had that same shot to hit today and I'm pretty sure no one hit as shitty a shot as I did, so. I did the best, the worst job of handling it and I have no one to blame but myself. I should have hit a different shot off the tee and if anything you need to miss that fairway to the right to never to the left. So it makes mine twice as bad.
But is there anything wrong with moving a tee so far forward on the final day of the U.S. Open? Especially when there's been a suggestion the hole will be moved forward and the tee is visible from a hole played prior to it? Is that enough of a leading question?
Sean Martin wrote about No. 16 and points out something lost in the tee placement: Sunday's "sucker" hole location and explains why certain players like John Peterson played to the center of the green.
Soak up the lyrical writing and sharp observations from Lawrence Donegan's final game story and Guardian appearance in Monday's piece from Olympic Club. He's leaving the paper to spend more time with his family. And for the first time in five years since that euphemism typically reserved for "he was fired," it's actually the truth.
From Martin Kaufman's review of the television coverage at Olympic Club, a long overdue question for the Worldwide Leader...
• I’m sure Andy North is a nice fellow – he is, after all, from Wisconsin – but I have no idea how he has held that prime ESPN gig for so many years. The man seems determined not to say anything remotely interesting. When I see him on the ESPN set, I can’t help thinking: Is this the best that the self-proclaimed “worldwide leader in sports” can do?
Kaufman also highlights some new additions to the Curtis Strange lexicon.
Does winning mean they expedite discussions about a ban on anchoring the putter to your torso, or does yet another major win ensure the governing bodies will not touch this one?
I lean toward the latter option.
Before we move on from Olympic Club and its storied history, the latest State of the Game podcast features Rod Morri and Mike Clayton in conversation with Neil Sagebiel about his book on Jack Fleck.
Tim Rosaforte puts the finishing touches on the impressive play of 17-year-old amateur Beau Hossler and his amazing week in this Golf World Daily column.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
