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
"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
"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
Brad Kleinwasn't too keen on NBC and the PGA of America'scommercial-heavy Ryder Cup broadcast, though he noted the nice "last three-quarters of an hour went without an ad or a break," but by then the damage had been done for most viewers.
And Klein documents the damage, totaling up how many times certain ads ran. The top eight:
NBC Network Programming: 31 Omega Watches: 16 Get Golf Ready/Tee It Forward/Play Golf America: 13 Cadillac: 10 Mercedes: 10 National Car Rental: 10 Samsung Galaxy: 9 Royal Bank of Canada: 8
I'm not sure why there was so much outrage over Gene Wojciechowski's column suggesting the Euros had no chance Sunday since it would take a comeback of Brookline proportions to win. A view many of us shared.
But the BBC 5 Live's Colin Murray hunted down the not-evil ESPN.com scribe to wring out an on air concession for the United Kingdom listening audience, allowing Geno to take higher ground over Captain Don't Halve in the class department. And Geno, wisely hoping to show his face in Europe sometime soon, said he was sorry.
I know, I know, so much brilliant golf to discuss and we'll review some of the highlights and lowlights. But one of the first thoughts I've had about the 2012Ryder Cup relates to 2014.
ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” will examine yesterday’s Ryder Cup finale at 2:30 p.m. ET today on ESPN2.
And yesterday’s finale has been deemed an “Instant Classic” and will air on ESPN Classic tonight at 8 p.m. ET for those of you who just can't wait for Tuesday's Golf Channel re-airing.
Just the beginning of what figures to be extensive coverage of a comeback for the ages. Still, we already gleaned some interesting stuff about Sunday's Team Europe play at Medinah.
This was the kind of day Seve Ballesteros lived for. It was a day when something gets done that no one thought could be done. To win the Ryder Cup, the Europeans needed an historic, unprecedented comeback.
He raised his arms high, pumped his fists and then ran into the fairway and jumped into the arms of Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
"It's a feeling I never had before," said Kaymer, a former world number one and major winner, who later gave special thanks to compatriot Bernhard Langer.
Kaymer had been out of form before his final day win over Stricker and had sought some advice from Langer, who missed a deciding six-foot putt at the Ryder Cup 21 years ago at Kiawah Island.
"On Friday I sat down with Bernhard and talked to him a little bit about the Ryder Cup because my attitude wasn't the right one," Kaymer said.
But Luke Donald simply froze him out to win 2&1. European blue on the leaderboard. First point claimed. Momentum.
Donald could do no more to affect the result but he had done his job. Mind you, the Ice Man almost melted. He was coasting at four up through 13 holes until Watson rattled off three birdies in a row before running out of holes.
"I don't know what I would have done going down 18," Donald said. "The nerves were starting to build and Bubba was putting some serious pressure on me. What a relief. I had a lot of responsibility going out number one. Ollie [Europe captain Jose María Olazabal] had enough trust in me to go out first and get that first point. It's a great honour."
In Olympic and Paralympic year the Sports Personality gong is probably beyond him. Therefore I propose a category all on its own to be awarded to the sportsman or woman who demonstrates a degree of passion, skill and commitment that against all odds threatens to alter the course of events, change a game, stand an hour on its head. The winner in this, the inaugural year, is Ian Poulter for his astonishing display at the Ryder Cup in Medinah on Saturday. I further propose that henceforth the trophy carry his name. Thus have we created the Ian Poulter Passion Award.
Poulter, or 'Poults’, who started as an assistant pro and golf shop manager at Chesfield Downs Golf Club, has moved to the highest echelon of Ryder Cup gladiators.
This event stirs his natural tenacity, gives him something to fight against. It is the perfect outlet for his pride.
In the annals of a competition whose history stretches back to 1927, the 39th edition will occupy a special place for its drama and its wonderful setting. Nothing could have more fittingly honoured the memory of Seve Ballesteros, who died in May of last year, than the fighting spirit shown by players whose white shirtsleeves on Sunday were adorned by the image of his distinctive silhouette.
Working long hours with low light late, the lens-toters got some amazing stuff.
Sam Weinman and Alex Myers' Birdies and Bogies kicks off with three of the most emotion-rich shots you'll see in golf and is accompanied by several other incredible images, including a doozy of Martin Kaymer by David Cannon.
I don't want to nitpick an otherwise fantastic day of golf and positively brilliant play by both sides. However, there is something bugging a lot of people in the social mediasphere and probably in the betting worlds: the 18th hole ending between Francesco Molinari and Tiger Woods.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning Drive, is co-host of The Ringer's ShackHouse is the author of eleven books.
Captain I-Want-To-Win-Not-Halve had some Spanish wine, while the team received a visit from Captain Love along with a few unnamed American players.
Ian Poulter Tweeted a couple of photos from the party, including one with the cup and a classic of his daughter wondering "where she gets it."
