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
Tiger On 71 At Firestone: "I didn't do anything well"
/Oddly, today's 71 at Firestone may be a sign for Tiger fans that their man is working his way back, as he posted a 71 while feeling like he didn't have one facet of his game working. A few weeks ago is this a 75?
Bob Harig reports from the WGC Bridgestone and includes this quote from Tiger:
"It wasn't just the driver, it was just everything,'' Woods said. "I didn't hit it good in warmup. Sometimes it's just warmup and then you go out and hit it great on the golf course. That wasn't the case today.''
Firestone Defended! It's Adored, It's Great, Only One Disagrees!
/As longtime readers know, the WGC Bridgestone at Firestone is not my favorite tournament of the year. I'd watch some but I remain under strict doctor orders not to turn on the television only to see the scintilating, ball plugging on greens, back-and-forth fairways.
It seems Alan Shipnuck kindly pointed out in SI/Golf Plus that the event is boring because of the limited field format, the lack of "World" in a world championship always staying in Akron, and the course itself. He was correct on all points. The event is uninspired and would be #1 on my list of tournaments that could disappear tomorrow from the PGA Tour schedule and outside of Akron, few would be distraught about such a development.
Well, Bob Dyer has come to Firestone's defense, grilling every player who came into the press center and just about anyone else he could talk to about why Firestone is sheer brilliance. The Beacon-Journal columnist even claims to have made Shipnuck back down! The power of the pen!
McIlroy says the players love the Bridgestone “because of the atmosphere, because you’re guaranteed four days of golf ... [and] it’s on a great golf course.”
This from Sergio Garcia, who ranks 10th on the career money list with more than $36 million in winnings: “I love the golf course. It is definitely one of the best we play all year.”
Winning money does make one a design expert.
“This venue just goes to show you that you don’t need elephant burial grounds out there to make a golf course fair, difficult and enjoyable.”
So I guess it’s safe to conclude that, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this fellow from SI needs to borrow Mr. Magoo’s glasses.
OK, Mr. Shipnuck, what’s your beef with Firestone? Not enough windmills and waterfalls?
“A golf course is highly personal, what people like and what they don’t,” he said by phone from Dallas, where he was working on a feature story. “It’s like looking at a painting or some other piece of art.
“To me, Firestone is a nice championship golf course. As Tiger likes to say, ‘It’s right there in front of you.’ But to my eye, a lot of the holes look the same, and the terrain is not super interesting.”
But as someone who has fallen asleep many times watching golf at Firestone, I can attest to its strength as a nap-inducer. Coma-inducing, really.
Soon, he began to backpedal.
“That critique is more about the purpose of the World Golf Championships. ... It says it right there in the name: It’s supposed to be a ‘world’ event, and yet they almost never leave the United States, and they never really even move around the United States, at least as far as the Bridgestone and [the Tucson tournament] go. ...”
“It’s not a knock on Firestone so much as I think it’s a failure of the vision of the World Golf Championship.”
Well, that claim doesn’t exactly square with your previous assessment of Firestone as the most “boring” golf course you’ve ever seen. But I guess it’s pretty tough to hold your ground when you’re a minority of one.
Only one person finds Firestone boring!
Well, there was Jack Nicklaus, too...
Tiger's Playoff Hopes: Without A Win, "Things Get Murky"
/Clark Won After He Stopped Worrying About Looming Ban
/Tom Watson Has More FedExCup Points Than Tiger Woods
/Video: Cabrera's 175-Yard Hole-Out In Greenbrier Win
/It was the shot that ultimately helped him get away from George McNeill and win the Greenbrier Classic, Angel Cabrera's first non-major victory in North America. (Golfweek's Bill Zimmerman with the five big takeaways from the Greenbrier.)
The clip:
And the round highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment: