In golf construction art and utility meet; both are absolutely vital; one is utterly ruined without the other. GEORGE THOMAS
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.
First World Masters Files: Passing On The Members Locker Room
/Mini-Tour Monday Qualifier Hanging Tough In Houston
/Reminder & Notes: Augusta National's Drive, Chip And Putt II
/Masters Adds "Track" Feature To Tablet App
/And that actually could mean a few things...
A) We may be one step closer to seeing more ShotLink-gathered information on the players and course (which, because it's the same venue every year, would be meaningful and interesting).
B) You can track a player who is not part of the many fine Masters.com feeds more easily. And potentially relive their round details.
C) The best "app" and digital presentation may be getting even better.
For us Apple fanboys, here's the iTunes link to the app.
Thanks to reader Jeremy for catching the fine print on this:
@GeoffShac look at this! That description sounds exactly like @ShotLink. pic.twitter.com/drB8FqgL1S
— Jeremy Schilling (@jschil) April 2, 2015
Lydia's Sub-Par Streak Ends; Haley Moore Makes Cut
/Instant Poll: How Will Tiger Will Perform At The 2015 Masters?
/It's A Go! Tiger Playing The Masters
/ICYMI: Rory Wants You To Know He's In Good Shape
/Masters Tower Shuffle: IBF To 17, Nobilo To Amen Corner
/29: Lydia Ties Annika's Consecutive Sub-Par Round Record
/A Good Friday For Tiger To Make A Masters Decision
/It's one of those stars-aligning types of Friday news dumps, with Good Friday meaning many are not in front of computers or scanning Twitter. And a perfect time for Tiger Woods to issue his long-awaited 2015 Masters decision.
Waiting until the weekend to announce his intentions means overshadowing Sunday's Drive, Chip and Putt or the two significant professional events being played in Houston and Rancho Mirage.
The decision sounds like a fairly uncomplicated one if the wedge theatrics are still happening. And as Jim McCabe reports for Golfweek.com, they did during Tiger's Tuesday practice round at Augusta National.
Playing with two members, Woods did make five birdies, but there had to be plenty of lowlights because the source said Woods shot 2-over 74 and that he did hit several indifferent chips, including one that went through the green and into a bunker.
**He's hitting balls Friday at the professional practice area, reports G.C. Digital.
PGA Tour (Grudgingly?) Inching Toward WADA Compliance
/Bandon Ready For Four-Ball, Interested In U.S. Amateur
/Why Isn't There More Lydia Ko Hoopla And Hype?
/As far as female athletes on the planet, it's hard to fathom any woman in her league right now. And there certainly is no male golfer posting the kind of numbers Lydia Ko is turning on the eve of the LPGA's first major at Mission Hills.
Doug Ferguson on her astounding 28-round under par-streak that has her 94-under in seven worldwide starts. It's all on the line in round one of the ANA Inspiration (aka The Dinah), plus other impressive numbers.
She has yet to miss the cut in her 48 events on the LPGA Tour. That includes 15 starts as an amateur, and she won two of them, both at the Canadian Women's Open.
Ko is a combined 90 under par during her streak of sub-par rounds that dates to the final round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Sorenstam was 100 under when she ran off 29 straight rounds under par. That streak included two majors, and that's what Ko is lacking.
And doing it all with such class, as Karen Crouse notes in the New York Times:
The coolheaded Ko seems to belie the notion of the impetuousness of youth. “I know someone who does it better than me, that’s Inbee,” Ko said, referring to the world No. 2, Inbee Park of South Korea. “She has the same poker face. Sometimes, it may be idiotic, when I make a stupid bogey I just laugh.” She added, “I just try to simplify things.”
Ko took all questions about her pursuit of greatness in her pre-ANA presser Wednesday. From GolfChannel.com:
And then there is her new media savy, as evidenced in this new piece shot around San Francisco, just posted and demonstrating her ease in front of a camera, notes SB Nation's Emily Kay.
Ko tees off at 11 am ET Thursday.

