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
Reading between the lines, I was not surprised to hear Tiger suggest The Open is his best major opportunity over the next few years. I was, however, surprised to hear that a player averaging 304 off the tee this year can see the day coming where Augusta is too long for him.
My Golfweek item on Tiger's pre-2018 Open Championship press conference.
Amazing...
The first person you tag has to let you try a flop shot on them 👇😂
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Thirty players were greeted with letters from the R&A ordering them to offer up their drivers for a COR test. It's not clear if the tests were random or if the players were specially chosen by their manufacturer affiliation or driving distance average.
Welcome to Scotland!
Tim Rosaforte reports for Golf Channel on what appears to be a step-up in the effort to ensure there are conforming drivers in this week's Open Championship.
Keegan Bradley, Brendan Steele and Brooks Koepka all confirmed that their drivers all passed the COR test (coefficient of restitution, or spring-like effect) administered by the R&A.
This was the first time the R&A took measures that were not part of the distance insight project being done in conjunction with the USGA.
There are two ways of looking at this.
The sunny side up take would believe this is just part of normal monitoring and amidst some rumblings that this year's distance increase could be fueled by hot drivers.
The cynical take says this is the act of a desperate governing body looking for something to blame this year's increases on, instead of simply anticipating that a combination of technology, athleticism, fitting and a generation of players reared on modern clubs have passed the testing procedures by. AKA, anything not to do something about the Joint Statement of Principles.
Some fun stuff from Bob Harig's Carnoustie account for ESPN.com of Tiger's first practice round for the 2018 Open.
The course is already rife with examples of players finding the ball going extraordinary distances, whether it be due to the wind or the firm and fast conditions. For example, Woods hit a 7-iron off the No. 4 tee to position himself short of bunkers; it went 215 yards. His normal distance with that club is 180.
"Right now the fairways are faster than the greens," he said. "I am sure they will probably speed the greens up a touch, but I'm sure this will be one of those weeks where the fairways are a little quicker than the greens."
Also interesting on the narrowness factor:
As for adjusting to the links style of play and learning how far to hit shots on each hole, Woods said: "It is mainly trajectory. You can get the same numbers [yardages] with different trajectories. That's what is going to be important, how hot you want the ball coming into the fairways. You can really make the ball roll 60, 70, 80 yards. Is it really worth it or not? Some of the holes, can you carry bunkers? It is a risk/reward golf course, and the way it is set up right now, it is going to play very narrow because it is so fast."
Not much footage, but into the second Open film from Carnoustie, I'm sensing a trend already: rain!
Make sure to check out Walter Hagen's swing and suave. And that Claret Jug ceremony coat. Byron Nelson finished fifth to Cotton, who won by two strokes over Reg Whitcombe.
Full title reads: "CARNOUSTIE". OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP AT CARNOUSTIE Carnoustie, Scotland. Crowds watching the boards at British Open Golf Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland. It is raining - people with umbrellas. Various shots of the contestants playing golf and the crowds watching. Men clearing rain from parts of the course.
They didn't call him the Silver Scot for nothing, as Tommy Armour looks as eloquent as we've always been told in winning Carnoustie's first Open Championship.
Or, gulp, as the gentleman presenting the Claret Jug dares to call it, the British Open. In Scotland!
The final leaderboard, where Armour outlasted Argentina's Jose Jurado, and a write up can be viewed here.
The highlights with audio, including Armour's use of the word "domiciled":
Tommy Armour pierces the field at Carnoustie. Keep in touch with us! Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/The-Open-Championship/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheOpen Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theopen/
The Pathe version without sound includes some different footage, including a monster flagstick screen captured above.
Full title reads: "Carnoustie. Open Golf Championship. Tommy Armour - Edinburgh born - takes championship to America for eight consecutive time." Carnoustie, Scotland. Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (Later King Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor) arrives on the tee to start the British Open Golf Championship.
I've just finished reliving the 1999 Open at Carnoustie through Curt Sampson's book on the week, and the rebroadcast of that wacky final round is set for Wednesday, July 11 on Golf Channel.
But Monday night's documentary premiere figures to be just as compelling given the trailer:
When snow melts at The Open championship site in 2018...
The Barry Burn looking more like the River Tay right now #britishweatherproblems 📷 @craigboath9
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Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
