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
Bryson DeChambeau struggled to the 36-hole lead of the Dubai Desert Classic despite proprioception problems.
Proprioception (/ˌproʊprioʊˈsɛpʃən, -priə-/[1][2] PROH-pree-o-SEP-shən), is the sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement.[3] It is sometimes described as the "sixth sense".[4]
Got to love that SMU education!
Brandel Chamblee may have stumbled onto to something that will excite sponsors of golf tournaments in economically unstable countries and, get this, help the PGA Tour funnel even more money to charity!
In a GolfChannel.com column, Chamblee argues that Matt Kuchar’s underpaid looper in last fall’s Mayakoba Classic was enumerated handsomely by Mexico’s standards, justifying the lack of normal PGA Tour caddie pay.
In Mexico, depending upon the source, the average weekly salary is $285. Ortiz makes a reported $200 a day – six days a week – being a caddie at Mayakoba, about four times the average weekly salary. Assuming he was idle for a week as the Tour took over his course, he would have been out $1,200. But he was, by all accounts, paid at minimum $5,000 – not the initially inferred $3K – roughly four times his average salary and around 17 times the average salary in Mexico. One can easily see why he would be inclined to enter into such an agreement with Kuchar. It was by any definition, a good week for him.
Now, I think we should push this theory forward a bit and suggest that this standard apply not just to the uh, help, but also to the players. If times are lean in a country, PGA Tour purses should reflect what is a good payday in those lands. That way we don’t have controversies like this going forward!
As for Tom Gillis, who called out Kuchar’s payment and tracked down the caddie to find out he received $5000 of Kuchar’s $1.3 million, Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch talks to the now-senior golfer about his role in calling out the underpayment on Twitter.
“Maybe I should have been a union rep,” Gillis said with a laugh. “I’d be willing to fight for the little guy anytime.”
A player prone to policing the personal affairs of his colleagues must accumulate enemies on Tour, I suggested.
“I’m sure some of them are totally against it and think we shouldn’t be airing that dirty laundry. That’s fine,” he replied. “When the man gets paid I can look in the mirror and feel good that I helped this guy out. When I hit the button to send that stuff out, I’m well aware of what’s coming with it.”
I love these new rules of golf!
While Tom Gillis researches and reports on what Matt Kuchar underpays his caddies, things on the European Tour turned chippy as Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño highlighted the oddity of legal spikemark tapping, then threw one of his colleagues under the bus.
First competitive round of the year on @EuropeanTour with the new rules on effect. Tapping down spikemarks felt so weird, it will take some time to get used to it - Unless you are Simon Dyson and you have been doing it for years.
— Gonzalo Fdez-Castaño (@gfcgolf) January 16, 2019
Dyson’s offending moment:
Besides a few of the player replies to the Tweet (Eddie Pepperell’s GIF selection was splendid), Dyson chimed in:
Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story..😂
— SimonDysonEGP (@simondyson77) January 16, 2019
Seems that was not visible to Castano, however.
I would if I could. He blocked me long ago.
— Gonzalo Fdez-Castaño (@gfcgolf) January 16, 2019
The bad news for pro golfer Tom Gillis is that he has been in contact with Matt Kuchar’s caddie El Tucan from last fall’s Mayakoba Classic and it was not $3000, as he accused while Kuchar was contending in the Sony Open.
The good news for Gillis is that the number El Tucan shared was $5000, incredibly low for a winning caddie effort in a PGA Tour event where the winner took him $1.3 million.
Been in direct contact with El Tucan now for a few days. He did receive a total of 5k. Not 3k after tournament. Still only 0.0023% percent of check. Fortunately there's no more middle man. Stay tuned hopefully he gets paid properly
— Tom Gillis (@tcgillis) January 16, 2019
Good news for Kuchar! His quote after third round play is accurate: “It’s wasn’t 10 percent. It wasn’t $3,000.”
Take that Gillis!
Of course, $5000 could be viewed as a worse story because that is certainly more than the agreed-upon fee for a week involving a last-minute pickup. But it’s still painfully little as a fee plus-win-bonus amount.
Because as far as win bonuses go, it’s below the minimum, especially when you had not won in years.
Let’s just say if you’re a waiter and Matt Kuchar is in your section, don’t count a little extra something for the, you know, the effort. Or total consciousness.
That’s the question GolfDigest.com’s Joel Beall asks and does a nice job answering after a fellow golf pro called out what he saw as Matt Kuchar’s substandard pay to a caddie last fall.
Now, while the list of athletes indiscretions is long, being tightfisted spurs a special kind of fury. Ours is a culture that implores the rich to spread the love; those failing are branded. Michael Jordan, Scottie (“No Tippin”) Pippen, Pete Sampras and, yes, Tiger Woods are some of the alleged stars with alligator arms.
Kuchar's case, however, felt different, for it wasn’t a tip as it was wages owed. The optics alone—a veteran with $46 million in career earnings low-balling a man who makes less than $46,000 a year—were damning. That Gillis’ previous blast of Ben Crane over an unpaid bet to Daniel Berger proved accurate wasn’t helping, nor was Australian pro Cameron Percy’s reply of, “It’s not out of character if true.”
The irony in this escapade like other recent episodes cited by Beall: this was started and fueled by one of Kuchar’s peers, not a media outlet.
As players have increasingly shunned media for social media to break news or tell their story, it’s fascinating how many examples we’ve already seen of players calling out fellow players on social media in ways more harsh and reputation-damaging than a traditional media outlet would dare.
After all, few in the golf press dared to touch the story until Kuchar had a chance to play his round, collect his thoughts and chat with press. Some of his peers were judging before he’d had a chance to comment. It’s a phenomenon worth nothing as players increasing view traditional journalism as “out to get them” even as, at least in Kuchar’s case, the damage was done before he even reached the media center.
In light of Matt Kuchar possibly stiffing his celebrated caddie at last fall’s Mayakoba Classic, Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch posed the question of what constitutes proper payment for a winning bag week loop.
Impressively, 10% is dominating while the $3000 Kuchar possibly paid his man brings up the rear.
Matt Kuchar getting roasted for allegedly paying a local caddie $3,000 after winning $1.3m at a recent Tour event in Mexico. Curious what folks think would be fair in that scenario.
— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) January 12, 2019
Former PGA Tour player Tom Gillis took to Twitter suggesting Matt Kuchar, 2019 Sony Open leader, former Players Champion and winner of $45 million in his PGA Tour career, might want to pay his caddie this week more than the $3000 he claims Kuchar paid “David” upon winning last fall’s Mayakoba Classic.
The win garnered Kuchar a $1.3 million winner’s check plus presumed bonuses. You may recall that David was a local caddie Kuchar used when he entered last minute and his normal looper, John Wood, had a previous engagement.
Gillis’ Tweet:
If Kuchar wins this weekend let's hope he pays his man more than 3k like the last win. 45 mil in earnings. Could've changed the mans life. 👎
— Tom Gillis (@tcgillis) January 12, 2019
To his credit, Gillis answered and Tweeted questions from skeptics unsure of his sources or motivations.
Following his third round at the Sony, Kuchar denied the amount quoted and said it was not a story. From Rex Hoggard’s GolfChannel.com story:
“That’s not a story,” Kuchar said. “It’s wasn’t 10 percent. It wasn’t $3,000. It’s not a story.”
You may recall that the euphoria over David’s effort prompted Michael Bamberger to dig a little deeper, writing this following up for Golf.com back in November 2018:
10. In a qualifier for the tournament, Ortiz caddied for a Mexican golfer, Armando Favela, who made it into the tournament and finished in a tie for 16th, making him the low Mexican. Favela earned $108,000.
11. Asked if he made more money than Favela last week, Ortiz said, “I hope so!” He had not yet received or discussed his pay with Kuchar. He knows the standard caddie bonus is 10 percent of the winner’s share. Kuchar earned $1.3 million for his win, his first since 2014.
So far just Brandel Chamblee has come to Kuchar’s defense, suggesting the pay was legitimately fair for a local caddie.
The reason tour caddies are paid as much as they are is to offset travel expenses and the sacrifice of a lifetime on the road away from family and friends. If Kuch in fact paid his substitute caddy $3,000 (from what I read, roughly twice his normal salary) seems a fair exchange. https://t.co/Zp16KC7FGv
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) January 12, 2019
Depends on a great many things and none of us knows all of the details such that we are justified in defaming an individual based upon rumors or half knowledge. It happens that differences occur on the course for any number of reasons that might effect what one is paid. https://t.co/tMUDMLMzQC
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) January 13, 2019
And you thought he was not a humorist!
Speaking to Golf.com’s Michael Bamberger about the five year PED case’s settlement as a trial neared:
“It was good for both sides, I guess. I’m glad it’s over. It lingered on and on and on and it’s nice to just finally have it behind me. The PGA Tour has always been a great organization. It was just a [PED rule] that didn’t pan out. Everybody knows about it, I’m glad it’s over.”
Singh, 55, also outlined his plans to keep taking up a spot on the PGA Tour by playing a full West Coast Swing schedule. Charming.
In the last two PGA Tour seasons, Singh has missed 17 of 28 cuts. His best finishes came at the 2017 Players (T16) and 2018 Masters (49th).
It speaks to President George H.W. Bush and late wife Barbara’s charm that such a varied cast of sports greats turned out for his memorial, including some golfers not known for turning up at such events.
Nice photo here from Jack Nicklaus featuring mostly golfers and some other sports world greats who befriended the 41st president.
Humbled to be among these athletes & friends I have long admired. We were all honored & blessed to call President George H.W. Bush a friend, and asked to represent his love of sports & friendship at today's memorial & this week's celebration of life! #BushSportsDelegation #Bush41 pic.twitter.com/7uU3WfiXPc
— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) December 5, 2018
The more eccentric the swing and player, the tougher they are to mimic.
And the more original the move, the greater the task for a satirist to take those bizarre attributes and one-of-a-kind quirks and still inject a funny spin.
Which makes Jack Barlett’s work the most impressive golf swing satire since Peter Jacobsen’s work. Bubba Watson is his latest target:
You’re welcome.. @bubbawatson #urwelcome #JBimpersonates pic.twitter.com/tPhavzeTOP
— Jack Bartlett (@JackBartlett1) December 3, 2018
Other than consistently establishing his love of playing the game quickly, the various stories in the wake of George H.W. Bush’s passing present a nice variety of recollections from the 41st President’s life in golf.
The statements and condolences are rolling in, including these from the current and former PGA Tour Commissioner’s that rang up 41’s phone pretty regularly.
Bill Fields files a very nice and in-depth obituary of 41-the-golfer for PGATour.com that included several fun anecdotes. This I did not know…
Although playing in front of galleries made him nervous, Bush did so a number of times. When he was President, he played in the Doug Sanders Kingwood Celebrity Classic pro-am in May 1990 in a group consisting of Sanders, then-PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman and Bush’s oldest son, George W.
Before he teed off, Bush told the spectators: “I would have but one request: Keep on being the points of light, keep on with the concept that it really is right for one American to help another, and please don’t laugh at the drive off the first tee.”
Rex Hoggard talks to various players about the fun of playing a round with President Bush.
From The Golfweek archives, Bill Speros unearth’s this gem from James Achenbach and Jeff Rude on 41’s golfing life.
Jim Nantz filed this piece for GolfDigest.com on that time he played with Bush and Clinton for the first time, enlisted by the President as a bit of a middleman. It’s a story he told in his book as well and clearly one of the best days of Nantz’s golf life.
John Strege offers this from his most famous round with Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Bob Hope and Scott Hoch in the 1995 Bob Hope Classic.
It was a round marked by persistent shouts of “fore,” though no one added “more years” in what was a Republican stronghold in the California desert. By one estimation, 20,000 spectators were on hand at Indian Wells Country Club that day, many of them ducking for cover at various points of the round. Bush tagged two spectators with errant shots, drawing blood from one when his ball caromed off a tree and struck a woman on the bridge of the nose.
Bush never appeared comfortable during that round, for two apparent reasons. He often spoke of “the humiliation factor,” which no doubt was amplified in front of a large crowd. And the pace at which he prefers to play, measured with a stop watch rather than a sundial, was not remotely attainable. The round took “an obscene six hours,” former Golf World editor Jaime Diaz, then with Sports Illustrated, wrote.
The remembrances will begin pouring in and there will be many from a golf world that has lost a beloved, dignified figure and one of the presidents most closely associated with the game. And easily the fastest golfing president.
Here is Adam Nagourney’s New York Times obituary of the 41st President of the United States, father to the 43rd President and grandson to George Herbert Walker, founder of the Walker Cup.
Monte Burke at Forbes posted this short tribute to President Bush seven years ago upon 41’s induction into the World Golf Hall Of Fame, but it’s a fine encapsulation of what he meant to the game.
Before the memories and tributes, enjoy his World Golf Hall of Fame induction tribute where the President is interviewed by Jim Nantz. Included in that discussion is his greatest golf achievement—besides his legendary fast player status—the 1947 Cape Arundel club championship.
Golfweek’s David Dusek takes a fascinating look at Cameron Champ’s driving stats after a strong fall start to the 2018-19 PGA Tour season. Averaging 328.2 yards off the tee and 1.483 strokes gained off the tee, the numbers suggest he’s on course for an unprecedented blowout in the Strokes Gained Driving.
Granted, there is a long way to go but Dusek notes the last person dominating with the big stick like this was Bubba Watson in 2012.
When Watson finished 2012 with the highest season-ending strokes gained off the tee average ever, 1.485, his average swing speed that year was 124.69, his average ball speed was 184.98 mph and his driving accuracy percentage was 58.85.
So far this year, Champ leads the PGA Tour in average clubhead speed at 130.2 mph and average ball speed at 193.61 mph. He is also hitting 61.79 percent of the fairways.
Not to diminish Watson’s achievement in 2012, but in just six years the tour driving distance average has increased.
In 2012, 21 players averaged over 300 yards off the tee.
In 2018, that number jumped to 60 averaging over 300. With many of “average” drivers distance-wise having been replaced by longer hitters, and more players embracing the importance of mindfulness, oat milk and physical fitness, Champ’s separation from his new peers seems even more impressive.
Ok, no one has made that call. But I am now! Ryo Ishikawa was 17 and 76th in the world when played on a 2009 Masters invite. But not nearly as interesting as Hosung Choi and his swing.
Will Gray calls it unique with wild gesticulations.
Ryan Ballengee went with fisherman-style that’s been thrown around to the best effect.
Josh Berhow mustered up an unconventional designation for the swing.
And Christopher Powers cooked up absolutely electric.
Frankly, I have no idea how best to describe Hosung Choi’s move but we need to see it on a grand stage, especially now that he’s the Casio World Open winner and world No. 209. That’s a climb from 528th, where he started 2018.
His latest set list of instant classics:
What a swing! #fishermanswing #hosungchoi #choihosung leading Japan Casio world open pic.twitter.com/lvKQeLbng3
— Yong Lee (@bwv878) November 25, 2018
Wow. He did it pic.twitter.com/K4AtvlnuIe
— Yong Lee (@bwv878) November 25, 2018
Maybe Shottracer on his footwork? BTW, they have tracer on Japan Golf Tour broadcasts?
The reclusive Anthony Kim has surfaced in a video Tweeted by No Laying Up.
Reportedly living off insurance money while nursing injuries and harvesting manbuns, has resurfaced. Sitting with at least five of (presumably) his dogs, sounding eerily like Luke Walton and declaring his intention to place his first-ever bet on Phil Mickelson in The Match, Kim was golf’s break-out star in 2008.
I’d nominate him to be The Match’s honorary standard-bearer but given his injury history, probably not the best idea…
🚨🐶🚨🐶🚨🐶🚨 pic.twitter.com/lgHhP2jZWv
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) November 19, 2018
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
