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.
Plus a roundup of betting stuff, reads, Tweets and an update on The Open Championship after the UK extended the current COVID restrictions until July 19.
Thursday’s edition is free to all who’ve signed up free, but here’s the link if you want to join for the letters every day…
A proud day for Luke Smith and his family as he signed to play golf at UTMartin!! Grateful that he gave glory to the Lord Jesus for giving him this opportunity. pic.twitter.com/vw9T18yX8I
— Chuck Williams (@cwms53) November 29, 2018
There are some days more than others when you wish His Ownself could see satire playing out on the links. I’m not sure I’ve read a more bizarre account on multiple levels than this must click-on doozy from Firepit Collective’s Ryan French.
The short version: Wichita Open Monday qualifying featured an 8:10 am tee time with Austen Dailey, Derek Fribbs and Luke Smith. On the bag for Luke, a University of Tennessee-Martin golfer, is dad Oliver, President of Capital Prime. The group struggled and fell behind. Luke and Oliver Smith were reportedly not keen on helping the others look for a few lost balls and even did not like having to put the pin in the hole after putting out.
Well okay then.
The situation came to a boil on the Par-3 seventh hole. Dailey hit his tee shot left of the green. Fribbs, ever the sportsmen, went to help Dailey look for his ball. Allegedly, the Smiths did not help in the search for Dailey’s ball. In an effort to speed up play, Fribbs holed out first and headed for the eighth tee to play his next shot and try and get the group back in position. After Dailey completed the hole he said something to Smiths about how helping to look for shots might help speed the group up. This was apparently a bridge too far for the Smiths. According to Fribbs Luke and Oliver Smith started yelling at Dailey about his quality of play and how it was affecting the group. Oliver went on to make it clear that his son Luke, “wasn’t here to look for balls.”
Fathers and sons. From there son Luke jumped on Dailey while dad did this…
The elder Smith allegedly waved a putter at Fribbs- and anyone else with an eye on jumping into the fracas. (Oliver Smith’s putter-waving was was later confirmed by another PGA Section official on site.)
Anyway it goes on from there with an arrest for Smith but no word on dad for his role. Check out the full account here.
**Oh more fun imagery for the Dateline reenactment…
I will add it to the story but forgot to include one of the best details.
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) June 15, 2021
Derek Fribbs who was the third player in the group gave his statement to the police...WHILE WALKING DOWN THE 10TH FAIRWAY. The cop drove a cart to him and he gave his side of story as he played the 10th.
Sports Illustrated announced an editorial partnership with MorningRead.com to host the website/newsletter’s golf content.
While Morning Read is generally one of the last places you’ll read strong points of view from writers like John Hawkins, Alex Miceli and Mike Purkey, it’s also worth noting that the site is owned by the Buffalo Groupe.
The public relations firm handles PSA work for the USGA, communications counseling, and media relations at the U.S. Open, among their known duties. The firm also has staff members contribute to Morning Read editorial content and a former Buffalo staffer working for the USGA.
While I know many of the Morning Read writers would not be compromised by the relationship, it would seem logical to disclose the USGA partnership in articles pertaining to the U.S.G.A. I know, highly doubtful, but if Golf.com can do it, so can Morning Read when entrusted with what’s left of the Sports Illustrated “brand”.
Having grown up playing over the noxious weed I’ll be curious what role kikuyu plays if it’s as prominent as billed.
Mark Zeigler in the San Diego Union-Tribune took a deep dive into the decision to make kikuyu more prominent in the U.S. Open rough compared to 2008.
“The rough, I think, will be the big differentiator,” says John Bodenhamer, the U.S. Golf Association’s senior managing director of championships. “The biggest difference between January and June will be the kikuyu.”
Knowing how much the USGA loathed the idea of playing a championship with kikuyu approaches and rough—possibly hurting Riviera’s chances at times—I dare say this is the first time a U.S. Open is played with it. (Two PGA’s at Riviera featured prominent kikuyu not seen in the winter months when it’s less active and the U.S. Senior Open).
Superintendent Rich McIntosh, who has dialed in Torrey, explained the approach to get it there this week:
So McIntosh and his crew shaved the rough down to an inch in some places, along with reducing overseed rates of the ryegrass and increasing chemical eradication “to get the kikuyu moving.” That seemed to help, although the gloomy, cloudy spring didn’t cooperate until this past week. The kikuyu is higher than in 2008, up to 6 inches or more in some area, although not uniform height and density across the course.
If it were uniform and that dense throughout we’d be almost assured of an injury or two. Either way, it’s old fashioned U.S. Open hackout stuff and with fewer crowds and marshals than normal to help find balls or mash it down, a potential difference maker.
I haven’t gotten around to a prognostication post but we still have time and early week reports to sift through.
In the meantime, just my contributions to the 121st U.S. Open preview coverage.
NBC returns to the scene of their greatest golf broadcasts.
Why the USGA cannot go the *&^%@ pairing route this week.
U.S. Open News and Notes, June 10th.
Podcast-wise, I discussed my history with Torrey Pines and the thinking behind my McKellar Issue 5 essay on its design:
And the latest State of the Game covered an array of topics including the U.S. Open:
The 1-18 flyover compilation from the USGA. Unfortunately it appears to have been shot a while ago, so we don’t see the final rough lines and buildout:
Jonathan Caldwell won the Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam and featuring 78 men and 78 women competing against each other for the first time. Alice Hewson finished solo third. Mike Purkey with the details here.
Caldwell’s emotional interview:
Caldwell's emotional winner's interview 😢#ScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/asCJiB7RXL
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) June 13, 2021
I thought this was particularly nice work by the European Tour’s social team to document the differences in bags. I didn’t see the women outnumber the men with wedges:
Equipment used at the #ScandinavianMixed.
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) June 13, 2021
Data provided by @SMSInc_UK. pic.twitter.com/TGV7Q6iFer
A featured Bryson-Brooks grouping would be entertaining but also a mistake. I explain in this edition without, spoiler alert—speculating on past three-balls featuring esteemed friends of the USGA.
Plus, notes on Jon Rahm, the course and this week's player interview schedule. This one is exclusive to those who support The Quadrilateral by chipping in a few bucks to the cause.
After missing the Palmetto Invitational cut, Brooks Koepka says he’s still having trouble focusing in non-majors. From Steve DiMeglio’s Golfweek report:
“I don’t try to miss a cut. I just have a harder time focusing in regular PGA Tour events than I do majors,” he said. “Majors, I know I’m locked in from the moment I hit the first tee shot. Even walking from the first tee shot to the ball, my head is still going on what I need to do. Out here I kind of lose focus for a little bit.
“I’ve got to figure it out. That’s why I struggle, I think, in regular events. It’s the focus and the energy, the excitement level just isn’t there when it would be in a major. It’s different. I thrive off that bigger stage, that big moment where there’s a bunch of fans and a tough golf course. I love it.”
Well I know he meant to say PGA Tour events, playoff events notwithstanding.
At least Koepka finished and stayed to chat.
There was a fairly pitiful leaderboard sight involving many added late to help keep the field at 156 and those playing opportunity incentives safe.
Probably the only “athletes” that allow to give up when they struggle in competition.. @PGATOUR @premgolfleague @GeoffShac @NoLayingUp # role model #class act pic.twitter.com/HCkwfCE1wu
— mad2021 (@mad20212) June 12, 2021
Just finished watching three hours of Golf Channel coverage of the LPGA Mediheal. Biggest question: How would Lexi respond to that devastating USWO finish?
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) June 11, 2021
Well, she shot 71. Currently T-15. She declined a Golf Channel interview.
Lexi Thompson is T15 after two rounds at Lake Merced, not quite a week removed from losing the U.S. Women’s Open at nearby Olympic Club.
Given that Golf Channel’s LPGA Tour coverage teeters on sycophantic at times, it’s pretty amazing to pass on a post-round interview that is also a fine chance to display some logos. But as feared with the recent Naomi Osaka situation, coupled with some anti-media sentiment in golf, it seems we are likely to see more players pass on these generally inane chats. And even when they don’t pass, episodes like this put interviewers on notice to bring plenty of massage oil to future post-round therapy sessions.
Here is one defense of Thompson’s decision, with a wide range of replies.
Given her pretty ON POINT interview post her final round of US open…this take is unfair and unnecessary and people wonder why athletes are starting to decline media requests. It’s a new week, she’s clearly moved on and so should the media. https://t.co/EMOi58o2a5
— Marina Alex (@Marina_Deee) June 11, 2021
MorningRead.com’s Mike Purkey challenged players, agents and some broadcasters making these situations worse than they (A) need to be (B) actually are in the grand scheme of life.
Thompson’s agent did her no favors by calling a halt to the media interviews after only two questions after the final round. If he thought he was protecting her, he’s wrong. What’s more, it’s not his job or his jurisdiction in that situation. Thompson, who is 26, might not have been required to face the media, but she does have an obligation as a professional athlete. This was her 15th U.S. Open, and she has been answering reporters’ questions all that time.
If Thompson wants another example, she only has to turn to Greg Norman, who infamously lost a six-stroke lead in the final round of the 1996 Masters. It was by far the most devastating day of Norman’s career.
Yet, he sat in the interview room in the media center at Augusta National, where every seat was taken and journalists were standing in the back and seated in the aisles and in the front. He answered every single question until no more were left to ask.
Washington journalist Arthur MacMillan joins Mike Clayton, Rod Morri and yours truly to discuss a range of issues, including the Premier Golf League, Jon Rahm, Covid, player interviews, the US Open and more.
Listen below or get it on your favorite podcast app, with some links here.
There is plenty to chew on in Mike Whan’s conversation with Alan Shipnuck for GolfDigest.com. But mostly it’s nice to see the incoming CEO is trying to understand why rules bifurcation is the golf administrator version of gonorrhea.
The key exchange with Whan, who starts July 1st:
For the men’s professional game, do you need to limit the distance players are hitting it?
If we’re talking about the men’s professional game, I’d be surprised if people don’t believe that some degree of reining in wouldn’t be good for the game long-term. I haven’t had those conversations with everybody yet, but I will. I’ve read the Distance Insights study, but I don’t know if the need for change really trickles down to other levels of the game. I question if we need change for the average player. I’m still trying to understand why bifurcation scares everybody as much as it does. I’m not really sure why.
Welcome to the club!
Torrey Pines third hole (Geoff Shackelford)
And on this week’s McKellar podcast, I chatted with Lawrence Donegan about my Issue 5 article on Torrey Pines along with the recent U.S. Women’s Open and Pepperdine’s NCAA win.
Two of the biggest non-men’s majors went up against each other last week and as they will in the foreseeable future unless schedulers push for change. Still, with nearly matching TV windows and the conclusions happening in annoying congruity, it’s not a shock to see CBS’s 2021 Memorial broadcast and NBC/Golf Channel’s U.S. Women’s Open delivered smaller audiences than hoped-for.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Memorial tournament averaged 2.82 million viewers on CBS last Sunday, marking the tournament’s smallest final round audience in three years (2.35M). Viewership fell 12% from last year, when the tournament marked Tiger Woods’ return from hiatus (3.28M), and 5% from 2019 — when Woods finished in the top ten (2.96M).
I suppose you could say the rating was pretty great all things considered, but with the previous day’s Rahm/COVID news, more were likely tuning in.
The U.S. Women’s Open went off split tees and played threesomes to fit NBC’s priority status for gymnastics given how it’s an Olympic year.
📺Ratings Notes📺
— Golf Channel PR (@GolfChannelPR) June 9, 2021
Coverage of the 2021 @uswomensopen averaged 600,000 viewers across @NBCSports and @GolfChannel, up 62% vs. 2020 and marking the most-watched U.S. Women's Open since 2016. pic.twitter.com/bHFdn8yZnX
Andy Gardiner spoke to ESPN.com’s Bob Harig about the hopes and dreams of conversations with the PGA Tour. I’m not sure I see a place where the Premier Golf League and the PGA Tour co-exist, but Gardiner apparently does.
"All we want is a conversation,'' Gardiner said. "We've never been the enemy. But I can understand why we've been perceived as such. But we'd love to be friends. I've not had that opportunity so far. And I will be redoubling my efforts. We want to have a conversation in the best possible way to ensure they understand where we are coming from and why we are doing it and to ensure that nobody's feelings will be hard done.''
Gardiner also revealed the PGL’s effort at making “an approach in the last 24 hours setting out our thoughts in the best possible way.”
Presumably the letter was delivered by FedEx. If it came via DHL or UPS, I’m not sure the conversations will be cordial.
He is playing up a free market, choice approach and it would seem to be boxing the Tours into a corner given the whole “independent contractor” push last year when the PGL was a topic. Also, taking an open tone certainly makes tough replies from the PGA Tour, while justified given what is an obvious business threat, could reflect poorly in some sectors.
"I do know the existing PGA Tour rules. The players will ultimately decide where they are going to play. There have been rumors of bans and not getting ranking points, but all individuals should have the right to choose how and when and where they work. These guys are professionals. If the PGA Tour changes its rules that allows them to remain members ... we hope that would be feasible.''
Check it all out here and this weekly edition is a reminder as to why you should up for free.
*Sorry free subscribers, I screwed up and clicked the wrong button. You should not be able to read it via the link.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
