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.

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Available via Amazon (US): Golf Architecture For Normal People

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August 21, 2005

Narrowing the Old Course

August 21, 2005/ Geoff Shackelford

In John Huggan's 2005 major review, he also asks...

In the absence of legislation on the ball, who can forget the sight of long grass surrounding many of the Old Course's bunkers this past summer?

Or the ridiculous sight of a St Andrews Open being played from tees not even within the confines of the host course?

To illustrate the absurdity of "fairway contours" on the Old Course, Tommy Naccarato took Alister MacKenzie's drawing of the 14th with its A-B-C-D strategic options, and updated it for today's setup. The shaded area in grey highlights the 2005 Open fairway contour. Note the location of this year's off-property tee.

Original Drawing by Alister MacKenzie, Update by Tommy Naccarato

Geoff Shackelford

Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning Drive, is co-host of The Ringer's ShackHouse is the author of eleven books.