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)

Amazon Australia

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

“Shackelford will guide the reader to an enriching understanding of design. Consider it a primer on the fascinating subject of course architecture. If you don’t know what a template hole is, or a Biarritz, or a Redan, or a Punchbowl, you will be gently educated, and perhaps enjoy playing a course with any of these holes that much more. There’s a lot here, packed into 160 pages.” LORNE RUBENSTEIN, ScoreGolf

April 24, 2011

"Now that Westwood is No. 1 again by winning that spelling bee in Jakarta..."

April 24, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

It's good to see that Garry Smits and other Jacksonviller's are taking new (again) World No. 1 Lee Westwood's decision to pass on The Players in stride! Actually, he has a point here and some fun lines...

Here are the heavyweights Westwood had to fend off to win the Indonesian Masters: Shaaban Hussin, Thitiphun Chuayprakong, Prayad Marsksaeng, Antoni Lascuna, Prom Meesawat and Mohammad Siddikur.

I did not make up any of those names. I did, however, win the World Scrabble Championship with them.

Now that Westwood is No. 1 again by winning that spelling bee in Jakarta, what's the over-under on the amount of time it takes for him or his bombastic agent Chubby Chandler to remind everyone that Westwood is not competing in The Players Championship in two weeks?

Pardon First Coast golf fans for stifling the same yawn that news produced last January when Chandler apparently thought the absence of the charisma-starved Westwood would cripple The Players. I'm still waiting for the first golf fan in this area who calls or writes about how despondent they are at not being able to watch Westwood at the Stadium Course.

By the way, Westwood is No. 1 again and still hasn't won a major championship. If Donald had won at Hilton Head, he would have been No. 1 without a major. I think there's something wrong with that system. As I've wondered in the past, are the World Golf Rankings and the BCS rankings being calculated on the same computers?

I don't, I'm sensing a bit of separation anxiety!

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.

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Thanks to @collin_morikawa for capping off a great week in style with the lowest final 36 holes in major history, and to the @pga and @pgatour for putting on a safe, well orchestrated week in tough circumstances. Nice of @stephencurry30 to stop by fo

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