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

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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

December 13, 2013

This Week In Golf Channel Ratings: Tiger, Big Numbers Return

December 13, 2013/ Geoff Shackelford

After flashing 0.1's like it was going out of style, PGA Tour golf returned to very robust-for-cable sports numbers with last week's Northwestern Mutual Challenge and the presence of stars. Not to mention, awful weather in much of the country stranding viewers in front of beautiful images from Sherwood, fewer college football games to compete with and numerous NFL teams winding down lousy seasons.

Son of the Bronx posts the numbers, which says Golf Channel averaged 149,000 prime time viewers and 80,000 on average throughout the day, double over last year at this time when they averaged 70,000/42,000.

There was a tie at the top with Sunday's 2-hour block of pre-NBC coverage drawing a .4 and 540,000 viewers along with identical numbers for Saturday's bonus coverage from NBC when the telecast spilled over to GC. For some context, Thursday's telecast of the World Challenge drew a 0.2 and 241,000 viewers, higher than any fall 2013-14 PGA Tour events final rounds featuring FedExCup points and automatic spots in the Masters.

Shockingly, the two episodes of Grey Goose 19th Hole featuring Fay, Feinstein and yours truly ranked only 26th and 29th, drawing 80,000 and 77,000 viewers respectively. So much for Nielsen families working in LA-area Best Buys where each night I turned every television over to Golf Channel at 8:30 Pacific time.

And while the content was super, Architect's Week on Morning Drive was not exactly a ratings bonanza. But it's December. And Holly was not on enough (at all actually).

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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Labor Day Sunday sunset shots, in reverse order. Today saw the highest recorded temperature in LA County. 🥵

Better than most sunset

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

@rorymcilroy, 15th fairway, 2020 @pgachampionship @tpchardingpark. Hoganesque!

@tigerwoods practicing at Harding Park, 2020 @pgachampionship Monday. He looks focused and flexible. Watch the first shot, his tee ball on the 4th with such a full throttle swing he had a bit of a Greg Norman follow-through. With an unfriendly breeze

Unorthodox at the (almost) top, Classic at the finish. @matthew_wolff5 @thegenesisinv

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