When one comes to the quality of the bunkers and other hazards we pass into realm of much dispute and argument. Primarily bunkers should be sand bunkers purely, not composed of gravel, stones or dirt. Whether this or that bunker is well placed, has caused more intensely heated arguments outside of the realms of religion, than has ever been my lot to listen to. C.B. MACDONALD

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

Barnes And Noble (online and in stores)

Amazon Australia

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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

April 20, 2020

Organizers Consider Ryder Cup With "Virtual Fan Experience"

April 20, 2020/ Geoff Shackelford

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Currently slated to be played in September the week after a rescheduled U.S. Open, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington has already said if fans cannot be present there will be no biennial match.

Not so fast.

The Telegraph’s James Corrigan reports of a fan-free scenario under consideration without fans. His story is titled “A Ryder Cup without fans is a ridiculous, wretched concept that should be put to bed,” so I think you can grasp where he stands.

In a radio interview Monday, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh confirmed the concept is under consideration. With virtual fans…

PGA's Seth Waugh on a fan-less Ryder Cup (via @WFAN660): "We have begun to talk about whether you could create some virtual fan experience, and we're going to try to be as creative as we can. It's (still) to be determined, frankly, whether you could hold it without fans or not."
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) April 20, 2020

The early efforts at virtual fandom elsewhere, have been mocked.

Then again, the sight of players virtual fist-bumping inflatable virtual fans as chants of “USA, USA” are piped on to the first tee, could be entertaining of satire is your thing.

Any urgency to play the biennial matches this year without fans, is a real headscratcher. Is a postponement that financially cataclysmic for the European Tour or PGA of America? Is preservation of the 2021 Presidents Cup—in the date slot you would play a postponed Ryder Cup—having some influence?

Either way, as Corrigan wrote, it’s a ridiculous, wretched concept that should be put to bed.

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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