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

January 24, 2021

Si Woo Kim Wins But Patrick Cantlay's Weekend Is The Real Eye-Opener

January 24, 2021/ Geoff Shackelford

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Let’s table the whole PGA West Stadium Course-has-turned-into-Indian-Wells discussion for another day and instead congratulate Si Woo Kim on his final round 64 to win the American Express Championship. Also, a special salute to the PGA Tour staffer who computed that it’s been 1,352 since Kim’s Players Championship win. Seems it was only 2,352 days ago.

Even with some pesky breezes Sunday, the Stadium is no longer the course-too-hard-to-host-the-Hope afterr widespread adoption of Keto diets and analytics.

This does not in any way diminish runner-up Patrick Cantlay’s stunning weekend as reported on here by Adam Schupak at Golfweek.

Thanks to the PGA Tour communications team for sending out these incredible feats by the former UCLA Bruin and world No. 10:

He bested the course-record by two with a bogey-free 11-under 61, replacing a 9-under 63 set by Charlie Reiter in 2019
Cantlay was 18-under in his final 36 holes, tying the best score in relation to par in the final two rounds of a 72-hole event on Tour (Rocco Mediate/2003 Sentry TOC); eclipsed his previous best mark of 14-under in the final two rounds (2018 Shriners Hospitals/2nd)
Cantlay made 20 birdies in the final two rounds, the most in a 72-hole non-major event on the PGA TOUR (19/Kevin Chappell/2013 The American Express)
He made 11 birdies in the final round
Cantlay made 151 feet, 10 inches of putts in the Final Round, his most feet of putts made in a round of his Tour career
Sat T56 and seven strokes back after 36 holes before carding weekend rounds of 65-61

Jeremy Schilling also highlighted this about Cantlay’s weekend bogey:

For those just getting caught up: Cantlay wound up 1 shot short of a playoff, 2 of a win. H/t to @brianros1 for remembering, while playing par-5 8th on Sat (his 17th) Cantlay went OB on 2nd shot into someone's back porch. Made bogey. Shows you how crazy good rest of wknd was. https://t.co/WZ92zdtUCd
— Jeremy Schilling (@jschil) January 25, 2021

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. 🥵

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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

@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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