Grounds for Golf: The History and Fundamentals of Golf Course Design
By Geoff Shackleford

Grade: B+
Teacher’s Comments: An informative analysis of golf architecture that’s primarily for the serious golfer.

“Every golfer worthy of the name should have some acquaintance with the principles of golf course design, not only for the betterment of his game, but for his own self enjoyment” - Bobby Jones

There’s probably an armchair course designer in every serious golfer. We’ve seen enough courses to be able to distinguish between good and bad. We’ve thought seriously about the design of various holes because it helps to improve our games. We replay favorite tracks in our minds. And I don’t think I’m alone in sometimes doodling hole designs on scraps of paper.

I will also confess to having spent way too much time designing courses on various computer golf games.

Geoff Shackeford wants to encourage that sort of thinking. In Grounds For Golf, the golf writer and internet impresario offers readers a solid introduction to golf course design. Through eighteen chapters (no coincidence, there) Shackleford covers design fundamentals, course design history, the differences between various schools of thought, great designers, course maintenance, and various elements that Shackleford believes make a great golf hole.

Shackleford encourages his readers to “daydream” holes as they play. He wants players to imagine what the designer had in mind, much as museum goers speculate on the meaning of various works of art.

It’s not all an esoteric pursuit, though. Understanding the role of various design elements, and correctly deciphering the options presented by the designer can lead to lower scores.

In analyzing courses, Shackleford’s preferences tend toward the “naturalistic” designs, where fairways, greens, bunkers and other elements look as though they were teased from the landscape, rather than carved by a bulldozer. He also prefers holes that offer a variety of strategic options, and generally denigrates the straightforward real estate development courses in the same way that real baseball fans deride the cookie-cutter stadiums of the 1970s.

I think it’s hard to argue with either of those two points.

Grounds for Golf is replete with black and white line drawings of holes, which Shackleford uses to illustrate his arguments. Less interesting are the too-dark black-and-white photographs of holes.

At its best, the book made me examine elements of golf course design that I hadn’t really considered. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the injection of humor into golf course design. As Shackleford began to describe the characteristics of a “humorous” golf hole, I immediately thought of the sixth at the University of Michigan’s Alistair MacKenzie designed golf course. And sure enough, on the very next page, Shackleford used as an example that hole’s meandering, multi-tiered green.

I give this book a B+ only because I think it’s audience is confined to the serious golfer. Most weekend hackers, or those who play the same course over and again during their league meets won’t find this one as meaningful or interesting.

The Telegraph has published an excerpt from Sean Connery’s autobiography about his passion for golf.

I never had a hankering to play golf, despite growing up in Scotland just down the road from Bruntsfield Links, which is one of the oldest golf courses in the world. It wasn’t until I was taught enough golf to look as though I could outwit the accomplished golfer Gert Frobe in Goldfinger that I got the bug. I began to take lessons on a course near Pinewood film studios and was immediately hooked on the game. Soon it would nearly take over my life.

More Here

Disenchanted with the two major golf magazines—Golf Digest and Golf magazine—I recently got a subscription to Golf Week, hoping for a fresh look at the sport.

I’ve heard of Golf Week for years, of course, but never bothered to pick it up because I didn’t think I needed another magazine. But the “professional offer” I got was too good to pass up.

I haven’t been disappointed. Rather than the endless stale tips on how to add 15 yards on your drive Golf Week focuses on the professional tours, collegiate and other amateur competitions, business, golf media and some lifestyles articles. There’s also an extensive section in each issue with stats and results from more tours and tournaments—both in the US and Worldwide—than I knew existed.

Did you know that Leif Olson won the July 20 - Aug 1 tournament, earing $13,000 for shooting a 65-69-70? The Southern California team won the Girls’ Junior America’s Cup with a score of 647.

Of course, no one really needs to know these things, but it’s better than seeing another repetitive (or contradictory) article on developing the correct swing path. Or another article on equipment I apparently need, but can’t afford.

There are naturally some equipment articles in Golf Week, but absent the breathless hype. The August 9 issue has a large article on lead tape that’s part history, part technical, and part humor. The small Toy Box section in the same issue as a one column brief on De La Cruz putters, and six bulleted paragraphs on equipment changes the pros are making.

The Golf Life section in the same issue has a dozen pages on great golf courses you can play in Northern Michigan (with some great choices), Minnesota’s Iron Range and Missouri’s Ozarks. Another article is subtitled “Deltona Club’s reconstruction illustrates changing economics for architects, owners.”

I’ll wait a few more weeks before endorsing Golf Week wholeheartedly, but it’s been a promising beginning. I wondering which of the other two I’m going to drop.

Don’ts for Golfers (Golf)

Don’ts For Golfers is a small (2” x 4") fascimilie edition of a 1925 golf instruction book. It apparently was part of a series that also included Don’ts for Husbands and Don’ts for Wives.

It’s an interesting little tome that offers a glimpse of the golfing life in the 1920s.  The book covers driving, iron play, bunkers, mashie shots, bunkers, putting, faults, club selection, clubhouse behavior, clothes, on course behavior, caddies, first aid, fitness and many other topics.

Some of the advice is relative today.

Don’t move your head while making a shot.

Don’t try to cure a pull by developing a slice.

Others are quaintly cute:

Don’t wear a collar that is too high. Something about one inch in height is near enough the mark.

While still others refer to rules and clubs that no longer are part of the game:

Don’t grouse about stymies. They are part of the game.

Don’t forget that you cannot go too far into the sand with your niblick.

While I can’t see anyone seriously studying the volume, it does make for a bit of amusing reading. I think this would be perfect for a Christmas stocking stuffer.

The Franchise Babe: A Novel

by Dan Jenkins

Grade: A-
Teacher’s Comments: A cynical look at the LPGA, and mostly funny. It’s not Jenkins’ best work, but still is very good.

In The Franchise Babe, sporstwriter extraordinaire Dan Jenkins takes on the LPGA and its new crop of “lolitas”—the young girls who bring so much talent, and so much sex appeal to the Tour. It’s not as good as “Dead Solid Perfect,” but still worth reading.

The book’s protagonist is Jack Brannon, a cynical, politically incorrect, Texas-bred sports reporter. Weary of Tiger Mania and the “fat happy slugs” who are happy to play second fiddle, Brannon decides to spend a few weeks covering the other Tour—the LPGA. There, his attention is caught by Ginger Clayton—one of the lolitas—and even more by her mother, a stunningly attractive divorcee.

Brannon travels with the Claytons to several tour stops—the Firm Chick Classic, the Speedy Arrow Energy Bar Classic, and the never-to-be-forgotton Le Grand Cheval et Petit Chien Classique (known as the Dinah Shore before the commissioner sells out to a French company that specializes in horsemeat dog food). Along the way, Brannon falls further and further in with the Claytons until, at the end, he loses his objectivity entirely.

The Franchise Babe is a love story, a mystery, and a very funny sports satire. Jenkins pulls no punches in skewering players, agents, the LPGA Commissioner, golf executives, sportswriters, editors, pushy golf parents, the rich, corporate sponsors,golf course architects, fans, protesters, liberals and anyone else who happens to get in the way.

This is by no means Jenkins’ best work, but it is an enjoyable read. I really like Jenkins’ writing style, which features a lot of snappy dialogue and “insider” golf language. At 224 pages, I finished it in just under two hours.

I’ll happily recommend this book for everyone but the easily offended.