Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Morning Quick Links



1) Pebble Previewed

GNN does another great deep dive into Pebble Beach.

https://thegolfnewsnet.com/ethanzimman/2017/02/07/2017-att-pebble-beach-pro-am-preview-pebble-beach-golf-links-102937/

2) Sun Armour

Sun Mountain is my bag of choice. They are doing some big things with Under Armour.

http://golfweek.com/2017/02/07/under-armour-golf-bags-sun-mountain/

3) Pebble Playa

The one column you need to read prior to the Pro-Am getting underway.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cantlay-743227-roth-time.html

4) New Podcast

Geoff and House take on the Pebble Beach Golf Links.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2017/2/7/shackhouse-26-pebble-beach-week-herm-edwards.html

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Morning Quick Links



1) The Rich Get Richer

Golf's biggest purse keeps growing. While I am glad to see the women's purse also increasing, part of me thinks the men's game is getting a bit out of control.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2017/2/6/five-families-fun-us-open-purse-jumps-to-12-million.html

2) Speaking of Women

The 2020 Olympic host course is having some issues addressing the topic of women.

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/2020-olympic-golf-venue-postpones-vote-on-women-membership

3) Pebble in the Shoe

Can't say I really disagree with this take. That being said, I do love me some Pebble Beach golf. I'm conflicted.

https://thegolfnewsnet.com/ryan_ballengee/2017/02/06/saturday-att-pebble-beach-pro-am-worst-golf-telecast-year-102898/

4) New Podcast

NoLayingUp talks with Smylie in a great interview that you should check out!

http://nolayingup.com/2017/02/06/nlu-podcast-episode-64-smylie-kaufman/

Monday, February 6, 2017

Morning Quick Links


1) Fear and Loathing in Arizona

Geoff breaks down all the mayhem of the Waste Management Open.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2017/2/5/wasted-open-wrap-the-ugly-side-of-the-madness.html

2) Matsuyama's Man

This is an old article but I am absolutely fascinated by Bob Turner. Well worth the read.

http://www.pgatour.com/news/2014/11/04/matsuyama-turner-pgatour.html

3) Another Week

Another Tour Confidential. One of the best weekly segments out there.

http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/02/06/tour-confidential-are-you-concerned-about-tiger-woods

Friday, February 3, 2017

Morning Quick Links


1) Tiger Toast

Whether its spasms or recognition the game isn't on point, Tiger's comeback is over, at least for now and perhaps for longer. I could go on and on about this but GolfWRX leads the way:

http://www.golfwrx.com/428328/tiger-woods-withdraws-from-dubai-desert-classic-with-back-spasms/

2) Amateur Hour

I love all things amateur golf and The Fried Egg has a great preview of the upcoming Jones Cup!

http://www.friedegg.co/blog/2017-jones-cup-preview

3) Land Of The Rising Discrimination

I know, I know private clubs can do what they want but honestly we are in the modern times and anyone who discriminates based on gender or race gets a black spot in my book. The 2020 Olympics course doesn't allow women members and it looks like they aren't backing down.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2017/2/3/japan-golf-association-women-have-not-complained-about-treat.html

4) New Podcast

Bacon gets down with Buck prior to the Super Bowl to talk broadcasting and golf.

https://art19.com/shows/the-clubhouse-with-shane-bacon

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Morning Quick Links


1) Requiem for a Blimp

Geoff breaks down the breakdown in blimp coverage at events.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2017/2/1/golfs-blimp-issue-becomes-evident-thursday-in-scottsdale.html

2) Front Paige News

Alan has an in-depth dive on Paige Spiranac that is worth a read.

http://www.golf.com/knockdown/2017/02/01/paige-spiranac-unfiltered-how-power-social-media-set-controversial-golf-star-soaring

3) Symetra Tour Finally Announces Schedule

Every year the Symetra Tour announces their schedule but recently those announcement seem to be getting later and later into the year and closer and closer to the start of the season. My fingers are crossed that the tour continues on and I will do my part in supporting it. So should you!

https://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2017/02/01/2017-symetra-tour-schedule-21-events-2-9-million-prize-money-102771/

4) New Podcast

Swantek pops up for his regular Wednesday podcast.

http://www.pgatour.com/radio/podcasts.html#talkofthetour

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

ReGripped's Quest To Play Cypress Point Day 541



This is one of several posts about my attempts to play the ultimate course, the Cypress Point Club. If you have any tips for me or want to invite me to play (!!!) please email me at peterflanigan@hotmail.com I promise total discretion for anyone who helps. Thanks! 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt made the highly entertaining 500 Days of Summer detailing his fictional relationship over the course of 500 days. Currently my relationship with Cypress Point has endured past that point to day 541 and is still going strong. What has been going on recently?

I have been meeting some fantastic people who are on the Top 100 circuit, people trying to play their versions of top 100 courses or otherwise involved in ranking those courses. They share the same passion I do, to play engaging, challenging and beautiful courses and definitely feed into my mania about Cypress Point as it checks all of those boxes. The hope is that our shared mania will synch up and we play Cypress Point at the same time! 

I also continue to explore the private club route and have been kicking the tires on several private clubs here in the Los Angeles area. I am not sure if joining or playing at any of these clubs will bear fruit but knock on enough doors, one will be bound to open.

For the rest of the post, I would love to discuss perhaps the best book ever written about Cypress Point.


"For years I have been contending that in our generation no other golf course could possibly compete with the strategic problems, the thrills, the excitement, variety and lasting and increasing interest of the Old Course, but the completion of Cypress Point has made me change my mind."

-Alister MacKenzie

Cypress Point is known by golfers throughout the world as one of the best courses you could play. People have seen photographs of the famous 15th and 16th over and over again. People have read about The Match or saw the course when it was part of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am rotation. However, many people don't know the in-depth history of the club nor have a familiarity with all 18 holes of the club.

Geoff Shackelford, intrepid golf blogger and course designer, wanted to remedy this by writing a book taking the reader through the founding of the club to an overview of each hole. Geoff takes us back to the founding and construction of the club in 1927 and then takes us through each hole using photos shot in the 20s and 30s to show us the infancy of the course.



Geoff's focus isn't just on the course itself but the people involved with getting the golf course up and running including the architect MacKenzie, the visionary and fundraiser Marion Hollins and MacKenzie's trusted man on the ground Robert Hunter.


Personal history aside, the book does a tremendous job of taking a golf fan through each hole, showing tee shots, approach shots and the sometimes wave-like undulations of the greens of CPC. After reading this book, you will not only have a better appreciation of what it takes to play Cypress but a deeper knowledge of the why's and the how's of each hole's construction. If you are ever fortunate enough to play CPC, this book is an indispensable guide to your round there.


I am all history-ed up! Now I just need an invite to see the modern version of the course for myself :)!

For more information on Geoff, check out his blog: http://www.geoffshackelford.com/books/


Morning Quick Links


1) Blair Talks The Buck Club

I am fascinated with Zac Blair's quest to build his dream club in Utah. He gives Alan Shipnuck the lowdown and I hope that Zac keeps with the UK model of allowing the public to play the course.

http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/01/31/zac-blair-explains-his-creation-buck-club

2) Luck Steps Up

I am a huge fan of Curtis Luck. I think he has a great vibe out there on the golf course and a really solid game to match. Looks like he is being added to the IMG stable.

http://golfweek.com/2017/01/30/img-curtis-luck-amateur-golf-signs/

3) PGA Show Good or Bad?

Is the PGA Show that takes place in Orlando every January in good shaping, dying or somewhere in-between? Geoff investigates.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2017/1/31/pga-show-review-an-absolute-sloth.html

4) New Podcast

Shane interviews the commish of the LPGA, definitely a must listen!

https://art19.com/shows/the-clubhouse-with-shane-bacon