The Future of Golf in America: How Golf Lost Its Way in the 21st Century (and How to Get It Back)

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Golfers
Review: I happen to agree with everything Shackelford, a guy who is mad as "heck" and doesn't want to take it anymore, writes in this book. Whether you will or not is another question, but you ought to read it anyway. For some odd reason, Shackelford thinks golf is a game and that "playing a game" should be fun. Not new material, "The Future of Golf in America" is a compilation of the author's previously published articles, essays really, on what's wrong with golf in America today -- everything from the USGA to equipment makers to Hootie Johnson to televised golf to many course architects, and so on. Shackelford argues for a return to classic design characteristics, playable courses, and limitations on ball and equipment design. Will it happen? Probably not, but it's nice to dream.

Rating:
Summary: The most outstanding golf book I have ever read.
Review: In short, this compilation of essays by Geoff Shackleford presents an a direct call to action for change in the golf industry. As a longtime caddy, competitive golfer, golf history and architecture buff, and employee of the golf equipment industry, I found myself spellbound by Shackleford's ideas and after reading this book I feel like I have found the answers to many of golf's current problems. I will recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in golf and its future.

Rating:
Summary: Someone saying what needs to be said
Review: Without criticism, any endeavor is likely bound for failure. Rarely do we see a government, a writer, or even a pursuit (such as golf) go through its existence without being given words of advice and warning, and though much of this warning can amount to mere clamber by unknowledgeable groups and people, some of it is true to the heart and represents what a silent majority feel ought to be happening.

Geoff Shackelford is a true lover of golf, not because he follows the tour every week or spends every waking minute on the tee or at the range, but because he has spent his time learning the game's history and traditions, and seeks to adhere by them (at least, those still in keeping with the times... no "return to discriminatory member policies" here). What this means for most is simply not wearing denim and remembering to tip your caddy. For Mr. Shackelford it means bringing the excitement and intrigue back into the game.

Although some may regard this as a preachy volume intended to ruffle feathers rather than convince an obstinate audience of what problems plague modern golf, all of the ideas here are relevant to all: an overemphasis on power at the expense of skill, overdone course construction that makes the game too expensive, odd rule inconsistencies the USGA seems loath to fix, etc.. Perhaps the greatest shock is that few of these are new problems. Distance questions due to better balls date back over half a century, and added course costs have been hitting average income families of golfers for the last few decades.

It should be noted that this is not a long list of woes about the modern game. Solutions are included, and also very vivid pictures of what the game was and could be once again if action is taken. This is a book that should be read by anyone that for some reason cannot stand pro golf on TV but enjoy the game, or even those who wonder why their 5 hours on a course that used to only take 3 1/2 costs them nearly a week's wages.

A writer by trade, the book is easy to read. The only problem is the numerous typos. It is a book that needs to be updated frequently to keep up with its subject matter, which could mean the first edition will be obsolete by year's end. We will hope a new, corrected and updated edition is forthcoming.