The Future Of Golf In America: How Golf Lost Its Way In The 21st Century And How To Get It Back

A galvanizing new book from one of America's leading golf writers, The Future of Golf in America reveals how the tradition-rich sport has been kidnapped by equipment manufacturers and knowingly deregulated by its governing bodies. The author of eight previous books including The Golden Age of Golf Design and Grounds for Golf, Geoff Shackelford charges that the slumping golf industry responds to unregulated technology by lengthening and narrowing courses at great expense, even as golfers flee the sport because golf takes too long, is too difficult and too expensive. Offering new commentary and analysis, along with essays from the Los Angeles Times, Links, Golf Magazine, Golf World and Golfdom, Shackelford chronicles several astonishing mistakes made by the once respected United States Golf Association. He observes that the momentum gained from Tiger Woods’ positive effect on golf’s popularity is being squandered by an ill-advised emphasis on manufacturer interests and celebrity worship. Shackelford urges the USGA to re-shoulder its responsibilities to the game while suggesting how the PGA Tour can restore excitement to it’s championships. He offers solutions to rejuvenate golf by emphasizing course design elements, common sense ideals and tradition-based values can make golf fun, affordable and exciting again.