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Geoff Shackelford loves classic golf courses and the architects who built them. The 34-year-old golf writer and self-described traditionalist recently finished his 10th book, “Lines of Charm: Brilliant and Irreverent Quotes, Notes and Anecdotes from Golf’s Golden Age Architects,” an entertaining and educational collection from the greatest minds of the game’s most celebrated era. Shackelford lives in Santa Monica and grew up playing one of the country’s greatest tracks, the George Thomas-designed Riviera Country Club. He said it was “impossible not to wonder” what goes into creating such a masterpiece. After playing golf at Pepperdine, Shackelford started writing about the lives of architects and their courses, choosing to focus on the golden age of architecture — the 1920s and ’30s. With that knowledge, Shackelford was asked to co-design (with Gil Hanse) Rustic Canyon Golf Course in Moorpark. He spent about 200 days on site and was involved in all aspects of the design. We asked Shackelford to tell us about his five favorite public golf holes in the Southland. No. 15, Rancho Park, 433 yards, par 4: “I’ve always loved how this hole sits so beautifully in the little valley, and the slightly uphill second shot has always been deceiving.” No. 13, Rustic Canyon, 555 yards, par 5: “I’m very fond of this hole because we worked hard to place the small pot bunker dissecting the fairway so that it would add some laughs. And I’m proud of the boomerang green, which really forces you to think about where you place your second shot.” No. 10, Sandpiper, 381 yards, par 4: “The tee shot rewards a bold play by shortening the second shot, which is the scariest approach shot in Southern California. The view isn’t bad either.” No. 11, Recreation Park, 360 yards, par 4: “Just a fun, different tee shot and approach. Another hole that doesn’t fight the land, but instead just rests beautifully on the property. One of many fine holes on a character-rich course.” No. 18, Santa Anita, 434 yards, par 4: “I don’t know if the replica Swilken Bridge is still there, but I know the wild, wild fairway contours are. A great closer on an underrated course.” |
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