Geoff Shackelford
Co-Host of State Of The Game
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning Drive and Golf Central, is co-host of The Ringer's ShackHouse and is the author of eleven books.
His writing has also appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine, Links, Golf Digest, Golf World, The Golfer, Golfweb, Golf Journal (R.I.P.), The Masters Journal, Golf Course Architecture, Golf Architecture, Golf Digest Index, Golf Digest, Golf World and golf.com.
GeoffShackelford.com was created in March 2003 to elaborate on various subjects covered in the author's books including The Future of Golf. GeoffShackelford.com was named one of the Internet's 10 best golf web sites in 2004 by SportsIllustrated.com's Gary Van Sickle and in January, 2011 became a partner website to GolfDigest.com.
Geoff attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, California where he was member of the golf team, graduating in 1994 with a B.A. in Communication. In 2004 and 2005, The Golfer named him one of "modern golf's ten most influential writers."
Having studied golf courses all over the world with a noted interest in the "classic courses" of the 1920's, Geoff is engaged in design consulting at several classic courses and has taught golf course restoration at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design with noted architect Brian Silva.He has also addressed many groups on the subject of golf course design, including the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the Alister MacKenzie Society and the Golf Digest Panelist Summit.
Beginning in 2000, Geoff co-designed Rustic Canyon Golf Course in Moorpark, California.
A collaboration with architect Gil Hanse of Malvern, Pennsylvania, construction of the course began in 2001, with the layout opening in April, 2002. Rustic Canyon was named by Golf Digest as the Best New Affordable Public Course in America for 2002. It was ranked 76th in Golfweek's Top 100 Modern Courses for 2006. Rustic Canyon is also ranked 83rd in Golf Magazine's Top 100 You Can Play (2006). Another collaboration with Hanse and Jim Wagner produced the Horse Course at the Prairie Club (2009). In 2010, a restoration of George Thomas's Los Angeles Country Club's North Course design was unveiled, followed by a renovation of the club's South Course in 2016.
In 2011 he published his first non-golf book about his visits with racing legend Zenyatta.
In 2017 GeoffShackelford.com became part of the USA Today Sports Media Group's network.
Geoff Shackelford has hosted 128 Episodes.
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Episode 80: SOG Episode 80 - Andrew Coltart and Scottish Golf
August 1st, 2018 | 1 hr 25 mins
Mike Clayton and Rod Morri are joined by former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart to discuss the state of Scottish, and world golf. Coltart won the 1997 Australian PGA at NSW Golf Club, a tournament made famous by another incident involving Clayton...
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Episode 79: SOG Ep 79 US Open fallout - the big picture
June 29th, 2018 | 1 hr 16 mins
It's been a couple of weeks but the controversy from the US Open continues to bubble with many believing the USGA has lost a significant amount of credibility after happenings at Shinnecock Hills. Geoff Shackelford and Mike Clayton join Rod Morri to...
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Episode 78: SOG Ep 78 - Clayton remembers Peter Thomson
June 22nd, 2018 | 1 hr 32 mins
Peter Thomson was a giant of the game, not only in Australia but around the world. His five Open titles put him among the greats in history but his contributions to golf extend far beyond simply his brilliance with clubs in hand. His writings on the...
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Episode 75: SOG Ep 75 - The Ball Debate
March 7th, 2018 | 1 hr 20 mins
Geoff Shackelford and Mike Clayton join host Rod Morri to break down the ball debate which has broken out in the recent weeks.
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Episode 73: SOG Episode 73
October 10th, 2017 | 1 hr 12 mins
Geoff Ogilvy on the Presidents Cup - and more
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Episode 72: SOG Ep 72 Mat Goggin
April 28th, 2017 | 1 hr 15 mins
20 year Tour veteran Mat Goggin joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to discuss the fallout from the Lexi Thompson rules controversy and more on episode 72 of State of the Game.
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Episode 71: SOG Episode 71 - Geoff Ogilvy Masters preview
April 1st, 2017 | 1 hr 17 mins
Golf's best interview, 2006 US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy, joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to discuss next week's Masters - and a whole lot more - on episode 71 of State of the Game.
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Episode 70: SOG Ep 70 Dottie Pepper
January 19th, 2017 | 1 hr 12 mins
Former player and CBS commentator Dottie Pepper joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri for an all encompassing chat about the state of the game, golf course architecture and lots more on episode 70.
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Episode 69: SOG Ep 69
November 1st, 2016 | 55 mins 12 secs
Does the Titleist float tell us anything about the state of the game, are more golfers 'getting' course architecture and can 72 hole stroke play continue to be the future of the game? Geoff Shackelford and Mike Clayton break down all that and more...
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Episode 68: SOG Ep 68 Richard Gillis
September 21st, 2016 | 1 hr 15 mins
Richard Gillis' new book The Captain Myth is a fascinating study of the role of the Captains at the biennial Ryder Cup. On episode 68 he joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to discuss the book and so much more about the game and...
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Episode 67: SOGEp 67 Roger Cleveland
June 24th, 2016 | 1 hr 17 mins
Legendary club designer and short game expert Roger Cleveland has been around the world's best players for the best part of 40 years and joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri on episode 67 of State of the Game.
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Episode 66: SOG Ep 66 - Geoff Ogilvy at Oakmont
June 15th, 2016 | 59 mins 15 secs
2006 US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to discuss the year's second major at Oakmont.
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Episode 65: SOG Ep 6- The Masters (sort of)
April 1st, 2016 | 1 hr 5 mins
Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri chat about the upcoming US Masters plus get sidetracked by all things effecting the game both on and off the course.