
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 122 Episodes.
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Episode 26: SOG Ep 26 "We don't need more beer drinking cart driving golfers..."
August 26th, 2013 | 1 hr 8 mins
Mike Clayton and Geoff Shackelford join host Rod Morri to discuss all things golf from The Open Championship and US PGA to the new USGA TV deal with FOX in the US.
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Episode 25: SOG Ep 25 - "UK golf reminds me why I play..."
July 12th, 2013 | 1 hr 25 mins
Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri are joined by special guest Geoff Ogilvy to talk all things Muirfield, Open Championhsip and golf in general...
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Episode 24: SOG-Ep-24 "Talent is only the entry fee in professional golf..."
June 28th, 2013 | 1 hr 21 mins
Mike Clayton, Geoff Shackelford and host Rod Morri are joined by Australian Touring Professional and US Open participant Mathew Goggin to get his take on Merion and the state of the game more generally.
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Episode 23: SOG Ep 23: "They said Merion would never host again.."
June 6th, 2013 | 1 hr 11 mins
Jeff Silverman, author of a soon to be released book on the great Championship moments at Merion Golf Club, joins Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to give some fascinating insights into the host course of next week's US Open venue.
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Episode 22: SOG Episode 22: "Anchoring will be hard to police..."
May 28th, 2013 | 51 mins 34 secs
Geoff Shackelford and Mike Clayton join host Rod Morri to discuss the anchoring ban, racism in the game and how the Rio course is progressing as the clock ticks down to 2016....
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Episode 21: SOG-Ep-21 - "The European Tour IS Seve..."
May 5th, 2013 | 1 hr 1 min
On this episode of State of the Game we welcome special guest Tony Johnstone, six time European Tour winner and now TV commentator, as he joins Mike Clayton and Rod Morri to talk all things State of the Game plus tell a few stories form the glory days...
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Episode 20: SOG Ep 20 - "Australia's last sporting mountain..."
April 16th, 2013 | 58 mins 29 secs
Adam Scott had a nation cheering with his Masters victory but it was only one intriguing storyline from a tournament that always seems to produce drama.Geoff Shackelford and Mike Clayton join Rod Morri to review one of golf's great weeks....
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Episode 19: SOG Ep 19 - "The Masters is all about the course...
April 5th, 2013 | 46 mins 57 secs
More than just a golf tournament the year's first major brings together everybody who is anybody in golf. Join Geoff Shackelford, Mike Clayton and host Rod Morri as they discuss what's likely to happen on and off the course at this year's US Masters
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Episode 18: SOG EP 18: PGA of America President Ted Bishop
March 29th, 2013 | 52 mins 23 secs
PGA of America President Ted Bishop has ben vocal in his stance against the proposed anchoring ban. On this episdoe Bishop explains the thinking behind that stance as well as the possibility of bifurcation.
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Episode 17: SOG Ep 17: "I hope the end game is the ball..."
March 4th, 2013 | 54 mins 36 secs
On today's episode Mike Clayton, Geoff Shackelford and John Huggan join host Rod Morri to discuss the surprise announement by Tim Finchem that the US PGA Tour would oppose the proposed ban on anchored putters. The team also discusses Rory McIlroy's...
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Episode 16: SOG Ep 16 "They're only selling hope..."
February 1st, 2013 | 50 mins 59 secs
Bifurcation, slow play an the Vijay Singh banned substance debacle...all that and more on 2013's first episode of State of the Game with Geoff Shackelford and Mike Clayton....
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Episode 15: SOG Ep-15: "What they're doing is unforgiveable..."
November 30th, 2012 | 55 mins 30 secs
Two monumental announcements were made this week: The Old Course at St Andrews is under the surgeon's knife and anchored putting will be outlawed in 2016. Host Rod Morri is joined by Geoff Shackelford, John Huggan and Mike Clayton to dicsuss two of...
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Episode 14: SOG Ep 14: "My mum could captain the Ryder Cup..."
October 5th, 2012 | 46 mins 34 secs
Golf's most compelling event somehow seems to just keep getting better. Geoff Shackelford, John Huggan and Mike Clayton join host Rod Morri to break down events at Medinah, with Clayton even claiming his mum could captain the Ryder Cup....
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Episode 13: SOG-Ep-13: "It's all too friendly at the moment.."""
September 26th, 2012 | 39 mins 48 secs
Join Rod Morri, Geoff Shackelford and John Huggan as they break down the most exciting week in golf, the Ryder Cup. The team also give their final verdict on the just concluded FedEx Cup and why the format still isn't quite right.
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Episode 12: SOG-Ep-12-"The first clear Number one since Tiger..."
August 15th, 2012 | 58 mins 54 secs
The year's final major is run and won so now it's time to rank them. Hear from the State of the Game team Mike Clayton, John Huggan and Geoff Shackelford as they break down the Grand Slam events of season 2012, from Bubba's hooked wedge at Augusta to...
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Episode 11: SOG EP 11 - "Pro golf just doesn't engage me any more..."
July 24th, 2012 | 47 mins 42 secs
Lorne Rubenstein has been one of the game's great chroniclers for more than 30 years but after this week's Canadian Open will file his final weekly column for Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper. Rod Morri caught up with Lorne to get his thoughts on...