Jeff,
I do agree with your posting of Mr. Fazio's talent and how he is an excellent craftsman. Its just that much like the fine artisans that used to carve out marble columns, that is now gone because of cost effectivness.
What was once an art is now made out of polystyrene, and it can be simply attached to any building with some sort of adhesive.
How is this to stand the test of time? How is any type of architecture allowed to bread creativity, when all an architect cares for is pleasing the bottom line?
While this may not be very good business sense, and many might consider it horse sense, few realize how hard it is to swallow to build something half-ass. I don't care to, and unfortunately the developers and contractors want the best of both worlds.
They just don't want to have to pay for it.
This is also where I more then likely get my gumption to criticize. (At least I'm being honest.)
The fact is that Uno Maas or what ever his or her name is forgets one thing. Most who are critical here do get some sort of response to their harsh criticism from someone and while it may not have taken Golf by storm and led the game to the promise land, it doesn't matter for a person like me because I care about one thing....quality of design and the passion it took to build it.
While it may have been a battle from the start to finish, to build anything as such, ultimately that effort does shine through. That is the beauty of creativity.
Frankly, I'm tired of the excuses from any architect that feels that he was presented with many problems on any paticular job. No more F'n excuses!!!!! If that hill is not suited for golf, then don't build on it! If you have a cart path venturing into the line of oncoming play then reroute it or do away with it all together!
(This happenes to be what one of my superiors happened to mention to me today when I stammered on something I forgot to do for him. Not only did I eventually get it done after I dropped everything for him, I got an "Attaboy!" That means something! )
Why do we constantly have to make things so confusing to play this great game??
First it was drainage and irrigation and then it was green grass, and then it was golf carts and then it was cart paths and then it was GPS systems, and then it was mandatory fore caddies even if you are in a cart on a course that is built on the side of a hill, Why does there have to be extra room for the water cooler on the tee, why does there have to be 8 million dollars of outer landscaping to make this course viable to a given market, Why is there a need to place golf courses in a market place of rankings and let their greatness evolve on their own, etc.
Why do golf courses have to be politically correct?
Jeff, We don't make classic courses a formula here on GCA, we only celebrate their ideals. Wen an architect comes along and tries to create something of the best of his ability that serves its purpose for the people who play on it week end and week out, then it is reason to celebrate. Not because he is the best in the country and has the reciepts to prove it, but because he has created something that grasps the attention of the harshest critics.
I think it is safe to say that we all know who those critics to be, and they are some of the most intelligent people I know, and have the backbone to post under their real names to prove it.
For my crtics, I get a kick out of the fact that they think I "HAVE" to rag on a golf course like Merion. I don't in fact, I think it is tragic that I feel the way I do. One of the most historic golf courses in America has given up its storied history all in the name of allowing the biggest and most succesful name in golf architecture leave his mark.
When Tom Fazio makes changes to a Pine Valley, Merion, or Riviera, it is out and out vandelism. There is little regard for the classics, only a book that announces their ineffectivenees to the game and its history.
I look at GCA and see one very special thing. Isn't it great that we as enthusiasts, have a place where we can go and learn about golf architecture the we ever dreamed about. So far I have only met people that are not only teaching me, but they are teaching others as well as learning. They know they can never be too smart and they are doing something about it by showing their passion for golf architecture.
So for me, it makes little sense if the rest of the golf world doesn't give a damn, the fact is I know that I understand it better then them and have the scars to prove it. (Knowledge)