Dave, I find a few statements a little contradictory and even a bit condescending...
But seriously, you have no idea what a high or a low fertility program really is so saying some of what you are saying is a lot of stretching.
I've been good at some of the aspects of the business of consulting and some of them are beyond me, but the learning part is something I've embraced. I've seen some common threads in a bunch of different climates with a bunch of different grasses and most of it really isn't rocket science.
I'm committed to making Ballyneal a place of learning and doing. So that the emerging Traditional Turfhead has a developing support system and isn't out there swinging at high pitches all alone.
People's careers and lifestyles are at stake and we aren't talking about "amatuer/hobbiest" types. I'm a huge fan of Sand Hills. I love the place. Dick Youngscap's efforts have helped us all learn much. So have the efforts of all the guys who worked their asses off growing grass there.
Dave, maybe it is just me, but I find that if you are ever going to sell the ideal to potential members of having turf of a linksland nature where it will be irregular in appearance, often brown and occasionally greens up in high rain and cool spells, then you will need to COMMUNICATE what value those characteristics have to people that aren't agronomy-turf science degreed people.
Believe it or not, I don't think I'm any smarter than most of the people that post here, but I do think most of them are perfectly capable of learning some of the basics about turf, if that is where their interests lie. And understanding high fertility or low input programs in terms of #sN per acre per year, or N-P-K balance designed for various species and cultivars in specific climates and soils isn't as you say, "rocket science".
My questions asked earlier weren't at all directed or intended to diminish anyone's work because there were some setbacks in the turf and winter kills and dessication in the Sand Hills. The whole point is that such weather/climate can't be prevented and no one is going to loose their job in discussing the harsh climate and wide variety of temperatures that would effect the promulgation of high content fescue cultivar mixtures to emulate linksland playing surfaces. You can't have learning without that communication. I was just trying to enter the discussion and pass along what I have understood from some fellows with specific regional experience. And please don't feel that this stuff is so highly advanced and sensitive that a non-degreed fellow can't even be exposed to such awesome turf science based discussion. I'm really sure such knowledge it isn't going to hurt any of us here on GCA. Not even superintendents.