Old Tom Morris

[Jason Topp]

Watching the Titleist ad where Old Tom is found to be playing a modern golf ball to the horror of the golf course architect got me thinking:

Isn't it interesting that architects seem to generally take the view that technology should be reigned in when there is likely to be more work available to them if it is not?  A lot of money is spent yearly to accomodate technology.  

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

Jason -

The irony was that Old Tom Morris was playing partners with Allen Robertson at TOC.  According to lore, they were undefeated at Four Ball.  

Robertson was also the premiere maker of the featherie in the Auld Grey Toon.  When technology in the Industrial Age permitted the mechanization stamping of rubber, the Gutta Percha was born.  Old Tom was no fool.  He backed the new and longer technology, and caused their partnership to dissolve as Robertson was protecting his business of cranking out two balls a day per ball maker.

As you well know, people usually do what is in their own self-interest.  Sorry to be cynical here.  If the main business is remodel/restore/lengthen, why dial the ball back?  If the problem is the cost of land acquistion/long-term maintainance/less housing sites, "The Sky is Falling" and the John Cleese characters are running around with their hair on fire.

Yes, a lot of $ is spend to accomodate technology, but what about soft spikes & improvements in maintainance technologies?

JWK

[Bill_McBride]

The great thing about the Old Tom issue with Alan Robertson over the feathery vs gutty is that Robertson was starting his round on the Old Course and encountered Old Tom playing in - with a gutty!  And fired him on the spot!  This is all recounted very vividly by C. B. MacDonald in "Scotland's Gift."  A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were wandering around in the old ruined cathedral's  cemetery in St. Andrews and spotted first Robertson's tombstone (with crossed golf clubs!) and then Young Tom's niche in the wall with a beautiful relief of his face.  At Young Tom's feet is the grave site of Old Tom Morris with nothing more than his name and dates.  It's a very touching detour from golf and Bellhaven's Best!

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

Bill -

A wonder to see those markers.

JWK