I'm a golf course architecture neophyte -- it was about 2 years ago that I first got interested -- and my first interest has been with Donald Ross. I grew up playing a Ross course (Evanston GC in Skokie, IL) and also was lucky to play Northland in Duluth, MN many many times (often wearing mittens between holes) and have played the Glen View Club once, which I believe is Ross, or really seems like one. From there my interest in architecture has grown and I can definitely state that knowing the course's bones and history has added immensely to my love of the game. I'm a 15 GHIN and I play from the middle ("white") tees, not the forwards, so I guess I have a pretty decent game. I'm 50-something and have been playing since I was 12, so maybe not so decent afterall! Anyhow, I love that Ross is said to have loathed "vertical hazards" -- trees, I guess, in the middle of things? -- and water except as a natural and rather peripheral occurrence on the course. In my own humble opinion, water is way over used in many many new courses. And other forced choices, as per the JM discussion thread. Having said all that, I'm trying to learn as much as I can & this discussion group is very interesting. I post under my real name, but don't use my last name -- sorry about that. One of my favorite layouts is a course in Maple Grove Minnesota called Rush Creek. There's reallly nothing Ross-ish about it, but it's extremely challenging in all of the best ways, and the town is the home of Jesse Ventura as well! More later & I will try to become more & more opionated as time goes on! Does anyone out there hate Ross courses?