100% Positive Thread...Why is Golf Better Than Ever..

[JakaB]

I'm gonna start with the resurgence of the outstanding destination resort....Thank you Mr. K..

[JakaB]

I'd also say the the private memberships at the great courses in the world are more interesting and diverse than ever....access is at an all time high for all incomes, races and religions.  Thank you Martin, Bobby and John..

[JakaB]

More and more people are staying healthy far into their retirement age thus reaping the benefits of a lifes hard work by playing golf deep into their 80's...Thank you modern health care.

[JakaB]

Superintendants are better educated and more dedicated than ever in the history of golf.  Small strides are being made every day to ensure that they get the financial and emotional support the deserve.  Thank you GCSAA..

[JohnV]

I'll pick up the ball (oops bad choice of words, sorry Matt )

There are more excellent public courses today than ever before.  Look at the GW top 100 Classical list and it is almost all private.  Look at the GW top 100 Modern and it is more like 50/50.

[paul cowley]

and JVB, the GD top 100 Public is 100%  
and thank you JKB, excellent and timely thread.

[T_MacWood]

Golf is a great game--it always has been and always will be. Golf architecture's future lies in the continued resurgence of critics and critical thought.

[JakaB]

Tom,

I agree completely and would like to thank Brad Klein and Ron Whitten for bringing the power of critical thought and analysis to the average guy.  We are fortunate to live in a time where everyone has a voice...architectural study has been taken off the ivory towers of old and put squarely on the fairways of our great nation.  Thank you Brad and Ron and all the good people who do the required work to search out the latest and greatest venues.

[T_MacWood]

I'd add Geoff Shackelford, Tom Doak and Ran Morrissett.

[TEPaul]

Oh horseshit Kavanaugh and your unreconstructed "cross of gold", healthy, wealthy and wise populism! Thank God America keeps cycling---I can't wait for the day when eveyone knows their place in golf again and in architecture the only real talent that reigns is the flask!

[danielfaleman]

On the other hand: $450 per round at Pebble Beach; $120 per round at an average upscale daily-fee; $50 per round at an average decent muni. MANDITORY GOLF CART USAGE; CART PATHS! $1000 for golf clubs, bag, and shoes; $40 per dozen for decent golf balls. Five-hour rounds.  

[TEPaul]

daniel, this is the good ol' US of A. If you don't have a wad in your pocket Heidi Klum ain't giving you a second look and you're a schmuk!

[blasbe1]

I'll bite J.K.,

I genuinely think there are a far greater number of outstanding public courses today available to golf nuts, like all of us here, who will travel to destinations never thought of to play.  Obviously, Bandon, Ore. has set the standard, and while it's not cheap, it's not Pebble and far better IMO both GCA wise and just golf trip wise, but other non-Myrtle Beach areas are also emerging.  Stranz' work in Williamsburg, Va. is an example of pre-Bandon work that stands up well to any educated eye and any good player (with or without the eye).

On the private side, National memberships are readily available to high, and somtimes insanely high, quality courses, a GCA nut with a decent disposition can join world class private facilities, in large part because of the additional supply over the last decade or so.

In New York (and any other major metropolitan area) the exclusive private club scene is still, for the most part, prohibitively expensive and that market (besides the few that have always been market immune) will face a reckoning in the next ten years.

In closing, today I see great GCA (both public and private) available to a greater number of people, perhaps the highest quality and greatest availability ratio the US has ever seen and I think the game of golf is better for it.

Hard to think a J.K. thread has got me all warm and fuzzy . . .              

[cary lichtenstein]

Sounds like JakaB may have taken a little Prosac, but I'll bite:

Golf is better than ever because of GCA website has allowed us to expand our golf comradery beyond our immediate golf group at home.

I, for one, really don't have golf buddies that are into golf course architecture. Bunch of great guys who love the game and the competition.

I get my architecture fix right here ever day on GCA.

A big Thank You to Ran and all the posters here

[Mike_Sweeney]

In 1984 I made my first trip to Ireland. Yes, it was cheaper then, but it was also a little bit depressing. The overnight ferry from Liverpool to Dublin was filled with un-underemployed drunks, and the West Coast of Ireland was very poor.

Today, the Celtic Tiger has hit Ireland, and it is a lovely place to visit, it has 50 or so links style courses, many of which would blow away the esteemed Long Island courses that we too often talk about here. The people are friendly, they are investing in their country and it still retains its Old World charm in many areas, especially the NorthWest. If you want American style amenities, there is Old Head, Doonbeg and the K Club. If you want Ireland, there is just about everything else.

[JakaB]

Ebay has made the purchase and sale of new and used equipment more affordable than ever...

[JakaB]

Mike,

I am thrilled to hear that the Irish experience is improving or has improved....would you agree with me that air travel is cheaper when compared to driving than it has ever been.....and since 1984 has the creation of the executive hotel room with modern luxuries at a mid level price has made golf travel in America more enjoyable and affordable.

[JakaB]

The respectable architectural fees that are available today have enabled some of the great design studios to remain intact.  It is refreshing to know that more people than just the lead name are making a good living practicing their craft as there can be little doubt that the emergence of the star associate has been good for architecture and good for golf.

[Chris_Clouser]

I'm glad that the best public course in Indiana is less than 5 miles from my house and is affordable and allows walking.  GO PLAY PURGATORY!

I'm glad that the second best public course in my area is such a solid course and that my favorite hole in Indiana is on it and is less than $30 for a round.  GO PLAY FOX PRAIRIE!

Golf is better because I found a club that fits a yardage gap in my game that I've been missing for several years.  GO BUY A UTILITY CLUB!

I'm glad I get to play golf with my dad this weekend.  GO DAD!

Good post John.  We need more of this and less of the negatives.  My goodness, golf is a fun game and our lives shouldn't be brought down by muddling ourselves in the minutia all the time.  

[JakaB]

Nice job Chris.....you are right, the utility club has made golf better than ever.

[Dan Herrmann]

TV golf in high definition is almost as good as being there.

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

I'd like to recognize the USGA (David Fay in particular) for bringing the national championship to true public venues like Bethpage and Torrey Pines.  These venues reflect the true demographics of the game, and give the average person regardless of sex, age or race the opportunity to tee it up in the same place where Tiger and Phil play at their highest levels.  It may seem commonplace 20 years from now, but we should never forget what a bold and seemingly risky move it was at the time.

I'd also like to commend them for bringing back some older architectural gems in the rotations of the Opens and Amateurs.  Shinnecock, Newport, The Orchards, Pinehurst, East Lake, Pine Needles have all gained national recognition in the past 10 years.

Great thread, John... It makes me realize just how lucky we are to be playing the game right now.

[Mike_Sweeney]

Today, golf connects people from completely different backgrounds. I played yesterday over at Bergen Hills (Orin Smith, rated a 5.5 by The Jersey Golfer !) in Jersey with a older Korean couple who walked with buggies, played very well and quickly and got frustrated like I did that the cart riding fat guys in front of us were slowing us down. We talked about courses, Tiger and missed putts. On the streets of NYC, I probably buy food at their grocery store, but never talk.

JK, you will be happy to know that they love the Fazio designed Pine Hill.

[Mike Hendren]

Carry bags.  A definite improvement over the old vinyl/naugehide/whatever Burton and a blessing for us fat boys.

[Jim Franklin]

JB -

Are you thanking Mr Keiser or Mr Kohler for his destination resort? I would like to thank them both.