The Worst Feature Interview ever...

[RJ_Daley]

I still am amazed by the manner in which this modest idea to start a GCA website to profile courses and conduct and on-going discussion has taken off.  It is serendipity that Ran was the right person, at the right place in time, and knew the right people to try this out.  Who knew there were a bunch of potential YaBB gods out there sitting around in ther pajamas, waiting to post their ideas on such an obscure yet somehow widely and passionately followed subject by a narrow sector of folk.

Ran, do you still spend evenings wearing your smoking jacket, in your comfy leather chair, with your pipe, reflecting in awe at being 'one of golf's most beloved  figures'?

[Mike_Sweeney]

Ran,

That was a very funny interview! I especially liked your Tom Huckaby impression:

Ran who made TWO trips to Sand Hills in 2005 and a trip to New Haven, Connecticut in between said, "I travel for a living doing equipment finance and my personal time is limited when I get home with two young children."

Huck who made trips to Bandon and Sand Hills during the same month of June 2005 recently said, "my spring vacation trip is one you are oh so familiar with, involving a Florida mouse. This is all repayment for Bandon and Sand Hills in 2005.... oh it hasn't been STATED as such, but you and I both know how this goes."

Oh the woes of our GCA brethren!!

PS. Huck, The Sweeney's have seen Disney in every wind and weather condition, so feel free to ask.

[brad_miller]

Great to see the CRUSHER has forgotten all the times he was the CRUSHIE.  If mine and Pat's experences are correct he has been the CRUSHER once for about every 5 times he has been the CRUSHIE.  That said, he does have  game!  I very much look forward to our upcoming match!! Great interview and a wonderful love and appreciation for the games best playing fields. Might we all be so lucky to pass on our love of the game to our children in anything like the manner of the Morrissett family.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Brad Miller,

I think you're employing the spirit of the holidays and being extremely kind when you offered your 1 to 5 ratio.

However, I will state that I thought Ran's morning round with the hickories was one of the finest I've ever witnessed.
With the exception of that horrible putt on # 17.

He played far, far beyond his extremely limited abiltity and produced a terrific round that could have been one of the great rounds of all time had he parred # 18 and shot 79 with those relics.

His woods, irons and putter were all hickories and Sand Hills is no pushover under the most optimal of conditions, with the most advanced of equipment.

I'd like to believe that the emotions and frustrations, pent up within him for all of those years since Innescrone, coalesced, in conjunction with my presence and influence, allowing him to shoot the round of the century.

I won't say that I was happy to lose, but, I was happy for him, he played great, and if beating me once every five years makes him feel good about himself and his golf game, then that's okay with me.

The "thank you" note, and cash, I received from his family made it all worthwhile.

[Ran Morrissett]

The legal department of GCA.com has been flooded with emails in regards to apparently forgotten matches that were not chronicled in the Feature Interview. They have painstakingly reviewed each inquiry without bias or prejudice and have decided that unilaterally all the matches of historical significance have in fact been duly recorded within the text of the Feature Interview.

There is one exception and that is the front nine at Plainfield against Mr. Patrick Mucci. As Pat noted under his own free accord, I won that nine in what amounts to a HALF CRUSHING. The legal department has ruled that the second nine doesn't count as Gil had yet to complete his work.

In regards to Sandy our dog, when she died, CCV banned dogs on the course, another reason why Brancaster is about as good as it gets for golf (and why golf in England reigns supreme).

Cheers,

[Craig Van Egmond]

When I saw the title of this thread, I must admit I thought it was about the Pete Dye interview.    

Great interview and many thanks for creating this place called GolfClubAtlas.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Great interview and many thanks for creating this place called GolfClubAtlas.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

I can't top that but would add as a vote of appreciation you are welcome to borrow my dog any time you are in England.  

[ForkaB]

Craig

I thought the same thing, and went back over the Dye interview just for old time's sake.........

And Ran.....

When and if we ever get to play, you will be the crushor if and only if I choose to be the crushee, for old time's sake, of course.  Pat Mucci has told me many times of the value of "giving that old dog a bone," from time to time.......

Oh yeah, and thanks.  Great interview.

[BigEdSC]

Super interview.  It's great to see the behind the scenes on how and why this website ticks.

I enjoyed reading about comparing and contrasting the different golf courses.  I also wholeheartedly agree about combating the advance of technology by using central hazards and using front to back sloping greens.

Thanks again for a great website, and Merry Christmas to all!!

[Jeff_Lewis]

The Crusher, the Most Beloved Man in Golf, the QR Canceller... Thanks, Ran, for creating an environment where a lot of people have had fun and maybe even learned a couple of things.

[Jerry Kluger]

Ran: Your interview reminds me very much of what I am trying to do with my sons who are now 9 and 12.  We played together for the first time this past summer and boy was I proud when the 12 year old tried to show the 9 year old how to play the ground game, or when he said to me that all the holes looked the same at a highly rated course we had just played. Hopefully, golf and golf course architecture will form a bond among us which is as strong as you have with your family.

 

[Evan Fleisher]

I too want to echo the thoughts expressed above...THANKS RAN!...for such an awesome place to hang out and spend some time with friends.

It has been so interesting to see the transformation of this group...from the earliest days of Golf Online's Grillroom, to Bravenet and TraditionalGolf.Com, to its current state at GolfClubAtlas.Com...each re-incarnation was better than the last, and the current version is certainly superior to them all.

I think we have all grown, changed, and been enriched by our time spent here...from the discourse to the banter to the making of new friendships that will certainly last a long time we should all be thankful for the times we live in and the resources we have available to us on a daily basis.

May we all have many more years together here, enjoying this crazy game of golf we all seem to adore so much.

[George Pazin]

Wow, if that's the worst interview, then things are pretty darn good!

This sums up my feelings about golf almost exactly:

To me, once you dip below a certain level in quality of design (say a 6 on the Doak scale) and the strategic elements largely start to disappear, the things that matter to me the most are 1) the course is in a pleasant environment with minimal outside intrusions, 2) the course is firm, 3) that you are walking and 4) that the round is done in well under four hours.

It might be the 63,000th most popular site (probably top 1,000 if you take out all the porn ), but it's no. 1 for me.

[Tom Huckaby]

Mr. Sweeney:

You are on to my plan, slowly but surely molding Ran in my image.  He's already picked up on the "remember the wins, forget the losses" golf part.  I'm impressed with his deft tackling of the "poor me, use the kids as an excuse" manouver.  Now I just need him to gain about 50 pounds and lose at least 8 inches in height and we'll be all set.

 

Oh yes, I shall be in contact re the Mouse as the time gets closer.  I've been there once myself, but all advice will be appreciated.  We're going during spring break... gulp.

George, I kinda like how Ran sums up golf also.  I just wish I could be that picky.  

[RJ_Daley]

ah ha, I found it!  I believe this is 'one of golf's most beloved figures' at home, in his smoking jacket, pouring a glass of OZ's finest Champagne, about to explain the fine proportionality of Royal Melbourne's contouring to yet another moonstruck starlet.  Ran is "The Continental"!  Just look at that head size!

[Pete Lavallee]

Oh my, just imagine the shame when the CRUSHIE has to recount that not only did the victor utilize hickories, but did it in a smoking jacket and creveat!

Seriously, Santa couldn't have brought a better gift for Christmas. After having the pleasure of meeting Mom and Dad Morrisett, it no wonder why John and Ran are so kind, thoughtful and engaging. Here's wishing all the best for the entire Morrisett clan for 2006 and beyond!

[Bill_McBride]

Evan Fleisher: "Golf Online's Grillroom"

 

Those were NOT the days.  These are the days my friends.  And Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah etc to all!  

[ChasLawler]

In regards to Sandy our dog, when she died, CCV banned dogs on the course, another reason why Brancaster is about as good as it gets for golf (and why golf in England reigns supreme).

"Banned" is a strong word. While CCV's rules do prohibit dogs on the course now, I’ve never seen it enforced. Late on a weekday afternoon, it’s not that uncommon to see a Dad with 1 or 2 kids playing golf with a canine in tow - especially at the Westhampton. What ruins the site is watching the pup chase after the cart the family is sharing.

That interview was an interesting read – especially the part about Harry Easterly’s influence on the Morrissett golf education. He was a great man.

Next time you’re back in Richmond - let me know. I’d be particularly interested to hear your thoughts on the latest renovations at CCV….and bring your dog if you like.

[Jim Franklin]

Great interview, I thoroughly enjoyed it. And Huck, when are you going to see the Mouse? I have been ordered to do the same in '06, but have not picked dates yet.

[Tom Huckaby]

Great interview, I thoroughly enjoyed it. And Huck, when are you going to see the Mouse? I have been ordered to do the same in '06, but have not picked dates yet.

April 16-23.  Spring break for at least part of the western school-going world.  

Evan - well, Grillroom was a lot of fun until it got ruined.  Long live Ken Pitts.    I keep expecting the same kind of thing to happen here, but thankfully it never has.  Interesting and nice phenomenon, no?

Here's a weird thought:  Patrick Mucci, a funnier, wittier, better-intentioned Ken Pitts.  You veterans out there ought to know what I mean.

[Garland Bayley]

Thanks for the great interview and thanks for the great site.
The one weakness I see with the site is that the pictures that appear here have to be on another site. If and when those sites go away or change location, this site loses a significant part of its content.

[Doug Sobieski]

The thing most people don't realize about Ran's occupation is that equipment finance is among the most difficult and taxing pursuits imaginable, requiring great intellect, superior strength, strong moral character, and countless other traits that we can all only aspire to.

Personally, I view those in that industry as among the most admirable in the world  

 

[A_Clay_Man]

When and if we ever get to play, you will be the crushor if and only if I choose to be the crushee, for old time's sake, of course.  Pat Mucci has told me many times of the value of "giving that old dog a bone," from time to time.......

Rihc- Bones are not so much handed out but are relentlessly whined...er,,, I mean negotiated, before a tee ball is struck.
 
I was however truely crushed on the 16th at Dye Fore by the beloved figure.
Well done, indeed!

[Paul Payne]

Ran,

We have never met yet but congratulations on an interesting interview. It allowed me to get to know you a little better.

Thanks for accepting me into this place, however I have to say that at this point my head is spinning from images of Arts & Crafts alps and Redan wannabe's. I think I would pay money to see some of these debates live.

Anyway, thanks for the great site and Merry Christmas!

[Jim Franklin]

Good luck Huck, I think my trip will be toward the fall.