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Forrest Richardson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Lost Commandments — What Course?
« on: January 13, 2007, 01:01:32 PM »
In 2002, the USGA's David Oatis (NE Green Section) uncovered a lost cemetery at a club's grounds. Inscribed on a prominent within the cemetery was the following:

The 10 Commandments of Goffe

I. Thou shalt not complaine that the links are not well suited to thy game.

II. Thou shalt accept responsibility for thine own actions and not blame hapless folke for thine own mistakes.

III. Thou shalt not take the name of thy greenkeeper in vain.

IV. Thou shalt not covet thy neighborνs greens.

V. Thou shalt not force, nor pressure in any mannour, thy greenkeeper to imperil thy greens by means of using weighty rollers or clipping/grazing too closely.

VI. Thou shalt not place at risk the plants or little creatures in an unholy pursuit of deepening the colour of thine turves.

VII. Thou shalt not place any woody plants or artificial or contrived moundes on the links, for if they were intended to be there, the Lord would have seen to it long before they were envisioned by thee.

VIII. Do not place thy game of goffe before the true gods of man and nature, and remembre that goffe is a grande and wonderful game and a chance to speake with nature, but it is not a religion unto itselfe.

IX. Lest thy families and worke be ignored, thou shalte playe in a most expediente mannour.

X. The single most important commandment, find thy featherie/guttie and smite it until it is lost from the eyes of man or until it is directed into the hole. Thou shalte not improve thy lie.

An "XI" was left with no commandment, as if to invite suggestions. David, writing in the Green Section Record, gave some good ones.

Interestingly, at the bottom of his article, the following was written:

"Authorνs note: Honoring the request of the course official, the exact location of the cemetery and monument is considered privileged and shall not be disclosed."

Any clues? I assume there is a decent reason for not acknowledging the club, but I cannot think of a good one at this time. Maybe someone has updated information.

— Forrest Richardson, Golf Course Architect/ASGCA
    www.golfgroupltd.com
    www.golframes.com

RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2007, 01:56:17 PM »
Forrest, from the references to the feathery/guttie and the language, it seems obviously generated around turn of the centurey by an old Scot, and with the cemetery and sort of biblical leaning of the theme, in NE, I'd guess Bendelow wrote it.  That is where he was when he imigrated and did his first courses.  He was bent towards the spiritual.  He was writing widely on golf at that time.  So, that is my gues... Perhaps the cemetery is near Van Courtland Park, or some upper Hudson area.  I am not familiar with those areas personally.  
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Joe Hancock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2007, 02:17:29 PM »
RJ,

I'll go against the grain (surprise!) and guess that this is a modern attempt. Perhaps the author of the article wrote it and ficticiously identified it as a headstone engraving, or he read it elsewhere and used it in his article.

If I am proven wrong, it will be the equivalent of flushing out a gopher with a waterhose. ;)

Your Welcome......

Joe
" What the hell is the point of architecture and excellence in design if a "clever" set up trumps it all?" Peter Pallotta, June 21, 2016

"People aren't picking a side of the fairway off a tee because of a randomly internally contoured green ."  jeffwarne, February 24, 2017

RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2007, 02:31:36 PM »
Grampa, 'your' theroy is as good as any other, "you're" welcome...  ;D

Quote
If I am proven wrong, it will be the equivalent of flushing out a gopher with a waterhose.

What about putting a little piece of chewed up juicy fruit down in the hole?  Or, does that upset PETA?  ::) 8)

« Last Edit: January 13, 2007, 02:32:14 PM by RJ_Daley »
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

peter_p

Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2007, 03:08:46 PM »
That appeared in the Green Section Record, Nov/Dec 2002 It was most certainly not NGLA based on four suggestions that he offered

XI. Thou shalt not confuse the blasphemy thee hears on TV with Commandments I through X.

XII. Abel bodyed men shalte not use goffe carts. They are for the infirme.

XIII. Thous halt let the links rest on the seventh day.

XIV. Though shalt not imitate or copy the links of thy neighbor.

Link to original article:
http://turf.lib.msu.edu/2000s/2002/021116.pdf
« Last Edit: January 13, 2007, 03:09:22 PM by Peter Pittock »

Lloyd_Cole

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2007, 03:22:45 PM »
Bravo David Oatis and Forrest for bringing this to our attention.

VI. Is particularly nicely put - Thou shalt not place at risk the plants or little creatures in an unholy pursuit of deepening the colour of thine turves.

Maybe we can stretch this, these days to certain prominent golfin' ole boys and the colour of their waters?

Joe Hancock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2007, 06:08:40 PM »
Grampa, 'your' theroy is as good as any other, "you're" welcome...  ;D

Quote
If I am proven wrong, it will be the equivalent of flushing out a gopher with a waterhose.

What about putting a little piece of chewed up juicy fruit down in the hole?  Or, does that upset PETA?  ::) 8)



This upsets me....I'm often critical of mistakes involving spelling and punctuation.... :o

Well, dadgumit....must be too much dirt ingested.....

I've never tried the Juicy Fruit trick...I prefer to sneak up on them while they are tunneling, and dig them out in a smooth, graceful stroke of a sharpened spade shovel....only the kind with the foot rests facing forward, of course...less resistance.... ;D

RJ, once again, thank you for pointing out the error on my "theroy" post.... :o ;D

Touche.....

Joe
« Last Edit: January 13, 2007, 06:09:39 PM by Joe Hancock »
" What the hell is the point of architecture and excellence in design if a "clever" set up trumps it all?" Peter Pallotta, June 21, 2016

"People aren't picking a side of the fairway off a tee because of a randomly internally contoured green ."  jeffwarne, February 24, 2017

Forrest Richardson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2007, 09:42:33 AM »
So, aside from it not being NGLA, no guesses?
« Last Edit: January 14, 2007, 09:42:46 AM by Forrest Richardson »
— Forrest Richardson, Golf Course Architect/ASGCA
    www.golfgroupltd.com
    www.golframes.com

Adam Clayman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2007, 11:07:56 AM »
Fishers Island?
« Last Edit: January 14, 2007, 11:08:45 AM by Adam Clayman »
"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Lloyd_Cole

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2007, 11:23:12 AM »
Burningbush?

Forrest Richardson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2007, 11:39:19 AM »
I have sent a note to Oatis asking him...but, from the 2002 article and its footnote, I am guessing I will not get an answer. Seems to me that someone here must know...? Good guesses, byt the way...but I am really interested in the uncontested and authorative answer...if it can be had!
— Forrest Richardson, Golf Course Architect/ASGCA
    www.golfgroupltd.com
    www.golframes.com

peter_p

Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2007, 07:32:31 PM »
Forrest,
With Oatis's last addition to the list we can eliminate all the template Raynor courses. I do remember a square patch at Oakhurst, or ask Junah or Shivas.

Forrest Richardson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Lost Commandments — What Course?
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2007, 10:25:49 AM »
On decent authority I have it that Oatis was using author's license in his original writing...there was indeed a cemetery uncovered, but no such monument wth "Lost Commandments" was found.

However, it remains a good story.

(I believe this is a violation of Rule 13.2(c)...)
« Last Edit: January 16, 2007, 10:26:09 AM by Forrest Richardson »
— Forrest Richardson, Golf Course Architect/ASGCA
    www.golfgroupltd.com
    www.golframes.com

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