This post is a indirect and direct communication that came my way from Ron Prichard and Mike McGuire.
Ron Prichard said:
"There were several responses to Tim Liddy which were correct. Anyone involved with the design of over 400 courses, would of course display some repetition of characteristics in his green's design, (and although this might fly over the heads of some people), that would include the putting surfaces.
In the efforts I have made to carefully study the great old golf courses, (which includes many built here in America prior to World War II), I have not found any work which compares to that of Donald Ross, (although we must remember there was an even greater architect who created much of what we see at St. Andrews and a few other old links). I don't believe I've ever seen a close duplication of any golf hole, or any "Green", on a Ross course.
I leave it to others to judge then where he fits in the ranks of Master Architects; and I have the deepest admiration for MacDonald, Raynor, and who would not recognize the skill of Tillinghast, (if he visited Winged
Foot).
Mike, there is a great quotation from a book written by Humphrey Repton, "Landscape Architecture", written in 1797 which should be memorized by ever wannabe, or active, golf architect:
".....True taste, in every art, consists more in adapting tried expedients to peculiar circumstance than in that inordinate thirst for novelty, the characteristic of uncultivated minds, which from the facility of inventing wild theories, without experience, are apt to suppose that taste is displayed by novelty, genius by innovation, and that every change must necessarily tend to improvement."
Ron Quixote
When Ron was asked to elaborate on his references to Ross, Ross greens, "mininalism" and Repton's quotation he said;
"What's most important is that even the self labelled "minimalists", must carefully study the great old early golf courses, perhaps for years, so that they can "honestly" apply the lessons learned. I just don't have enough time to see what everyone is creating, but most of what I see appears to emphasize outrageous bunkering, waterfalls, or some other characteristics developed for a photo opportunity. It's the race for the "signature hole" - not substance.
I believe there are some architects who are sincerely trying, but what I'm talking about requires time, to study - and learn, and then personal honesty.
I knew an architect who was a best a land sculptor, and I had at best, very little respect for his skill as a golf architect. I remember asking him one day, "How much of an effort do you make to study Ross, Tillinghast, Mackenzie, and other early classical architects, and use what you learn". He told me he didn't, "pay any attention to them. His mentors were: Arp, Brancussi, and Henri Moore" That was what I expected, and about all I could bear."