Changes coming to GolfClubAtlas.com

[Ran Morrissett]

GolfClubAtlas.com was started over eight years ago.

At the time, nobody imagined the path it would follow.

Despite tremendous growth in both content and viewer base, only one significant upgrade has occured to the hosting software (and that was to the Discussion Group in excess of four years ago).

Based on the time and effort that people continue to pour into the site, it is now time to do more than that.

In an effort to improve the quality of the experience and in a huge effort to better be able to search the site for particular subject matters within golf course architecture, GolfClubAtlas.com is going to undergo a massive overhaul over the next four months.

The shift to a new platform will occur behind the scenes and there won't be any disruptions. Hopefully, you won't know anything has occurred until we cut over onto the latest and greatest SiteSuite product offering later this summer (we are literally about ten levels behind at the moment).

The same general groupings of Courses by Country, Feature Interviews, IMO pieces etc. will certainly carry forward. How they are presented/formatted, etc. will improve. It will be much more printer friendly for instance.

Re: improving the Discussion Group, suppose there was a great thread on bunkers 90 days ago. In order to access it, you need to a) know it exists and b) be willing to spend the time to go find it in the Archives. In the future, I hope a person will somehow be able to access all bunker threads with ease. Re: off topic posts, I also hope there is a way where they will be squirreled away in another section. Those of us with no interest in OT threads won't have to see them at all.

Exactly how all this will occur is still being determined. Hence, the purpose of this post is to gather suggestions for features that you would like to see incorporated into the new platform. Please list two or three ideas/features in a post below - we will look to incorporate the best ones.

Bottom line: there is a ton of great information on this site and we are going to make it easier to find and utilize. The site will become more user friendly both to new visitors as well as to the old guard. Just as less is more in golf course architecture, the same applies to this web site. We want to provide greater access to the database of information that has been assembled without resorting to over-complicated features to do so.

Your input is greatly appreciated .

Cheers,

[Donnie Beck]

Ran,

Thank you for all that you have already done. I have made many friendships and have learned a great deal over the years here. I look forward to the the coming changes...

[Bill_McBride]

"Bravo" to the concept of a really good search engine for the database.  It is currently pretty time-consuming and perhaps fruitless to search for a specific item such as "Hoylake bunkers."

[Parenthetically, I just received from The New Yorker their "Complete New Yorker Portable Hard Drive."  On one small external hard drive, connected to the computer by a USB cable, is the complete scanned copy, all searchable, of every New Yorker magazine from February 1925 through October 2006.  My reason for buying this is access to all of Herbert Warren Wind's golf columns therein.  I suspect there are many more of those columns than the ones included in the volume titled "Following Through."  I will update this post once I know how well the search function works.]

I continue to believe there is nothing wrong with some portion of the Discussion Board's discourse being "OT."  Just as we like to discuss a wide variety of topics in the grill room or locker room, we discuss on GCA.com the details of future GCA-sanctioned outings, tales of past trips and get togethers with GCA members, etc.  Are these OT threads going to be disallowed or deleted?

It seems to me that the title of a thread that includes "OT" makes it very simple for those not interested in OT discussions to avoid them.   Just don't click on them! It's that simple.  No need to become unhappy or abusive about OT threads, just don't click.  Just say "no."  

[Kyle Harris]

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help regarding design and hosting.

[RJ_Daley]

Ran, I really think that the one thing that has been talked about among us and been suggested for nearly all the time GCA.com has been up and running is that little ol' O/T button.  

If I were to suggest one more thing (but I"m not too sure it can be done technically) is to make it easier to post photos within posts, without having them somehow hosted on a 2nd party internet site like Photobucket and such.

Thank you for all the patience and perserverance to keep the party going that you have shown to this motely crew for all these years.

 

[David Stamm]

Very good news, Ran. Thank you very much for the efforts you are making to further enhance this great site. If there is anything I can do to help in some way, it would be my pleasure.

[JohnV]

Dick mentioned one thing I was thinking of which is a place to store pictures and an easy way to post them.

A way to put Key Words into a topic might make it easier to search.  Integrating Google searches of the site would also be great.

Multiple discussion groups:

Golf Course Architecture
Course Recommendations / Reviews
Golf Course Queries
Golf Course Ranking Arguments
Rules and Handicap Questions
Toon-a-mints
Outings
Off Topic

A Frequently Asked Questions section where people could answer the questions that come up all the time similar to My Home Course or In My Opinion.  For example, I'd be happy to write up the stuff on the USGA Slope System and Handicapping systems so that newer people wouldn't have to ask the same questions.

More profile information to replace the long lived "Who are you guys?" thread and a better way to find people's profiles.

And finally, thanks a lot for creating this site.

[Steve Lang]

   Ran,  change is good.. certainly every once in a while.. stirs the blood and adrenaline.. challenges one to be better. Good Luck!

Desired Feature 1:   A "course atlas" feature, where folks can input course data and look up or search same..  link into Google Earth or equivalent aerial mapping.. heck just give me the lat-long coordinates at minimum

Desired Feature 2:  Designated or more moderators for subject areas.. they can move topics to lower level folders but not delete.. or have a compost pile folder where stuff can be moved to either decompose or be deleted in 30 days..

[Tom Dunne]

Ran, that's great news. I know an improved search function will be a major cause for celebration for everyone here.

Incidentally, with a new look some of the old-school GCA heads might occasionally "pine" for the wood-panel days. They can always hop in the Wayback Machine for their fix:

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.golfclubatlas.com

Good luck with the transition--I have to think at the end of the day the site and the group will only be stronger.  

[PThomas]

Ran,

Thank you for all that you have already done. I have made many friendships and have learned a great deal over the years here. I look forward to the the coming changes...

that about says it all...thanks Ran!

[rjsimper]

Great stuff-

I think the best suggestions I've seen here and would echo-

OT forum separate...not because I dislike OT threads, but because I think it would keep them separate for the sake of those who do dislike them

Search function - absolutely...this one will be unanimous

Photo repository - there are literally hundreds of great threads with photos.  A photo is worth a thousand words, and some way to store them, or at least organize them, would be helpful.  Even a sub-forum for people to post photo-reviews of courses for discussion.

FAQ section is not a bad idea.

Thanks again for a great site!

[Michael Whitaker]

Ran - A travel recommendation section would be good. There are a LOT of threads on "Where To Play," Where To Stay," Where To Eat," etc. This site has become a trusted source of travel recommendations for a lot of us. Thanks!

[John Kavanaugh]

Post under your full first and last name and have a mandatory payment yearly much like any other valued internet service.  I know some sites that allow everyone to post but only proven members to start threads.  It would seem the best way to curb the OT threads that if never started would not be a problem.

[David_Tepper]

Ran -

Sounds like a great and most timely idea. Good luck with the process.

On another thread, I mentioned a food, drink & dining website (www.chowhound.com). It was started as a hobby and "labor of love" by a fellow named Jim Leff. It quickly grew out of control and he had to bring in some professional website people to help get the website under control and manageable.  He has done that and now the website is better than ever.

You might want to contact him to get some sense of the process he went thru.  His experience might be of some use to you.

Thanks for all your hard work.

DT

[Doug Ralston]

Post under your full first and last name and have a mandatory payment yearly much like any other valued internet service.  I know some sites that allow everyone to post but only proven members to start threads.  It would seem the best way to curb the OT threads that if never started would not be a problem.

Thanks John; that would certainly put 'paid' to the riff raff. Or at least the poor riff raff.

Well, it is Ran's site, and he certainly can if he wishes. But I point out that the site is already 'by invitation'.

Ran;

This is indeed a great site, on which we all have a load of ideas and some sporting fun. I have liked practically all the suggestions except, obviously, JK's. That is strictly personal, simply because I could not, not because I would not. Please keep up the great work.

"It is no shame to be poor, but it is no great honor either" Tevia in Fiddler on the Roof  

Of the suggestion, I would especially second the search function improvement you suggest, and the ease of posting pix suggested by several.

Thanks,

Doug

[CHrisB]

Ran,
Thanks for your efforts in running the website and for soliciting opinions on improving it.

I have one minor suggestion.

Currently if I want to go "surf" the archives and see what threads were around at any given time, it's a little tricky because there are only links to page numbers that are close the one currently being viewed.

For example, if I am on page 1 of the DG, the following links appear at the top of the page:

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 729 (so I can go to page 2, 3, or 729)

If I am on page 5 of the DG, the following links appear:

Pages: 1 ... 3 4 [5] 6 7 ... 729 (so I can go to page 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 729)

If I want to go to page 300, I really can't unless I manipulate the "start" variable correctly (which is a guessing game).

I would suggest that you replace those page links with a dropdown list of page numbers (1-729 or whatever the max # is), so that upon selecting a page number, the user is taken straight to that page.

(If you do split the DG into different categories, you could easily do this within each category.)

[John Kavanaugh]

Doug,

I really respect the work you do for society through great monetary sacrifice.  If Ran uses both my suggestions for mandatory pay and the use of full first and last names I will pay your way.  I in no way was looking for these suggestions to shut anyone out and am sure we could set up grants for other worthy individuals.

[Tim Bert]

Ran -

I would be all for some type of format that would allow us to link or paste pictures directly from our PCs, but I'm not enough of a technology guy to know if that places too much burden or capacity strain on the site.

I can't imagine anyone thinking expanded search function would be a bad thing.  This is probably an easy top 3 prioritiy if the technology is being upgraded.  

I'd love to see an expanded discussion board stats section.  I haven't put appropriate thought into what I'd want to see, but I love the Top 10 threads, posters, etc. and would probably browse anything else that made it there  

As for the ongoing OT debate, my only input would be this: if you decide to allow the OT to continue and also decide to segregate it, then I'd love to see two categories of OT 1) golf-related but not GCA and 2) not golf related.  This is just one man's opinion, but I come first to learn about GCA but also to talk and read about golf.  I like some of the OT golf topics but tend to ignore the non-golf stuff.  Not sure if others feel the same.

Thanks for all you do!

[John Kavanaugh]

Charge an additional fee for those who want to go into the OT section.  Or at least an additional fee for those who want to start threads in the OT section.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I welcome and applaud the efforts to improve this most valuable site for so many of us. I like the idea of ease in searching. I think that will allow more time on new topics and deeper discussion of those topics with a foundation already layed.

[Phil McDade]

John:

You and Mucci should get a room...

Seriously, the website renewal is a very good idea, in moderation. I like the cleanness and ease of use of many of the features -- the course index, the commentaries, the interviews. So many websites these days are focused on whiz-bang graphics, and this one stands out for being along the lines of an old, comfy clubhouse.

The only suggestion I'd make re. search functions is to make it apply to the written commentaries/interviews/course descriptions as well as the discussion group. I note that I've often linked to GCA when doing a Google search on a particular course (e.g., the Foulis involvement at Waukegan's Bonnie Brook, which I probably would not have found by digging around GCA's interviews.)

It's a great website; thanks for the continued good work on it.

[Pete Lavallee]

Ran,

Could you Ban the color green?[/color]

Seriousy, I would like to see a section where people could make recommendations on courses worth seeing in their local area. This would elliminate the need for the: "Where do I play in San Diego?" threads. Let registered posters add their descriptions and possibly an agreed upon rating: Doak Scale, Michelein stars, or maybe we could come up with a new Ran Scale.

For all those who want an easy way to post photos on the site I have this question: There are certainly some golf courses that would love to have their pictures featured here, some who couldn't care less, and then some who are quite concerned that photos of their private course are being featured here. How would you suggest Ran reply to say, SFGC, who frown upon people taking pictures of their course, if they phoned and asked why his web site was hosting photos of their course witout their expressed written consent?

[Bob_Huntley]

I am particularly interested in John Kavanaugh's enmity toward OT postings. Some of the weirdest things I have seen on this site have come from his pen. What is it, that when you see someting posted as OT, that you have to read it and become vexed at its content?

Apart from the Merion posts, some of the longest and most interesting threads, although narrowly associated with golf and its architecture, have been of great interest.


However, I do agree with John, in that if you cannot use your first and last name don't bother to post.


Bob

[RJ_Daley]

I don't know Pete...  Maybe they should shoot down the Google aerial satellite too, I can see all of their course.  

Honestly, I do understand what you are saying.  I remember back about 7 years ago when I went out to Sand Hills and it was a few days before they opened for the year.  Mr. Youngscap spoke to me for a while in his office and said he didn't mind me taking any photos, but didn't want them used on any commercial enterprizes.  For some time, I didn't even post them on GCA.com, until the whole digital photo became ubiquitous, and 100s were posted before I ever shared mine.   As for Mr. Youngscapps wish not to have photos of the club, I think he must be resigned to the phenomenon that no one (hardly anyone) goes out there and doesn't shoot a bunch of pocket digital pics during their round, then rush home to post them and show all their pals where they played.  I wouldn't doubt it is the same with Cypress Pt.  But, the shutterbug fever with ease of digital is a horse out of the barn.

As for litigation or anything against Ran being a possibility if photos are posted; that is way above my pay grade to try and answer...  

[RJ_Daley]

Yes Bob, it is something like the rubberneck gawking that occurs at the train wreck to be compelled to look in on a post that is labeled O/T and also has some tittilating caption.  I wonder if Pat Mucci could resist a caption like:

O/T Notre Dame golf outting to benefit starving architects.