Tommy, with all due respect, I think we need to break this down a bit.
What access issues are you speaking of exactly? You don't have to name names, just describe what the heck you mean.
I hope there is not some sort of double standard here. One man's participating in GCA.com and stating he will be in a certain area for a trip, and does anyone have any "suggestions" is perhaps another man's idea of fishing for access. Is that what you mean? If so, I think that you are WRONG! How the hell are people in this GCA.com community supposed to get to know eachother, if not for such postings?
As many continue to state above, no one has to invite anyone to meet or to their club under such circumstances. No one is restricted from saying NO to personal inquiries on IMs or e-mails either.
I really believe that some people that belong to great and storied clubs come on GCA.com in many instances to tell the GCA.com community about THEIR course, as a matter of pride, and advance the widespread golf architecture afficianados understanding. I really think some of those folks enjoy being a host. If they didn't want people to know which clubs they belonged to, they probably wouldn't come on here and discuss them.
Let's face it Tommy, you have been "invited" to play at all the most fabulous clubs in the country. Did you receive those invites for the most part because you post on here, or do all these folks around the country just somehow know you without the means of the Internet to have spread your somewhat "cult like" persona? Now, that is a compliment. People know of your passion about the subject because of all these years you have posted some very enlightening and entertaining observations. But, you haven't always been a pussy cat to certain folk about matters that trip your trigger either.
But, let's also be fair and realise that your posts have not all been 100% GCA. Some of your best have been O.T. with humor and insight into other things that sometime amaze us that you have had very eclectic experiences. Good for you! But, some have started hard feelings with individual archies over the years, and some people suspect that some of the big name archies WON'T come on GCA.com for the very things you have said about them, right or wrongly criticised.
There have been unfortunate threads over the years that were sad to witness the acrimony about someone or another's strongly held views over some aspect of GCA or its history, etc. I think that most in the GCA.com community get very uncomfortable when two or more strong minded people descend into calling eachother out, on personal basis.
I think such threads should then be deleted, when they cross the line of name calling, or character assasination or ridicule due to a believe or opinion.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE MODERATORS! And, that is why one moderator should be able to delete another moderator's very own comments, if they also break these rules.
As one who has been on here for about as long as any, I try to contribute some GCA related observations when I can, and if I think it might give fodder to more interesting discussion. But, I find it harder and harder to say anything original that hasn't already been stated 1000 times on here. So, I also try to keep it in the framework of the "grillroom" atmosphere, because I consider so many here my friends. I don't care to just always lecture or discuss only dry old GCA all the time with my friends. I'm pretty sure most others here feel similar.
In the last few days, I for one have made some quips (even to esteemed archies who are on this site) and posted cartoonish photos in an effort to be affable, or attempt to keep it light and humorous. I don't apologise for that, and won't stop doing it because that is 'who I am'.