Forrest,
When I define "authentic experience" I generally think of going to true old line clubs, although some new ones with the same goals as the Golden Age come close. In other words, how much golf tradition comes through at a typical CCFAD that would use such a phrase?
OT, but I had a client this week (now there is a golf rarity!) who, upon seeing a hole sodded that golf experience/tradition. Since we were looking at a hole with a big fw carry bunker, he proposed the oft used, well worn "Sahara Desert" for a hole name and asked what I thought we should name the other holes.
After a moment of thought, I said, "Fred, Barbara, Naomi,......." and the discussion was dropped. I think the point is that they typical course these days doesn't embrace as much tradition as the past and token efforts like hole naming don't get the course there. In some ways, it takes it even further from the classic golf experiences, because it seems so fake.
At least, I figure the Old Course hole names naturally evolved after hundreds of years (or Carnoustie's "South America" hole from a memorable incident) rather than have some marketing guys try to come up with something cute. Like golf course quirk, we accept it if it evolves naturally, and don't when it seems contrived.
Of course, I am sure you will point out the error of my ways.
