What's Your Agenda on GCA.com?

[Jeff_Brauer]

Ever the optimist, I hope this topic can be treated with all the seriousness it deserves, which is none.....

But, it occurs to me that statements by politicians will be viewed as either "defending truth, justice and the Amerian way" or "an agenda" depending on which side of the aisle is doing the reviewing. I think the same occurs here......

Some have been thought to have an agenda to promote themselves as gca's or writers, others to promote a certain style of gca, and yet others to wrongfully debunk the greatness of golden age gca's.

I have been accused of defending ASGCA and its members (guilty as charged!) and the modern over use of fw catch basins.........

And you?

[John Engelbrecht]

I had hoped to learn more about golf course architecture. I still have along way to go; I don’t know if it is my fault or……….  

[Brent Hutto]

In all honesty, Jeff, I think a great many of us share one agenda and it's not a particularly noble one....

Every now and then, for just a moment or two, we all want to be the smartest guy in the room. Even in a room full of very smart guys.

My more affirmative agenda is more of an educational/personal development thing but that doesn't always win out over the other one, truth be told.

[Dan Kelly]

Me?

To amuse myself -- and maybe the rest of you.

To talk about golf -- and maybe learn something about GCA, and about what's out there that's worth playing.

To get to know some other golf nuts -- and maybe play some golf with some of them (including you, Jeff Brauer), maybe on some golf courses I might not otherwise play.

To trade quips with Joe Hancock.

To discuss Stewart Sandwiches with Mike Cirba.

To get reading suggestions from George Pazin.

To banter with Rich Goodale.

To avoid arguments with Patrick Mucci.

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

[RJ_Daley]

Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.

Now, all I need to figure out is if I'm Norm or Cliffy sitting there on the end of the GCA.com bar.  I look more like Norm, but I'm real sharp like Cliffy....

[Tom Huckaby]

Put me down for what Dan Kelly said.

But add this:

to become a better writer by watching the great ones in here and from time to time getting editing help from the great Dan Kelly.

 

[Jim_Kennedy]

Jeff,
Hang around long enough and you will be ascribed one by someone who hasn't yet grasped the meaning of 'opinion'.

[John_Conley]

Jeff, mine is pretty simple.  I like golf, particularly interesting golf courses.  This site helps me keep up with the offerings and allows occasional discussion of what makes for good design and why.

An anciallary benefit is that I have met up with some people for golf when traveling or vice-versa.

Like you I have other interests and famliy and work obligations, so I'm not capable of becoming obsessive about imaginary friends in cyberspace.  I think what you'll find with this thread is that people gravitate to Ran's site for different reasons and that sometimes leads to differences.

[BVince]

I come to take part in the GCA discussions.  The amount of golf course opinions and pictures expands my ability to look at different golf courses.  Only agenda I would have is to meet new people and hopefully make some friends along the way.

And it feels like bar talk...cheers, cheeper drinks at home.

[Dan Kelly]

Now, all I need to figure out is if I'm Norm or Cliffy sitting there on the end of the GCA.com bar.  I look more like Norm, but I'm real sharp like Cliffy....

Oh, you're Cliff, for sure -- with maybe a little dash of Lilith. (Emoticons omitted.)

I'm sure I've got way too much Frasier for my own good.

But, then again, at least I've got Sam's hair!

[Michael Dugger]

To learn about courses I did not know previously.

To view imagery of places I may never make it to.

To keep abreast of upcoming projects, to be made aware of things I did not previously know about existing projects.

To learn fascinating stories like the history of George Crump and Pine Valley.

Perhaps persuade those who view golf course architecture as a business to view it as an art......or at least a combination of the two.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Wouldn't anyone who chimes in with a little known (and possibly made up or at least poorly researched) fact be a Cliff?

Those with no sense of humor would be a Lillith.

Those who over analyze would be a Fraizer.

Those who retire to the bar and bypass the big arguments would be NORM! (although not the norm around here....)

[Kalen Braley]

Jeff,

Who is Woody then??  

[Paul Stephenson]

I think Dan and Michael best summed it up for me.

My agenda at post 120 or whatever the number is to get to know those on the board, and most importantly listen and learn.

1200 posts from now it may change.  But I certainly hope not.

[Dan Kelly]

Wouldn't anyone who chimes in with a little known (and possibly made up or at least poorly researched) fact be a Cliff?

Those with no sense of humor would be a Lillith.

You're absolutely right about Lilith. What was I thinking?

Our Dick would be a Norm -- with a little Woody. (Emoticons still omitted.)

Kelly Kelly Kelly Kelly Kelly™

[Randy Thompson]

Jeff,
Learning and more learning leads to individual growth. If your not learning and growing, then your taking up space and watch out, our number could be called next, when that happens. In less then a couple of weeks I have found some real interesting topics, ie. Love the idea about assigning a number to a courses based on the difference in the longest Par three and the shortest, same with the par fours and pars fives. Great way to study differences in great courses and how these numbers relate to shot value. Also have learned that there are some new Bermuda grass cultivars out there, that sounds like they will give bent a run for its money in putting quality. I will now further investigate in the web and see about getting somebody to import them down here. Its good to hear different points of view and thinking especially, "out of the box". I really don't think its about self promotion, I mean how many architects do you think have been hired as a direct result of a web site for example. In my opinion, a company web page, is a tool nothing more. So, I don't think anyone would actually participate on these post thinking that it will lead to future contracts or overall self promotion.  

[Garland Bayley]

To discuss golf course design and to learn. Unfortunately, I seem incapable of stimulating much discussion on golf course design. E.g., I recently asked what were people's opinions of placing greens in quarries as was done at Royal Westmoreland, which produced zero response. I thought it was apropos since Jeff had quoted Langford on a different thread about employing quarries in golf courses.

Therefore, I am left to chiming in on others GCA threads, and hope I can suggest subtle nuances that can be useful.

I didn't come here for it, but I end up not restraining myself very well when things like social misfits get brought up.

[Phil_the_Author]

To learn and to share...

[Jeff_Brauer]

Garland,

Don't feel badly....I think my nickname is either "Last word" or "Threadkiller"

[Tom Yost]

Access.

 

[Mike_Young]

I enjoy hearing the opinions of others regarding golf architecture since most people could care less.....
But I would say my agenda is to lend a realistic view toward the old dead guys instead of the idealistic view that is often assumed....I have a great deal of respect for wht they did in a realistic manner...

[Sean_A]

Sean Arble's Personal GCA.com Agenda

1. Learn about second/third tier courses as they tend to be affordable.
    A. Take advantage of folks who post pix of lesser courses.  

2. Preach the evils of of overbunkering

3. See #2 for other hazards
     
4. Avoid conflict with Mucci (this used to be higher on the Agenda)

5. Gain free access to Joe Hancock's course (I figure if Barny can get into places free why not me?)

6. Receive more funds from BBGE (or whatever Barney's giveaway game was called)
     A. Defend Barney in all matters because he is my sugar      daddy.

7. Try to keep Buda south of the wall (failed miserably so this item will probably fall further on future Agendas)

8. Receive a personal invite from Bogey to join the Hillbilly Tour

9. Meet Joe Hancock (you can see that it is more important to me to play Joe's course than it is to meet him)  

10.  Meet Jim Thompson (its too late to wrestle a free game out of Jim so he is relatively low on the list)

11. Read five consecutive posts by TomP in their entirety (I nearly did it once)

12. Any other business arising

Ciao

[Joe Hancock]

My agenda is so sinister, so evil that I dare not type it here for fear of the impending danger I would bring upon each and every one of you.

Sean,

You better hurry, for I am gone the way of a Jim Thompson in less than a month. Both us......vooom, like rats out of an aquaduct.....

Joe

[Jim Thompson]

Joe,

I never thought these guys were such blatent access whores!  Don't let them know we still have telephones, friends in the business or that we are still in the business.  Ooops, did it again.

Cheers!

JT

P.S.  You gettin thirsty yet?

[Michael Dugger]

I am cracking up at all those who mention avoiding arguing with Patrick Mucci as a part of their agenda!