Gillette Silver - An American Rater

[Kalen Braley]

John:

Can you please answer the question posited above?

Thanks,

Jed

Not sure how to respond.  Is one of my posts indicative of asshole behavior?

John,

I think Jed was asking this of the other John unless I read it read it wrong.

Kalen

[John_Conley]

I did too at first, but I don't want to be accused of ignoring a well-intended question directed at me.

[Kalen Braley]

I did too at first, but I don't want to be accused of ignoring a well-intended question directed at me.

John,

This thread has long gone past the bizzaro state of no return, so if the question is applicable to you as well, then by all means please enlighten us!!    

[Dan Herrmann]

John - if you know what PG Pictures means, please let us know.

This may be the strangest thread ever.

[Kyle Harris]

I wanted to go to Washington, but that giraffe was glowing blue. Perhaps I'll have a beer instead.

[Kalen Braley]

John,

I think you accidentally posted to the wrong forum.

Let me re-send you the correct link....  http://www.alienhub.com/

[RJ_Daley]

This just in, a photo of John's rater pal, Gil:



and john's other play pal, McConkey:

[Jed Peters]

Kalen and John C.:

You are correct, I was sending my query out to John K.

Thanks,

Jed

[CHrisB]

I think I've seen McConkey in a Cialis commercial.

[John_Cullum]

That must be Smiling Bob

[Bill_McBride]

I was lucky enough a couple of weeks ago to answer a Craigslist ad from Gill looking for someone to exchange either lodging or transportation costs for free golf as he made his way across the midwest rating courses for an obscure publication call The Illustrated American Golfer.  Lucky for me I have a corporate gas card and some free time.  Gill, that's what his friends call him, is a true architectural aficionado that bleeds the love of the game like few others on this board.  Lucky for me he is also a huge wrestling fan as we had a great time Sunday night at SummerSlam watching the Taker beat Edge in a fantastic "Hell in a cell match" that while exciting was no match, match wise that is, for Mankind's recent cage extravaganza.  But I digress.

Gill is the kind of golf critic that knows how to give back to the game.  We would meet after every round to count tees, scorecards and the occasional yardage books that he sells on Ebay to finance his quest of the greatest courses in America.  Nothing beats packaging tees in bakers dozen sets while talking about the great architecture our fine country presents.  I can't believe how naive assistant pros are when you palm three scorecards for one round.  Gill told me that if they ever say a word to explain that when hitting a tee shot off line you always place a ball in prime position and play in, needing of course an extra card for the stats.  At $5 a pop on Ebay, who can blame him given the high cost of travel from course to to course.

I know that you guys who know me would have thought by now I would have taken a six iron to the back of Gillettes's head, but he really opened my eyes and heart to how a passion for architecture can drive a person to make questionable moral choices in his quest for educating the ignorant public.

A little about Gill.  He was born in 1969 the bastard child of a student of the University of Wisconsin.  He told me his mother went to the Democratic convention in Chicago in 68 as a flaming Republican and came away pregnant and liberal after being smashed, gassed and passed by a writer for the Black Panther publication Cat Tales.  A somewhat mainstream publication intended to transform white protestants into militant black activists who were against a free Palestine.  I was lucky enough to meet Gill's mother on the Casino Queen in East St. Louis right after she hit the 1000 mark on the free spin on the Wheel of Fortune slots.  A hippie princess she remains to this day with eight fingernails painted gold and two black thumbnails keeping her rooted in reality.

Our trip around Muirfield Village was worth every slide of my gas card.  Gill, as he likes to remind me, has razor sharp eyes to go with his rapier wit.  I was surprised at his abiltity to point out the contributions of Nicklaus against the backbone of the Muirhead routing.  Every strategic nuance was at the tip of his tongue before his ball hit the ground.  It was a religious experience.  He has asked of me two things....One...He would like for each of you to check your local Craigslists for when he may be coming to your area.  And, Two...He is trepidant against posting on this forum, because of his travels throughout the country incognito of sorts, but would like to participate by answering questions about his motivation, experience and opinions on the great courses of the world.  I have agreed to act as his musei and traspond the answers to any questions you may have.

If you do not wish to ask question of Gillette on this forum and am more comfortable in private please send all requests to Gillette Silver - An American Rater at spooon@usa.net and I will either send you his answer back privately or on here whichever you choose.  Please...no spam as Gill is very busy answering his many Craigslist inquireries and would hate to be mistaken as rude or impolite through a nonresponse.

Who is this really?  Did Forrest Richardson write this?  It's almost as good as the Foulpointe saga. 

[Chris Kane]

This thread almost matches the "Golf in a nuclear winter" thread from years ago for sheer genius.

[Dan Herrmann]

Chris - Agreed...  This is crazy, funny stuff.  I love the bit about Gill's monther playing slots.

John: Here are some questions for Gillette - What countries have you been able to visit on your quest for great golf architecture?  What are your "Next 10" counties you'd like to visit?  Will you be bringing your mother along?

[John Kavanaugh]

Chris - Agreed...  This is crazy, funny stuff.  I love the bit about Gill's monther playing slots.

John: Here are some questions for Gillette - What countries have you been able to visit on your quest for great golf architecture?  What are your "Next 10" counties you'd like to visit?  Will you be bringing your mother along?

Dan,

Gill saw you questions last night and sent me an email this morning telling me that he is working on that exact topic for his next piece in The Illustrated American Golfer.  Gill worked as an international flight attendant from 1996 to 2001 on TWA before it was acquired by American Airlines in 2001 which gave him amazing access to many parts of the world.  His role as union steward eventually led to what he still contends was an illegal dismissal.  Gill said that traveling with his mother has always been one of the great pleasures in his life but after her recent double hip replacement surgery she has slowed down to what average people might call normal.  He told me he should have a rough draft done in a couple of days and would check with the IAG lawyers if I could post it on the site for our review.

[Kalen Braley]

JK,

When is the West Coast leg of his trip coming up?

Have lodging, have transportation, have money for gas...will play golf in Utah!!

[John Kavanaugh]

JK,

When is the West Coast leg of his trip coming up?

Have lodging, have transportation, have money for gas...will play golf in Utah!!

Kalen,

I don't have time to answer every request made of Mr. Silver's time.  If you want to set up an architectural review please contact Gillette Silver at raterking@gmail.com

[Peter Pallotta]

"...Gill worked as an international flight attendant from 1996 to 2001 on TWA before it was acquired by American Airlines in 2001 which gave him amazing access to many parts of the world.  His role as union steward eventually led to what he still contends was an illegal dismissal."

I have to say - that is nearly the work of genius! The "what he still contends" bit makes it...

Peter

 

[Rich Goodale]

Keep it up, John!

As Forrest and others can tell you, it's hard to sustain interest in fantasies such as this, but you are doing a great job.  If you can seamlessly get Gill (and/or his mother) to Foulpointe I will be truly impressed.

Rich

[John Kavanaugh]

Jed, Rich, Peter, et al,

Gillette has requested that we keep the thread concise about architecture or other fields of his expertise because his modem is outdated and loading up this page every time a frivolous post is made costs him precious time that could be spent writing or sanitizing needles.  He has developed a holistic approach to needle sanitation that is time consuming and very inefficient when compared to a more traditional method which uses heat.  While expensive, he believes that acupuncture is a dish best served cold.

Gill did want me to tell you that he has enjoyed the off line conversations he has been having with posters from this site and looks forward to many more.  I agree in that this thread has lost its way and will no longer respond to non architectural topics concerning Gill.  With Gills permission, I will limit my contributions to our email transpondencies and wish you to do the same.  Lets move on.

[John_Cullum]

Please ask Gillette if he is related to the Cullum/Cates family from Savannah Georgia. My mother has a rather  bizaar cousin named Murray Silver. His mother Catherine Silver was my Grandmother's first cousin, who married a jewish boy, the son of Bo Peep Silver. Bo ran a very profitable restaurant, pool hall, betting parlor, and bordello across the street from Christ Episcopal Church in Savannah back during prohibition. His regular tything across religious party lines kept everyone happy.

Murray Silver is now living in Miami as a disbarred lawyer who supplements his income as an extra in B movies and he collects royalties from the book he wrote about his grandfather Bo Peep. Murray may well be Gillette's grandfather, which would make him some sort of relative of mine. Perhaps we can meet for a game if he gets down to Florida.

[Dan Herrmann]

Seeing how Gill is in ATL now, does he have any ability to get access to Augusta National Golf Club, a nice little layout just off I-520 in Augusta, GA.  If so, I'd love to see his review.

[Jeff Fortson]

How does Gillette Silver get access to clubs?  Isn't that a Jewish last name?


Jeff F.

[John_Conley]

Isn't that a Jewish last name?

Or a horse's.

[Ryan Farrow]

John, serious question. If your mom, could, would, or should happen to read the things you post online, do you think she would feel sorry for you?



Frankly, I'm proud of how she raised such an imaginative young boy.

[John Kavanaugh]

Date:  Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:48:45 -0500
From:  "Gillette Silver" <raterking@gmail.com> Add to Address Book    Block Sender Allow Sender
To:  "spooon@usa.net" <spooon@usa.net>
Subject:  GCA questions.  Allow Subject
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Buddy,

I don't know what you told these guys but the AIG don't have the
stroke to get me on Augusta. I have been lucky enough to walk the
course inside the ropes during six different Masters when I was the
personal acupuncturist for one of the great characters in the game.
Despite wearing all the right colors he couldn't even always get me
tickets yet alone a pass to play. Acupuncture can be the only cure
for old bowling injuries and might help you with your tennis elbow
instead of that sweat stained brace that smells like love. Ever think
about getting a new one or washing the damn thing? As far as Silver
being a Jewish name, I don't get it, what do you think; Do I look
Jewish?

In golf as in life,

Gillette Silver