Canadian Golf H of F and Stanley Thompson Society - Discussion Series

[Matthew MacKay]

For our Canadian contingent here on GCA, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, in cooperation with the Stanley Thompson Society, is presenting a series of informal discussion groups focusing on the golf course.

Each month, several specialists will be asked to join attendees to consider elements of the decision-making process involved in golf course renovation, preservation and restoration.

The Stanley Thompson Society will also provide a free copy of their first technical bulletin on the architectural principles of Stanley Thompson to all who sign up for the full series.

There are some really interesting topics being explored and some familiar names from this website will be taking part. Cut and paste this link for all the details or go to www.rcga.org

http://www.rcga.org/innerpage.aspx?x=NTGlEmJklnqBZstb5gXsROz9HDjmrB1kxaULTxOsfigBab05RRnWs7ybsbN3lI%2bw

[Jeremy Rivando]

Thanks for the link Matt, looks to be a very informative series.

[Chris_Clouser]

Wasn't there a book that came out recently about Thompson courses?  I was sure there was soemthing posted about it on this site, but can't find it when I search for it.

[Yannick Pilon]

Matt,

This series sounds great for people who live in Toronto, and who can actually attend them.  Is there any plans to turn these presentations into something that can be e-mailed or printed, for everyone else from Canada to read and appreciate?

Just a thought.

YP

[Robert Thompson]

Chris: The book came out last year and can be found here -- http://www.photoscape.ca/book.htm

There's talk of a do-over for the Stanley Thompso symposium that was held at Highlands Links in the fall. At that one there was only one representative of the Thompson Society speaking -- its founder -- while the others included Lorne Rubenstein, Ian Andrew, Jeff Mingay, Ken Donovan and myself. The thought is to do it again next year in Toronto, perhaps in conjunction with the RCGA. The hope is there would be interest given the number of Thompson courses in the province.

I think the series of seminars by the RCGA could be interesting -- but I wonder what John Porter, a golf pro, brings to the table in terms of restoration, since Rosedale, where he worked for a long period of time, only started bringing out its Ross elements after he retired from the club.

I also wouldn't consider anything Ted Baker has done  as restorative, at least not that I've seen, though there has been restorative work out of the Carrick office.

The panel on restoring a course will be interesting as well, since none of them are architects, and only John Smith has led a restoration at his club. The researcher involved is using a list of courses and material supplied by Ian Andrew and myself. Though I'm hopeful she's come up with some new insights into courses that were designed by Thompson, I'm not sure what she can offer in terms of restoration. Perhaps she'll present ideas on where to find the appropriate infomation for clubs?

In my own self-serving way, I think people would learn more about these things from joining our Toronto GCA gathering in the Beaches on Nov. 29 

[Matthew MacKay]

Yannick: The format of the series doesn't really lend itself to print. It's meant to be a series of informal discussion led by a few guest panellists.

Rob: While the panellists will lead the discussion to some degree, it is hoped that the interest and knowledge of golf courses/architecure from the attendees will be the strength of the program. It is a discussion series, rather than a lecture series.

[Robert Thompson]

Matt: Well I wonder what some of the panelists can discuss, since I don't think they have demonstrated much knowledge of the topics.

[Ian Andrew]

Matt,

Were Yannick, Jeremey, Graham, Wayne, Les and others from outside Toronto offered a chance to come and speak?

They would have all made excellent panelists.

Just wondering....

[Matthew MacKay]

Ian, I believe budget constraints prevented Karen from expanding the net past general GTA.

[Robert Thompson]

And people suggest the RCGA is Ontario centric....