[Melvyn Morrow]

What is the first thing you do to become a well-known Designer?

I asked Ran the following question last week …

Is the rumour true that Tom Doak had his first name changed to Tom when he decided to design golf courses for a career? Did he think that it had something to do with the belief that the name “Tom” seems to guarantee success in golf.   

Moreover, did it work for him, that is the other question? 
Please, answer to be an either Yes or No

My vote just for the record is I think it was a good move!   

But then perhaps I would say that. (did I say one word answer required!)

Melvyn

PS TPaul this question is not directed towards you as we are only seeking a single line Yes or No answers, not two Chapters on Merion prior to considering your position on Tom. 

[Eric Smith]

Yes?


Melvyn:

You too may have a future as a well known designer if you change your name to Tom. 

"Tom Morrow, Tom Morrow, I love you Tom Morrow, you're only an ocean away..."


Sincerely,

Daddy Warbucks

[Tom_Doak]

Melvyn:

My dad was named Tom as well.  My parents always called me Tommy.

When I was in college and afterward, anyone who called for me would ask for Tom, and my mom was never sure who they meant.  But she knew it would be better not to ask if they wanted "Tommy," so she started asking if they meant Old Tom or Young Tom?

Ben Crenshaw called looking for me one day and he got the biggest kick out of that.

P.S.  To really answer your question, the first thing you do to become a well-known designer is no different now than 145 years ago -- Win an Open, laddie!  Your ancestors really didn't mention that? 

[TEPaul]

"PS TPaul this question is not directed towards you as we are only seeking a single line Yes or No answers, not two Chapters on Merion prior to considering your position on Tom."


Melvyn:

Don't worry about it. I'm not interested in the question or in supplying even a yes or no or one word answer, particularly after Tom Doak just answered. And if you're not interested in Merion threads then just don't read them; that way you shouldn't feel the need to comment on anything to do with them.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Eric

Thanks, but my Grandfather was named Tom.

As for designing a course - it would be a Walking Course devoid of carts, cart tracks, Greens surrounded by water, distance markers apart from Tees to Pin. Hazards, Oh yes, yes, yes, walls, roads, railway lines, graves, maybe the odd hotel and then all the normal we find on most course today.

Perhaps even something more along the lines of Killermont but by the sea.

I like the idea of "designed by Old Tom Morrow", but alas, it is not to be.

Therefore, I will stick with my name to honour my parents.

Melvyn  


Tom or should it be Tommy

Thanks, so your Dad & Mum had already decided the direction you would be taken in late life  

Melvyn

[Melvyn Morrow]

TEP

I do enjoy Merion threads and as you know I love the history of early golf.

I still note that you could not bring yourself to a single line
answer.

Melvyn

[TEPaul]

"I still note that you could not bring yourself to a single line
answer."

That's fine; I've never seen much point or interest in one word or single line answers. Nevertheless, I do recognize they are increasingly useful in this new world where more and more people are either unwilling or even unable to read and understand some subject.

And I note, we also seem to live in a new world where more and more people are unwilling to insult one another, and I think that alone is a development that is tragic beyond calculation, not to even mention one that is increasingly boring. 

[Norbert P]

And I note, we also seem to live in a new world where more and more people are unwilling to insult one another, and I think that alone is a development that is tragic beyond calculation, not to even mention one that is increasingly boring. 

Ah! Ya got chowdah in yer shawrts!

[Doug Ralston]

Seems the best 'first step' is to enlist with Pete Dye! The rest follows ......

Doug

[Tim Bert]

Design something well-known would seem to be a step in the right direction but that in itself isn't sufficient. There are plenty of interesting buildings out there but not many stop to think "I wonder who built that.". I suspect the same is true about golf courses as foreign as that seems to us.

[Jim_Kennedy]

And I note, we also seem to live in a new world where more and more people are unwilling to insult one another, and I think that alone is a development that is tragic beyond calculation, not to even mention one that is increasingly boring. 

Here's a good one for you Tom, courtesy of Tom Simpson:

Sir, my typist, being a lady, cannot take down what I should like to say to you. I, being a gentleman must not say it. You, being neither, will comprehend what I mean.

[TEPaul]

JimK:

Thank you for that one. It's very good, exactly what I mean. I should supply you some from Churchill and particularly from Oscar Wilde! 

Here's one from Churchill, not an insult but a great off-the-cuff riposte.


To a well endowed American woman who wished him to know that she had got up at dawn and driven a hundred miles to attend the unveiling of his bust in Richmond. Virginia.

"Madam, I want you to know that I would happily reciprocate the honour."

[Joe Hancock]

Unfortunately for many of you, there is an unwritten law that automatically disqualifies you as a designer, never mind being well known, if you use smiley faces to communicate.

Actually, now that I think about it, that would be a fun addition to a PowerPoint presentation to a client.....use smiley faces on the slides that propose potentially controversial design ideas.

(hypocritical smiley emoticon omitted)

Joe

[Melvyn Morrow]

Joe

 

or

 

or better still design it this way 

What is most important is 

Joe, I'll stick with English, it still has the capacity to confuse the odd Colonials.

Melvyn

[TEPaul]

"Joe, I'll stick with English, it still has the capacity to confuse the odd Colonials."


As well it should and it does. We, over here, do not even admit to speaking English anymore. We speak American, as it is not as intentionally confusing as English is. Our language is intended to be direct and the opposite of confusing.

Since I'm monolingual it is hard for me to know but I'm reminded of what my previous girlfriend, a Dutch lady who spoke eight languages once told me about the American language. She said there is no other language she is aware of where one can insult someone else as well as in American. She also said the profanity and sexual terms in American are absolutely spectacular compared to other languages.

[Joe Hancock]

We, over here, do not even admit to speaking English anymore. We speak American, as it is not as intentionally confusing as English is. Our language is intended to be direct and the opposite of confusing.

Au contraire.....

[Dick Kirkpatrick]

Get a client.

[Philippe Binette]

Renovate a great course for the US Open and pretend it's yours...

Win an Open is the real answer... a PGA Championship might do

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tom (TEP)

American as a language, now I understand why the world does not understand the USA, you are talking a different language to the rest
of us. 

Get a Client is these hard time and put a real architects out of a job – no not I. 

If I was going into course design I would stay in GB&I There still a few good links sites to develop. 

Win The Open, I wish.   

But, sorry do not rate the PGA Championships – I think many have forgotten the reason they started playing golf in the first place and now just do it just for money.

Melvyn

[Dick Kirkpatrick]

Melvyn|

No one can even begin to be a well known designer until he or she designs and or builds a golf course.

To do this, you need a client (customer) not necessarily someone elses' client, but a client.

Otherwise, I guess you could be your own client, design and build a golf course for yourself, pay yourself (maybe) and your reputation as a well known designer will be off and running.

That is the plain and simple truth, and can not to be changed with discussion and pride.

[Doug Ralston]

Seems the best 'first step' is to enlist with Pete Dye! The rest follows ......

Doug

Cleverly put. This fellow knows what he is talking about. And statistics back him up. Look at all the others who started this way. Better take his advice.

Doug

[Lyne Morrison]

Melvyn - good to see you are back from your cruise

I have a young Tom Morris(on) here. Every morning he jumps out of bed, unrolls his fescue rug, dons his tam-o-shanter and salutes the far north.


Tom Doak that is a very nice story.

Cheers - Lyne

[Brad Klein]

Dick Kirkpatrick, I'd amend your wise recommendation ever so slightly.

I've always thought the first thing aspiring architects need to do is find someone dumb enough to hire them

[Tom_Doak]

Brad:

As an aspiring editor, I humbly suggest you replace the word "dumb" above with "crazy".

[TEPaul]

"Tom (TEP)

American as a language, now I understand why the world does not understand the USA, you are talking a different language to the rest
of us.   "




Melvyn:

Yes, I think Winston Churchill (who you, as a Scot, probably don't recognize either) put it pretty appropriately when he said: "The Americans and the British, two peoples separated by a common language."

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