Some Fact Checking for Melvyn Morrow

[Anthony Butler]

ESPN dares to divine the mental state of his relatives 150 years ago:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=100712/standrews

From reading the article it seems the only thing more damaging than thinking every girl is yours is being convinced there's just one... sad stuff.

[Chris Buie]

I think I'd tread ever so lightly, if at all, in talking about somebody's family.

[Ronald Montesano]

sorry...what am I missing that isn't in every other book about the Morrises?  no aspersions in this article, as far as these eyes can see.

[Adam Clayman]

I believe Melvyn has responded to the author's poem. He is the first response in the comment section.

[Scott Warren]

I believe Melvyn has responded to the author's poem. He is the first response in the comment section.

That's f**king funny.

I took the hook and clicked on the comments, expecting 600 words from Melvyn and found

It's a golf course. Get over it.

at the top of my screen

[Melvyn Morrow]

Guys (with the exception of Scott)

Thanks for your comments.

Scott as usual you are a first class Dick Head clearly just a player and no golfer. TOC is more than just a golf course.  St Andrews is more than just a town with a public golf course

Keep it up and you will be a prime candidate to sit upon the board of The R&A. 

Melvyn

[Scott Warren]

Guys (with the exception of Scott)

Thanks for your comments.

Scott as usual you are a first class Dick Head clearly just a player and no golfer. TOC is more than just a golf course.  St Andrews is more than just a town with a public golf course

Keep it up and you will be a prime candidate to sit upon the board of The R&A. 

Melvyn

Melvyn, I happen to agree with you about St A being more than just a golf course.

I was referring to the comment reading "It's just a golf course. Get over it" appearing at the top of my screen when I loaded the comments page, and the irony that I was looking for a comment by you.

You're a very strange man. You expect the other 1499 of us to decipher your rants to find some apparent humour and light-hearted tone that you insist is hiding between your angry, ranting words, and yet you outright fire away with profanity over a joke marked as such with smiley faces.

You have serious problems, my friend.

[Tom Dunne]

This article strikes more false notes than an East German punk band. A true clanger, though I suppose we've all had our share...

[Melvyn Morrow]

Scott

 You said “You're a very strange man. You expect the other 1499 of us to decipher your rants to find some apparent humour and light-hearted tone that you insist is hiding between your angry, ranting words, and yet you outright fire away with profanity over a joke marked as such with smiley faces”

I have opinions that I post on a Discussion Site, I have the strength of my convictions to voice my said opinions. None are voiced in rage or anger but from sincere belief that all (IMHO) is not well with the modern game of Golf.   Being a DG I only expect that there may be a debate on the subject or other views posted.  As for hiding, I have never done that, always standing my ground, as for anger then all you need to do is read the majority of my replies to Pat Craig.

Scott,  you do not know me, we have never met (nor do I ever believe we will). As for the ‘other 1499 of us’ I expect nothing, well not entirely true perhaps a little discussion or response from time to time after all you are meant to be members of a DG. Let’s not forget that golf goes deep in my family, not just the enjoyment of playing but the whole life blood of the game and not just from Old Tom.

No Scott, you do not know me, I have no serious problems apart from those with closed minds and idiotic notions that I am anti American. It’s Golf that is facing serious problems with a governing body who seems to have dozed through the majority of the 20th Century allowing  ‘the lets make it easy’ virus to contaminate a wonderful game.

I am not a rebel without a cause nor am I angry, yet perhaps I am a little grumpy at times. As for humour, well that’s down to how each of us responds to comment(S).

Melvyn

[Scott Warren]

I have no serious problems apart from those with closed minds

A little self-awareness goes a long way, Melvyn.

Your very clear stance on:
1 distance measuring devices,
2 golf carts,
3 golf courses in deserts/mountains/swamps etc,
4 equipment technology,
5 the evolution of classic courses,
6 on-course behaviour and, most recently,
7 practise ranges,

has been the very definition of closed minded.

Whilever you expect something of others that you are not prepared to offer yourself, I fear there will be friction.

[Steve Lang]

  Let's note that there's no fluid flow without friction..

Mel, flow on my good man, but I'd advise to leave the "dick head" elsewhere

[Melvyn Morrow]

Scott

This site is for discussions, open debate if you will and trading ideas and hopefully picking up knowledge, interesting points about golf and GCA.

AS I have said golf goes deep with my family and so I believe we should try and preserve the game as we found it. So lets look at your list

1 distance measuring devices,  For centuries this was done with the human eye – the only real fair way IMHO to play golf as you are getting some potential advantage form a foreign object.

2 golf carts,  For Centuries Golf has always been a Walking Game and this should be IMHO preserved – to ride shows a total disrespect for the traditions and heart of the Game.

3 golf courses in deserts/mountains/swamps etc, Land Fit for Purpose is an economical approach to keeping costs down, keeping close to natural and Nature and keeping the Green Fee sensible.

4 equipment technology,  Controlling technology allows the thousand of existing courses to be played to their best, yet still allowing for the long hitters but the distance the ball travels will be reduced. If correctly controlled all parties would be happy.
   
5 the evolution of classic courses, Why change something that is classic for the benefit of a hand full of players

6 on-course behaviour and, most recently,  Always been a fundamental part of the game, why should we accept poor behaviour and have our own day ruined by a hand full of selfish players
 
7 practise ranges,  Nothing wrong with practice ranges if you want to prove that you can hit the long ball, yet the does it reflect the fairway of say any links course from sat TOC North Berwick, Moray etc, etc. No is just a practice range, take it or leave it. There are enough small courses here that one can play alone and practice ones shots without interfering or annoying any other player, that’s my choice  not a practice range.

As for your comment  “A little self-awareness goes a long way, Melvyn”  yes you are right and knowing how the game was played for centuries is also very helpful when playing Golf.

You may or may not agree, that’s down to you, but as a Golfer one should try to maintain the true values not to mention the Spirit of the Game.  You, your legs and mind play golf not toys or motorised carts. Was your score achieved unaided or did you need a little help. Which option offers the most satisfaction to you?

Melvyn


Steve

I wish that was possible, but I suppose I should give Scott the benefit of the doubt as I have not met him , so I retract humbly my comment about him IMHO being a Dick Head.

Perhaps you may voice some more words of wisdom when others wish ill of me

[Anthony Gray]

  Melvyn,

  Did you find any thing inaccurate or that you did not agree with in those articles?

  Anthony

[Melvyn Morrow]

Anthony

It’s an article written a century or so after the death of Old Tom and IMHO not worth making much of a comment.

 If you wish to understand the man perhaps my suggestion is to seek other sources (Rev. Tullock, Tillinghast etc) as I will inevitable be biased.

Melvyn

[Ronald Montesano]

Scott...I believe that comment that Adam referenced is indeed, the first one that appears...

"Wright

I am no Ghost but I am of the blood of Old and Young Tom. I swim the sea, I follow my father as he did his mother, just like her old grandfather Old Tom. There are no ghosts in St Andrews, they is but family offering a warm welcome to all who visit, be it for knowledge or sport.

Let's hope the players for this year's Open (150th Year) lives up to the standards expected and show proper courtesy to all be they at St Andrews or watching the Open on TV.

MHM"

That, or someone has grabbed Mel's initials and is having a go at our expense.

Don't know how you could mistake the "get over it" quote for being the one at the top.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Ronald

That was my comment I posted on their site yesterday.

Melvyn

[Scott Warren]

Scott...I believe that comment that Adam referenced is indeed, the first one that appears...
Don't know how you could mistake the "get over it" quote for being the one at the top.

I realise that. It eventually loaded. But when I opened the page, expecting to see something from Melvyn up top, that showed at the top of the screen. Pretty much the opposite of what I was expecting in both spirit and length. I thought that was funny.

Maybe that was poorly expressed, but I'm still not sure Melvyn's reaction was necessary.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Scott

Was yours as this topic was addressed to me, but you do like to put your opinions forward.  I see nothing wrong with that as long as others are allowed the same privilege.

Melvyn

[George Pazin]

It's a shame more can't share a beer and a round, I'm sure there is much more in common between all of us than that which separates us. I don't blame anyone for overreactions, we all do it all the time, it's an unfortunate side effect of the web. All we can do is try better next time (and I most definitely include myself in that "we"). It's kind of ironic that this spat would be between Melvyn and Scott, as both have taken far more than their share of unfair name-calling.

As for the article, maybe it's just me, but I hate someone writing in first person about someone long deceased. That's the height of hubris, imho. I can't even figure out what my wife is thinking most days, let alone someone I only know through second hand accounts.

[Scott Warren]

George,

The beauty of assuming the headspace of the deceased is that unlike your wife, they can't tell you you're wrong!

[JMEvensky]

It's a shame more can't share a beer and a round, I'm sure there is much more in common between all of us than that which separates us. I don't blame anyone for overreactions, we all do it all the time, it's an unfortunate side effect of the web. All we can do is try better next time (and I most definitely include myself in that "we"). It's kind of ironic that this spat would be between Melvyn and Scott, as both have taken far more than their share of unfair name-calling.

As for the article, maybe it's just me, but I hate someone writing in first person about someone long deceased. That's the height of hubris, imho. I can't even figure out what my wife is thinking most days, let alone someone I only know through second hand accounts.

Someone should appoint you Moderator of all Internet Forums.You seem to be able to "settle" more stupid pissing contests than anyone typing.You're really good at it--and I mean this sincerely.

[Scott Warren]

Scott,  you do not know me, we have never met (nor do I ever believe we will).

I've been thinking about this and you know what? A group of us are meeting up at Deal on Saturday to play some golf and watch The Open.

We'll be finished on the course between 1.30pm and 2pm and will then head inside to have some lunch while we watch the leaders do their thing.

What could be more up your alley than watching The Open at The Home Of Golf at a classic links golf course?

The offer is there and it's sincere. I'd love to get a better chance to understand your headspace, because I agree with many of the principles you hold dear, just not always your methods of expressing them.

[Anthony Butler]

I'm not exactly sure what I expected when starting this thread.... Of course, with Melvyn in the Topic Header, there's always the potential  things will take off in an interesting direction.

Unlike others who question the seemliness of a magazine writer approximating the mindset of someone dead for over 140 years, Melvyn does not seem to question the assertion that Young Tom drank himself to death over a period of just 4 months. Perhaps that is settled lore in his family. Since more and more media is moving to the Internet these days, these 'magazine' pieces the like of which Jimmy Roberts handles on the TV will continue to appear on the sites like ESPN.com. With varying levels of success.

St. Andrews is a town with an interesting history both on an off the golf course. I certainly enjoyed my time there-mostly updating myself on the many centuries of happenings prior to the town becoming the Home of Golf. Those Scots were certainly unforgiving types to say the least... which explains why they invented golf instead of soccer or rugby.

That said, I don't think God or the Ghost of Young Tom Morris caused my ball to bounce off a shop front along the Links street and back in bounds on 18. If they do exist, I am sure they both have better things to do with their time than decide whether I post an 81 or 83 on the Old Course.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Anthony

The article was just that an article. As for Old Tom, well if you have watched David Joy as Old Tom live then you would see how well he plays the part.

Re Young Tommy,  it’s still saddens me when I hear David Joy as Old Tom expressing his love for his long lost son, at times he can bring more than a tear to one’s eyes. Yet re Young Tommy’s death the last three months of his life was full with his friends trying to support him after the sudden death of his wife and child during childbirth. As for drinking himself to death, it’s not worth a serious comment.

St Andrews is now full of Ghosts for me, yet they would wish you no harm - well as long as you walk when playing golf, take no practice swings and discard any form of distance aids. But as they say ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’ but will destroy the great old game of golf in the process.

Scott

Thank you for your kind invitation but as The Open is in St Andrews it’s a family week-end for me. Another time perhaps.

Melvyn

[Scott Warren]

Melvyn,

What relation to you was Sir Ian Morrow? He seems to have been quite an achiever in his own right. I stumbled across his name flicking through one of the books about Old Tom while I was killing time on Charing Cross Rd just now (god I love all those bookshops...).