Jeff Taylor,
As you've only received one answer to your set of questions I thought that another perspective might be of help especially as I have written several club histories, am in the process of writing several others and do private research for a number of clubs on a regular basis. So, for what it is worth:
1. Why would a member of Merion (or any club for that matter) care what is said about its history on this website?
First of all, even though you are asking for an opinion, and mine is certainly only that, what must be looked at are the facts that reflect on the answer. The fact is that there are many, many people who regularly read golfclubatlas who are not and never will be members. How often have you seen a newbie tell about himself and begin by saying "I was a lurker for many years..."? Why do people "lurk" on this site without being a member?" Because there really are many more out there that ARE interested in architectural, and yes, their own clubs histories. It has been my experience that at every club I've done work at that golfclubatlas has been mentioned by far more than one person. So, why would a person who is a member of a particular club "care what is said about its history on this website?" They do because they really enjoy their club and their fellow members. They take great pride when their club is discussed and take great interest when the discussions they read on here challenge or dispute the history of their club that they have come to know and believe. Likewise, may take great offense when they believe that the discussions are or become filled with misinformation and wrong opinions by individuals who show what they believe to be a callous disrespect toward their club. Remember, for many members their club is an extension of their home and so take anything said about it in that vein.
2. Why would a member of any club care about GCA.com SOP's for course history investigations in general?
I am not sure that anyone would and I disagree with Tom Paul that golfclubatlas should have a "SOP" at all. A true researcher or golf historian should do their work within an ethical structure that respects the feelings and beliefs of those they are researching or others who have information discovered about them. For example, when major information is discovered about a club either directly or inadvertently that club should be shown the information as soon as possible and before it is mentioned anywhere or to anyone else.
I defined it in two ways. “Directly” in the sense that one is working for or with a particular club and makes discoveries during this research. If the information discovered was part of the club’s personal documents then it must and should be considered private and remain that way until the researcher is given permission to dispense it to other individuals or publish it for all. The researcher/historian should approach their relationship with the club as akin to being a doctor/patient one.
The second way I defined it was if it was an “Inadvertent” one. Let me give you an example. Imagine if during a research project for a certain major club one discovers while going through their board minutes that Alister Mackenzie had been hired to examine the course and make recommendations for changes to it? And suppose that up to that point not a single person, not even those working away for years now on the exhaustive Alister Mackenzie timeline had known of or even heard of this? What would you do? As a friend of Neil Crafter would you email him the good news, or would you approach the club and ask permission from them to allow Neil to know about this? What if the club gives permission and stipulates that he must agree to not publish it until they give permission? Would you do so surreptitiously anyway? These are not little questions and situations such as this have occurred. Here is where a STANDARD of ETHICS practiced by good researchers come into play for each and how showing respect for the others work can enable trust in the other. Now if the information is discovered through a public source, a library or public archive or old newspaper account. Still, as one is working directly for and with the club, they should be informed first and the matter discussed with them privately. As the researcher is on good terms with the club he is working for, this show of respect is appreciated. It has been my experience that discoveries of this type are never asked to be kept private. It is the respect shown to the club that actually helps with this.
Now what if a discovery is made when one is simply doing research on their own and not even indirectly for a club? Still, pause must be given and some restraint should be shown. An approach to the club before publishing the information is not only polite and ethical it is the right thing to do. There isn’t a person or institution that wants to learn new information about themselves, complimentary or not, by reading about it in a public forum. Their reaction might give the discoverer reason for either publishing it or holding it back, but in either case it is his discovery and his decision. By approaching the club first he can only end up making a better choice in this.
3. Why would any club want to participate in this endeavor after reading these threads? Is that the motive for deleting insults? Is there and expectation that they won't find them and then feel more willing to participate?
That is the most important question that you’ve asked. The contentious nature of a number of the history threads has made it far more difficult for competent and respected researchers to approach clubs where they have not had a relationship before. I have had questions asked about it of me and seen the same for others. Clubs, especially those considered major and/or important ones, take great personal pride in how they are viewed. They do so as an institution and as individual members. One thing that both have in common are long memories. Being well-aware of what has already been written on here about them, they don’t and won’t forget or forgive perceived insults to their honor regardless of whether the offending posts are removed or not.
What SHOULD be removed are any and all insults wherein a PERSON or INDIVIDUAL by NAME has been attacked or insulted or even worse, possibly slandered, especially when they are NOT a member of the Discussion Group. That is wrong in every conceivable way and opens up both the poster and Ran to some very potentially unfortunate repercussions.
4. Does a discussion group of 1500 really mean that much to private clubs?
Oddly enough the answer is yes. It is like the magazine rankings. Every club wants to be ranked or considered good enough to be and when not works toward the day when they might be. The day a club falls out of the rankings is a very bad one for that club and the proverbial “heads will roll” over it isn’t too far off the mark. Likewise golfclubatlas has become a very integral part of club culture. Many non-members are fascinated by it and read it for both knowledge and help in areas such as maintenance issues when they are being discussed. They get a big kick out of seeing their club discussed and when the discussion is not complimentary want some answers. I’ve received many emails from non-members about things said about certain Tillinghast clubs that they considered derogatory and from others who greatly enjoyed what they read. So, in my opinion, golfclubatlas really does have a much wider meaning to clubs and individuals than most on here credit it with.
These are just my opinons but I hope they will be of help...