Tom
I am not rubbishing any post; I am as I made clear submitting my honest opinion on a photo. I did not know nor did I look up the designers name, it was s comment straight from the heart as I looked upon the photo.
I do not know what the clients brief or his budgets requirements, but I will reiterate I see not architecture, in fact I must say from what I see I even questioned design intent.
Imagine my surprise to learn that you were responsible as the actual designer, its quite shocking as I do rate you highly. In fact I would say that you are one of a hand full of goog designers since the Golden Age.
For the record I am not into modern golfing Champions turning into designers, because do we know that they did get involved or just signed some ones else design off. Golf and golf course design is a serious business and if the large design companies do not warrant naming the designer then quite frankly why employ them. I want the flare, the knowledge of the individual not the watered down effort of a corporate free for all. It serious so name the designer, give him credit , if he is not good enough to design the whole course the he is not good enough to design a Hole lets alone Greens or bunkers.
I am not getting involved with company operations but I expect to know the designer. If I commission Faldo, Nicklaus I expect their name and their design, not that of an associate. Sell the name then the name is what I would be buying. Why would I go to Tiger or Faldo if I knew that neither of them would do my design, leaving it to some I may have never heard of. Perhaps it’s a question of also respecting the clients, if they deserve to be respected.
Getting back to the photo, yes I accept my comment was based upon one photo, but one photo can sell the course, alas this one did not in my case. I kept asking myself, why no dry stone walls made from the surrounding rock, sorry I just see no imagination, no design flare in that photo that conveys this guy is going to test my skills.
AS a golfer I would not normally accompany a designer around a course, so you comment is not really fair or appropriate. I made a simple statement on a site related to GCA, based upon a photo another member posted and I feel my comments does have merit. I have only reacted to the scene before me in the photo and yes IMHO it is totally devoid of any architecture, its shows very little flair. Where are say the dry stone walls (require less maintenance than a bunker and cheaper) the other hazards, I understand Sean moaning about to many bunkers on courses today.
Tom I would expect that the rest of the course is spectacular but from the image posted I have tried to be honest, give a straight opinion stating that yes I am extremely disappointed from the lack or architecture.
Surely this is one of the reasons why Ran started this site to understand the opinions of others.
In closing I have a high regard for your work and your opinions Tom, but that does not mean you are always correct or remove my right to submit an opinion.
The location of a golf course is paramount; it actually dictates the game that’s played. That I feel is extremely important and Clients should be made aware of that fact. Of course there will be places not fit to play golf, to say so is not a sign of failure but shows strength and knowledge of ones subject.
Melvyn