What Good Architecture Is Up Against

[Craig_Rokke]

I was thumbing through a regional golf magazine, and noticed
a full page ad for a newer course (Links at Gettysburg) located in the Civil War town where I went to school. "Battle the Links" it says. 1/2 the ad is a picture of very expensive-looking stone bridge traversing a man-made pond. A 2nd
smaller picture feautures another pond. And the grand clubhouse is displayed in the third. Really no effort to discuss or picture the course at all.

Their "upscale course features steep 35' rock cliffs, 10 lakes,
stone-lined tee boxes, red rock cart paths, and spectacular waterfalls." "Experience the beauty." I don't doubt for a minute
that this fluff helps bring em' in. (At least they didn't use canons for the 150 yard markers.)

Their other ads show a union soldier hunkered down in a bunker with his sand wedge, as a small cavalry unit looks on.

  Anyone battle the links yet?

[Tim_Weiman]

Craig,

Maybe its the equivalent of Pickett's Charge.

[Mike_Cirba]

Craig,

How could I possibly resist that type of advertising?

Of course, I've played the Links at Gettysburg!

It's not as bad as it sounds, and architect Lindsay Ervin created some pretty good holes on a fairly rolling site.  Yes, it's overdone in many respects, but it's about a Doak Scale 4.  

Not a bad modern course, with some good variety and a pretty stern challenge.

[Craig_Rokke]

Mike-
No surprise here that you made the trek! Have you played The
Bridges, out in that same region? It's a course designed by
a restaurant-owner, Altland. Goofy in spots, but not too bad for someone without a design background.

[Mike_Cirba]

Craig,

Yep, played The Bridges and think your assessment is a good one.  There are some pretty good holes, nothing too poorly conceived or executed, and it's a lovely property in spots.  If I had to play either again, I'd pick THe Bridges over Links at Gettysburg by a hair.

[RJ_Daley]

If I owned a golf course the ultimate advertisement would be a picture of Mike Cirba picking his ball out of the 18th hole and stating that, 'after playing this golf course, my golf odyssey is over, I have seen it all and I can retire to the card room in peace'.  

[Mike_Cirba]

RJ,

Ideally, it would be a television commercial.  It would probably help if I had the voice of John Houseman or James Earl Jones, and could make a booming pronouncement.  Heck, I'd settle for Sean Connery's, but instead mine's more like Jack Nicklaus.  Thankfully, it's not quite like my namesakes Tyson and Jackson.

When will I make that pronouncement?  Oh..I don't know...perhaps a good woman might slow down the trek someday.  Right, NOEL?  

[Peter Galea]

Mike,
A woman might slow down the trek, but not stop the yearning.
A "good" woman would be right there with you and share the driving!

[Mike_Cirba]

Pete,

You can write my personal dictionary anytime!  

[Scott_Burroughs]

Mike,
    Why not use Peter Kessler as the voice-over?   He's out of work, understands the meaning of the game, and has that smooth baritone voice.  

[Mike_Cirba]

That's pretty good, Scott...

I picture it coming out like the movie version of "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", where James Brolin plays the role of Pee Wee, Morgan Fairchild as his girlfriend, and Pee Wee gets a cameo role as the bellhop at the hotel.

Even that role required a deep-voiced, "voiceover", done hilariously just slightly out of synch with his mouthing of the words.  

Anyone who's seen the movie could picture me, on the final green...mouth speaking, but with Peter Kessler's voice coming out...perfect!  

[Scott_Burroughs]

I assume that's the first Pee Wee Herman reference on GCA.

Of course I'm familiar with that movie.  "Paging Mr. Herman"

"I don't need to watch.  I lived it."

or "I'm a loner, Dottie.  A rebel."

"There's no basement in the Alamo."

Note for parents w/young kids: Dottie in Pee Wee Herman is the voice of Tommy Pickles on Rugrats.

"Tell 'em Large Marge sent you."

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