Is there a designer that doesn't want to work for themselves!?! I figured I would get to work for myself at some point, but do things ever happen as you plan them? With two children, wife and mortgage this wasn't the time to jump.
I started with Geoffrey Cornish in Amherst, then moved to the Uxbridge office to work with Brian Silva and Mark Mungeam. Back in 1998 things were flying. We did so many site plans/concept plans/residential layouts. Oh to do one today! As you all know things started to slow down. In New England I'd say it started in 2002. Many of our projects just didn't go forward after that time. In 2006 Brian left and in 2009 Mark said I need to feed my kids! How could I blame him as the writing had been on the wall for some time. I still maintain a relationship with both those guys.
At first I really shied away from golf work at first. There aren't very many projects in these parts that require an architect. There a few small renovations, but the contractors/superintendents could handle them. Being a licensed landscape architect has helped, but anyone in the development business will tell you work is slow across the board. And I'm competing with LA's with a lot for experience in those types of projects.
At the urging of some friends and superintendents that I've worked with in the past, I've started re-networking again. One day while driving I saw a billboard that said Bill Gates started Microsoft during a recession. It kind of kicked me in the butt. I've done no marketing and have no golf stuff on my company web site (this is about to change). Everything has been by word of mouth. A true Yankee, I am. A agree with Mike that there have been plenty of "scared, anxious and full of hope" moments. And things are looking up and there have been some opportunities that just haven't connected yet.
I find it a bit more difficult at this point since a lot of my experience is with large scale planning and permitting of projects and then letting the two big guys run with them. Fortunately, I have done a fair amount of renovation work and even a few new courses to have the confidence and ability. And I sell myself as a golf course architect, not designer. I'm interested in everything starting at the front entrance, not just the green contours. It is an experience, a form of entertainment that we create. The strategy plans and green contours are just the best part!