Mark
For intelligent men you guys keep knocking your head against a brick wall, for no rear purpose or acknowledgement than one man’s meat may always be another’s poison.
As for playing the courses in GB, you just keep jumping to conclusions that I have never played any, yet in my 60 years plus I have seen the whole of GB with exception of The Isle of Man. As for overseas I have has the privilege of playing and experiencing courses in very hot and hot and humid countries, never considering riding as that was never an option nor come to that the way to play gol0f, be in in India, Africa, South America or even little Jamaica, but I have experienced the game in its raw state and survived many an 18 rounds, yet I do not remember ever calling it a day after 9 Holes, after all I was a golfer, man and boy.
You have never had the pleasure of meeting me and quite frankly know very little about me. As for your knowledge re GCA, I see clearly that like many others you just play and dabble with the idea of GCA otherwise your post would reflect some sign or at the very least commitment to improve that which you may consider wrong. Right or wrong I voice my opinion and do so with some knowledge and experience.
As for the 19th Century designers, they lead the way, through their endeavours we have the game of Golf, open to the general public at large, on private and public golf courses. You are reaping the rewards of their hard work, I for one see that through the history of the game and by the many clubs and courses I have had the privilege to have played and been in contact with over the years. Mark you are player, so go and enjoy your game. Being in the industry that relates to law and justice, perhaps you should know the need for proof to sustain your argument – innocent until proven guilty – right. Or perhaps like GCA you are not really committed to that either.
Whatever rocks you boat Mark, whatever
Melvyn