If not then why have we not had a detailed and fundamental debate about the design and build of Askernish Golf Course? No, not its remoteness but its GCA.
Let’s look to the course through the eyes of an architect or designer, not Joe Public or an excuse for a golfer who rates courses for the entertainment of Editors of Golfing Magazines – well they sell more magazines so make more money because many love to moan about the listings how did this get ahead of this or that’s not worthy of that position – totally pointless and waste of time, yet the important GCA of a course is ignored.
I am puzzled from the silence that comes from the professional classes who design and build our modern courses. I would have thought that Askernish would be a brilliant course to study, seeking knowledge on its…
Drainage or the lack of modern systems
Soil
Grasses
Greens
Traffic
and many more points closer to the hearts of designers and not forgetting Green Keepers.
Yet we have next to total silence on the structure of the land, the course, its sustainability, and other items that are so important regards maintenance – nevertheless any discussion always seems the be about its remoteness and is judged by a financial formula that do not apply in many places in Scotland let alone South Uist.
Ralph and his Team supported and assisted by Gordon Irvine, Martin Ebert (Architect), Chris Haspell (Green keeper) and Adam Lawrence (Editor, Golf Course Architecture), just to name a few have created the impossible, a golf course for £50,000 that so far has nearly everyone who has played it shouting about its quality.
So why no article or detailed report on the course, its soil or its closeness to the heart of traditional game? Is it possible that there is a conspiracy afoot, do the Associations want to kill the idea that courses to this quality can be built for £50,000 and maintained upon a shoestring budget? What is going on, this is the most important course in the history of the modern game and the architects and their Associations are keeping quiet.
Gentlemen, why the silence – you cannot afford to be silent or perhaps some of you have built just too many over expensive cockups that some have had to be modified before a year is up. Be complacent and watch your reputation slowly diminish.
This whether you like it or not is History in The Making, why have you not gone and seen for yourself and asked how they managed it, how they achieved what nearly every designers dreams of, producing a well know highly enjoyable golf course that is affordable to all.
I do not even hear any whispers, just silence with the exception of perhaps from the ever faithful John Garrity
http://jgarrity2.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/askernish-who-needs-winter-rules/ Gentlemen, is there a conspiracy of silence? If not why are you not talking about it with your fellow Members.
Melvyn