Boy, I’m excited.
As most o you know I have worked on a number of restoration projects with Gil as well as a number of Master Plans, so I have intimate knowledge to his innovative thinking when it comes to course design and redesign.
For me, an ex-dry cleaner - hah, it was a wonderful experience and the time we spent together over the past 12-13 years was an experience I’ll never forget.
In 1999 Gil turned over to me a small project he was involved with, out on Long Island while he was building his Tall Grass course. It led to a very interesting experience for me, something that never crossed my mind before; building a golf course .......... it developed into what is now Stonebridge, a muni out in Hauppauge, NY. - not much of a course but, to me as a total novice, to see your thoughts and visions “grow” out of the ground, and grow into a course people would play for many years was very exciting.
Gil had routed the course, but left the finals to me, touching up the tight routing (about 96-acres - phew) and what was most cool, it was up to me to design the green surfaces and finally overseeing the construction of the course.
I met Gil a few years earlier while he was working on the Brookville course and also Morris County CC here in NJ. I had been in the midst of researching the Macdonald book and he asked me to take a look at the bunker shapes and angles.
Two very special projects together came later, the restoration of Essex County CC and, of course, Sleepy Hollow.
These may be “chump change” type jobs for most architects, but for me, at this point in my life, these were extraordinary, and very rewarding experiences. I love restorations.
Working and making decisions in the field with Gil during these and other projects demonstrated to me the genius of his design philosophies and creativeness and with him “allowing” my input on occasion, the entire experience was very satisfying.
Gilbert Hanse is one of my very good friends and to see him advance to these lofty levels is such a thrill for me.
But as many have said, this a huge boost for golf course architecture as we think of it. The usual star power (under circumstances such as this) has taken a back seat.
Congratulations, good friend