Signs of a mid-life crisis are swirling about!
In search of a more authentic experience, I re-read Henry David Thoreau’s Walden early this year. The thought of being a shoe cobbler gained glancing appeal and at one point, the desire to build a mechanical watch took hold. When on that quest, I came across this passage in George Daniels’ cornerstone book entitled Watchmaking:
It should be the ambition of every professional to make a contribution to his field of study. This can only be achieved by constant striving for improvement. In watchmaking that contribution may be scientific, intellectual, or aesthetic, for watches combine these three aspects to a degree depending upon their maker’s interest. Continuous study and practice are the ingredients for binding them into a successful whole. Much work will be necessary before this success is realized...I quote it here because of the seeming parallels with golf course architecture. Having re-read that passage ~fifty times, various thoughts keep popping up including:
* Stop reading this paragraph and move on!
* Would every architect agree with the first sentence? And does that answer change under economic conditions like the one we are in with a paucity of projects in North America (i.e forget the profession, I just want to put bread on the table)?
* Do architects in fact strive to improve? Or more kindly/better put, do golf course architects improve with time? This is a long time debate on GolfClubAtlas.com. After a couple of successes, do architects develop a look and then play it safe by rubber stamping it on a go forward basis, (admittedly in part because the customer wants it)?
* Pondering the strengths and (weaknesses) of architects relative to the three categories of scientific, intellectual, and aesthetics.
* How do architects continually ‘study’ (i.e. learn)? For instance, in a down economy, can they afford to spread their wings and travel as a means of re-invigorating their intellectual curiosity?
As a Master Watchmaker, Mr. Daniels was at the very top of his profession and did many, many things including designing his own escarpments. He passed away October of last year with these letters trailing his name CBE, MBE, DSC (HONS), FSA, FCGI, FBHI, and FAWI
. He earned those based on five plus decades of devotion to the science of watchmaking. Without doubt, he lived up to his own lofty words as quoted above.
What do you think? How relevant are his sentiments to golf course architecture?
Cheers,