Hi Rick,
Great to see you on here! It was an outmost pleasure meeting you and talking with you at Stensballegaard (Denmark - no rakes in the bunker like 90 years ago) this August and I hope that you will swing these hickory golf clubs with us again next year. Looking forward to your contributions here given all your experience as a golf course architect.
Cheers, Skol and Prosit! Keep well!
Christoph
Christoph, my friend, good to hear from you!! For me it was great fun to join, and witness, the many passionate hickory enthusiasts! I do hope to attend more events. I have a stack of score cards on my desk with your name on it, waiting to be sent...
All the best,
Rick
Sorry for grouping these responses but it seems the logical approach....
Ulrich,
Thank you for a great photo (green #6 Forest @ Emporda)! Careful with that ball grabber - that is a lined lake with pure sand below... I have a photo of that lake during construction, with some of the group standing in an excavated "trench" with steep walls on either side. I remember, reviewing those photos and thinking they were damn lucky the sand walls didn't fail at that moment. The design of that hole (optional fairway) caused significant debate. I'm not sure it ever achieved the original intent.
You visiting Emporda or live in the area?
Lester and Gary - great to hear from you! So many good friends welcoming me to the DG..... This is starting to feel biblical; like the prodigal son. It’s likely I’m destined to be the fatted calf!
From David Davis:
Rick, welcome and greetings from of all places Europe, no not the islands, the real thing. Am I correct in assuming you guys have somehow avoided setting foot in The Benelux or is there something I'm missing?
David, thank you for the welcome! We have "set foot" in the Benelux, looking at a few potential projects. But, we either didn't find the prospect appropriate or they didn't find us appropriate. (I should probably insert a smiley here but I won't.) We certainly have nothing against the Benelux.
Our experience has been: Once you have designed a golf course in a country it's much easier to secure a second, third, etc. commission... The first design commission in a country/region is the most difficult. Hopefully, there will be something there in our future.