Even Ian Andrew, who I consider a friend, spends more time with my associates at the Renaissance Cup than he does with me.
Tom,
Be careful what you wish for. I'll follow you like a lost puppy at the next one.
Although that assumes you're short of players to fill out the matches.
He came South and had to bring a translator to breakfast....
Mike,
“Y’all think yur funy”
I'd be curious to know what some of our contributing architects have learned from other contemporary architects, not as mentors, such as Dye and Doak, but, as competitors.
Pat,
I’ve sought out just about every architect that has ever interested me which includes all your favourites. Some are phone conversations, others involve days spent together, and when I’m lucky it’s on a course where the designer can share important stories or ideas to increase my understanding of the “entire” project. For example Tom was kind enough to walk me through the earthworks required to accomplish Ballyneal while out there together.
I’ve visited a number of courses in construction from Sebonac through to Old Macdonald and Castle Stuart and walked with either the designer or key member of the design team. BTW I don’t make suggestions. But I certainly ask a lot of questions to learn as much as I can from them. I find designers very flattered to be visited and very generous with their time and information.
I also seek out restoration and renovation projects which fly under your radar. I share historical information when I can actually help. I love to spend time learning about the decision process, because much of that is very complicated and "grey." For example I visited Merion, Quaker Ridge and LACC mid-construction because I wanted to see the detailing.
I’ll never have enough answers and anything someone else can teach me is something else I can draw from. Some architects are very open with sharing their knowledge and others are not. I find the vast majority are open and the younger generation of current architects particularly so.
What none of you will ever fully understand is someone the most brilliant people on very specific aspects of golf design are not talked about here at all. I love the “favourites” too, but I think there are more subtle aspects that some others are really good at and I seek them too. Golf architecture is far more than a routing, bunker placement and bunker style, but that’s the depth that any people stop at. If you want to learn it all, you need to seek out a lot of architects, builders, superintendents and even the occasional engineer if you really want to know what you’re doing.
The point I want to make to you pat is there are more out there like me than you would think. The problem is most of us work under the GCA radar and “all” architects are painted here by the careers of about twenty.