David Elvins,
Not sure you are 100% correct about the power of the Internet and (GolfClubAtlas) in regard to Mike DeVries' commission in Tasmania, though I can't say you are 100% wrong either.
Believe it or not, there was a world before the Internet and GolfClubAtlas. There were also golf architecture junkies before the Internet came into main stream existence and web sites like GCA (or it's predecessor) emerged.
There was a world of books and libraries. My first golf architecture book was published in 1966 and it was Sports Illustrated's 18 Best Golf Holes in America that set me on a life long journey to see the world's best golf courses.
Libraries also had a big influence: it was at the old Ralph Miller Library at Industry Hills in Los Angeles that none other than Tommy Naccarato used to hang out and learn about golf architecture with the help of some wonderful old gals who knew the Miller collection like the back of their hand.
It was also in the Los Angeles area, Long Beach actually, that I first learned about a guy named Tom Doak. It was probably 1993 when I stumbled upon his "Anatomy" book in a little book store in the Belmont Shore Beach community of Long Beach. Soon thereafter, I would hear Tom's name while visiting Long Island, NY to play Shinnecock. This occurred when I met Bobby Raynum, the superintendent of the Atlantic Golf Club who talked about Tom and his private version of The Confidential Guide.
Around the same time, I visited a golf course very few people ever heard of: Crystal Downs. Believe it or not, twenty years ago it wasn't any better known than Kingsley is today.
A few years later I did meet Tom at a Traditionalgolf.com get together that included a round at CD. So, at that point, I guess you could say the Internet began to have an influence, but that was also before Tom achieved the fame that came from Pacific Downs. But, the foundation of my interest in Tom's career certainly proceeded the Internet.
It was also on the trip - if memory serves me - I met Mike DeVries. Mike had really not achieved any fame, even among hard core golf architecture junkies, but it was over dinner and a discussion about Crystal Downs that you could sense the passion that led to Kingsley. It certainly wasn't the Internet.
Now, I wasn't from Australia, but if I was I'm sure Mike's passion for golf architecture would have also impressed me.
One final point. My greatest love in golf and golf architecture came long before I even heard of the Internet and it wasn't on the same continent I grew up on. I originally made the journey to Ballybunion 25 years ago because of books not anything electronic. Honestly, I kind of miss those days and the opportunity they presented to form more genuine, life long friendships.
Sorry for the ramble!