Bringing something new to the table

[Andy Troeger]

I mean I wish more panelist types were open minded to appreciating new styles and new designs and new grass types and new settings.  Way too many of them have come to feel that "the best architecture is whatever I like best," so they keep wanting more of certain designers and certain styles, and aren't very open-minded when they see others.

I'm not saying they should be indiscriminate in their tastes; there are always going to be some styles that don't appeal to a person.  But settling on just a couple is absurd.  Even the person who loves links golf has to be open to other things.

I think this is very well said. Sometimes I read posts or listen to other golfers (many of them panelists) and they very clearly have tuned out certain styles of golf courses or certain architects. I think the most interesting viewpoints come from those golfers willing to see anything and everything. Better yet are those who refrain from making decisions about courses before they actually go play them. I try to do this myself, not that I'm necessarily worth reading    But, I think I learned something from seeing Olympic, Cal Club, SFGC, Stanford, Mayacama, Shadow Creek, Meadow Club, and TPC Stonebrae on the same trip. Stonebrae was too severe for my liking, but playing it the day before SFGC was a study in contrasts to be sure!

[Tom_Doak]

I mean I wish more panelist types were open minded to appreciating new styles and new designs and new grass types and new settings.  Way too many of them have come to feel that "the best architecture is whatever I like best," so they keep wanting more of certain designers and certain styles, and aren't very open-minded when they see others.

I'm not saying they should be indiscriminate in their tastes; there are always going to be some styles that don't appeal to a person.  But settling on just a couple is absurd.  Even the person who loves links golf has to be open to other things.

I think this is very well said. Sometimes I read posts or listen to other golfers (many of them panelists) and they very clearly have tuned out certain styles of golf courses or certain architects. I think the most interesting viewpoints come from those golfers willing to see anything and everything. Better yet are those who refrain from making decisions about courses before they actually go play them.

Andy:

True enough, but we all have to make choices, none of us can go see every course even if we wanted to (which I don't).

The thing is, what you say about posters and other golfers (including panelists) is also true of architects.  Way too many architects have closed minds of their own.  They've become so set in their style and all their little do's and don'ts, that it really IS fair to assume you know what to expect from them, at least until someone tells you they've actually tried something different somewhere.

What I like most about most of the old dead guys is that they weren't like that.  They were still experimenting late in their careers, and they were working in an era where a good piece of property made a huge difference.  Some modern architects have gotten to the point that the piece of property makes no difference at all, and that's usually about the time I tune them out ...

[Thomas Dai]

Bringing something new to the table. I'll tell you something that's been brought to the table that I detest.......fountains in ponds. Aaaaagh! Hate the damn things. Noisy and unsightly and IMO totally inappropriate. Take them all out I say.
All the best.

[Carl Rogers]

The thread ".... spiral of silence ..." is the companion to this thread.

You can get shouted down or dismissed.

2 points within my limited perspective:
1. George Cup at Ballyhack and its unfortunate and shortsighted lack of participation by those on the site.  Yes, Roanoke, VA is a off the track and yes the course has some controversy (IMO).  It is a difficult fast and firm course on terrain with a lot of vertical movement.  Ballyhack deserves as much discussion as Tobacco Road, but a lot more of you have to play it.  Thank you Wade Whitehead for the invitation and hosting.
2. One of TD's early courses, Riverfront, in Suffolk, VA as a solid precursor to the accalimed work later.  This one too not on the beaten track but easy to find.  Yes, too many houses, heavy slow soils, a too spread out a routing, too slow a pace of play, indifferent service and none existent bunker maintenance .... but still the best course around until you get to Kinloch and that includes everything in Williamsburg.  Something tells me that holes 3-5 & 10-15 would hold their place on any course in North America.  Will some 40 years from now call Riverfront an undiscovered gem?

To bring something new to the table you have to get out of your own rut.