Mike: That was a fun night at Victoria GC, and I meant to enquire how Aussie beer compares to your Texan brew. BTW: Thank you for kick-starting this thread. We learn early from our heavy diet of US television that everything in Texas is big. Man, you are a BIG help! And best of luck with Greg Ramsay, Neil Crafter and Paul Mogford at Arm End. No doubt there are hurdles to overcome, but it promises to be a world-class layout.
Peter: I recall that luncheon very well, and how the afternoon session vanished all too soon. You were an early adopter of the series, and so thank you for your support. Well spotted: you’ve noticed that the Full Swing website is off the internet. It is a web-hosting issue that needs to be resolved. As the Nuz knows, I’m rather hazy on IT matters.
Martin: We’ve never met, but I have a feeling that will change in due course. You influenced Colin Macqueen to order the full set, so I’m envious of your selling skills. It’s great to learn that you have each volume in the kitty. Your request is duly noted, so I’ll do my level best to keep ‘em coming.
Tim: I’m so pleased that you survived your trip down under, when your severely sunburnt face was mistaken for a lobster. The sun and those UV rays catch out many visitors to these parts. That was a brilliant volume three article you wrote on Ballybunion, and it’s stuck in my mind ever since. Vision of your smooth move through the ball remains vivid!
Bill: It is good to have the opportunity to say hi, and to mention that I’ve always enjoyed your contribution to GCA discourse. From a distance [nothing to do with Bette Midler], it appears that you so often adopt the voice of reason. Your hope was that Wolf Point may surface in Vol. Six. It doesn’t, per se, but you will be pleased that Mike Nuzzo chimes in with a top article titled ‘Ideal yardages for an ideal course: when to test every club in your bag’. He does so by utilising the examples of Stanley Thompson, George Thomas Jr, CB Macdonald, The Old Course and Champions. Wolf Point, from the middle tees, is also discussed.
Tyler: Greetings … and thank you for generous comments. Readers will find your informative Vol. Six essay, ‘Rough buffers: the folly of rough surrounding bunkers to be a well overdue ‘poke in the eye’ of conventional US practice, so far as the proximity of rough to hazards. You rightly point out the absurdity of placing a bunker in the desired region to catch an errant tee-shot; only to find those errant drives being retarded by rough just short of the hazard. I’m glad that your trip to Melbourne was impactful, noticing how cultural practises allow for similarly errant drives to correctly reach the hazard.
Colin: WOW … that is great of you to purchase the complete six-volume set. I’m hopeful the publications bring much enjoyment, as I’d hate to be responsible for a Scottish inter-clan fight between you and Martin. Drop me a note next time you are in Melbourne if the mood strikes.
Ed: Likewise, it was a pleasure to meet all those years ago and lose ourselves in golfy chat. Where did the time fly? Hopefully you won’t have to accrue too many Browny points with your family to expand your library. How is your golf?
Robin: For many of us, a light-bulb event took place around a decade ago --- when you penned that thread on Painswick. In truth, few had a heard of the quirky English course at the time, but your detailed explanation led to an avalanche of interest. Your terrific volume six contribution ‘From Oil Wells to Eagles: The Royal Golf Club, Bahrain’ provides insight into the trials and tribulations of designing/building in a harsh desert climate. LOL on your query about the spine colour, and whether it fits in with earlier volumes. We went with a new studio-designed colour called Cunningham Grey, so named in honour of my graphic designer; namely, the one and only Andrew Cunningham.