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Pete_Pittock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #125 on: March 18, 2014, 12:53:33 PM »
Rest in Peace. Well played.

Tim Gavrich

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #126 on: March 18, 2014, 01:03:37 PM »
I never had the pleasure of meeting George, but know that I owe part of my love for C.B. Macdonald, Seth Raynor and all those deeply influenced by their work to what scholarship and perspective of his I have read here. All condolences to his family and friends.

--Tim Gavrich
Senior Writer, GolfPass

Emile Bonfiglio

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #127 on: March 18, 2014, 01:08:45 PM »
I've never played NGLA but every time I have walked Old MacDonald I've thought of the contribution he gave to one of my favorite places in the world. Godspeed brother!
You can follow me on twitter @luxhomemagpdx or instagram @option720

John Kirk

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #128 on: March 18, 2014, 01:09:56 PM »
This thread illustrates how valuable the Internet can be.  Ran informed us that George was sick only five days ago, and over a hundred GCA members were able to express our gratitude for George, while allowing the family the privacy it desires during this important transition.

My Dad became very sick in late 1998, and passed away in February, 1999.  During that time, almost a hundred well wishers sent cards to his home.  The members of the local golf club replanted a tree on the golf course in his honor before he died, and sent along a photo essay of the transplant operation via email.  Over the last few months of his life, Dad did not want to have visitors, choosing to spend his time with his children and long-time girlfriend.  The cards, and the outpouring of affection from his many friends, helped make his painful last few months filled with happiness and warmth.

I'm quite sure the outpouring of support here gave the Bahto family a greater appreciation the impact George had on a worldwide community.  It's an awesome feeling to know your father was a big man in other men's eyes.  


Colin Macqueen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #129 on: March 18, 2014, 01:10:04 PM »
Pax vobiscum,

Colin
"Golf, thou art a gentle sprite, I owe thee much"
The Hielander

Tim_Cronin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #130 on: March 18, 2014, 01:21:58 PM »
Rest in Peace, George. And thank you.
The website: www.illinoisgolfer.net
On Twitter: @illinoisgolfer

Chip Gaskins

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #131 on: March 18, 2014, 01:23:24 PM »
Sad day.  Only spoke with George once, but in that short chat you could feel the passion for all things GCA.  Rest in Peace.

Howard Riefs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #132 on: March 18, 2014, 01:30:03 PM »
My condolences to George’s family. He was a great influence on my appreciation of Raynor, CBM and golf architecture.

His unfortunate passing provides a solemn reminder to re-read some of his thoughts here on GCA:

Feature Interviews:
      December 1999:  http://www.golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/george-bahto/
      November 2002:  http://www.golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/george-bahto-november-2002-2/

Debut of "Evangelist of Golf," November 2002
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,1902.0.html

Knoll West restoration work
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=51802.0
   http://www.metgolferdigital.com/issue/60788 (pgs. 54-59)

Sleepy Hollow course profile
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/sleepy-hollow-country-club-ny-usa/

"Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: Taking long walks and hitting things with a stick."  ~P.J. O'Rourke

Brad Klein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #133 on: March 18, 2014, 01:55:00 PM »

Jay Flemma

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #134 on: March 18, 2014, 01:57:31 PM »
So sorry to hear about George's passing.  I'll never forget him using his convertible Le Baron as a golf cart!  ;D  That was a once in a lifetime experience.  He did a lot of Great Good for Golf and for architecture.  I'll bet he got a hell of a welcome from the golf architects in Heaven though!  CB and Seth and Steamshovel all lined up to shake his hand ;D
Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Powell Arms

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #135 on: March 18, 2014, 02:02:38 PM »
I never had the pleasure of meeting George, but love the passion in his written words.

My condolences to his family, and my sincere thanks to them for sharing George with all of us

Rest in Peace,

Powell
PowellArms@gmail.com
@PWArms

Lynn_Shackelford

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #136 on: March 18, 2014, 02:02:52 PM »
His enthusiasm was backed up by research and knowledge.  Put together he became indispensable to clubs wanting to restore their course.  He was able to impact our golf world in a big way.  Many of us here talk a good game about architecture, which is activity.  George achieved.
He will be missed, but his life should be studied in how he achieved.

"Do not mistake activity for achievement"
John Wooden
It must be kept in mind that the elusive charm of the game suffers as soon as any successful method of standardization is allowed to creep in.  A golf course should never pretend to be, nor is intended to be, an infallible tribunal.
               Tom Simpson

Ash Towe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #137 on: March 18, 2014, 02:17:21 PM »
A very sad day.

RIP George.

Michael Wharton-Palmer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #138 on: March 18, 2014, 02:19:52 PM »
My sincere regret at the news and peace to the family.
LONG may the legend of the man continue in his works and appreciation from those on sites like this.

ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #139 on: March 18, 2014, 02:20:38 PM »
Departed but never forgotten. I am assuming that George has some plan to continue to give to golf. I look forward to learning what we can do to support that plan from George's family. Last summer George had such a twinkle in his eye when we were talking in his workshop and said he hoped to be able to share exciting news in a few months. I hope George has chosen to share his secret before he left us. We'll miss you friend.
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Bill Brightly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #140 on: March 18, 2014, 02:21:34 PM »
A sad day, no doubt. But as fans of golf course architecture, we have to be in AWE of what he accomplished in the last twenty years of his life. Well played, Uncle George!

Mike Hendren

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #141 on: March 18, 2014, 02:26:36 PM »
George was among a handful of OUR evangelists. 

I have little doubt that he has claimed victory over illness and aging.

Thanks for all who have expressed their love for him.

Mike
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

Jason Topp

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #142 on: March 18, 2014, 02:29:28 PM »
An appreciation of Bahto, on Golfweek.com


http://golfweek.com/news/2014/mar/18/george-bahto-golf-course-restorer-dead-83-obituary/

Very nice article Brad.  I love the Redan story.  I suspect that this group could appreciate that piece as much as anyone.

Steve Wilson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #143 on: March 18, 2014, 02:31:58 PM »
I met George at a couple of outings but never did get to play with him.  I did prevail on him to autograph the Evangelist of Golf.
Sorry to hear of his passing.  Rest in peace and condolences to all his loved ones.
Some days you play golf, some days you find things.

I'm not really registered, but I couldn't find a symbol for certifiable.

"Every good drive by a high handicapper will be punished..."  Garland Bailey at the BUDA in sharing with me what the better player should always remember.

JLahrman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #144 on: March 18, 2014, 02:47:31 PM »
An appreciation of Bahto, on Golfweek.com

http://golfweek.com/news/2014/mar/18/george-bahto-golf-course-restorer-dead-83-obituary/

Nice article Brad.

"Dry Cleaner Turned Course Restorer". Love it. Hopefully my obituary can be titled with something like that someday.

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #145 on: March 18, 2014, 02:59:25 PM »
Thoughts and prayers go out to his family. The best I can say about George is that he always made me smile. And that's about the best anyone could accomplish, no?

It's funny, when I first started posting on here, my posts would occasionally be confused with George's; I used to think of myself as The Other George. It was a bit annoying at the time; I realized a few years later that it was a compliment.

I lost another friend this past Sunday; he was 50 and very fit, just dropped over from a heart attack, never to be revived.

Life is beautiful, but also frustrating and fragile. Give your loved ones a hug tonight and remember what's important.
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #146 on: March 18, 2014, 03:23:57 PM »
:'(

George,

Gib is at a loss for words. Perhaps only you could be the root cause of such an occasion.
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Matt Bosela

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #147 on: March 18, 2014, 03:32:28 PM »
"In the overall scheme, man is only here on earth for a wisp of time.  Most of us go through life working, raising a family, honoring our country, and responding in good turn to our fellow man.  In a short time we are gone and although we did much good, besides the family we leave behind, we leave little that endures the test of time.

I admire the man who, through virtue of God-given or acquired talents, is able to leave his personal 'mark' for others to admire and enjoy; a Shakespeare or a Poe who left behind for us their written word; a Rembrandt or Rodin who left us their magnificent works of art; a Beethoven or Mozart who left their music for us to enjoy."


This was written by George Bahto himself as part of the inner sleeve of The Evangelist of Golf and meant as a dedication to the golf course architects of the Golden Age.

While he intended this quote to be a tribute to others, I feel that these eloquent words are incredibly appropriate when talking about George's impact on the world, whether it's as a father, husband and grandparent or his huge impact on golf architecture during his "second career".

I've never met George but I admire his work and I'm moved by the wonderful tributes offered here by his good friends and his family.

My sincere condolences to his family and close friends.

Dunlop_White

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #148 on: March 18, 2014, 03:37:45 PM »
So very sorry to hear about George. The last time we talked, we were contemplating possible titles for his Raynor Biography. George very much wanted the word "Unsung" in the title, because it was the one word that best described Raynor. I hope the book can be completed some day in his honor and memory. My condolences to his family. He will be missed.

Steve Green

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: George Bahto
« Reply #149 on: March 18, 2014, 03:49:02 PM »
An appreciation of Bahto, on Golfweek.com


http://golfweek.com/news/2014/mar/18/george-bahto-golf-course-restorer-dead-83-obituary/

A sad day and my thoughts and prayers are with George's family.  His book, The Evangelist of Golf helped me understand after many years of playing why certain courses and wholes resonated with me.  Your story Brad helps to further frame the passion this man brought to our game.
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.
Bertrand Russell