I remember meeting George on the third tee at Hackensack, our Biarritz, about ten years ago. He was explaining to our superintendent and club president how our hole could be restored. How the short left and right flanking bunkers should be put back, the deep swale brought back, and the front section maintained as putting surface so the ball would roll. As I envisioned all of this, I remember thinking: "this guy is crazy, this hole would look weird!"
But I went home that night and started researching on line. Every time I typed in a Macdonald or Raynor course name, a GCA.COM thread came up in my search results. I read those threads and started to learn. I put GCA.COM in my favorites that night, and for the next few weeks I read every Course by Country that reviewed a Macdonald and Raynor course. (Because I'm and old fart, I printed the articles and created a file on each course, and also printed google earth images of each course.) I read Ran's feature interview with George, and then I ordered The Evangelist. My education soared. I drove to the Knoll to see what he was up to, and I'll never forget how proud he was. George signed my copy of The Evangelist at Yale at a Raynor Society meeting, and George was on cloud nine for two days explaining each hole to all the attendees.
I would go on to become Grounds Chair at my club and help lead a movement to restore our course as Charles Banks built it. We have completed six holes, including a great Road Hole and Punchbowl. And George, the Biarritz plays great. Thank you.