Tom-
Just so I have this straight:
Anyone who uses any feature or method learned from a mentor, teacher or peer is mooching?
;)I know the truly great architects of today aren’t using Redan, Biarritz, Short, or Eden green complexes. Would never think of creating an Alps, a Sahara, or a Leven hole. Bottleneck, Cross, Pot, Principal’s Nose, Strath, Road Hole, and Cardinal bunkers must be considered out of bounds as well. False fronts, run ups, and hillocks are of the table. Let’s take outer mounding, tall turf type fescues (psuedo-heather), and water hazards out too. I wonder what “self respecting modern genius” would design without these features?
I thought using the best means and methods where possible was a sign of wisdom rather than weakness. I’m hoping the Raynor critique is more a shot at Wigler’s Wolverines; otherwise I’d have to assume you contributed very little to the work done by Pete during your tenure. I don’t think you’d say that.
Was Perry Maxwell a Mackenzie mooch? Was Donald Ross a Morris mooch? How about Gil and Bruce?
Bob-
I think you’ve made the case for Raynor without knowing it. The wisdom to use the best of the MacDonald styling while formulating his own material and solutions was genius. I agree the non-templates are great. The Raynor double dogleg comes to mind. If anything he probably suffers from James Dean syndrome. Dieing at in his early fifties cost us the great ideas that were stifled by clients in his younger days. Imagine what we would have had, if he had been the old venerated architect to whom clients gave blind faith? Maybe now that his finally getting some examination, we can conclude that for years he has been the most underrated?
As to the question… we can’t possibly answer. The criterion of “how has the course survived the test of time?” is ridiculous. If a course were a true test today and unaltered, then its fairway bunkering would have originally been ornamental and cosmetic with minimal strategic value. The corollary would also hold. A course that was designed to be strategic and functionally bunkered in its day would now be but a shadow of its former self. I’d also say that the surviving great old courses have been lucky enough to have room for expansion and respectful traditionalists who maintained the credibility of its features during renovation over the years.
I can only assume I’m about to be labeled a “Raynor Head” and if that means I think traditional golf design is romantic and nostalgic, so be it.
