its perhaps just a tad hypocritical to "worry about such an images' perpetuation." There are certainly a myriad of other ways to counteract that kind of trend.
Steve:
I've built a lot of golf courses for fairly modest budgets, and I'm not the one who sets the prices for them. It does bother me that when the Revolution comes, most of our clients will be targets for the guys with the pitchforks, and I'll probably be targeted because of "guilt by association".
I lived a year in the UK and Ireland where there was zero perception of golf as elitist, in a country where they are keenly aware of elitism. It's Americans that turned it into a negative -- by the very "market forces" that we are so keen to embrace. If you've got other ways to counteract that trend, speak up ... we need them!
Tom,
I rather doubt they'll be burning copies of the Confidential Guide when the Revolution comes. Instead, I suspect they'll more likely be tipping over and setting fire to your co-author's G550 MB Gelandewagen
, or barging the gates of your other co-author's uber-elite Japanese clubs he did such a good job of representing. I believe you'll be safe from any "guilt by association" up in Traverse City.
We both know of plenty of UK and Irish clubs that remain with an inclination toward's elitism, however I agree far more exist over here. I don't believe it is at all a function of "market forces" as you suggest, but instead a function of century-old prejudice and social-stratification.
The Brits and the Irish treat golf as one of their national pastimes, much like we do for baseball or football. They developed their early golf with healthy doses of elitism, but smartly and contemporarily switched the business modes to opening up in order to allow golf tourist revenue to subsidize their local memberships. Lets not forget their native populations are but mere fractions of our's over here.
Elitism on this side of the pond, either by perception or reality, doesn't align itself purely with money. Our capitalistic "market forces" have produced dozens of big-ticket private clubs whose membership is only restricted by checkbook size. Most, if not all, don't give a rats-ass about where you went to school, how you made your $$,or what the name of the ship you just stepped off of. If you aren't a criminal, have a buddy or two to vouch for you, and your check clears..... voila...let me show you the way to the first tee!
Real elitism resonates from the old school clubs that still practice distinctly selective discrimination, often based on religion, race or genetic affiliation. There's practically one in every major US MSA. We both know who they are and they are the most egregious promoters of the perception of golf's elitism. It's their right and as in the UK and Ireland, it's protected by the laws of the land, but it doesn't make it any easier to stomach.
Your reasoning that you've "built a lot of golf course for a fairly modest budget..and you aren't (sic) the one who sets the prices" is borderline irrelevant. If you truly wanted to counteract the trend of golf's perception as elitist, there are plenty of other ways you could have a tremendous impact.
For starters, you could easily identify several unique projects that you could then go back to your client base and advocate for financial support that would produce attractive "open to the general public, et.al." venues. You could even create a Tom Doak foundation where you could request/require clients to help fund for such a purpose. Heck, I bet you could even trade off some part of your service engagement for a guaranteed "open access slot." Artists have long had a history of including that into their contracts with various institutions. My bet is that plenty of existing and upcoming GCA talent would be thrilled to join in such an undertaking.
In today's social media world, you could handily use it's different platforms to carry various messages to the golfing community promoting the values you believe to be promoting open access and anti-elitism.
As one of the games most erudite spokesmen, you have plenty of media "throw weight" to use. You could even pick up where David Fay left off and use your reputation to help push the blue bloods over at the USGA out of their insular comfort zone, and into the right direction. Sure, Mike Davis might well be sympathetic to similar principles, but he's conflicted out.....you aren't!
Ron Whitten might not extend himself to help you (and you'd be not missing anything there), but many other golf architects and true golf journalists would likely be more than happy to help you spread the right message.
Just saying......