[Tim Gallant]

They strike up a conversation and soon find that they both have a common passion for golf course architecture.


If you're one of those enthusiasts, what is the first question you are asking to understand if they are a passionate novice, or a true expert on the subject? This isn't meant to trip the person up, but rather, to understand if you should shut up and listen or if you might be able to impart some wisdom.

[Tom_Doak]

I would just wait and see what questions they asked me, or what opinions they spouted off.

[Tim Gallant]

I would just wait and see what questions they asked me, or what opinions they spouted off.

If you were the other enthusiast, my first question to you: Are you Tom Doak? 

[Eric Smith]

So if you have an opinion you're spouting off? Awesome.

[Lou_Duran]

Any of the following:

What do you think of Tom Doak's work?

Is Fazio the anti-Christ?

Has Titleist desecrated our game by creating balls that go too far?

What do you think of the Augusta National effect?

Are riding carts/buggies ruining the game?

Should the evolution of golf equipment stopped with the introduction of the hickory shaft or the Haskell ball?

Is Ran Morrissett the most interesting 21st century figure in golf?

Seriously, I would ask what his top two or three favorite courses are and what he likes about them.  I would also probably ask what type of golfer he is.  It probably wouldn't take more than a few minutes to determine whether the conversation is worth pursuing.

[John Kavanaugh]

This happened to me last week when I met a Kingsley Club member at a bar in Texas. After it was clear that he didn't know who I was I asked him what he thought of the new course at Arcadia. I really enjoyed his answer.

[Matthew Mollica]

What are the three courses you are most happy to have visited, and the three you’ve not yet seen but feel you need to?

[Kalen Braley]

Easy, just ask them.  You got one round left to play...Torrey Pines or Pac Dunes?

[Peter Pallotta]

Tim - neat question.
If they didn't self identify first, I'd ask if they were in the industry, i.e. an architect, super, crew, shaper, associate etc.
After that, I can't imagine it would matter much who they worked for or what courses they worked/work on or where they'd played or even what courses they thought best/top 10 -- I'd know that they knew and that I didn't, and I'd be all ears.
Much different meeting in person with someone in a bar than it is 'sitting around here'.
P

[Jeff_Brauer]

A considerate enthusiast would recognize that we are all at different points on the path to being a connoisseur and be kind, even if they didn't know all the "right" answers.


I was interviewed on a golf radio show a few months back, and the host said he was an enthusiast, but a bit afraid to discuss Redans and so forth on the air because he wasn't absolutely sure, especially sitting down with an architect.


If I was in that situation, I would self identify as an architect, and then proceed to answer any question that didn't begin with "Hey, asshole, .……?"

[John Kavanaugh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI_hOP_K6MY It might help if they had heard of any of your courses.

[Kalen Braley]

Barney,


You should know better when it comes to title inflation.  I've had Engineer in my title for several of my tech jobs, but Lawd knows I've never actually been one...just like in your business with so called Highway/Road/Infrastructure Engineers.  Most engineers don't actually exist! 

[John Kavanaugh]

But Jeff is an architect and has the jacket to prove it.

[Tom_Doak]

So if you have an opinion you're spouting off? Awesome.

Well, that would depend on what opinion you expressed, of course.


Chicken Little much?

[Eric Smith]

Tom,


Chicken little if you like, but I met Tim Gallant not long ago and was very much enthused by his opening post. Having to always remember to put a filter to your posts because of whatever, is work sometimes.


So I’d ask today,


Tron or PK?

[Matthew Rose]

"Have you heard of Golf Club Atlas?"


 

[John Kavanaugh]

"Have you heard of Golf Club Atlas?"


 

When the guy told me he was a member of Kingsley Club that is exactly what I asked him. Of course his buddy told me that he played at Beverly but had never heard of Judge Lavin. After that I didn't put much stock in anything they said.


Kingsley used to be the pet course of GCA until Ballyneal ate it.

[Joe Bausch]

Let’s assume this conversation is happening where I live in the Delaware Valley.  So my question for this person is simple:  do you prefer Glen Mills or Broad Run?  Their answer will speak volumes.

[Tim Gavrich]

Imagining this situation here in FL, I'd probably just ask the person's opinions of the courses at Streamsong. That's a pretty good litmus test for someone's openness to atypical Florida GCA.

[John Kavanaugh]

I would say that a golfers opinion on Streamsong reveals less than any other course or courses ever built. I've seen brilliant people hate the place and oblivious morons love it. And then there is the fact that I love it. Black the most, of course.

[SL_Solow]

Jeff,  as someone who has practiced law for a longtime, if I eliminated all the "hey a__hole" openers, I wouldn't have many conversations.

[MLevesque]

Imagining this situation here in FL, I'd probably just ask the person's opinions of the courses at Streamsong. That's a pretty good litmus test for someone's openness to atypical Florida GCA.

Up here in Connecticut you could ask TPC at River Highlands or Yale?

[JC Jones]

Imagining this situation here in FL, I'd probably just ask the person's opinions of the courses at Streamsong. That's a pretty good litmus test for someone's openness to atypical Florida GCA.

What if he said they were mediocre AF?

[Ira Fishman]

What is your opinion of the tree on Number 4 at Mid Pines?


Ira

[JC Jones]

What is your opinion of the tree on Number 4 at Mid Pines?


Ira

 

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