Fur sum, gud grammer and speeling are impotent to writing gudder contrax and specifycations........
Seriously, I was told to take some business writing courses. And some sales and public speaking courses. Landscape architect students get maybe one professional practice course, usually not worth much. And, most contract and specifications are written by copying someone else's not borne out of real knowledge of concrete mix, or whatever. Generally, we are not very good at it, trying to avoid that kind of work for the fun stuff.
Will add many architects fear lawsuits. Just as you are not a boss until you fire someone, maybe you aren't a golf course architect until you have been sued. From my perspective, many (especially younger ones) got in the biz when there were big budgets and mistakes more easily covered. More experienced architects will tell you its all rainbows and bunny rabbits......until it isn't. But, gca's are charged spending millions wisely, which is always subjective. Some big money at stake.
Since the 2006 Great Recession, I see clients get more picky about money and lawsuits or at least big construction billing disputes are more common. On my last two projects, contractors I knew and trusted submitted last minute billings of several hundreds of thousand dollars, just hoping to up their margins (or turn them from negative to better than neutral). Part of the job is negotiating between the two.
I would guess the second most difficult technical task after specs would be detailed grading plans and balancing cut and fill. Many architects do practice without doing these things at all, and they are lucky. Or figuring out drainage and grading on a flat site with minimal grade, or in flood plain where you are required to balance flood storage.....and they do in fact check after the fact, so you can't fudge too much.
While touched on earlier, travel breaks up many architects marriages. Takes a tough wife to handle being married to a successful gca. And, I am writing this sitting in an airport waiting out a five hour flight delay.....
I once estimated I spend only 10% of my time on the really fun stuff. The rest is similar to any other business. Unlike Ally, I started my business when I was too young and naïve to believe I could fail. My motto was "What could possibly go wrong?. Not perceiving how difficult the biz might be was a great blessing. Also, having a working wife for financial cushion for slow times, and a commitment (for the most part) to living at about 75% of current income, saving for the rainy day.
Should add, as depressing as the above may sound, I have enjoyed every day of a wild 42 year ride! I was never cut out for my father's corporate life.