A Sandy Site ...

[Tom_Doak]

Up until ten years ago, yes, no one considered the "water release curve" for fw sand capping or even around basins.

Actually, Dave Wilber explained this to us in 2000 when we were building Pacific Dunes, where he had us cap the sandstone on the 4th & 13th fairways with THREE FEET of sand because of the water release curve.


I think Dick Psolla had tried to explain it to me back in the 1980's, but I didn't understand him at the time.

[John Emerson]

An interesting notion/question, Ira. I used to think it was true, i.e. that the best wanted to be 'tested against' the best. But now I think it's true only for romantic amateurs, not for hard-nosed professionals. An NFL quarterback, an MLB right-handed power bat, an NBA three-point shooter -- they aren't all that interested in 'challenging themselves' against the league's toughest defence, a right hand flame thrower, or man to man coverage. Instead, they'd be perfectly happy (and would much prefer) absolutely demolishing a porous and slow-footed secondary, an aging left hander with an 89 mph fast-ball, and flabby zone coverage. Sure: the greatest golfer of all time enjoyed coming down to the last 3 holes tied and needing to make a couple of birdies to win, but Tiger (and all the other greats) were even happier leading by eight strokes coming into the final round and then winning by 10 or 15 shots at the end. The *results* are what they care most about -- and the more impressive and dominating those results the better. Which is to say: I think today's leading architects would work on clay and take up the challenge of that if they *had to* -- but they are much happier with the challenge of turning a fantastic sandy site into a 9 or 10 instead of merely a 7-8!

I cannot speak with any knowledge about architects or pro athletes in sports other than the NFL, but having spent a fair amount of time with more than a few top NFL players, I can assure you that they relish the challenge of competing against the best.


Ira

Ira/Peter,


Peter this analogy just doesn’t work in any way.  If you have ever been around professional athletes for one minute, these thoughts would never even enter your mind.  I know (very closely) several professional athletes and they would never agree with your statement.  Like, not even one part of it.  The greatest athletes relish and live solely for the moment they can make sure and prove to everyone they’re the best, by beating the best.  Professional athletes didn’t get to where they’re at beating up on bums. 

[Kalen Braley]

While I agree in concept overall, I do think Peter makes a good point.

In football, offenses will almost always attack the other teams weakest part of thier defense, whether that be running or passing game, or throwing away from the best DBs side of the field.  In the NBA, they do similar by going after the weakest players on defense, or by double or triple teaming the best offensive player and making lesser players make the big shots.

Yes, the best players all want to win championships, and to do that you usually have to go thru the best of the best, but it doesn't mean they aren't going to exploit the weaknesses of even the best teams and "avoid" the best players when they can in game.