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David_Tepper

  • Total Karma: 4
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #50 on: January 26, 2025, 10:37:37 PM »
Chris H. -


Wait, here is a course you have never played or even seen before, in a region of Scotland you have never visited before, yet you seem to think you have a better grasp on what is happening at Brora than some of the club members who participate on this site and others who have played the course many times.


I know one of the Brora greenkeepers. Based on what I have heard from him, you are very much mistaken.


DT

Chris Hughes

  • Total Karma: -106
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #51 on: January 26, 2025, 10:39:42 PM »
Chris,


Can you tell me your position on this subject? Or are you picking nits for your amusement?


Ben, yes, I can.


Let me know when you are finished editing your post and I will do so...


"Is it the Chicken Salad or the Golf Course that attracts and retains members?"

Chris Hughes

  • Total Karma: -106
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #52 on: January 26, 2025, 10:41:48 PM »
Chris H. -


Wait, here is a course you have never played or even seen before, in a region of Scotland you have never visited before, yet you seem to think you have a better grasp on what is happening at Brora than some of the club members who participate on this site and others who have played the course many times.


I know one of the Brora greenkeepers. Based on what I have heard from him, you are very much mistaken.


DT




Oh yeah? 


What's he telling you that opposes what you think that I think?
"Is it the Chicken Salad or the Golf Course that attracts and retains members?"

David_Tepper

  • Total Karma: 4
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #53 on: January 26, 2025, 10:45:32 PM »
If you think the greenkeepers are the ones driving the club's decision to remove the livestock from the course, you are mistaken.

Ben Sims

  • Total Karma: 12
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #54 on: January 26, 2025, 10:46:34 PM »
Chris,


Can you tell me your position on this subject? Or are you picking nits for your amusement?


Ben, yes, I can.


Let me know when you are finished editing your post and I will do so...


Thanks for your response Chris.

Chris Hughes

  • Total Karma: -106
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #55 on: January 26, 2025, 10:49:35 PM »
If you think the greenkeepers are the ones driving the club's decision to remove the livestock from the course, you are mistaken.


"...greenskeepers..."


Plural?


Who's in charge?
"Is it the Chicken Salad or the Golf Course that attracts and retains members?"

David_Tepper

  • Total Karma: 4
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #56 on: January 26, 2025, 11:31:41 PM »
Chris U. -


You're not. That's for sure.


DT

Chris Hughes

  • Total Karma: -106
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #57 on: January 26, 2025, 11:37:27 PM »
Chris U. -


You're not. That's for sure.


DT


The Brora greenskeeper you "know"...


...who did he say made the decision to get rid of the majestic Highland cows (and the sheep)...??




[Ben, haven't forgotten, will respond.  FTR, we appreciate your service.]
"Is it the Chicken Salad or the Golf Course that attracts and retains members?"

Chris Hughes

  • Total Karma: -106
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #58 on: January 27, 2025, 07:02:26 PM »
Chris,


Can you tell me your position on this subject? Or are you picking nits for your amusement?


Ben, yes, I can.


Let me know when you are finished editing your post and I will do so...


Thanks for your response Chris.


Ben, I think it's pretty obvious where I stand, but will try to summarize.

Special golf clubs arrive in that place because over a long period of time traditions, culture, and history meld together and solidify to define the club.

A very small subset of the special ones have something truly unique that defines and sets them apart -- Brora has (had) that.

Brora GC almost went under b/c of flawed covid restrictions but due to the generosity of nice folks from all around the world who were enamored with the club just the way it was, BGC survived...

...and now someone wants to blow $191,000 (large % of ann. rev's) of OPM to wriggle out of their obligation to the crofters while simultaneously denuding the club of historical tradition that dates back a century plus?

It's a lousy use of funds and a very very bad bet IMO -- Brora GC was perfect and unique as is --  don't mess with it.

Cheers...
« Last Edit: January 28, 2025, 01:00:17 AM by Chris Hughes »
"Is it the Chicken Salad or the Golf Course that attracts and retains members?"

Mark Pearce

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #59 on: January 28, 2025, 03:55:27 AM »
flawed covid restrictions
You know, don't you, that you'd get fewer down votes on the Karma thing if you could, just every so often, avoid the urge to introduce entirely unnecessary political commentary on a Golf Course Architecture website?
In July I will be riding two stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity, including Mont Ventoux for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Adam Lawrence

  • Total Karma: 11
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #60 on: January 28, 2025, 06:56:39 AM »


Brora GC was perfect and unique as is --  don't mess with it.



A very big assertion for someone who has never been there. If you are not a moron, you are doing a damned good impression of one, and I suggest that you pipe down now.
Adam Lawrence

Editor, Golf Course Architecture
www.golfcoursearchitecture.net

Principal, Oxford Golf Consulting
www.oxfordgolfconsulting.com

Author, 'More Enduring Than Brass: a biography of Harry Colt' (forthcoming).

Short words are best, and the old words, when short, are the best of all.

BHoover

  • Total Karma: -3
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #61 on: January 28, 2025, 01:09:27 PM »
When I played Brora for the first (and god willing, not the last) time in August 2024, the member in our group mentioned the goal of the membership to remove the livestock from the course. Not once did I think it was in my place to argue with him or offer up my opinion. If I was a member of Brora, I probably would feel the same way about the livestock. As a visitor, sure, the cattle and sheep were a nice touch. But in no way, shape, or form would the removal of livestock affect my desire to return to Brora.

Chris Hughes

  • Total Karma: -106
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #62 on: Yesterday at 06:37:37 PM »
flawed covid restrictions
You know, don't you, that you'd get fewer down votes on the Karma thing if you could, just every so often, avoid the urge to introduce entirely unnecessary political commentary on a Golf Course Architecture website?


Aaahh, one-way street through this neighborhood huh? 🤔 😂
"Is it the Chicken Salad or the Golf Course that attracts and retains members?"

Chris Hughes

  • Total Karma: -106
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #63 on: Yesterday at 06:49:06 PM »


Brora GC was perfect and unique as is --  don't mess with it.



A very big assertion for someone who has never been there. If you are not a moron, you are doing a damned good impression of one, and I suggest that you pipe down now.


It's simply my opinion (which you clearly do not like)...


Why do you care so much about my opinion?
"Is it the Chicken Salad or the Golf Course that attracts and retains members?"

jeffwarne

  • Total Karma: 2
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #64 on: Yesterday at 07:57:06 PM »
Yes prices have gone up dramatically,(not really compared to US UG prices)
but the overseas price increases might be a silver lining....


When setting up travel for groups, I've always tried to anchor my 8-10 course trips with one, two or most three "big guns" to keep the belt notchers happy, but the greatest memories almost always occur on second or even third tier, far more authentic and very reasonably priced courses. I'd much rather prefer to be a curiosity to membrs than a
These lower prices allow us to still have a reasonable cost per round(my green fees are mostly comped as a PGA member, but I still prefer the local gems for the authenticity, and often for what the course "isn't" or trying to be.


I'd rather play Golspie in 3.5 hours with a few Scotsman than Dornoch surrounded by Americans and Japanese, mauling each other to load up on "merch"
We can argue the merits of one course vs. the other, but I know which experience I prefer, to say nothing of the chasm between the two in value.
But then, I'd prefer Reay or Durness over either so.....
"Let's slow the damned greens down a bit, not take the character out of them." Tom Doak
"Take their focus off the grass and put it squarely on interesting golf." Don Mahaffey

Dan_Callahan

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #65 on: Yesterday at 09:19:15 PM »

I'd rather play Golspie in 3.5 hours with a few Scotsman than Dornoch surrounded by Americans and Japanese, mauling each other to load up on "merch"

The best day I’ve ever had on a golf course was a Friday in July 2018, late afternoon, showed up at Dornoch on a whim … perfect sunny day, no tee time … the pro shop got me on the course, a foursome of Americans were about to tee off, saw me coming, and told me to jump out ahead of them and I’d have the course to myself. They were right.


Even the high priced “trophy” courses can yield amazing memories.

Chris Hughes

  • Total Karma: -106
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #66 on: Today at 12:18:30 AM »

When setting up travel for groups, I've always tried to anchor my 8-10 course trips with one, two or most three "big guns" to keep the belt notchers happy, but the greatest memories almost always occur on second or even third tier, far more authentic and very reasonably priced courses.



Castlerock...

...oh my...
"Is it the Chicken Salad or the Golf Course that attracts and retains members?"

Bernie Bell

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: 2025 Visitor Green Fees GB & Ireland
« Reply #67 on: Today at 09:38:46 AM »

When setting up travel for groups, I've always tried to anchor my 8-10 course trips with one, two or most three "big guns" to keep the belt notchers happy, but the greatest memories almost always occur on second or even third tier, far more authentic and very reasonably priced courses.



Castlerock...

...oh my...
Yes on Castlerock.  And Portstewart too, although I'd call it "lesser known" not lesser tier.  Ardglass.  The Island.