Golf Club Atlas

GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Thomas Dai on July 29, 2013, 03:17:15 PM

Title: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Thomas Dai on July 29, 2013, 03:17:15 PM
There are a number of organisations dedicated to appreciating the work of certain individual GCA's. For example, there's a Donald Ross Society, a James Braid Society, a Tom Simpson Society, a Colt Association, a Walter Travis Society and an Alister MacKenzie Society.

What others are there?

All the best
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Mark_Rowlinson on July 29, 2013, 03:23:34 PM
In conversation with the then Secretary of Coombe Hill (Tina de Foy) I suggested that they might form a Abercrombie Society. After all, there aren't many Aber courses and they are all pretty good. But it came to nothing. So let's try to narrow it down. How about a Markes Society (one course, Sandy Lodge) and an Arthur Croome Society (one course[?], Liphook). Mayo is probably another candidate. But surely there should be a Tom Morris Society....
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Brian Finn on July 29, 2013, 03:26:09 PM
There is definitely a Tillinghast society.
 
I have read information here on this site regarding the Devereux Emmet society. 

One would think there would also be a MacDonald and/or Raynor society.
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: David_Tepper on July 29, 2013, 03:30:18 PM
Yes, GCA-er Mark Chalfant has organized a Devereux Emmett Society:

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,46600.0/
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Bill Brightly on July 29, 2013, 04:32:06 PM
Anthony Pioppi ran the Seth Raynor society, but I do not know how active it is now.
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Joey Chase on July 29, 2013, 04:44:18 PM
There is also an RTJ Society. 
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Mark Saltzman on July 29, 2013, 08:06:11 PM
http://www.stanleythompson.com/
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: David Harshbarger on July 29, 2013, 08:38:49 PM
The Ross and Travis societies are pretty active so I've heard. 
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Ian Andrew on July 30, 2013, 10:58:05 AM
The Ross and Travis societies are pretty active so I've heard. 

I'm a long time member of the Travis Society.
Regular correspondence, yearly update of list, welcome input and corrections.
Lots of opportunity to play with the society if that interest you.


Thompson Society is very active with newsletters and publications.
They have become more sincere about attribution in last couple of years.
Their collection of documents is wonderful and available at Guelph University.
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Mike_Young on July 30, 2013, 11:06:12 AM
I've just started my own.  Gonna limit it to 3000 members at $100 annual dues....special opening offer of $50 for first 1000...just do it thru paypal...
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Thomas Dai on July 30, 2013, 11:35:57 AM
Anyone have knowledge of a society for Herbert -"Westward Ho!, Eastward Ho!, Saunton, Walton Heath, The Berkshire, Beau Desert, Delamere Forest, Bull Bay etc" Fowler?

Doesn't seem to be that much written about him that I've come across in comparison to other GCA's even given Bernard Darwin famous quote describing him as “perhaps the most daring and original of all golfing architects.....gifted with an almost inspired eye for the possibilities of a golfing country.”

All the best
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Mike_Young on July 30, 2013, 11:50:16 AM
I've just started my own.  Gonna limit it to 3000 members at $100 annual dues....special opening offer of $50 for first 1000...just do it thru paypal...

Wasn't David Elvins the past president of said society? :)

hmmmmm..I think he did do something like that... ;D
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Dan Herrmann on July 30, 2013, 08:44:07 PM
I'm in the Gil Hanse society - I drive over and cut his lawn on the weekends :)
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Terry Lavin on July 30, 2013, 08:49:57 PM
I've just started my own.  Gonna limit it to 3000 members at $100 annual dues....special opening offer of $50 for first 1000...just do it thru paypal...

I'll be the parliamentarian.
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: JC Jones on July 30, 2013, 08:58:17 PM
I've just started my own.  Gonna limit it to 3000 members at $100 annual dues....special opening offer of $50 for first 1000...just do it thru paypal...

I'll be the parliamentarian.

What he means is sergeant-at-arms.
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Ed Homsey on July 30, 2013, 09:04:48 PM
For those who are seriously interested in organizations founded in honor of noted golf course architects of the past, I would invite you to check out the website of the Walter J. Travis Society:  www.travissociety.com

Our aim is to establish an accurate and full account of the accomplishments of Walter J. Travis. 
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Bart Bradley on July 30, 2013, 09:14:28 PM
I have several times tried to email the Simpson society but have always had my message returned as undeliverable.  Anyone know the proper contact?

Bart
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Mike Sweeney on July 30, 2013, 10:00:53 PM
I've just started my own.  Gonna limit it to 3000 members at $100 annual dues....special opening offer of $50 for first 1000...just do it thru paypal...

I did actually quote you today. Told a friend about our visit to a "Tinglinghast" course.  8) By the way, I saw that quote of yours about the Italian Mob guy in Savannah. I always knew there was a little Jersey in Mike Young.  :-*
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: Mike_Young on July 30, 2013, 10:13:36 PM
I've just started my own.  Gonna limit it to 3000 members at $100 annual dues....special opening offer of $50 for first 1000...just do it thru paypal...

I did actually quote you today. Told a friend about our visit to a "Tinglinghast" course.  8) By the way, I saw that quote of yours about the Italian Mob guy in Savannah. I always knew there was a little Jersey in Mike Young.  :-*

I have breakfast every morning I'm in town with an old Italian mobster dude from Youngstown Ohio....but the Sav guy was a dude...how you been?
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: David_Elvins on July 30, 2013, 11:37:42 PM
Wasn't David Elvins the past president of said society? :)

One of the key roles of an architectural society is to farm out 'restoration' work to your friends and/or associated business interests.  

My thoughts in setting up the Mike Young society was that anyone who bought a Mike Young golf course would come to me and I would recommend an architect that could restore the course to the architectural principles that Mike intended.  

My plan fell through when Mike started buying the courses that he had designed.
Title: Re: Golf architect (appreciation) societies
Post by: David Harshbarger on July 30, 2013, 11:43:00 PM
Wasn't David Elvins the past president of said society? :)

One of the key roles of an architectural society is to farm out 'restoration' work to your friends and/or associated business interests.  

My thoughts in setting up the Mike Young society was that anyone who bought a Mike Young golf course would come to me and I would recommend an architect that could restore the course to the architectural principles that Mike intended.  

My plan fell through when Mike started buying the courses that he had designed.

David, obviously you need to work on your salesmanship.