What will this era of GCA be called?

[Adam_F_Collins]

We have the so-called "Dark Ages", the "Golden Age", etc. What will this period of excessive length be called? Is one "era" ending now and another beginning?

[Brad Klein]

Post-Modern,

because it's going in two directions at once, with a plurality of styles and evocations, both hyper-constructed (long, manicured); and naturalistic (bouncy, quirky, deeply contoured, wispy). Moreover, designers are deliberately invoking classical landscape themes, whether through waterfalls, island greens, or overpowering vistas; while others announce their traditional sensibilities by invoking the internal tradition of golf course architecture (Redan holes, Capes, homages to Ross, Macdonald, Raynor, MacKenzie & Langford).

 

[Wayne_Kozun]

The Morrissett age! After all - he is Golf's Most Beloved Figure.

[Mike_Sweeney]

because it's going in two directions at once,

Brad,

Wouldn't it actually be three directions? I see Bayonne and The Rawls Course as a blend of your two directions, but a separate distinct direction of totally artificial throwback course(s)?

[Mike Hendren]

The Platinum Age:  Flashy (bunkers) for no apparent reason.  Twice as expensive, associated with exclusivity, privilege and wealth.   More precious and exotic than the Golden Age - just not better in the long term.

Mike

[T_MacWood]

Have they named the previous era yet....the 50s and 60s period?

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Have they named the previous era yet....the 50s and 60s period?

The Dark Ages.

[Dan Herrmann]

The Dye Era.

You could argue that Mr. Dye revolutionalized the art.  Ask yourself what GCA would be today with out Mr. Dye.

[Jeff_Lewis]

Dan, I was making that point to somebody yesterday. If RTJ's redo of Oakland Hills started the Dull Age, then Pete Dye's work (and his family tree of associates) dragged us out.

[Adam Clayman]

The Confidential era.

[John Goodman]

and second, the be art.

Huh?

[Dan_Callahan]

The era of excess.

Excessive watering, excessive square footage in the clubhouse, excessive initiation fees, excessive containment mounding, excessive expectations for courses that look like Augusta, excessive use of white belts and mock-neck shirts.

All in all, just too much stuff. Probably all a carryover from the Internet glory days of the late 90s. Not enough simplicity.

[Rick Shefchik]

The Bubble Era.

The years when golf -- and golf course design -- expanded beyong its capacity to sustain itself.