[Mark_Rowlinson]

....a lousy course?

We depend on Ran to give us definitive judgements on the world's great courses. He plays and adjudicates on many courses which we can all play. That gives us a chance to appreciate his discerning observation and critical writing, as well as trusting his judgement implicitly. He also travels to places few of us will ever see. He brings the positives of the Jockey Club, for the sake of argument, to our awareness. But what if he went all the way to somewhere continents away and found the course lacking?

I'd be interested to learn what he would make of Royal Johannesburg which is currently hosting the Joburg Open. One of the two courses here featured in the definitive, original World Atlas of Golf. Who is any of us to argue against the judgement of the original quartet of authors? As someone involved in the most recent incarnation of that book I'm interested because we expunged it - not because I had first hand knowledge of it, but because no one had enthusiasm for it. Having seen bits of both courses on the television in the last hour I have seen little to endear it to me. For sure, they look natural courses, devoid of the stereotypes of so many Sawgrass lookalikes, but, on the television at least, they look at best nondescript.

What would Ran make of these two courses?
Is television a fair medium to reflect the qualities of a golf course?
Should we have not been so dismissive of our distinguished forbears in expunging Royal Johannesburg from the World Atlas of Golf?

[Jim_Kennedy]

Mark,
Expunging a course from the updated issue of the book for the reasons you have given; no enthusiasm for it, but no first hand knowledge of it, is something a reader is better off not knowing.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Jim, Although I had no personal knowledge, others did. It was they who found no enthusiasm for it.

[Niall C]

Mark

Very interesting question. Its easy to get excited by the acknowledged classics but what does the reader actually learn ? I think I would find it more interesting to hear about some of the courses that were on the list and have now been taken off as it would maybe tell us something about the changing fashions in golf design.

It would also be an interesting "In My Opinion" piece if Ran were to give us an over view of courses that were candidates for one of his reviews but didn't make it for whatever reason.

Niall

[Jim_Kennedy]

Mark,
Times change, and with so many new courses built between issues I'd guess there had to be a process of evolution.

It might have been interesting to include all the courses that are no longer in vogue in the Gazeteer section, if only to show the contrast between then and now (but I don't have the newest version of the book so maybe your group did just that).  

Anyway, the 2004 edition I do have is always in a spot where I can easily lay my hands on it. Now I guess I'll have to add the updated version.        
      

[Tom_Doak]

Mark:

I have been to Royal Johannesburg and had no real enthusiasm for it, either, as documented in my review of it in The Confidential Guide.

It's a fine course, but clearly not one of the best in the world.  Its inclusion in the original book was probably a matter of geography [the authors wanted a couple of courses from South Africa, an important golfing nation], combined with only a passing knowledge of other African courses which might be worthy.

Ran would tell you this in private, but not in public.  He prefers to remain everyone's friend!

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Jim, The most recent version was entirely new, for reasons explained in older posts on this site. I would love to do a facsimile first edition with an afterword explaining what changes have been made and how the courses are perceived today. Hamlyn, the publisher, isn't interested, as this would be a niche market thing. I don't think they'd obstruct such a project as long as the current edition is out of print, but it would be very expensive to do and not at all attractive to other publishers. It simply wouldn't sell in sufficient numbers to justify the expense. Anyone know a rich sponsor?

Daniel Wexler did a similar thing with Horace Hutchinson's British Golf Links. It is first rate and he did it really well.

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