This should be a terrific event. Mike Davis will be there and will participate.
It is the first event of its kind to be held at Far Hills by the USGA. My hope is that it will be a success and become a regular feature on the USGA calendar. The added attention being given architecture (and related issues such as US Open set-ups, sustainability, construction/maintenance costs and pace of play) by the USGA is a wonderful development. Hopefully, these sorts of events will further encourage their interest. People who frequent GCA will have a lot to contribute to the sessions. I hope you will attend.
On another note, beginning two years ago at Merion the USGA has held a panel discussion with architects involved with the Open course, supers, historians, Mike Davis and others. Jimmy Rogers has served as host and has done an excellent job of herding the panelists.
The USGA will hold a similar event again this summer at Chambers Bay on Monday afternoon during Open week. Bobby Jones, Mike Davis and others to be named are scheduled for the panel. Members of the press have made up much of the audience, but the event is open to the public and attendance has been SRO. The discussions have been quite lively. Last year at Pinehurst Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw went out of their way to acknowledge the assistance of our very own Craig Disher in the changes they made to No. 2. Craig now charges for his autograph.
So if you are in or around Chambers Bay the week of the Open, it's an event anyone who participates here at GCA will enjoy.
Likewise, if you are in or around northern New Jersey April 18th, try to attend the architecture symposium at Far Hills.
Bob