How important are old photos when undertaking a restoration?

[Thomas Dai]

Not just thinking here of old photos to help the restorer but the use of old photos to help convince the members, owners, players, planners, neighbours etc what really was there before.....ie help overturn resistance to change, hazy memories and pre-conceived ideas of what the course may once-upon-a-time have been like.
Thoughts?

Anacdotes particularly welcome.

Atb

[Brian Ross]

Quite important, I think. Not vital, as you can get by if they don't exist, but important, certainly. Put another way, I can't imagine trying to sell a project to a membership and not using them if they were available.


Old photographs can be used to show original bunker styles, vistas that once existed that may not exist any longer thanks to tree growth, etc., and more.


Old aerials are also quite helpful (possibly even more so), especially when it comes to comparing fairway width and tree cover over a period of time. These can often be eye-opening to members and can be the final push that will  get a tree management plan or even a major restoration/renovation approved.

[Mark_Fine]

They are one important piece of the puzzle. 

[Cal Seifert]

I'd imagine if there were some landmark that was still the same size today in the old aerial it would be perfect for sizing the greens and bunkers.  May be common sense though

[Ian Andrew]

I'll go further than others here ...


If you don't have them, you can't get an accurate restoration.
They are the third dimension, aerials do not supply that information.


So the answer is vital. Otherwise you either interpreting aerials and landforms ... or guessing.

[Rick Lane]

Having lived this, I would say ANY old photo, even aerial, is vital to accomplishing a "sale" to the membership of a restoration, from green sizes, fairway widths, bunkers sizes and locations and most importantly trees..   Simply put, would you rather try to convince a membership with or without any sort of those evidences?   If they existed, you would for sure use them in your presentation.