John McKenzie:
I don't believe any of us were COMPARING the actual thinking between the two time periods, this may be hard to convey... I think we are starting to split hairs...but rather the general outlook and approach to design as based/influenced on the particular conditions placed upon each. Honestly, I couldn't disagree with you more. I believe there are many talented architects working today who are quite aware of the business end, they have to be if they wish to stay in the profession, while at the same time acutely sensitive to all of the same aspects OF DESIGN on many levels as the "golden age" designers.
Sorry, but I don't think modern golf course design is all that different than it was back then. Sure the conditions have changed as we have discussed and those are a given, but not the act...the philosophy of design IMO. Now I said design, not the issues that affected each group of architects. The modern architects have more to deal with, we have established that such that it affects their thinking, it causes us to overthink, some at least, or as Jim T noted, maybe "overadd" elements that really shouldn't be there in the first place. To me, the process of design, when I "think" about it and experience it from day to day whether I am in the office or on the site doesn't change, just the varying conditions under which I am working or designing.
To a small degree... I see your point about the bottom line, but I think if you posed this same thought to some of the notable architects, easily those who post on this site they would never agree with you. Okay yeah, it is in the mix, but there is a balancing act on most projects, but to me, design must always come before the bottom line. I think there is always a way to achieve at least the flavor of a great design idea if one looks hard enough rather than blow it off because it hasn't got a chance due to the bottom line being compromised.
It is probably in the back of the modern architects mind, not all I assure you, but if any practicing architect is choked with the bottom line and drops their creativity as a result then they are not doing their best work and you don't want them on your project.
I don't think the developers or the architects need to have a different mindset either. They simply have to learn a few more important issues and be more creative with respect to achieving their and their client's goals. At minimum, don't you think us modern guys have the same base line set of goals and objectives as the dead guys? Do you REALLY think design in its pure form has changed that much? If so, I think you are perhaps more cynical than I am.
Your last thought however, you have a point there. But in their defense, we are designers, are we the ones responsible for generating the business plans? Are we supposed to go out and establish the market segment and determine the proforma from which to base the development plan against? I could go on, but there are many third party professionals who do this type of work long before the architect sets foot in the door.
Hey John, I'm not trying to beat this thing up, but it is an interesting thread and I am one of those "modern guys" and I do think a lot about design, now, back then, and everything in between, that is what I love about it so much, my design thoughts are not limited to any one period of time and even that changes from site to site.