Tim Weiman,
TEPaul has no use for Heidi Klum, she's not dead yet, and she hasn't been named a full partner in C & C either, forget him.
I on the other hand suffer no BIAS against her.
The only thing I want to hold against her is..... ME.
Tim, I haven't criticized anyone who has played a Rees Jones golf course, who made critical comments about it, or criticized any of the features on it.
If an individual has played a golf course and provides their evaluation of it, good, bad or indifferent, that is their valid opinion, and I haven't objected to it.
I have continually asked for objectivity and fairness, no more, no less, and when I perceived that either or neither existed, I said so.
I did get into lengthy discussions on Atlantic.
Some, who had never seen the course, were critical, and I thought it absurd that someone who never saw the course was evaluating it, and criticizing its playability as well.
I explained my position, on a hole by hole basis.
You may even recall the crossover issue, which I linked to the crossovers at Merion. You may also recall the multiple tee issue which I linked to the multiple tees at Aronomink.
I believe my opinions with respect to Atlantic are well documented. I gave the book, written by the developer, Lowell Schulman to many on this site.
"The Miracle on Breeze Hill" explains in great depth, that which I had tried to communicate on this site over a long period of time. I've only played Atlantic about 100 times, so I have a little more familiarity with it than those who have never played it, and I tried to discuss the course as best I could.
I also commented at length on Shadow Creek.
Here again, numerous people were bashing the golf course, yet all of them had NEVER seen it. How do you have a discussion, a debate, about the merits of a golf course, when the individuals who are commenting and bashing it have NEVER seen it. It took Tom Doak to finally come onto the site and declare that it was a very good golf course.
Then, all of a sudden, the critics went silent.
I think my record speaks for itself with respect to discussing features, holes, etc., etc., on FAZIO and JONES golf courses that I've played.
I will not comment on the design features of a course that I have not played.
Lastly, I am friendly with Rees, he is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, a gentleman, fun to be with, and competitive on the golf course, despite the fact that he lost a match on the 18th hole at Maidstone to a ball beater, a hacker, who bladed a ball out of the heavy rough near the 18th green, only to have it hit the flagstick and fall straight down into the hole. Had the ball not hit the flagstick, the Atlantic Ocean would have been its resting place.
To this day Rees regards that incident as one of his bitterest defeats.
Rees and I we were neighbors light years ago and our dads were friendly. We remain in touch with each other on a random basis. Sometimes he calls me and sometimes I call him. I discuss architectual issues, both critical and positive, with Rees, and I feel that those discussions should remain between us.
I hope that addresses the issues you raised.