The Harmony Club?

[Jason Blasberg]

Anyone have any information on the status of this project?  Last I heard the financing had stalled but I was wondering with the new golf season upon us if there any been any progress toward actually breaking ground on course construction.  

[John_Cullum]

The report I got back in September was that the whole project is dead.

[Jason Blasberg]

That's a shame.  I jet skied around the water front part of the property in the Fall and there was no activity at all.

[John Kirk]

Tha last discussion about the Harmony Club was quite heated.  Not all posts from that thread are still there:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=16169

The project has been removed from Renaissance Golf's website.

[John Kavanaugh]

Isn't it funny that something about this project never smelled right from the beginning...I rembember when I almost by accident called it a pipe dream and got reamed.  Pdrake got thrown off the site for his opinions...I wonder if he deserves an apology..

[Carlyle Rood]

Isn't it funny that something about this project never smelled right from the beginning...I rembember when I almost by accident called it a pipe dream and got reamed.  Pdrake got thrown off the site for his opinions...I wonder if he deserves an apology..

The Harmony Club was a good idea.  I met the principals involved.  I walked the site.  I liked what I saw.  I liked what I heard.  I wish I had the time and means to commit to such a project.

It may have been a good idea before its time, though.  It's a rapidly growing area; but, there is a lot of competition as well.  It may be a more viable project ten years from now.

I wasn't familiar with pdrake's comments until I read them this afternoon.  I don't think an apology is necessary.

I've often thought that anonymity actually inhibits expression on this board.  It allows a few knuckleheads to dominate and bully conversations while hiding behind their cloak.

Stand behind your comments.  Show some conviction.  Own your words.  Be accountable.

[John Kavanaugh]

Carlyle,

I just re-read every one of PDrake's comments...Please show me one thing out of line Mr. Drake said...I believe that is his name as much as I believe Rood is yours..

[Carlyle Rood]

Carlyle,

I just re-read every one of PDrake's comments...Please show me one out of line Mr. Drake said...I believe that is his name as much as I believe Rood is yours..

I didn't really want to relive his posts; but, per your request, pdrake's first comment follows.

must be a really tough sell if they cannot drum up 100 members for a club in the south............I would be really nervous joining such a club

In this one careless statement--and this is his ENTIRE insight--he inferred that this was a rotten idea with little viable financial support or enthusiasm.

He made his comments without inquiring how many members had previously committed.  Heck, he doesn't explain why 100 members is even a valid threshold.  He explains he would be hesitant to join such a club; but, he doesn't really elaborate why.  It's a "tough sell?"  He is "really nervous?"  Those are pretty remarkable statements until you consider how superficial his perspective is.

A lot of very good people had committed a tremendous amount of time and money to realize a dream of theirs.  Then some knucklehead barfs out some stupid, reckless, and irresponsible comments.  These poor people were compelled to defend themselves and their project.

pdrake elected to be a Guest on the site.  Fine.  Behave like a guest.

As far as acronyms or abbreviated names, I don't think they carry the same accountability, JakaB.  I think you just miss your alias.

CRood

[Mike_Young]

Carlyle,
How are you.  
I do think PDrake was knucklehead and I do think he may have known more than he was letting be known at the time.
Take care,
Mike

[Brent Hutto]

must be a really tough sell if they cannot drum up 100 members for a club in the south............I would be really nervous joining such a club

In this one careless statement--and this is his ENTIRE insight--he inferred that this was a rotten idea with little viable financial support or enthusiasm.

Surely you jest.

That is about the mildest criticism I can imagine "pdrake" issuing if he/she/it really thought the Harmony Club was a bad idea. Any idea that could be harmed by one anonymous individual saying it didn't seem viable...well, doesn't seem viable does it?

And BTW, "pdrake" didn't infer (or imply for that matter) that it was a bad idea, he/she/it flatly stated that it would be a mistake to sign up. What makes "pdrake" so influential that a statement like that will scare off all the rich guys who might otherwise invest in the Harmony Club? I think you're giving "pdrake" entirely too much credit.

[John Kavanaugh]

pdrake elected to be a Guest on the site.  Fine.  Behave like a guest.

PDrake did not choose to become a guest...he was thrown off the site because he dared to question the viability of a Doak course.  I met the head guy myself during the first Dixie Cup...What a nice and generous host he was...I'm sorry midnight struck too soon on his dream.  

[Jason Blasberg]

I can certainly echo John's last comments about the principals', they were very gracious and from what I saw knowledgable.  The project as a whole was great IMO b.c it would have been a great addition and the only non-real estate private club in the area.  With Cuscowilla, it would have been an incredible one-two combo.

Perhaps there's a future for the property, it's too bad it didn't work and I can't help but think if the principals funded construction they would have had something very special, that would have worked economically.  

[Brad Tufts]

I don't have anything to add about the Harmony Club, but I didn't remember seeing the comments by the aforementioned pdrake, so a couple of thoughts:

I don't think it was his comments about the club that would have rubbed me the wrong way.  He had an opinion, and he stated it.  However, the whole time it seemed like he was hiding something.  The way to express a strong/controversial opinion is to realize that every other poster might say you are all wet.  Pdrake's problem seemed to be his lack of humility.

The only time he crossed the line in my opinion were the comments surrounding the Secession benefactor.  For someone who he apparently considered a friend, he sure was sarcastic about his legacy.  I don't think those club politics had a place on here.....

But....just an impartial observation here....

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

jason, I was at Cuscowilla over the weekend and also saw the great Mike Young's work as well. I really like Mike's project at Madisonville. I heard from several people that the Harmony Club was in slow motion right now.

[Jason Blasberg]

Tiger:

I'm anxious to see Mike's work in Madison.  Is the course open?

Jason

[jeffwarne]

I spent extensive time with Kent Hassel from the Harmony Club. First as a candidate to join (which I did) later as a representative for an individual interested in investing/potentially buying out the project.
Seemed like a good guy with a good idea on a good site.
Perhaps a dreamer, but show me a great project which wasn't hatched from a dream.
Anyone familiar with Augusta National's history knows how close it came to going under many times.


Funny that what seemed like something that would be embraced by members of this site was not. (although many were verbally supportive)
It was my best investment of 2004/2005 as my check was returned + interest.

It did seem to me that Pdrake's comments were uncalled for or at least could've been phrased better-(perhaps he did know something I didn't know)

[Tom_Doak]

Believe it or not, the project may yet happen someday.  The original client group has been negotiating to sign over their lease with two or three suitors who want to develop the golf as planned ... one of those suitors would be particularly interesting.  It will either get worked out in the next couple of months, or we can pronounce it dead for good.

The controversial post here about the course was difficult for me to deal with.  By then it was apparent that the project was stalled short of selling enough memberships to be built, but that was due primarily to the client's lack of experience in setting up such a deal -- I've had it happen three times before, including what is now Erin Hills.  The client was naturally touchy about it because he was still hopeful about it; however, there was certainly no wrongdoing, as Mr. Drake implied somewhere in that thread.

As an architect I was stuck in the middle -- I'm getting paid by the client and he naturally wants me to be upbeat about the prospects of getting it built, even if the reality is looking a bit different.  Younger architects face this more frequently and do everything they can to make their projects happen; big-name architects just let their name do the talking and don't worry when projects fall through the cracks.  Again, I'm somewhere in the middle ... we want our projects to happen, but if I had the time to find funding for each of them, I'd be making developer money and not architect money!  

[Gary Daughters]

Too bad it hasn't worked out, because I think it was a neat idea.

This is not meant to trivialize, but the branding of the project seemed suspect to me.  Can something that seemingly minor contribute to a lack of success?

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