I might even like a Rees Jones style course, but if given the choice of playing one, or something RJ Daley told me is much better five miles down the road, I follow Daley. 10 times out of 10, to cite the standard measure of preference around here
Well Mike, I really am flattered. But, maybe the above is sort of what Mike Young is getting at...
No question in my mind, I am an aficianado. But, all I really need to be one is a ball, a club, a paid green fee (unless I'm a rater
) an enthusiasm for the subject, a web location to spout off, etc. I know what you mean by the swamis identifying themselves over time, because their enthusiasm and possibly some of their sensibilities based on evident study of the subject surfaces, the more we discuss things. No question there are those sort of fellows hanging around GCA.com (including you the bartender that also has worked in the dirt).
But, when you said you'd pass up a Rees Jones if a bloke like me said something is better down the road, 10 out of 10 times... well now that makes me keenly aware of the responsibility of gushing on and on about any certain golf courses in terms of comparing one archie's work to another as an aficianado.
Maybe the better word for Mike Y to use is: what makes a golf architecture "critic"?
As an aficianado, I think it is perhaps better to take the positive role and make positive comments about various courses we get an opportunity to play, when we feel the course merits positive comments. It wouldn't bother me if you acted affirmatively on a positive recommendation about a particular course. But, if you excluded a course only because I am an aficianado, well that might make me uncomfortable as the one spouting off, if I went negative.
But, to be a critic, one needs some sort of mantle of authority (it seems to me). Then, one can and should be negative (when poor work requires such adverse comments) to be critical of an archie's work. But as the critic, one needs more than a ball, club, paid green fee, and enthusiasm. One needs a measure of fair dinkum education and bona fides. That education can come from years of playing and studying various archie styles, reading on the subject, going to actual schooling on the subject via formal L.A. or some sort of training in GCA seminars, and , working on GC construction, etc. Various combinations of these things can work.
I think the wise archie knows his trade because he listens to the aficianado swamis and considers the source, but hopes that the real bona fide critics will be fair and responsible.