The golf Channel should devote some time in some form to Golf Architecture

[Michael Moore]

This website constantly talks about how players are not well versed in architecture, and yet you suggest they're to ones to explain architecture to the masses?

Of course this is what I am suggesting.  Golf course architecture is about "on this great-looking hole, don't hit the ball over here when the pin is over there," not about "Joe Blow designed Rolling Oaks in 1925, during the Golden Age."

To me, professional golfers seem very well-versed in golf course architecture, by definition.

[Garland Bayley]

This website constantly talks about how players are not well versed in architecture, and yet you suggest they're to ones to explain architecture to the masses?

Of course this is what I am suggesting.  Golf course architecture is about "on this great-looking hole, don't hit the ball over here when the pin is over there," not about "Joe Blow designed Rolling Oaks in 1925, during the Golden Age."

To me, professional golfers seem very well-versed in golf course architecture, by definition.

Unfortunately, the masses are not professional golfers, so professional golfers have little to offer the masses in knowledge about architecture. Sure a professional golfer can work from the green backwards on how to play a hole with his capabilities. But that does nothing for the average guy who is actually playing a different course, because he lacks the distance and the skills of professional golfer. It also does not explain why the elements of the architecture are there. It barely identifies the elements of the architecture.

[Michael Moore]

It barely identifies the elements of the architecture.

How can you tack from today's hole location to the tee without cognizance of what lies between?

[Garland Bayley]

It barely identifies the elements of the architecture.

How can you tack from today's hole location to the tee without cognizance of what lies between?

The vast majority of the courses built in the dark ages required you to play the line of instinct. The vast majority of golfers play the line of instinct. Ask them about their cognizance of what lies between.

It doesn't matter to the pro. He just goes over it all. Therefore, in essence he is playing a different course.

Tom Doak explaining what he learned about architecture by caddying for the average guy at TOC is way more informative than anything a pro may say. Some pros don't even know what match play is until they make the Ryder Cup team.