We collectively cover a lot of ground, but tend to gravitate to the same favourites over and over in discussion. Who are we missing?

I remember going out to play High Pointe when it first was opened to see a course by a (then) unknown designer who did something completely different. I really enjoyed the way the course played and the difference between it and most everything else new I had seen.

Tom has obviously continued to do great work, and we have all given Coore and Crenshaw there well deserved due for excellence. We have read/shared/seen work by Hanse, DeVries, and many others who we find inspirational for their personal approach to design.

I have enjoyed the occasional posting about the work of Jeff Brauer, Rod Whitman, Proctor and Axland, Kyle Phillips, Todd Eckinrode, Brian Silva, David Kidd, and Jim Engh.

What about Curley and Schmidt, Stephen Kay, John Fought, Robin Nelson, Rick Phelps, Gary Panks, Forrest Richardson, Keith Foster or even a lesser known like Scot Sherman, or even Art Schaupeter. What are they doing that is interesting or different? Is any of them going to give us the next great project? Is there another David Kidd just waiting to happen?

Who are we missing, by always gravitating to what we know, rather than finding the next interesting designer or course?

Ian, I have to go out for a bit, but when I get back, I'll post on some.

Ian,

Funny you should mention Scot Sherman.  When I talk about the work done at White Manor, I always say Bobby and Scot, because I really believe Scot Sherman had a lot to do with the finish result.  Bobby spent a lot of time on the site and I think flew in about every other week, but Scot was the on-sight guy and was there almost everyday during the project.  I think a lot of the credit for the finish and detail has to go to him.  I am looking forward to see some other projects from Scot in the future.  

Jason

Ian,

I have a feeling that most of the people you're looking for were at Archipalooza I or II.  However, I don't know which of them have had the opportunity to build something which will make them better known.

Ian,

I also really like to hear and see the before and after pictures and comments about renovations/restorations. While new courses seem to involve environmental issues as the antagonist, existing courses have a whole list of antagonist from old vs new members, architect vs a variety of things, tree huggers vs tree choppers, distance vs quirk....

I am just starting to begin research on a piece on such a project, and hope to post a "In My Opinion" piece in the 1st quarter of 2005.

I personally think this should be a separate section that Green Chairmen and Supers could use. Maybe you can start the ball with Ran and formalize the Scranton threads?

 I look forward to checking out some of Kelly Blake Moran's work.

RJ:  There are a number of problems with your post above.

There are projects like Wild Horse everywhere, although few of them are on as good a piece of land as Wild Horse; I mean projects which have minimal funding and need an architect to work for less than they should get.  These are great opportunities for people like Dave and Dan to show what they can do, but after one or two of them, most architects would like to graduate to better-paying jobs.

Once you get to well-funded projects, then most developers are not looking for an "up and coming" architect; they'd prefer someone who is already well known, for obvious reasons.

I am completely aware that one reason people like Dan and Dave and Rod can't find great new jobs is because Bill Coore and I are ahead of them on the list of minimalist designers, and we get first crack at the best projects.  I do feel slightly guilty about that, except I'm sure most of the next generation would be taking those jobs away from me, if our positions were reversed; and I believe that some of the best young people in the business are working for me.

Also, I don't feel so guilty about our current status because Bill and Ben and I were pretty instrumental in developing [or at least selling] minimalism as a style.  It would be different if the other guys you name were doing something really different, but if they were, then we wouldn't be holding them back.

I also don't really agree with you that a young architect can make a big name for himself in the restoration / remodel arena.   Who in your experience has done that?  Ron Prichard and Ron Forse haven't gotten any new work based on all their remodeling, and my best analysis is that only one of my new-course clients was even slightly impressed by the consulting work we had done.  It's just an entirely different arena.

hey ian old buddy.....i hope in the coming year we might get together to play one of our venues ,hopefully yours in summer and mine in winter  

...and then i could tell you about an exciting new course we have planned for the low country....its got 60 acres of dikes and faux ricefields ,in a raynor meets mackenzie format ,with secret hatches to access the back tees, three computerized geysers as hazards , two holes play around a faux oblique dune and oh , did i mention the windmill ?

all the best , p ;)ul

My favorite course in Minnesota, the Classic at Maddens, was designed by the greenskeeper, Scott Hoffmann.  

http://www.maddens.com/page/174-5661.htm

I do not know if he has designed anything else, but I would like to see him have the opportunity.

In the world scale of things I suppose Donald Steel is an ELSE, but in the UK he and Martin Hawtree are about as well-known as any natives.  Dave Thomas has quite a portfolio of fairly high profile courses completed throughout Europe and David Williams seems to be landing some (by our scale of things) quite well-funded designs.  Peter McEvoy, too, has landed some nice jobs, such as Powerscourt.  What most of our designers spend most of their time doing is modification either to adapt to the present day game or to address safety issues - rebunkering, re-routing away from roads and paths, and reshaping to avoid the wear and tear caused by buggies and trolleys all using the same route on the course.

Perhaps the most likely candidate for future fame over here is the Faldo team - their work (what little of it I know) does seem to have individuality.  Otherwise we seem to be importing architects for the big-money projects - Kingsbarns, Dundonald, K-Club, Mount Juliet, The Wisley, East Sussex, The London, The Oxfordshire, Loch Lomond.....  I wonder what a native architect might have come up with on the same sites?

Id like to see more of

Joel  Goldstrand  at  Dakota Winds
Bobby  Weed
Kelly Blake Moran
Doug Carrick and co.
Davis Love /  Paul  Cowley

Will KB Moran's Goshenhoppen GC ever get approved to be built?  The site looks pretty good in pictures, rolling farmland.

Will KB Moran's Goshenhoppen GC ever get approved to be built?  The site looks pretty good in pictures, rolling farmland.

There is about a 95% chance that my partner Rich will get a bid that he can't/would be stupid to say no to from a larger developer.

Thus, new developer, new plans. I agree with the above and I hope Kelly gets the "perfect" site someday, as I think he is talented and creative. Same as some of his post here   .