John K: No one is officially "asked" to join the ASGCA. You apply and then you are accepted or not. I've never applied, although I have been encouraged to apply by several members over the years, including by pretty much every member who participates here.
Tom H: Yes, every individual has personal sacred cows, that's human nature and there is no getting around it. But I am concerned that when the sacred cow belongs to one of a few Most Favored Posters, that discussion is COMPLETELY STIFLED by multiple flaming posts in all caps or even color, and that if it goes far enough, somebody will tell the teacher that so-and-so is being a bad boy.
As to those two critiques of my work:
Voytek: All the ground behind the eighth tee at Sebonack is lower, and it is all wetlands. We built it up about eight feet as you might notice on the drive in, but then the surface elevation of the pond had to be built about three feet above ground level so the bottom of the pond wasn't into the water table. It would have taken a LOT more fill to make the hole downhill and there might not have been enough room.
Shivas: For most people, that mound to the left of the fifth green at Lost Dunes is there to hold up a shot played deliberately short, if the pin is in the front of the green and the hole is downwind. But, for a selected few, it's just there to distract you from the right play.