Savoring a shandy in the clubhouse afterwards, I saw Paul's evenkeeled, polite English manner decidedly turn outright hostile. A few tables over were a gaggle of "old boys" as Paul labeled them. English public school graduates, all in their 60s with wisps of gray hair, looking like rumpled muffins. The spoke with hearty laughs, wore salmon coloured trousers and seemed to be savoring their glasses of claret--here here (boisterous laugh).. Paul with his modicum of middle class equanimity almost gave them a Sicilian like sneer.
I do have a problem with anyone who thinks they can declare a split fairway built by a competent architect to not work after one play. I have seen these opinions by people who have played Victoria National once and they are dead wrong as wind and pin placements change day in and day out...not to mention tee and or drive position. I understand that Noel has an architect friend but I shared the vaginal canal with an architect and still do not have such an eye for a one time assessment.
Clearly, the above are two different styles and approaches to writing about the subject of golf and GCA. Both are great entertainment, in their very different ways. One, is a pleasurable read of wit and charm, and one usually hits you over the head like a purse with a brick in it. Both, are an expression of very active minds that either sooth or provoke. Granted, one style has the ever present possibility to rile one up to the point of being offended or question why even bother to engage this knucklehead.
But, when Dr. Childs and Mr. Freeman question why they sometimes bother to even write their opinions and express their ideas or describe their observations on this website, guys like me get anxious and are sent searching for some way to make sure that the writers in the ring find an incentive to keep writing. For many of us who aren't so well skilled to write or can't hit and run top venues in world class style, we look forward to the savory differences of prospective and expression, as we see in the above examples.
Both of you (and you too Geoff) please keep up the good work and don't be temprorarily discouraged by the opposite personality's more provocative expression. We all know the trademark styles by now and usually can put them in their proper perspective.
PS: oops, I didn't see the NAFFer's disclaimer and copyright warning. Will Shivas rep me or sue me for violation thereof?
