"AR's designation as the first architect was the expedient choice, you have to start somewhere when establishing a profession."
Jim:
I realize you have to start somewhere in establishing the beginning of a profession and I think AR and what he did is a fine place to start.
But I do hear Sean Arble's point that if you just lay holes on the ground without actually building anything (as C&C apparently did with 17 greens at Sand Hills that reputedly cost about $300-400 each to do) are you actually doing golf course architecture?
Well, I guess so and I do realize this kind of thing can cut a whole lot of different ways depending on how anyone looks at it.
Years ago when I felt I had C&C lined up to do that Ardrossan Farm project I got a call from this guy who was apparently the representative of some soup to nuts California architect. He asked me if he could come over to my house and talk to me about the project and so I told him sure why not.
So he came over with all these brochures and such and photos and sample plans and then he told me I shouldn't hire Coore and Crenshaw. So I asked him why not. He told me because they weren't really architects! I said: "Oh really, then how have they managed to produce a bunch of golf courses?" He said they were only golf course designers, not really golf course architects.
At that point I told him I was a bit pressed for time because I had to milk the Llamas and give the peacocks their bath. So he left and that was the last I saw him.
So I don't know, maybe my good friend Bill Coore is nothing much more than one of those Scottish sheepherders from the 16th century knocking a rock around and into a rabbit hole with his staff but somehow I think he must be a bit more than that, don't you?