George
I am not really sure what this thread is about other than you would like folks to offer more opinions backed with substance. Of course, substance could be anything depending on whos calling it substance. Peter seems to think there is such a thing as grounded architectural principles which is difficult to argue with. Only, we can't seem to quantify, qualify or codify these principles. Well at least we can't figure out what the true basic elements are. At the most basic level members of this site are still divided if a course can be considered proper, genuine golf if the site/routing isn't reasonably walkable. To me, its a no brainer. Getting the golfer around on foot is part and parcel of good design. Some believe that getting the most spectacular golf out of the land is the most important thing. Some believe its ok to sacrifice the good walk once or perhaps twice in a round if it means an exceptional hole can therefore be included. On one level, all are correct and right. One another level, if we truly do have a "set" of principles to design by, only one or perhaps two scenarios can be correct. In reality, it doesn't work this way because the product is for golfers, not designers or their ideals of what should be. It sounds like the wild west and in truth it pretty much is when we look at what has been built.
My question would be, and remember, that I don't care how you play your golf, do the folks who encourage cart golf design by using carts often (assuming the course is not easily walkable) have any sense that the course they are playing lacks a critical element of design? My guess is that in the main stream we are so far removed from this core principle that folks don't give it a second thought.
So far as the photo deal goes, I believe some can get much more out of them from a analytical PoV than others. Just as some get more than others in a round. That isn't meant to be snooty, just that some folks look at pix with an eye to perhaps visit one day and the info gleaned could be a big part of the decision-making process.
Ciao