Are you no more than a vapid voice echoing in the empty halls of golf?

[John Kavanaugh]

That is how I feel.  The more I protest against all I see wrong with those whose voices are heard the more I see myself in those who embarrass me to be seen as a golfer. We all want the same thing, great golf without sacrifice. No sacrifice of time, travel or turpitude. I was recently taught the parable of "The first shall be last and the last shall be first".  Damnit, I'm sick of being first.

[Ben Sims]

Happy New Year John.  

Growing up sucks.  It's the worst thing that's ever happened to me.

And to answer your question, yes, I do.  Don't know how to change it yet.

[John Kavanaugh]

It's hard to be that guy everyone wants to be when you are tired of being that guy yourself.

[Sam Morrow]

It's hard to be that guy everyone wants to be when you are tired of being that guy yourself.

Welcome to my world.

[Steve Lang]

  JK, Your spirit serves the Discussion Group well..

Bright moments for 2012

[Mac Plumart]

This sounds like it could be a great thread, if I could just figure out what the heck you are saying.

[John Kavanaugh]

This sounds like it could be a great thread, if I could just figure out what the heck you are saying.

If there is one thing I have learned after more than 50 years of speaking it is not so much what I am saying as what you are hearing.  You tell me.

[Jim_Kennedy]

If there is one thing I have learned after more than 50 years of speaking it is not so much what I am saying as what you are hearing.  You tell me.

Spoken like the Oracle of Delphi Illinois. 

Happy New Year.

p.s. it all gets better in a few days, as soon as the holidays are behind us.

[Mike Sweeney]

Damnit, I'm sick of being first.

Please tell us two things that you have done first in golf.

[JC Jones]

Mike,

Consider these two rules from Ran in his most recent State of the Website:

1) Before typing, decide if you are adding to the study of golf course architecture. If not, pause until you are, as this is a golf architecture web site. Sexy here are things like Little Aston, De Pan and Yeamans Hall.

3) Before hitting the Post button consider the tone of your post. Does it encourage others to participate or is its purpose to prove that you are the World’s Smartest Man (the title of World’s Most Interesting Man is already taken)? If you are discussing a subject matter you are likely fine. If you are addressing the perceived ignorance of another human being then you are likely less fine.

[Mike Sweeney]

JC,

John grew up in the same house as a professional golf architect and is now single handedly trying to save the "second club" in every town in the Midwest. After he sobers up from last night's "drinking and posting" session, I genuinely would like to know.

[Mike_Young]

JK...
Get with it for the New Year
remember this come on:
"Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a confession of the deficiency it indicates.  He who undervalues himself is justly overvalued by others. "
 

[Terry Lavin]

I, too, am sick of myself, but mostly because I'm running for election. This entails the dreaded three minute stump speech about my hardscrabble youth and my brilliant career. Tomorrow, I return home from Miami after a week at the pool, only to be greeted by a newly erected 60 x 30 foot billboard of my corpulent self on the Kennedy Expy close to downtown Chicago. Makes me yearn for the open range where nobody knows my name or my swollen countenance.  Nah.  Just kidding.

But I have to ask: is this sort if soul searching the by-product of the Kumbaya thread Ran posted?  Sheesh, I hope not.

[Mike_Young]

Terry,
Would be so kind as to take a quick foto of the bill board for myself and Allen so that we can show our friends we really did play with a Chicago judge....they just can't believe it...

[Adam Clayman]

In the immortal words of John Kirk;

Feelings, whoa whoa whoa...

[Sam Morrow]

I, too, am sick of myself, but mostly because I'm running for election. This entails the dreaded three minute stump speech about my hardscrabble youth and my brilliant career. Tomorrow, I return home from Miami after a week at the pool, only to be greeted by a newly erected 60 x 30 foot billboard of my corpulent self on the Kennedy Expy close to downtown Chicago. Makes me yearn for the open range where nobody knows my name or my swollen countenance.  Nah.  Just kidding.

But I have to ask: is this sort if soul searching the by-product of the Kumbaya thread Ran posted?  Sheesh, I hope not.

Can we make donations to your campaign in exchange for golf related favors?

[Terry Lavin]

Sam,

All golf favors freely given. Just don't stone my image!

[John Kavanaugh]

 No sacrifice of time, travel or turpitude.

Could someone give an example of sacrificing turpitude? 

[Terry Lavin]

Sounds like a New Year's resolution to me. I'll give up some turpitude, iff'n I can find some.

[John Kavanaugh]

Damnit, I'm sick of being first.

Please tell us two things that you have done first in golf.

Mike,

Given your Jesuit education I am surprised at the question. I'm just trying to get back to the middle. Everything is to fragile out on the edges.

Things are looking up, JC is a member now. He wears it well.

I am curious why you would want me to name two things.

[PCCraig]

Mike,

Consider these two rules from Ran in his most recent State of the Website:

1) Before typing, decide if you are adding to the study of golf course architecture. If not, pause until you are, as this is a golf architecture web site. Sexy here are things like Little Aston, De Pan and Yeamans Hall.

3) Before hitting the Post button consider the tone of your post. Does it encourage others to participate or is its purpose to prove that you are the World’s Smartest Man (the title of World’s Most Interesting Man is already taken)? If you are discussing a subject matter you are likely fine. If you are addressing the perceived ignorance of another human being then you are likely less fine.

JC,

Perhaps John should have considered the above passage from Ran's State of the Website as well before posting pure nonsense.

[Mike Sweeney]

I am curious why you would want me to name two things.

Because I would assume that Victoria was number one. In the pre-GCA.com days most of us probably spent the majority of our golf time playing a fairly local area and then vacation golf. Sure we knew about Pebble Beach and some others, but it certainly was a different golfing climate for many of us. I lived in Boston for four years during college and only wanted to play The Country Club. Never heard of Myopia or Essex. I am sure you were not the "first" member at Victoria, but I am guessing that you were the first of your crew who probably said " oh yea he is golfing at some club in Indiana today".

In similar fashion, our Jesuit trained dentist in Southampton, NY joined Sand Hills site unseen. He was not the first, but he joined before it got ranked or had any real golf acclaim. Why? He is a golf nut and yes he knew the area from Creighton, but that is a long trip when you have 5-10 must plays within 30 minutes of your house.

Look at the joy both of those places have brought to the two of you over the years. Many friends and many former strangers that you have both hosted and played with over the years. Two guys who took a leap of faith away from their traditional circle of golfing friends before it was popular.

With your compulsiveness, I assumed that there had to be more than one.  

[Peter Pallotta]

And now you have the pleasure of thanking your many friends here, JK -- who out of respect and/or affection made something out of pretty much nothing.

Peter


"Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in!" -- Michael Corleone

[JR Potts]

No, I never attributed myself with any self-importance - especially enough of it to manipulate myself into believing that anyone cares what I have to say.

But John, I enjoy your empty voice.

[Kirk Gill]

A man said to the universe:
“Sir, I exist!"
“However,” replied the universe,
“The fact has not created in me
“A sense of obligation.”

                      -Stephen Crane