Thanks for the comments.
No doubt some of the greats had (and have) a high opinion of their own work, and in the case of the greats who could (can) blame them. But what about the not-so-great architects? Do they view their courses as on par with those considered great? For example, when the junior Billy Bell (not to be confused with his more talented (IMO) father, William P. Bell) was building Torrey Pines, he favorably compared the course to Pebble Beach. Sure they are both near the Pacific Ocean, but did Bell really believe that Torrey Pines was otherwise on par with Pebble Beach? Perhaps a high opinion of one's own work allows a few to achieve greatness while condemning the rest to mediocrity.
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Thanks to Jim Nugent for posting the AWT blurb. At that point of his career AWT certainly doesn't seem to have been a big fan of The Old Course. While AWT may not quite be the exception who proves the rule, his comments almost seem to foreshadow the many decades of mediocre architecture to come. If there were really "fifty better championship tests in our own country" by 1934, imagine how many there were by 1983.
Bob Crosby and Peter Pallota, The Crane reference is interesting and one that didn't immediately come to mind, but upon further reflection I think you both may on the right track regarding AWT. (At least at this point in his career/self-promotion.) Here is AWT blurb from the next month's Golf Illustrated (July 1934) wherein AWT took on John L. Low and The Old Course, criticized bunkers in the line of play, and praised bunkers catching only "badly hit balls." As if that weren't enough, he then knocked Prestwick's Alps Hole, perhaps even suggesting it ought to be modernized to do away with the blindness.
Bob, are you aware of any direct connection between Crane's approach and AWT's?
Here is the full version of the excerpt Jim Nugent posted above . . .
John Mayhugh mentioned he would love to see the top three or five course of other architects. So would I. I'd also love to see AWT's list of fifty American courses mentioned in the highlighted portion above.