Fees are an interesting subject and unless an Architect the Fees are based upon what is required.
If the project was to survey a course, or design a course that would equate to a single price, with options/extras for site attendance, site meeting Project Management etc., etc. These options would be prices separately and be based upon a daily rate of single project/contract price. So I believe the Fees Campbell stated for Braid at Brora would be correct for a day’s visit to re-design a course.
As for design, on a blank canvas the design can come to you fast and quickly other times it could require a week plus to blend in the whole project. However an existing course can also be redesigned in a few hours by simple tweaking this or that or modifying that and this, yet the whole amount of work is not necessary earth shattering it can created a challenging and effectively a new course. Understanding Brora, it seems Braid came for the day, understood his brief, actioned it with some Members of the Committee leaving instructions as to what was to be done and how and left the club and its Green Keeper to complete the work he advised. From the records the club was more than pleased with the finished article, proving that we should avoid placing our interpretations on events that we were not party to the clients requirements and their instructions.
Time in design is not an issue it materialises when it materialises, the actual work to convert instructions/design can be quantified be its days weeks or months depending upon the amount of alterations. Also not forgetting if the client wanted to pay more to have the designer Project Manage or oversee the project he can do so but apparently at Brora this was not required.
It’s a question of interpretation, so I say it’s a daily fee and Niall I would always like to be paid in guineas 21 shillings vs. 20. 20 guineas equates to £21 but what a nice way to charge, so less vulgar too.