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Rick Baril

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New member introduction
« on: November 20, 2012, 07:50:41 AM »
Greetings!  My name is Rick Baril.  I live in Houston and am a partner at von Hagge, Smelek and Baril and (full disclosure) a card carrying ASGCA member.

My parents were both avid golfers.  I started golf at 6 yrs old.  My golfing abilities peaked in college, where I gallantly labored to get my handicap as low as my GPA.  And, I would have been successful too, had the Dean not discovered my objective.  Eventually, he convinced me that my time (and tuition) would be better spent in the classroom.   

I graduated with a Landscape Architecture degree, thinking to pursue a career in land planning.  Mike Smelek (college mate) called to ask if I would be interested in working for “von Hagge and Devlin”, where he had started working a year earlier.  That was 31 years ago.
Working in the golf industry has been extraordinarily rewarding.    I feel very fortunate, traveling and working in golf, and being exposed to much variety in golf and cultures.

I want to thank Ran for allowing me to join GCAtlas, and also want to thank everyone that contributes to GCAtlas.  I appreciate the site’s lively discourse about GCA.  In joining GCAtlas, my objective is to continue learning about GCA. 

Regards, 
Rick
We're here because we aren't all there!

Mike Nuzzo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2012, 08:48:33 AM »
Welcome Rick
Please share some of your abroad experiences and your time with Mr. von Hagge.
Cheers
Mike
Thinking of Bob, Rihc, Bill, George, Neil, Dr. Childs, & Tiger.

paul cowley

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Re: New member introduction
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2012, 08:48:56 AM »
Welcome aboard Rick!
paul cowley...golf course architect/asgca

Bill_McBride

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Re: New member introduction
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2012, 08:51:53 AM »
Hello and welcome, Rick.  Can you give us a run down on what's going on with your business?

Ian Andrew

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Re: New member introduction
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2012, 09:11:55 AM »
Rick,

Welcome my friend.

We need a thread on Stensballegaard Golf

Regards,

Ian
With every golf development bubble, the end was unexpected and brutal....

Randy Thompson

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Re: New member introduction
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2012, 10:12:35 AM »
Hey Rick,
Welcome, look forward to your participation!
Randy

PCCraig

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Re: New member introduction
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2012, 12:20:25 PM »
Welcome!
H.P.S.

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2012, 01:22:37 PM »
Hi Rick:

What are you working on these days?

Peter Pallotta

Re: New member introduction
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2012, 01:43:17 PM »
Rick - welcome.

"In joining GCAtlas, my objective is to continue learning about GCA".

That is charmingly modest of you to say, but if you mean it you've come to the right place -- there are about 1400 amateurs here just dying to tell professionals with 30+ years experience what gca is really all about !!

Best
Peter

Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2012, 02:14:16 PM »
Rick - welcome.

"In joining GCAtlas, my objective is to continue learning about GCA".

That is charmingly modest of you to say, but if you mean it you've come to the right place -- there are about 1400 amateurs here just dying to tell professionals with 30+ years experience what gca is really all about !!

Best
Peter

 ;D  and another  ;D





Wellcome Rick, thanks for checking into the institution.
Let's make GCA grate again!

Terry Lavin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2012, 05:14:00 PM »
Shite, another guy who knows the topic. Allow me to simultaneously welcome you and apologize in advance for not knowing what I'm talking about!
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.  H.L. Mencken

Ulrich Mayring

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2012, 06:17:24 PM »
Rick, did you work at Emporda?

Ulrich
Golf Course Exposé (300+ courses reviewed), Golf CV (how I keep track of 'em)

Rick Baril

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2012, 08:39:33 PM »
Hi Mike how have you been?  Your question seems simple but covers a long period of time.  Here's the "Readers Digest" version: I worked on all the golf courses we did in Europe, two courses in Mexico (I have a great souvenir from one of them) and two courses in Jamaica (if it can be considered "abroad"?).  We started working in Europe with "land line" telephones and we bought a telex so we could communicate with our first European client...  Shocking right?  It was different than today - believe me.  There's plenty more.  But, I didn't quite comprehend I would be responding to so many inquiries....  Hope this is okay for now...

Thanks for the greeting Paul.  Hope you are well! 

Mr. McBride,
I'm not sure we are much different than many other firms.  We just completed a renovation at Pelican Marsh.  We are working on "El Zafiro" in Mexico and we hope "Les Bordes" will start next year in France.  We have two "new" projects in Europe going through entitlements, which we are not able publicize yet.  We hope to start the final 9-holes at Le Kempferhof - Strasbourg, France next year.  We seem to find ourselves helping many clients with small amendments during this time.  And, there are some other things we aren't ready to talk about...  (A long time ago, we agreed to keep our public announcements as "real" as possible.  So, we are pretty conservative about what we announce publicly. If you knew how many projects we look at and talk about - and how many are actually realized - you would understand.)

We're grateful for the work we have but could accommodate more...  Sound familiar?

Ian my friend, how are you?  I find it comforting you are up North - looking down on us!  Stensballegaard thread - duly noted.  When I figure out what the heck I've gotten myself into, I will certainly try that...  Take care...

Randy - my friend!  It's also been a long time.  For casual onlookers - many moons ago, Randy came to the rescue in the South of France.  I haven't forgotten.  Hope you are doing well!  Thanks for the greeting!

PCC - thank you for the welcome!

Tom, I think/hope I've answered your question also above...  Perhaps, I could add many personal items to the list.... But, I'll probably wait until I understand this forum better....

PPallota,  I'm still learning - it's genuine.  Believe me, I don't have all the answers.  But, if someone here does - it will sure save me alot of time...

Terry Lavin - I'm here to learn like you...

Ulrich Mayring - Yes.  Like I said above, I worked on all our European projects.

Sorry if the answers were short.  But, I shouldn't have done a new member intro and then gone AWOL.... 

Thank you for making me feel welcome.  I really do hope to contribute more....  I just hope I can keep up....   

We're here because we aren't all there!

Stephen Davis

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2012, 10:19:10 PM »
Great introduction. I know you have a lot to add to this forum and I am excited to hear more from you in the future.

Sam Morrow

Re: New member introduction
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2012, 10:25:37 PM »
Glad to have another Houston guy on board.

Rick Baril

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #15 on: November 21, 2012, 07:31:24 AM »
Glad to have another Houston guy on board.

Thank you Mr. Morrow - and I'm using the "Houston guy" description with my wife - who often describes me as "anywhere in the world but Houston" guy...
We're here because we aren't all there!

Christoph Meister

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #16 on: November 21, 2012, 12:10:31 PM »
Hi Rick,

Great to see you on here! It was an outmost pleasure meeting you and talking with you at Stensballegaard (Denmark - no rakes in the bunker like 90 years ago) this August and I hope that you will swing these hickory golf clubs with us again next year. Looking forward to your contributions here given all your experience as a golf course architect.

Cheers, Skol and Prosit! Keep well!

Christoph
Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Ulrich Mayring

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #17 on: November 21, 2012, 01:08:08 PM »
Rick,

not to worry, most of us are AWOL at some point and can't respond to one or the other threads. That is not considered to be a lack of etiquette or anything, it is just the normal way of life. The reason why so many people are asking so many questions of you at this time is simply that many of us know your name and perhaps some of your work, so we're curious, that's all.

Take it easy for starters, here's a welcome picture that should be vaguely familiar :)



Ulrich
Golf Course Exposé (300+ courses reviewed), Golf CV (how I keep track of 'em)

Lester George

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #18 on: November 21, 2012, 03:23:44 PM »
Welcome Rick my friend.  This DG just got better.  Hope to see you and Mike soon.

Lester

Bill_McBride

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Re: New member introduction
« Reply #19 on: November 21, 2012, 05:26:50 PM »
Rick, thanks for the rundown.   Although I'm in the building construction business, it sounds familiar.  We too are finding a different mix of business, some away from home, some renovations, not much new construction at home.  The good news is things are looking up and I hope that carries through for everybody here as they make a living doing what they love to do. 

By the way, no "Mr."s here please!  Informality is the rule, even when fights break out!

Gary Slatter

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #20 on: November 21, 2012, 05:56:38 PM »
Hello Rick:
your version of Cinnamon Hill is still superb, a fun tour of the north shore of Jamaica! 
Glad to see you've been busy, you should be!
Gary
Gary Slatter
gary.slatter@raffles.com

Sam Morrow

Re: New member introduction
« Reply #21 on: November 21, 2012, 10:45:31 PM »
Glad to have another Houston guy on board.

Thank you Mr. Morrow - and I'm using the "Houston guy" description with my wife - who often describes me as "anywhere in the world but Houston" guy...

Nobody calls me Mr, unless I'm making a scene.

David Davis

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #22 on: November 22, 2012, 06:33:20 AM »
Rick, welcome and greetings from of all places Europe, no not the islands, the real thing. Am I correct in assuming you guys have somehow avoided setting foot in The Benelux or is there something I'm missing?

I too welcome the sharing of your knowledge + the new course at Les Bordes.

Ulrich, that's a pretty fancy 3 wheeled golf cart you have not to mention your 14th club, do you utilize that one when taking penalty drops as well? ;-)
Sharing the greatest experiences in golf.

IG: @top100golftraveler
www.lockharttravelclub.com

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: New member introduction
« Reply #23 on: November 22, 2012, 01:39:46 PM »
Welcome!

Like clockwork.

You had me fooled first time I looked at the thread Pat. But, I see now that you are Portland Community College.
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

noonan

Re: New member introduction
« Reply #24 on: November 22, 2012, 01:45:29 PM »
Welcome to the group!

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