George Bahto

[Ran Morrissett]

George Bahto, an inspiration and hero to so many of us, is quite sick.
 
He has chosen to receive only palliative therapy. While your first instinct might be to call him, a flood of calls would be exhausting. With the consent of George's wife and his four daughters, this thread will allow us to send our best wishes to George and his family as he fights on. It is meant to be a great place to share your favorite ‘Uncle George’ stories. The only things George talks about more than NGLA are his daughters Georgiana, Debbie, Pam and Danielle. When asked to pick his favorite hole at NGLA, he once responded, 'I can't - it's like picking a favorite daughter!'

Down Under in 1999, I began communicating with this larger than life dry cleaner from New Jersey within 30 days of starting GolfClubAtlas.com. His treatise on ‘The Legend of the Knoll’ was the first package that this web site generated when he mailed it to me half way around the globe. Like many of you, I have spent a number of happy hours in his company. That’s easy to do because he is such a positive, engaging force who readily shares his thoughts and research. Be it at Yale, Yeamans or Old Macdonald, I have struggled to keep up with George's boundless energy. All the sunset photos in the Old Macdonald profile were taken with his assistance as we carted around the course amid perfect late afternoon light three days before the course officially opened. On that day in 2010 he was so pleased and so grateful to Mike Keiser for being included in such a meaningful way. This octogenarian was the proverbial kid in a candy store that afternoon exhibiting what he always did – an infectious and unbridled energy for life. Witnessing so many of CBM's principles so sympathetically translated into the Oregon coastal landscape was a dream come true for him - and in turn for us.
 
I have never seen a second career like George’s.  This “curtain call” enriched all students of golf architecture and The Evangelist of Golf immortalizes his contributions to our favorite pastime.   If only we could all be so lucky! It was a great thing that Sleepy Hollow did when they awarded him an honorary membership. A class act from a class club for a world-class guy. Of course, none of this hardly even matters to his family; they know him most importantly as a great husband and father. And we can all add to that, great friend.
 
GBGB, God Bless George Bahto.

Best,

[Joel_Stewart]

From California, best wishes to George and his family.

[Jimmy Muratt]

My thoughts and prayers go out to George and his family.  Few have the passion and knowledge about golf architecture that George possesses.  The routing plan of National that he did for me several years ago remains one of my very favorite possessions.  All the best to George....

Jimmy

[Garland Bayley]

My prayers and thoughts are with you at this time George. Every time I see The Evangelist of Golf on my bookshelf I think fondly of the good work you have done.

Garland

[Eric Smith]

Get well soon, George. I'm still counting on you to help me with St. Alberts, you know! [Although you probably didn't expect that it was going to take this long.]

[Bill_McBride]

One of my best memories is the day I hiked around the Renaissance Club in Scotland with George, chatting while trying to keep up with Tom Doak's tour of the new course.  George is such a warm and friendly guy. Hang in there friend. 

[Jamie Pyper]

I met George three years ago at Old MacDonald with Tom Doak and company.  We chatted before my round about the characteristics of the newly opened course and again afterwards in the tiny clubhouse about my thoughts on the design. I bought his book "The Evangelist of Golf" right off the pro shop shelf with him sitting beside me. He appeared to me to be a man passionate about his input and contribution to the course and his "new found" brotherhood of golf geeks through his writings on CBM. He was proud of punch that his late career change influenced many others. His heart-felt desire to get the details right left a lasting impression on me.

Bless you George

[Jud_T]

Best wishes.  As someone who has several ailing family members I sympathize with what you and your family are going through.  George has had a great influence both here and in the larger world of golf and his legacy will live on with all of us who have been touched by his passion, dedication and intelligence.

[Terry Lavin]

I met George three years ago at Old MacDonald with Tom Doak and company.  We chatted before my round about the characteristics of the newly opened course and again afterwards in the tiny clubhouse about my thoughts on the design. I bought his book "The Evangelist of Golf" right off the pro shop shelf with him sitting beside me. He appeared to me to be a man passionate about his input and contribution to the course and his "new found" brotherhood of golf geeks through his writings on CBM. He was proud of punch that his late career change influenced many others. His heart-felt desire to get the details right left a lasting impression on me.

Bless you George

I had the exact same experience at Old Macdonald.  What a great man.  Meeting him and getting to know him was the highlight of that particular Bandon trip.

[Peter Pallotta]

To George's family:

I've never met your father and husband, but I've been on this site for years and years, and his name and his work have been mentioned at least a thousand times and in countless threads, and in all those years and all those threads I can't remember even one single post by one single person that didn't show how much he was and is respected and admired and appreciated and loved. There was never a single negative word about George B (and believe me, that is truly remarkable -- as we have a lot of negative people around here, and they aren't shy about speaking up!  ) The world (especially this little corner of it) thinks the world of your husband and father.   

George, good and healing thoughts to you, from me, a stranger.

Best
Peter

[Mike Nuzzo]

Dear George,
I am so fortunate for getting your personal tour of The Knoll.
It was always a great treat to share time with you at the NJ gatherings.
You have had an impact on my life and career, both historically and personally - thank you.
I love my Evangelist and have slowed giving away spare copies as gifts since their true value has been revealed.
Peace & Love
Mike Nuzzo

[Chris Johnston]

George,

You are a first class gentleman in and out of golf.  You will be in my prayers, and here's hoping for a fast recovery!  

CJ

[Mike_Young]

George,

Have always enjoyed our talks.  Sending prayers your way.

Mike Young

[Ed Oden]

To George and his family, you will all be in my thoughts and prayers.  My communications with George were limited, but they always left me looking forward to the next exchange.  A fountain of knowledge and enthusiasm.  I'm not sure which flowed stronger.

All the best,

Ed

[Mike Hendren]

George, I have little doubt that you will be healed.  My prayer is that it will be in this lifetime. I wish you and your family grace and courage for the living of each day.

Mike Hendren

[Ian Andrew]

George,

I'm an admirer of his work.

I've had so many wonderful conversations about golf architecture with George. I enjoyed the fact that we always manage to somehow cross paths. I enjoy talking about his work or we enjoy talking about the work of others. He is a keen observer, something I enjoy. The most recent was my opportunity to praise his outstanding work at Sleepy Hollow and look for some advice on Knollwood.

George was kind enough to go through my nine pages of research quotes and conclusions to help solve the riddle of who designed each hole and green at Knollwood. It didn't matter much, in the great scheme of things to more than a handful of people, but I think we enjoyed breaking it down to that much detail.

I trust George's knowledge, research and reasoning.

As I said at the beginning, I am an admirer of his work both written and built.

My thoughts are with everyone and particularly my friend George..


Sincerely,

Ian Andrew

[Gib_Papazian]

Uncle George,

I awarded myself special dispensation and left a message on both numbers. There is little to say at this moment except that you literally changed my life and I forever owe an incomprehensible amount of gratitude for honoring me with your wisdom, knowledge and friendship. I studied at the feet of the ultimate scholar on a subject dear to my heart. I thank you. Please call . . . . . . .

As for composing a "George story," I will first have to gather myself before tackling that one.    

[George Pazin]

George, my first exposure to you on this site was through your first Feature Interview; in my opinion, that interview is THE gold standard that all other interviews should aspire to reach, and while many are excellent, few truly meet that standard.

Rest and get well, I'm honored to have you as a friend.

[Mac Plumart]

He, and his family, are in my thoughts and prayers.

[SL_Solow]

George,
            I rarely respond to threads of this nature, not because they are unimportant but rather because almost anything I can say sounds trite.  We only met when Pat had a gathering at Hidden Creek.  I enjoyed  our time immensly.  Of course I have your book and have followed your posts and activities closely.  But I really got to know you through talks with your friends like Geoff.  I remember a call upon leaving Yale where Geoff had to recount a confrontation with a "non-believer".  You were at your sympathetic best.

            We are all thinking about you and rooting for you.  It is my fondest hope that you will recover so that we may all get together again and enjoy the diversion that has created this community of which you are one of the Deans.

                Shel

[Jim_Kennedy]

George,
I was like a kid in a candy store the day you took me to your house after giving me a tour of your work at Essex. It was a day of nearly endless treats for me, foremost of which was being in your company. A couple of highlights for me were watching you pull off the most fantastic putt I've ever seen at the 6th, the one that traveled about 280'+- of green surface, touched 4 different edges of the green, then came back on itself before nestling a few feet from the hole. Whoa.
The capper came later that day when you actually let me hold Seth Raynor's pocket watch in the palm of my hands. AAAAHHHH!!! I didn't wash my mitts for days!  

Spring is coming,
Jim

[Brian Finn]

Thoughts and prayers to George and the Bahto family. 

I had the pleasure of meeting George once at Sleepy Hollow a few years ago.  He shared so much wonderful information about the course's history and evolution, including the recent restoration efforts.  His passion, enthusiasm, and knowledge were clearly evident.

More recently, I have spent many nights up late reading (or re-reading) sections of 'The Evangelist of Golf.'  I wanted the book for years, and finally came across one at a very reasonable price.  The content exceeded my high expectations.  It is a wonderful book.

God bless you, Mr. Bahto.

[PCCraig]

I'm very sorry to hear that George isn't feeling well. George has been nice enough in the past to e-mail with me when I was looking for more information on my home course. Of course I'm also a huge fan of his book on CBM. I don't know George nearly as well as others on here, but I'll keep George in my thoughts and prayers as he works through this difficult time.

[Mark Fedeli]

I've never had any direct interactions with Mr. Bahto, but he is nonetheless directly responsible for igniting my serious interest in GCA.

About 5-6 years ago, after playing the current Lido course, I decided I wanted to learn more about the original Lido, which I knew very little about. One of the first things I found online was his wonderful—and ICONIC—drawing of the Channel Hole. That drawing, perhaps more than anything else, captured my imagination, introduced me to this site, and inspired me to dig deeper and learn more.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/ggb313/new%20ggb313/sharing-Lido04Channelcolorandtitled.jpg

Thank you, sir.

[Nigel Islam]

Just finished reading The Evangist of Golf. So thankful that George wrote this book for the rest of us. I wish I could contribute as much to the game and history of golf as he has.