For those attending our New Mexico gathering...

[Ran Morrissett]

....what would you like to see accomplished?

We are going to be talking directly with the architect so we are in good shape there. I will field  any and all questions you have on GolfClubAtlas.com, its past and future. Camaraderie is a given.

So .... what else should we try and do to make this get-together as meaningful as possible?

We are trying to book a nice size room for dinner on Saturday night. Everyone will have a chance to speak up and be heard throughout the three days but especially that night with us all there (we can organize a separate room for those who want to walk through their day's scores on a hole by hole basis ).

I want to make sure that we make the most of this opportunity so all (constructive   ) suggestions are welcome.

Cheers,

[Brad Swanson]

Funny thing you post this just now, Ran, as I was going to start a similar thread.
 
1.  I for one would like to discuss ways of potentially broadening the discussion from just covering the great courses to maybe getting more discussion on good, but less well-known or not quite great courses.  My point is, and I'm not going to beat around the bush here, that so much of the discussion here focuses on NY, Philly, NJ, and Monterey, that I have a hard time participating.  I've discussed this with a few other regulars here, and my issue is that I'd like to participate in the discussion more, but can't because I haven't seen, let alone played the courses most often discussed here.  If my post count was representative of the # of hours I actually spend perusing the DG here, I'd be doyen many times over, and I bet I'm not alone here

2.  Encourage participation from more guys in the biz.  This may be tough considering how opinionated and critical this group is as a whole, but I must say the 2 most informative GCA encounters I've had are the 2 site visits I've made this summer (thx Tom Doak and Art Schaupter).  If we have more designers discussing things here, it could be nothing but a positive IMHO.

3.  Far fetched as it may seem, we may want to brainstorm on how our collective passion and knowledge as a whole could be organized and mobilized into action (channeling Jessie Jackson here ).  I'm not sure how this could be done, but it would be far more satisfying, and productive, to actually proviide a resource or other means of influencing greens committees into making educated decisions regarding restorations, renovations etc.  Kinda a crazy idea, but sometimes crazy ideas can work.

Cheers,
Brad Swanson

 

[Patrick_Mucci]

Brad,

TEPaul, to his credit, proposed creating a resource and influence aspect of GCA.com some time ago.
This was a great idea of his and confirmed the frozen time theory, that even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Anything that can be done to further, or solidify this concept would be beneficial to all.

Good Luck.

[A_Clay_Man]

I wonder if I'm alone in wondering what you think is both good and bad about the site?

Surely, mean spiritedness and other breaches of ettiquitte must be a real sore spot? If So, I recommend we find a way to handle the issue of peer review, without handing any one person, the authority or responsibility to delete improper posts. Maybe a committee? Maybe just a list of what's acceptable and what's not?

Since the study of gca is new ground, for some of us, I think some commonsense protocols which are clearly spelled out,(similar to the rules and their decisions) may not help, but won't hurt.

I remember a longtime ago you asked (very nicely) for everyone to try to keep the discussion focused on GCA and at that time, bandwidth and storage were ample justifications for the request.

Maybe even a Ten commandments (in Honor of that great Alabamaian) (ok, half-joking)

i.e.
Thou shalt Not post anything that either reiterates, agrees completly or is mean spirited, without adding something new to the discussion. (half-jokes acceptable under 18 words) (why 18 words?) (how many shots in a bottle?)

[Brad Swanson]

Better get this one in print before I forget it.

I think the discussion group might be well served with a FAQ (frequently asked questions) sticky thread that always stays at the top of the DG posts including such things as

1.  How to imbed a picture
2.  Commonly used acronyms
3.  Commonly used terms
4.  Other useful links

THe group could discuss other items that could/should be presented in the FAQ.  A minor issue, but potentially useful.

Cheers,
Brad Swanson

[George Blunt]

I won't be there, but as an international and long standing lurker, anything that promotes an international flavour would have an impact.

Regards,

George

[George Pazin]

There's darn near nothing I'd change, except maybe if we could figure out a way to have a common group resource spot for posting pics.

Brad & George -

I understand your comments, but have you tried initiating any threads on unknown or international courses? Someone's gotta lead the way.

[Steve Lang]

 

Ran,

I’d suggest a “symposium” ala Webster’s 1913 definition..

\Sym*po"si*um\, n.; pl. {Symposia}. [L., fr. Gr.
sympo`sion a drinking party, feast; sy`n with + po`sis a
drinking. See {Syn-}, and cf. {Potable}.]

1. A drinking together; a merry feast. --T. Warton.

2. A collection of short essays by different authors on a
   common topic; -- so called from the appellation given to
   the philosophical dialogue by the Greeks.

The symposium topic would be “The Future of GCA.COM Chat”.  Everyone would offer either 3 thoughts verbally and/or write them down on notecards to be collected after or during dinner.  Someone would facilitate by looking at the collection and define two or three subtopics for either smaller groups to address and report on, or to focus the larger group discussion.  Some folks would be scribes to record and compile for posterity. The purpose would be to bring back a collection of subjects for GCA.COM interaction.

I'd also like Baxter to put up a poster or large scale drawing of a favorite hole at Black Mesa and have everyone mark an "X" where they played their shots from.  

[THuckaby2]

I'm thinking Steve Lang is a genius.  Yeah, what he said.  

TH

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I would like to first thank Ran for I just posted that I will miss the event and not have the chance to do so in person. I second Brad thoughts for they echo mine. I do hope to play many of the great northeastern courses soon to allow my base of information to draw upon to contribute here is broadened. I am still amazed at the quality of people I have met on this site. I started with Gib/gyro in Sf and I have met great guys from Portland to Carmel, from LA to Texas, from Cape Cod to Florida, In Scotland and back here to a friend of a friend in Lousiana.  The love of the game and architecture is amazing. To quote Harvey Penick we all seem to "Learn to value the freedom, the companionship, the joy of being outdoors in beautiful surroundings" that is the beauty of golf.
I hope we continue to attract this type of person and we as a group and individually can give back to the game some of what is has given to us.

[Steve Lang]

 

Tiger,..  
I was looking forward to your robust expression of viewpoint and the latest spin on LSU sports exploits vs. the burnt orange boys..  Please drop a line next time you're coming through the greater Houston area..

Ran,..
As one who likes to mine the data/words/world of GCA.com I'm also interested in whether you could create the list of all lists of courses known by GCA'ers.  Something beyond "My Home Course" to capture the hidden gems and others favored in various locales etc. with simple "profiles" being contributed from all over the world by its players.  If this feature had a way to insert a few pics, that would be great..   For instance, I enjoyed playing Ganton in Yorkshire, but I don't want to write a review/dissertation on it!