Its all a bit of waste of time to even talk about the past because there is no use crying over spilt milk. Now and the future are what is important. Its critical that people control knee jerk reactions in an attempt to recreate an idealized time in golf where 5 irons went so far blah blah blah...that ship has sailed...stop moaning. If fun rather than high level competition is the concenration point things will be just fine.
Ciao
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
As far as wasting time, we're on a chat site about golf architecture.......
We agree about knee jerk reactions to courses, but that's simple human nature, and NO developer wants to spend big $$ on a course deemed unworthy of an event for elite players.
Make no mistake, dreamers build the great courses, even though that course may never host a Tour event.
We disagree that there may be a rollback or at least a holding of the line on technology.
In my case i see the scale of the ball causing the scale of the courses to grow.
Fortunately you have many classic old courses around you where you can enjoy the game-as do I.
I'd like to see more classic type courses built and monstrosities downsized.
Rather than changing human nature, which you suggest,
I say simply change the ball/equipment.
Every other sport does it.
You don't care for posts lamenting golf on a smaller scale, yet the hickory movement continues to grow.
(I know quite a few extour players who play it regularly)
You say we should do something rather than cry about it.
I am-every chance I get and it's on topic as it greatly influences architecture.
Many of the posters and lurkers on this site are quite influential in golf-never hurts for them to see that many share my view-in fact I get a lot of PMs from people that also share it, and email from lurkers who matter in the golf world.
Twenty-five years ago who would have thought the Open Doctor would be debunked and the controversial wacko
writing books and rating courses would be at the top of the architecture world-and MANY new worthwhile courses built and/or improved rather than a continuation of the AWFUL trend we were on.I worry about the future of the game and its expense and attraction to people as it gets ever bigger.
I also enjoy watching elite players play classic courses.
You just simply want to enjoy the game on architecturally compelling golf courses-nothing wrong with that.
Thirty years ago one could do all three.
Despite being a Republican (hard to admit at the moment) I feel like I'm Obama threatening to take your guns away. You can keep them, it's the elite I'm seeking to disarm (yikes maybe I'm becoming a Democrat-but given our current choices not sure it matters)