Interview with Stoatin Brae Architectural Foursome (#NotDoak)

[Ronald Montesano]

As promised earlier in the week, here is our contribution to the new course at Gull Lake View. I won't go deeply into it, but it is a unique collaboration of Renaissance Golf guys not named Doak.


http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2016-interview-series-stoatin-brae-architectural-foursome/

[Marty Bonnar]

RonMon,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as one of the resident GCA Scotsmen, I feel it incumbent upon me to correct the outright falsehood which someone has perpetrated here.
Hereby hangs the tale:
'Stoatin Brae' is no more Gaelic, than I am, for example, Spanish. Even if it was it would never mean 'Grand Hill'. The language in use here is probably closer to Lowland Scottish, sometimes known as 'Lallans', spoken largely amongst we folks in the Central Belt.
The word 'Stoatin' usually means nice, fine, great, as in "Hey 'Wullie, your burd's stoatin' which would translate as "I say, William, I do think your lady friend is jolly attractive". It can also mean 'bouncing', but not in this context.
A 'Brae' is quite simply a slope, as in "This brae is awfy steep!".
Grand Hill in Gaelic would probably be closer to 'Càrn Mòr' or maybe 'Ben Mòr' if it's a biggun!
Maybe worth telling someone before all of the marketing material is printed!!!

Cheers,
F.

[Peter Pallotta]

Thanks, Ron - that was an excellent interview, and certainly a worthwhile and enjoyable one. "The Four" come across very well - as straightforward, experienced, committed craftsman doing good work in the right way, and with genuine collegiality.  (By extension, Tom D comes across very well too: you can tell the respect that his long time associates have for him, and that they like him too -- and about how many bosses can THAT be said?).
Well done piece, thanks.
And thanks as well to Martin for the edification. It was interesting; and who knew drummers were that smart?

[Marty Bonnar]

Thanks, Ron - that was an excellent interview, and certainly a worthwhile and enjoyable one. "The Four" come across very well - as straightforward, experienced, committed craftsman doing good work in the right way, and with genuine collegiality.  (By extension, Tom D comes across very well too: you can tell the respect that his long time associates have for him, and that they like him too -- and about how many bosses can THAT be said?).
Well done piece, thanks.
And thanks as well to Martin for the edification. It was interesting; and who knew drummers were that smart?

Not smart, only Scottish. Although some would say the two are indistinguishable...
Insert kilted smartass emoticon here...

F.

[Ronald Montesano]

RonMon,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as one of the resident GCA Scotsmen, I feel it incumbent upon me to correct the outright falsehood which someone has perpetrated here.
Hereby hangs the tale:
'Stoatin Brae' is no more Gaelic, than I am, for example, Spanish.

Your name is clearly Spanish. Your first name is Martin and your last name, Bonnar, is loosely translated as "Stiff Willie."

[Ronald Montesano]

The word 'Stoatin' usually means nice, fine, great, as in "Hey 'Wullie, your burd's stoatin' which would translate as "I say, William, I do think your lady friend is jolly attractive". It can also mean 'bouncing', but not in this context.
A 'Brae' is quite simply a slope, as in "This brae is awfy steep!".

Already edited. A GCA denizen PM'd me this PM and gave me similar information.
RM

[Colin Macqueen]

Hoots mon!


Marty some blighters, on GCA and in the press, do play swift and loose with our venerable dialects don't they! Yours was a stoatin clarification but!!


Cheers Colin

[Tom_Doak]

Ronald:


It's a nice interview, although you didn't have anything from the fourth member of the foursome, Brian Slawnik.  Not to worry, he will be getting more than his share of recognition this summer, between Tara Iti and Forest Dunes, but the latter job kept him from being too involved at Gull Lake.


I am excited to see the course, hopefully sometime this spring so I can include it in my next volume of The Confidential Guide.

[Ronald Montesano]

Thomas.


The fellows worked on this together, with Eric taking the lead. It was tricky to do it all via email, but they were tremendously cooperative. Something about Slawnick being not as available as the others, or often being in agreement with the others. I'll check my email


...


checking


...


Here it is: Brian Slawnik has been right back at it, doing some consulting work in Australia.  He had his hands full with Tom's Loop course at Forest Dunes, but I think we have represented our team dynamic well.

[Bill_McBride]

RonMon,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as one of the resident GCA Scotsmen, I feel it incumbent upon me to correct the outright falsehood which someone has perpetrated here.
Hereby hangs the tale:
'Stoatin Brae' is no more Gaelic, than I am, for example, Spanish.

Your name is clearly Spanish. Your first name is Martin and your last name, Bonnar, is loosely translated as "Stiff Willie."

😜😜😜

[jeffwarne]

Wonderful quote from Don Placek (on Stoatin Brae)

".....Two critical ingredients, found in spades on every single one of my most favorite courses around the world! They are….. enough fairway width to swing freely and comfortably at the golf ball in conjunction with what is often a complimentary golfing breeze. Strategic width doesn’t mean easy or dull, rather, it engages players to create angles that reward thoughtful play and shotmaking with enough room to recover and stay in the game even when you aren’t playing your best. I love playing golf and periodically in my life played quite well but it’s nearly impossible for anyone to play your best golf for 18 straight holes. And the courses that don’t beat you up when your swing isn’t in sync and permit you truly have fun when you are scraping it around are the best!! Because playing well is always fun, but having fun when you aren’t at your best is what the great courses do consistently...."

While I have heard Tom and his team(and other GCA greats) espouse similar thoughts before, that is about as concise and well stated as anything I've read before. And describes Tara Iti quite well also.

If only the powers that be, the "defenders of par" and course committees would grasp that this is indeed a "test" of golf, ANGC(formerly)and TOC being the poster children of this.

Or perhaps even more succinctly...
The opportunity to "play" the course rather than exerting all efforts to merely "stay" on the course

Congrats guys

[Ronald Montesano]

Jeff,


I'm glad that you picked that paragraph to cite. It was a task to get the three guys to put their words down, but absolutely worth it. That entire notion of playing rather than staying is central to the proper, positive golf experience.

[Howard Riefs]

The course is currently offering 12-hole preview rounds.


http://www.gulllakeview.com/golf/golf-courses/stoatin-brae/


https://www.instagram.com/p/BKlgxLJDK_k/?taken-by=hochsteindesign



https://www.instagram.com/p/BKlvG0DjrBf/?taken-by=hochsteindesign

[Niall C]

So, it's still going to be called Stoatin Brae ?


Niall