Here's a golden oldie for the new guys

[Dave McCollum]

I was wondering what happened to the lurker and did a search.  It turned this up:


https://www.si.com/vault/2002/08/05/327411/a-site-for-sore-eyes-got-a-bone-to-pick-with-a-course-architect-join-the-crowd-at-golfclubatlascom


It's archaeology, digging for fossils in ancient stream beds.  Don't know who cares.  I found it amusing and a little sentimental for for some voices no longer around here and, thankfully, for some who are still are.  Interesting to me that that the mainstream media took notice of our quibbles way back then  They got over that.  Tired old news to the old timers, but maybe some perspective to the new ones.     

[Colin Macqueen]

Dave,


Thanks for unearthing this article! I guess that I half-knew quite a bit of the information in the article but is is smashing to have it all there in a cogent form. A few statements amused me.


Mike Cirba's statement about others being "...into the same weirdness." I initially read as "...same wilderness" but it still gelled with me!


Had never considered the idea of changes to architectural design as being "..tantamount to defacing The Pieta"  (actually carried out by an Aussie!) or Fazio and associates being "Fazists"! Great stuff.


The description of the Discussion Group is hilarious, right on the money, and although written over seventeen years ago shows how prophetic Jeff Silverman was!


And the pioneering posters being the "..the new vigilantes of golf." is delightful.


Was/is Jeff Silverman a GCA member?


This is an article which we should all read as the background is good to know and the atmosphere and interaction wonderfully portrayed.


Thanks a lot,


Colin

[Greg Hohman]

Too bad the otherwise fun (to me!), wry piece ends on a duplicative, flat note. Thanks, Dave, a keeper to share in the unlikely event that anybody asks why in the world I am curious about Sand Hills, Carne, Barnbougle &c. They won't  look at GCA itself!

[BCrosby]

Dave -


Thanks for digging up the old Silverman article. I had not seen it before. Those were exciting times. 


Bob

[Tommy Williamsen]

I had not seen the article either. I found the site about that time and miss Tom Paul, Wayne Morrison and others.

[A.G._Crockett]

I read that article when it came out in 2002; came online to see what it was about and have never left.  But man, do I miss the guys that are referenced in the article.  And not just them; Tom Huckaby, Pat Mucci, and a bunch of other guys from whom I learned a lot.

[MCirba]

We were young and naive and thought we could change the world.


So we did.

[Peter Pallotta]

Thanks, Dave -
I’d never seen that. And my goodness: what a terrific read — Jeff is really a top flight writer!

(Greg: I’m not sure but I’d guess that the flat duplicative bits at the end originally accompanied photos that are no longer there, and were mixed into the body of the piece before the original formatting disappeared too.)

I got a different and fuller picture of why gca.com is here.

Btw, did we ever get a definitive answer about the divot?

[PCCraig]

I hadn't read that one in a while. Some familiar names for sure and quite a few that I wish would come back and post here more often.


Every once in a while people post an old link and say "remember the good old days?!" While some of the topics seemed more fresh back then, the spirit of the website as chronicled in the article, is alive and well. The meeting in Southern California might as well of been describing our Midwest Mashie that we held last year in Minnesota. We had 20 guys for golf and dinner in the Cities then went north for two days of golf at Northland with architects and superintendents all joining in.


And we're going to do it all again this weekend in Kansas!

[John McCarthy]

Wanking?  On GolfClubAtlas?  The devil you say!

[astavrides]

Was/is Jeff Silverman a GCA member?

He used to post under Agman. Not very often, usually when he was looking for info for his writings. Don't know if he is still a member of the DG. I played with him once--enjoyed his company.

[Peter Sayegh]

I think I remember the article as my impetus to join gca.
p.s. peter palotta, i'm disappointed. surely you meant "a top-flite writer."

[Garland Bayley]

Was/is Jeff Silverman a GCA member?

He used to post under Agman. Not very often, usually when he was looking for info for his writings. Don't know if he is still a member of the DG. I played with him once--enjoyed his company.

Once the policy was changed to use real names, I believe he posted under Jeff Silverman. Don't see him in the current member list.

[Derek_Duncan]

Thanks, Dave -
I’d never seen that. And my goodness: what a terrific read — Jeff is really a top flight writer!

(Greg: I’m not sure but I’d guess that the flat duplicative bits at the end originally accompanied photos that are no longer there, and were mixed into the body of the piece before the original formatting disappeared too.)

I got a different and fuller picture of why gca.com is here.

Btw, did we ever get a definitive answer about the divot?

If I remember correctly, wasn't there a photo in the first run of that story of Tommy inside the bunker at PV 10? Am I making that up?

[Dave McCollum]

You're welcome gents.  It was a little before my time here.  I lurked before but mostly for the course reviews and other info.  I didn't fook up my life by discovering the DG until a bit later.  I think I read something yesterday about Seminole and started thinking about Tom Paul.  Verbose guy like that must be doing something at 180 words per minute.     

[JWinick]

What happened to those guys?  Tom Paul, Mucci, etc?

[Eric Smith]

Thanks, Dave -
I’d never seen that. And my goodness: what a terrific read — Jeff is really a top flight writer!

(Greg: I’m not sure but I’d guess that the flat duplicative bits at the end originally accompanied photos that are no longer there, and were mixed into the body of the piece before the original formatting disappeared too.)

I got a different and fuller picture of why gca.com is here.

Btw, did we ever get a definitive answer about the divot?

If I remember correctly, wasn't there a photo in the first run of that story of Tommy inside the bunker at PV 10? Am I making that up?

I recall seeing it as well, but not 100% sure it was the SI+ piece.


Wasn't this one in it as well?



The Emperor!

[archie_struthers]

 


Boy those guys wrote some great stuff!  I remember discussing the eyebrow that the superintendent put in on the DA at Pine Valley and even though it kept the water out of the bunker took away some scary putts there. I hated the left fairway bunker on the 14th at Philadelphia CC and to this day remember TEP taking the time to talk to me at length as to it's efficacy. To this day not sure if my passionate argument won the day.


Miss them all hope they make an occasional visit to the site for old times sake !

[Peter Pallotta]

I remember:
before I saw a picture of Tommy I thought they called him ‘Emperor’ because he was an expert on gca and knew everything about it; but after I saw a picture I thought it was because he looked like he should be giving a ‘thumbs down’ to some poor beaten gladiator in the Colosseum, or delicately picking at a bowl of grapes as he ordered the crushing of the latest revolt in some far flung Roman province.  Only later did I realize it was both: from his winter palace in California, over a plate of Mexican food, he’d look imperiously over that classic Roman nose and give a haughty and definitive ‘thumbs down’ to all manner of revolting gca. His was/is the Reign of Terror for anyone who dares to disfigure a classic of the Empire!
Peter

[John Kavanaugh]

I remember when he wore a glove and was only a cadet.

[Kalen Braley]

Count me as one who also very much misses Tom Paul's posts. Only 26 letters in the English alphabet, but I sure love he arranged em....

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