I think of Park Jr as the main bridge between Victorian and Golden Age. Fowler also fits the tagline to some degree.
Braid is an interesting case. He was often brought in for remodelling and bunker work. He seemed to generally have a light touch and perhaps favour penal bunkering in many of these cases. But that often doesn’t seem the case at his more high profile work. He seemed more considered about bunker placement, yet more forceful with stamp of man either by work or trying to tame an unruly site. I don’t know though, it could be his decisions were more budget related than anything most of the time. Which begs the question if true, self imposed or contract dictated budget restrictions? Anyway, I would place a braid firmly in the Golden Age if only for his aesthetics. Braid May have generally leaned toward the penal mindset, but the Golden Age was also about aesthetics. Braid wasn’t particularly flashy, but he wasn’t Victorian. In fact, I think of much of Braid’s work as utilitarian, similar to 60s muni - cheaper public course work.
Ciao
Agree with Fowler too, and he was a clear inspiration to Braid (as was OTM) and others. Park was also part of this movement which involved many. As per my reply to Adam I just think Braid's part in this movement across eras on the ground and in print is under-appreciated.
Braid was not as "penal" as others painted him.
There is sometimes confusion (by others, sometimes convienently) between an individual brutally tough pot-bunker or collection of pots which he was rightly known for placing strategically, and genuinely "penal" hazard (cross-carry or restricting barrier on both sides of a hole). He did not like to use the latter, such was his written preference and practice.
Beyond that, your kind comments are spot-on (I can see you appreciate his work which is great to read) as he certainly took on sites and projects that others would reject on land or financial considerations. His fees were often a half of others and he made genuinely great golf on a shoestring for many clubs. I think he was potentially the first real minimalist and certainly in tune aesthetically with the environment of the locality. He just worked with what he found to extract as much fun/challenge as possible (as did his inspiration OTM)
He, as the longest driver of the Triumvirate by some way, understood how to toughen up Open Championship courses better than anyone post the Haskell Ball. Hence, he is rightly known/lauded for his extensive re-bunkering of Troon, Carnoustie, Royal Cinque Ports, and Prestwick. He also was paid for suggestions at Royal St Georges for the 1922 Open, but it is unclear if these were implemented, notably he returned to play The Open there many times including in 1938 at the age of 68!
Cheers