Best resources to start a conversation about GCA

[Ben Malach]

I have my favorites but I wanted to open this question to the board.


What are your favorite resources to get people interested or thinking about golf course architecture?


What are the current gaps in this space and how can we fill them.




I have some thoughts but I wanted to ask the board.

[Jim Sherma]

There has been a significant increase in GCA interest and knowledge over the past handful of years amongst the people that I interact with. Mostly it seems like the Fried Egg and other podcast/youtube content is where they are expanding their knowledge mostly. I don't watch a lot of televised golf week to week but there does seem to be more discussion about architecture on the telecasts.

[Michael Moore]

On the course, when you are standing next to someone and there is a break in the action and you are both looking at something of interest. This does not mean on every tee box!

[Jeff Schley]

For many regular golfers, they don't even know much about rankings, let alone architects.  I was once there as well, ignorance and probably no interest either.


Bringing up rankings, then lends itself to why is this course considered a top 100 or whatever.  Then how is that judged, although subjective, the criteria is mostly architecture based. 


I also really love the GD videos on every hole at   xyz.  Those are very well done and gives a visual of top courses which keeps people's attention.

[Chris Hughes]

Other than generating advertising revenue -- what purpose do "the rankings" serve?


I love great wine but only trust reviews done by raters who are part of a subscription-model operation, no ad dollars allowed.  (and even then conflict risk/s may be present)


That said, was looking at the Golf Magazine & Golf Digest ratings to see where both stood, and where they materially diverge.


When comparing the top-10 of each, four (4) courses stood out in terms of diverging by 4 spots of more:


Augusta National -- #2 GD vs. #6 GM.  (4 spots)
Pebble Beach -- #13 GD vs. #9 GM.  (4 spots)
Seminole GC -- #10 GD vs. #17 GM.  (7 spots)
LACC (N) -- #16 GD vs. #10 GM.  (6 spots)


Of note, Augusta National was actually up 1-spot in the Golf Magazine rankings yr/yr.


Put more simply, Golf Digest likes Augusta & Seminole a lot better, Golf Magazine values Pebble & LACC much more.


Not sure what to make of it but is there some sort of underlying theme apparent to those in the know?

[Tom_Doak]

It would be great if TV would do this at major championships, but whenever the networks talk about "architecture," they have a habit of treating it separately and apart from the actual golf, which shows how little they understand it.


It should be woven into the commentary that when a player misses to the right of some green, that was a mistake because XYZ . . . or even when they miss to the wrong side of the fairway, that won't allow them to attack the pin in the same way and they will aim 30 feet from the hole instead.  The much-vaunted "risk/reward" equation is not only in play for the second shot on a par 5.


I suppose this could also be done on a live podcast following the tournament, but the people who turn into those are the people who would already understand.  For architecture to really go mainstream, some of the primary TV commentators would need to bring it up in the appropriate moment.

[Buck Wolter]

I would point someone with an interest to The Yolk With Doak podcast series on The Fried Egg where Andy Johnson 'interviews' Tom. The back and forth and especially just where Tom riffs for 5-10 maybe 15 minutes on a topic I think are awesome. I know other architects do interviews and podcasts but that 'series' is kind of a standalone masterclass to me. Tom's openness and descriptions of projects, issues, strategy, clients, etc is awesome. I would guess that library of content will be an important part of Tom's legacy in 50-100 years.


Hopefully the GCA rebirth may have some avenue for more of those conversations with other architects -- I think the one off tell me about how you got started, what you're working on, what's next all in 50 minutes typical interviews with architects while interesting don't really get into the detail the TYWD does.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I suppose this could also be done on a live podcast following the tournament, but the people who turn into those are the people who would already understand.  For architecture to really go mainstream, some of the primary TV commentators would need to bring it up in the appropriate moment.

Tom, all announcers still can't even get the ball flight laws right, nearly 30 years after they've been well known… I think you're asking for a lot here. 

[Simon Barrington]

I suppose this could also be done on a live podcast following the tournament, but the people who turn into those are the people who would already understand.  For architecture to really go mainstream, some of the primary TV commentators would need to bring it up in the appropriate moment.

Tom, all announcers still can't even get the ball flight laws right, nearly 30 years after they've been well known… I think you're asking for a lot here. 

Let alone comprehend (or agree) as to whether angles matter or not...

That on-screen debate and the announcers' Tour-centric mindset might actually damage the general understanding of the Art?

;-)

Cheers

P.S. - Drew & Crew the Emoji's have gone away/odd recently, so its hard to indicate a cheeky well-meaning attempt at humour...

[Peter Sayegh]

Invite it subtly.
Wear a logoed garment of a "revered" course you've played if you're more interested in engaging people than showing off.
If they "know," they know.

Nine times outta ten, players will ask about your experience and what you found outstanding and lacking.

...then, direct them to GCA.

[John Handley]

For me, having been on this website for 15+ years, I thought I knew a fair amount about GCA.  Enough to be dangerous and have conversations with people.


It wasn't until I really started researching and reading about the great golf courses in England that I took on a new appreciation.  I have played many of the greats in Scotland and Ireland and am now into my journey in England.  The most exciting thing for me was to understand the nuances and design elements more as I look at golf courses I play.


For example, my home course in Austin is Spanish Oaks Golf Club.  It is a brilliant course by Bobby Weed.  But I took many of the elements Bobby put into play at Spanish Oaks for granted.  Now, I look at each hole and can point to another example of it from great golf courses in the UK.  This really makes it more fun for me and now I approach the golf course a little differently based on angles, etc.  As I take my buddies on some of these trips in England, I point out similarities in holes and golf course architecture from our home club and some holes we play in the UK.

[Jason Topp]

When someone says a hole is a good, ask them why. 

[Erik J. Barzeski]

When someone says a hole is a good, ask them why. 

Just don't be surprised when they say "I make a lot of birdies here" or "It really fits my power fade" or something.

[Ben Malach]

First, off I agree with Tom. If the broadcasters of golf were more educated about the subject it would trickle down to the GP. That was why I was so hopefully when Fox hired Gil Hanse to be part of the broadcast team, but it just never seemed to work.




My favorite way now, is to grab a two bar napkins. I ask them to draw their dream golf hole.


Then on the second, I draw a simple strategic golf hole and open a discussion.


If this goes well, I recommend that they go to the library and pick up a copy of "Grounds for Golf" or "Anatomy of a Golf Course". Then I encourage them to think about the options and variety in the golf courses they play along with encouraging them to travel to see more courses.


I have found this works well, as it's a nice way to make the process a conversation and I can have this conversation anywhere.

[Jason Topp]

When someone says a hole is a good, ask them why. 

Just don't be surprised when they say "I make a lot of birdies here" or "It really fits my power fade" or something.

… or that it is a tough hole. 


I find that such conversation openers can lead to good conversations though.  Get someone to think about someone who flies it 30 yards shorter or longer.   How does one’s ball flight affect their perception of a hole. 


I remember telling a friend that I really liked a local course.  He said “of course you do, every hole is a dogleg left.”   It helped me to see why some holes look good to me and others don’t. 


Four golfers having a conversation at the end of a round typically consists of four people talking about their own round and ignoring what the three other people have to say.   If you can cross that bridge and introduce a topic in the context of their round, sometimes an interesting conversation ensues.