a. You know what you like, and what you like is all that really matters?
b. You've played many excellent courses, and now feel you well understand what makes for good gca?
c. You've spent years reading the work of acknowledged experts, and so have a very reliable standard by which to judge?
d. Because you think that, in this life, there's no reason to ever *not be* self assured?
e. The consensus opinion/ranking lists generally align well with your own views/experience, and that has given you confidence?
f. In other areas of life you're smart and insightful, and so you don't doubt that you're smart and insightful here too?
g. You believe there are fundamental *principles* involved in the art-craft of gca, and that if you understand those principles you can recognize great gca when you see it?
h. You're convinced that all our discussions here are at best *merely* opinion, such that there's no need to speak tentatively or say IMHO over and over again?
i. You make your living in the industry, and feel that if you don't know -- and don't *appear* to know - then who else does?
j. You've concluded that none of these discussions actually matters in the least, one way or another, either to you or to anyone else, so you feel free to say whatever you feel like at any given moment?
k. Several of the above
l. None of the above
a. You know what you like, and
you listen to what others say they like.
b. You've played many excellent courses, and now feel you well understand what makes for good gca?
c. You've spent years reading the work of acknowledged experts, and
have carefully considered the opinions of others.
d. Because you think that,
when evaluating artistic merit, there's no reason to ever
*be* self assured.
In general, I am intensely curious, and not a particularly confident or self-assured person.
Because I am confident this is the correct approach, I am both confident and self-assured in my opinions.
e. The consensus opinion/ranking lists generally align well with your own views/experience, and that has given you confidence?
f. In other areas of life you're smart and insightful, and so you don't doubt that you're smart and insightful here too?
Eh, you've got to know your limitations. See d.g. You believe there are fundamental *principles* involved in the art-craft of gca, and that if you understand those principles you can recognize great gca when you see it?
Shades of gray here; sure there are principles, but no hard and fast rules. In general, I think "great GCA" can only be recognized by playing it and walking it.h. You're convinced that
all our discussions here are
informed opinions. However, there's no need to speak tentatively or say IMHO over and over again.
i. You make your living in the industry, and feel that if you don't know -- and don't *appear* to know - then who else does?
(N/A)j. You've concluded that none of these discussions actually matters in the least, one way or another, either to you or to anyone else, so you feel free to say whatever you feel like at any given moment?
GolfClubAtlas happened at a rather disruptive time in golf architecture history. Whether or not GCA has made an impact on the direction of architecture and the tastes of discriminating golfers is debatable. I say it has. I dislike it when people act like none of these discussions "actually matter".k. Several of the above
l. None of the above
Nice topic. Thanks.