What are your thoughts on sneaking onto elite private courses? I am a non descript looking 40 year old dude and find I can walk into any club in my city and use there practice facilities without a second look. I also recently snuck onto an old money top 20 in the USA after a thunderstorm and played 12 holes teeing off on their 4th behind the clubhouse. When I was a kid I took pride in sneaking onto whatever I could. But now as I age should I have more respect for these clubs … should I “have some shame”? Or if I cant get on after exhausting the normal avenues should I continue to sneak on?

I keep thinking about public golf and “shrink the game.” How we actually solve the jam for tee times and crappy courses charging a million dollars for 4 minute intervals. Impossible question, but any ideas on where would you start? I feel like we have plenty of courses, just not plenty of interesting accessible courses? Everyone can probably name 10 courses near them that they have no interest in playing again, which stinks.

I know Ive asked this elsewhere to Garrett. Is there a definitive list for "types" of courses? Ie links, parkland, heathland, mountain, desert, headland, sandbelt, etc? Should there be more or sub categories? In the midwest we love calling a treeless course links-style, which is a small pet peeve (usually more wetland or prairie ground). What are NE sandhills, WI sand based, NC sand based? Maybe Im getting too deep in the woods but just curious.

The modern driver is easy to hit and modern metals are about the same size as persimmon drivers of old. Rather than adding 100’s of yards to scale up classic courses, maybe architects should develop strategies to take the driver out of play for elite players. Modern drivers make the game less interesting at the highest levels of the game.

I recently found out that there's a "Perry Maxwell design" about 3 hours from me at Kentucky Dam State Park. I can't find much information about the course online, but from the pictures I've been able to find, it certainly looks like any Maxwell has been scrubbed from it. I will be making an effort to go play it this year but my question is when does a course become so far removed from it's architectural beginnings that it can no longer be credited to that architect? Also, any info on this course would be great!

Besides the Old Course, what Scottish courses have had the most influence on golf courses in the US?

Shoutout to Don Placek the GOAT!

Just back from a Wisconsin golf bender (I believe 15 courses in 8 days with some replays!) and two courses stick out in my head after the entire trip more than the other great offering. 1) Lido - Two rounds on the course and I want to play it every day unlocking different pin posiitons and understanding the strategy for the course. However, while I absolutely adored the course, I heard multiple other resort guests say how much they hated it and never wanted to return. What in your mind makes it so divisive? There's also another question for another day about how the increased real estate play on these new dream golf courses might affect the presentation of the golf course itself. 2) West Bend - Lucky to play here after being recommended by a friend and have to say the front 9 Langford and Moreau seemed like an even more audacious Lawsonia Links. The second nine while having some great work done on it by Kye Goalby and more to come I think. While the back nine was added later and is a let down somewhat after the front, the question is how we should consider these courses that had nine holes, then nine extra added on by a different architecht. Should we just consider the original nine to evaluate, or the entire course, or how would one go about giving such a course an egg rating? If anyone is headed to Wisconsin, absolutely go see this gem, the 7th hole will make you guffaw out loud!

I was hoping the women wouldn't catch up to the men in regards to how much they whine about course setup.Everyone's got to play the same course, and the winning score was still under par.

One of the best pieces about golf architecture (and life) that I have read in a long time. Great article.