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Charlie Goerges

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They don't build statues of critics...
« on: March 06, 2023, 03:41:25 PM »
I saw a picture of a t-shirt with the slogan "they don't build statues of critics". I thought that couldn't be true and sure enough, the first critic I searched had a statue...Immanuel Kant.


Nevertheless, what critics should have a statue of them? Bernard Darwin? Grantland Rice? Far and Sure?
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

Niall C

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2023, 04:51:13 PM »
Bernard Darwin was a great writer, perhaps the best in any sport, but I'm not sure he was entirely critical with his writing. He had a tendency to write flattering and uncritical comments when writing about friends and acquaintances. That said, still worthy of a statue and I suspect somewhere in the world there might be one.


Niall

John Kavanaugh

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2023, 04:57:30 PM »
The statue of Oscar Wilde in Dublin is a doppelgänger of Ran.

Charlie Goerges

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2023, 05:01:25 PM »
Bernard Darwin was a great writer, perhaps the best in any sport, but I'm not sure he was entirely critical with his writing. He had a tendency to write flattering and uncritical comments when writing about friends and acquaintances. That said, still worthy of a statue and I suspect somewhere in the world there might be one.


Niall




Good point, though I'm content to define the term pretty broadly if need be, something like "to offer commentary upon something".
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

Charlie Goerges

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2023, 05:02:46 PM »
The statue of Oscar Wilde in Dublin is a doppelgänger of Ran.


That's a thumbs-up from me!
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

Wayne_Kozun

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2023, 06:52:01 PM »
The statue of Oscar Wilde in Dublin is a doppelgänger of Ran.


That's a thumbs-up from me!

Charlie Goerges

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2023, 09:20:02 PM »
Oh hell yes!
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

Stewart Abramson

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2023, 09:36:47 PM »

mike_beene

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2023, 11:20:04 PM »
Statues are often built for donors who are sometimes critics. Probably not the point.

Will Spivey

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2023, 10:28:37 AM »
I don't know about critics, but I've searched far and wide and have yet to find a statue of a committee!

Adam Lawrence

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2023, 10:34:30 AM »
Bernard Darwin was a great writer, perhaps the best in any sport, but I'm not sure he was entirely critical with his writing. He had a tendency to write flattering and uncritical comments when writing about friends and acquaintances. That said, still worthy of a statue and I suspect somewhere in the world there might be one.

Niall

I'm not sure how fair that is. In his journalism, there's no doubt that Darwin was mostly positive about the courses he wrote about, but my suspicion is that he largely only wrote about the courses he liked. The ones he didn't like were the ones he didn't cover.

If you read some of his more comprehensive stuff, notably 'The Golf Courses of the British Isles' he is much readier to critique what he thinks doesn't work.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2023, 12:45:06 PM by Adam Lawrence »
Adam Lawrence

Editor, Golf Course Architecture
www.golfcoursearchitecture.net

Principal, Oxford Golf Consulting
www.oxfordgolfconsulting.com

Author, 'More Enduring Than Brass: a biography of Harry Colt' (forthcoming).

Short words are best, and the old words, when short, are the best of all.

Charlie Goerges

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2023, 10:53:38 AM »

I'm not sure how fair that is. In his journalism, there's no doubt that Darwin was mostly positive about the courses he wrote about, but my suspicion is that he largely only wrote about the courses he liked. The ones he didn't like were the ones he didn't cover.





That's what I was thinking yesterday. I remember reading an interview or AMA with a woodworking magazine journalist and he was asked why all the tool reviews in the magazine were generally positive, and how we readers could trust someone who never said anything negative. His response was that they only publicize tools they have positive feelings about and don't want to give publicity to junk. He also said they would see everything new that came out, so if there wasn't a review in the magazine or online, they didn't like the tool.


I understand that it's a way of being honest without burning bridges with advertisers (or sources), but sometimes it would be helpful to know exactly why something is poorly thought-of. That said, I can see why things are the way they are, from the days of Darwin right down to Ran today.
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

ward peyronnin

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #12 on: March 07, 2023, 07:45:17 PM »
Charles Blair MacDonald was certainly a critic.
He is memorialized at least at NGLA and Mid-Ocean Club
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication w/o the hangover; stimulation w/o the pills. It's price is high yet its rewards are richer. Some say its a boys pastime but it builds men. It cleanses the mind/rejuvenates the body. It is these things and many more for those of us who truly love it." M.Norman

Andrew Carr

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2023, 05:40:16 AM »

I'm pretty sure there is a statue of CB at St. Louis CC by the driving range as well.  Please correct me if I'm wrong as it's been more than a decade since I've been there.  I need to go back is what I'm saying  8)

[[size=78%]quote author=ward peyronnin link=topic=71740.msg1725131#msg1725131 date=1678236317][/size]
Charles Blair MacDonald was certainly a critic.
He is memorialized at least at NGLA and Mid-Ocean Club

David Kelly

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2023, 01:40:05 AM »
I don't know about critics, but I've searched far and wide and have yet to find a statue of a committee!
The commies built one:
htt//tinyurl.com/c3yvp4apps:
« Last Edit: March 15, 2023, 01:45:12 AM by David Kelly »
"Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." - Judge Holden, Blood Meridian.

Peter Flory

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #15 on: March 15, 2023, 01:27:10 PM »

Statue dedicated to the original USGA committee tasked with studying the distance problem in golf.


Charlie Goerges

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #16 on: March 15, 2023, 01:36:23 PM »
That's good!
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

Niall C

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Re: They don't build statues of critics...
« Reply #17 on: March 16, 2023, 12:50:09 PM »
Bernard Darwin was a great writer, perhaps the best in any sport, but I'm not sure he was entirely critical with his writing. He had a tendency to write flattering and uncritical comments when writing about friends and acquaintances. That said, still worthy of a statue and I suspect somewhere in the world there might be one.

Niall

I'm not sure how fair that is. In his journalism, there's no doubt that Darwin was mostly positive about the courses he wrote about, but my suspicion is that he largely only wrote about the courses he liked. The ones he didn't like were the ones he didn't cover.

If you read some of his more comprehensive stuff, notably 'The Golf Courses of the British Isles' he is much readier to critique what he thinks doesn't work.


Adam,


"The Golf Courses of the British Isles" was published in 1910 before the great amateur architects, who by and large were friends and acquaintances, got into full swing so he was reviewing courses laid out by others. It would be interesting to compare what he said in "The Golf Courses of Great Britain" published in 1925 about some of the same courses that had since been worked on by Colt etc.


Certainly I agree that he tended to review courses he enjoyed.


Niall   

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