Mike Clayton (Again!)

A little off-topic but nevertheless revealing. I read Mike Clayton’s article “Open is the real business” in Golf Victoria’s December/January magazine.

A good portion of the article is a justification for the changes Mike Clayton made to the 13^th hole at The Lakes course in Sydney. First thing to say is that I find it amazing that Golf Victoria so readily provides Mike Clayton with a forum to make self-serving rationalisations of his own work. The guy’s influence reaches far and wide, it seems.

Mike Clayton admits that the new hole is “despised by more than a few of the members.” His retort is that the hole’s “subtlety” is “beyond” many of the members. Yes, stupid members for not immediately recognising and appreciating the brilliant “subtleties” of design that Mike Clayton has bestowed on your club.

Actually, it’s Mike Clayton who fails to recognise and appreciate the fact that it is the members who are paying his (not inexpensive, I’m sure) fees. There aren’t many areas of business where you can provide something that displeases the people who are paying, yet still receive considerable remuneration. Not to mention the disrespect Mike Clayton has for the members (his employees) by bagging them in a magazine.

Mike, if you owned the course, and payed the fees, then you would be entitled to do whatever you like in your design work. However, as it is, a bit of respect for the members, their wishes and opinions (even if you don’t agree) is the least you could do.