Thompson Society technical guides / William Newton [and 11 others].

"The Society has developed the Guides over a period of years to act as helpful tools in the restoration of Stanley Thompson golf courses. They are intended only for those involved in club governance such as Directors, management, committee members and members at large. The Guides are not instructions for architects, superintendents, engineers, or other professionals. They reinforce the Society's guiding principle which is: Dedicated to the preservation of Stanley Thompson courses through education. The Donald Ross Society has published this statement from Ross: 'When it comes to course renovations and restoration, too many of today's architects have been more concerned with imposing their own style rather than enhancing the virtues of the old layouts.' Stanley wrote this in correspondence to a client about the role of an architect versus amateurs: ' ... whether you realize it or not, the next few months are when it should be watched closely. There might be those with more enthusiasm than knowledge who would advise a Golf Architect is an unnecessary piece of expense at this stage of the development ... and guard lest we be led down the Primrose Path by enthusiastic but well meaning amateurs. I am coming around the end of March, and will spend three or four weeks during seeding time supervising same and flashing the bunkers and greens. This will put the Course beyond the tampering stage as regards the architecture.' Preservation, or restoration, requires a dedicated team of greenkeepers, committees and management to ensure agreed-to objectives stay the course."--Page 2.