"The strategy of the golf course is the soul of the game. The spirit of golf is to dare a hazard, and by negotiating it reap a reward, while he who fears or declines the issue of carry, has a longer or harder shot for his second, or his second or third on long holes; yet the player who avoids the unwise effort gains advantage over one who tries for more than in him lies, or fails under the test." George Thomas from his classic Golf Architecture in America written in 1927. In the photo from the left: Billy Bell, George Thomas & Alister MacKenzie from The Captain

"The rebuilding of courses is often criticized, and in many cases such censure is deserved; but it is well to remember that the gradual and continued improvement of golf courses has been brought about not only by the natural betterment of golf construction, but because of the increased efficiency of the golf ball, the playing value of which is more perfect, particularly with regard to distance." George Thomas

"In the forming of greens, beautiful modeling must conform to what a ball will do when it lands on a green from certain distances, and knowledge of what shot is necessary to reach it from strategic points, decides the contours of that green ... The green ought to be the proper size for the shot. Its opening for a long shot must have correct width. For short pitches a green need have no opening for the running shot ... Greens may be long and narrow, wide and shallow, in fact of every shape ..." George Thomas Photo of the 166 yard 6th hole at Riviera.

"Do not strive for length where you sacrifice character. Your yardage is the less valuable of the two considerations; but sufficient length, which type and strategy, is the ultimate. The course which demands the greatest number of placements from the tee, and the most diversity of shots, both from tee and to green, is the best test." George Thomas

"... Trees and shrubbery beautify the course, and natural growth should never be cut down if it is possible to save it; but he who insists on preserving a tree where it spoils a shot should have nothing to say about golf course construction." George Thomas

"... diversity, and yet again, variety, is the spice of a golf course." George Thomas