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With over 50 years as a member
of the ASGCA, Bill Amick, ASGCA
Fellow, highlights what the Society
means to him.
In the mid-1950s I was an apprentice
to one of the American Society of Golf
Course Architects’ founders and twice
its president, William H. Diddel. From
Mr. Diddel I learned a lot about the
profession I had chosen. I became an
associate member of the ASGCA in
1966 and a regular member in 1968.
Being in the Society has let me meet
and beco me friends with many of
my fellow practitioners, and allowed
me to learn more about golf course
architecture. Becoming an officer,
including president in 1977, gave me
even wider exposure to the golf course
field. In a host of ways, the ASGCA
has been a grand experience to me.
The Society continues to contribute to
the craft of each member, so in total
how golf courses are now designed
and constructed
—
the result being
many more good golf courses and
more in the future. This is accomplished
through educational sessions during
annual meetings and the year-round
distribution of information by our team
at ASGCA headquarters. We have an
ever-expanding library and production
of technical information about this
field. Some of this material is regularly
distributed to anyone who has an
interest in better golf courses.
A huge step in the ASGCA’s growth in
effectiveness came from establishing our
headquarters. This began in 1971 when
we hired Paul Fullmer as our Executive
Secretary. For 34 years Paul led many
vital ASGCA initiatives and activities
beneficial to members and our clients
for their new and existing golf courses.
Then when Paul became our Secretary
Emeritus, Chad Ritterbusch took over this
important role as our Executive Director.
Both, and their staff, have aided all
members to become better golf course
architects, which benefited the golf
courses we design and renovate.
Yet with all these accomplishments,
many of us members believe that
improving and expanding the range of
types of golf course could better serve
the enjoyment of a larger number of
golfers in the future. This through courses
that require less total land, are less
expensive to maintain, need a smaller
volume of water for irrigation, can be
played in less time, and are not so
difficult for mid- to high-handicap golfers,
and beginners. For decades, many in
the ASGCA and in other aspects of
our recreational industry felt not enough
attention has been devoted to these
goals. Now through the efforts of our
Society, we are alerting and exposing
others to the benefits of these goals for
golf facilities and the game in general.
I and most other members have
established special friendships through
ASGCA. For me I became one of the
‘three amigos,’ along with Robert Muir
Graves and Eddie ‘Ocean’ Seay. To
them I became ‘Hawk’ because I hit all
my full golf shots with a slight fade
—
vaguely like Ben Hogan, who was
given that nickname due to his tenacity
in big-time competition.
Another special aspect of being a
member is the golf we play at annual
meetings
—
getting to observe noted
courses and the fun of playing with
different members. I got the thrill of
winning the overall prize a couple of
times, including the year we played
at Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and
Cypress Point. To me that was extra
special because it was my only time
I finished ahead of the outstanding
golfer from Mexico and fellow
member, the now late Percy Clifford.
In truth at that time Percy was nearing
the end of his illustrious career and I
was still young enough to think I could
play. The large winners’ trophy is
deservedly named for him.
It is a privilege to wear the ASGCA
blazer. The Ross Tartan
—
a blaze of
color
—
is in respect to our honorary
president Donald Ross and also
represents the Scottish heritage of golf. In
honesty, when some of us first received
material for our jackets we were a little
hesitant about its ‘distinctiveness.’ But in
time we came around and have since
proudly worn it on many occasions. At
some of our annual meetings, we do get
stares from other hotel guests, especially
when they see a gathering of a hundred
or so of us together ‘in uniform!’
May outstanding golf course design
continue to live on, led in many ways
by members of the American Society of
Golf Course Architects.
“In a host of ways, the ASGCA
has been a grand experience to me”
B I L L AMI CK , ASGCA FE L LOW