R.I.P. Geoffrey Cornish
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Ron Whitten with the sad news of the architect, author and gentleman's passing. Anyone who received them cherishes his type-written letters. Truly one of the game's great people.
Here's a nice Royal Canadian Golf Association Hall of Fame page devoted to Mr. Cornish.
**The ASGCA issued this release with remembrances from some of his colleagues.
ASGCA President Rick Phelps:
"Mr. Cornish was a true gentleman and exemplified the highest traditions of ASGCA and the game of golf. His exceptional work as a golf course architect, author and lecturer cannot be overstated. Mr. Cornish's contributions to the profession of golf course architecture and the golf industry will live on for generations."
Mark Mungeam, ASGCA (partner in the firm of Mungeam Cornish Golf Design):
"I was honored to work with Mr. Cornish. He was a true gentleman and wealth of knowledge on golf design and golf in general. He brought so much to public golf as he wanted to create courses that people could really play. Golf, especially in New England, would not be the same without him. Everyone who ever worked with Mr. Cornish knew how he would walk and study a golf course. He would show up for an 8 a.m. meeting at 6 a.m. and walk the golf course, carefully assessing the layout before the meeting even began."
Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA (co-chairman with Geoffrey Cornish of the ASGCA History Committee):
"Geoffrey Cornish, Bob Graves and Jack Kidwell were as close to saintly men as possible, so for ASGCA to have them as members and past presidents was a blessing. They never spoke ill of anyone or anything, they were true friends to whomever they met, and they gave the game of golf and the profession of golf course design a refined dignity. Geoffrey Cornish was the "Dean" of that group, and he leaves behind a long legacy of great golf courses and golf course designers that he mentored. Geoff was a special man by every and any measure, and every day spent with him was a treasured memory. He will be missed."
**Here's a nice Lorne Rubenstein story on Cornish from 2004.
