Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Joe Bausch on May 18, 2013, 01:53:12 PM
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Although Gulph Mills Golf Club has been mentioned frequently on this site (home club of former GCAer Tom Paul), I've never seen a thread completely dedicated to the club, nor has there ever been a photo tour.
With the US Open coming to my area soon, many golfers will likely get out to play Gulph Mills so I think this tour will be rather timely. For much of my analysis I am relying upon the excellent "Design Evolution" book penned by Tom Paul and Charles Lighthall (published in 1999).
GMGC was organized in June of 1916 and Donald Ross was contracted to build the course. It opened officially on May 16, 1919.
On the first page of the Design Evolution book, Tom Paul writes the following:
Under the classics axiom, that "an original and unadulterated course is of greater value than a course that has undergone changes", GMGC cannot be considered a Donald Ross purebred. According to The Architects of Golf, (Cornish & Whitten), architectural attribution under the GMGC listing is more numerous than almost any course that can be found. From the 1920s to the present, seven architects have made changes or recommended changes that were adopted. These numerous design changes by no means indicate the course was poor to start with or that is has been adulterated. When the various Green Committees and Boards felt the need to make alterations, their inclination was to contract architects who were at the top of their profession and whose work and inventories have definitely stood the test of time.
Here is a summary of the design evolution until 1999, lifted or paraphrased from the Paul and Lighthall book:
1916 - Ross designed and constructed.
1925 - Toomey and Flynn rebuilt regrassed 17 of the original 18 Ross greens.
1927 - Ross recommended changes on eleven holes in a hole by hole report. Most recommendations were minor tee and bunker alterations. Recommended regrading of greens #2, #8, #16 and #18. Greens #2 and #18 were approved. #8 no longer exists, and #16, although apparently approved, does not appear to resemble Ross' specifications.
1934 - Maxwell reconstructed the 8th hole and relocated the 8th and 10th greens.
1937 - Maxwell reconstructed 11th & 14th holes, relocated 11 & 14th greens and tees (pars were swapped).
1938 - Maxwell reconstructed the 7th hole. Par was likely reduced from par 4 to par 5, relocated and reconstructed green, rerouted fairway, added rear tee boxes and recommended the hole by played from the shorter tees (425-465).
1940 - Stiles made numerous but mostly minor changes throughout the course, particularly with bunkering and tees to holes #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #8, #9, #10, #11, #15, #16 and #18.
1947 - McGovern reconstructed hole #7 (fw and green), and hole #9 (tee and green). Greenside and fairway bunker alterations were made to hole #1.
1956 - William F. Gordon remodeled holes #1, #4, #11, #13, #14, particularly bunkers and tees.
1958 - Gordon enlarged pond on hole #10, and added alternate tees on holes #5, #6, and #7.
1966 - RT Jones sited present practice range on original 10th fairway. Relocated 10th tee to site of original 9th green. Remodeled 9th green in the process of constructing 10th tee above it. Rerouted 10th fairway, appropriated 12th green and the last third of the original 12th fairway and remodeled the 10th green, extending the front of the green to the pond edge. Rerouted second half of 12th fairway (dogleg left) and constructed new 12th green. Sited and constructed present 13th tee boxes, remodeled 13th fairway and routing, constructed left fairway bunkers in place of the berm.
1992 - Tom Fazio recommended mostly minor changes relating to tees, bunkering, cart routing, etc. It appears most of the changes were approved and implemented.
[when I learn exactly what Hanse has done since, I'll update the above]
Ok, here is the original 1916 plan for the course (most figures and pictures here are clickable to obtain a larger size):
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/GMGC1916plan.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/GMGC1916plan.jpg)
I've annotated that original plan with the holes:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/GMGC1916plan_annotated2.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/GMGC1916plan_annotated2.jpg)
Here is an aerial from Penn Pilot in 1937 (rotated about 30° clockwise from the 1916 plan above):
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1937aerial.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1937aerial.jpg)
And here is a current (2011) Google Earth aerial with the hole-sequencing shown:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/GulphMills_routing.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/GulphMills_routing.jpg)
Ok, time to start the photo part of the thread. On this day the lighting was pretty good at times, a bit cruddy on a couple of holes, but overall I think you'll enjoy the pics (all photos are clickable to 1400 pixels wide). The course was in Spring mode with lots of trees in bloom. And with the elevation changes it is quite photogenic, IMHO.
#1. Par 4 (415 yards).
I don't have any hole diagrams, so I'll borrow some from Google Earth:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole1.jpg)
This hole typifies what I think are many par 4.5 holes at GM. The card yardage isn't long, but the 2nd shot is very uphill and quite demanding due to the green not being so receptive to a long iron.
From the Design Evolution book:
The 1st hole was originally designed as a 437 yard par five.* The rear tee location was approximately the counter of the pro shop. It played as a straight-away par 5, to the present green with the fairway direction somewhat to the right of the present fairway. Although designed by Donald Ross as the 1st hole, it was used as the 18th hole for the first seven to eight years of the club's existence. Mike Smith's house was the original clubhouse, consequently the second hole was used as the Ist hole. Donald Ross recommended in the original design that the GMGC clubhouse be constructed where it is today but it was not completed until 1926.
The original 1st tee became a problem due to sliced shots out of bounds onto Swedeland Road and later as a danger to the newly constructed houses across Swedeland Road. To partially correct this problem the direction of the fairway was moved left to its present location on the recommendation of Wayne Stiles in 1941. A large cross bunker, probably the largest on the course, approximately 100 yards off the original 1st tee, near present practice green, was filled in 1941. A long diagonal bunker on the left side, 140 yards out, was removed in the late 1930s. The right greenside bunker was added and the more rearward, left greenside bunker was grassed over in the 1940s. The original green was perfectly square and remained that way as late as the 1939 photograph. The 1st tee was moved to its present location in 1965-66 and the hole was transformed into a 427 yard par 4.
Tom Fazio remarked in 1992 that the 1st hole is "somewhat strange". The length of the hole and the unreceptiveness of the green to a long iron or wood, due to its height, has made the hole controversial. This hole is a good example of the psychology of par. It has lost approximately 20-30 yards in length from its par 5 days. Other than an altered tee shot angle, the hole is essentially the same as the original. In its first forty seven years as a par 5 it was thought to be a shortish, comfortable, "get into the round" hole. It is now well within par 4 parameters (251-475 yards) but is considered a long, difficult and controversial hole. What happened to the issue of the ball going too far with modern equipment?
The importance of "par" has changed dramatically since 1916. The "Golden Age Strategic Designers" wouldn't understand the controversy. They would probably respond: "How can the expectation of a number change a hole? It is the same hole, only shorter, play it and enjoy it." There is no doubt that the modern expectation of "par", particularly in America, and its influence on how a player responds to a hole, or its approach shot, is valid. In this case, the fact that #1 is viewed as "somewhat strange" does not mean that it is a bad hole, only that it probably "evolved" incorrectly. Maybe it should be shorter still.
This will astound some members, but, Donald Ross was adamant, early on, that all golfers play from the same tee markers. If it took a player two shots to get to the green and another player four shots, so be it. He did provide different tee boxes but believed they should only be used for rotation and differing playing conditions. One can see from this example how much the modern "stroke play" mentality has replaced the traditional "match play" mentality of golf.
Elevated tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1a.jpg)
Very uphill approach shot is next:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1b.jpg)
I came up short and right of the green leaving this view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1c.jpg)
From right of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/1d.jpg)
Well, that was fun! More tomorrow.
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Can we expect contemporaneous comment from The Lurker himself?
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Can we expect contemporaneous comment from The Lurker himself?
I think so. :)
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:) glad to hear... I look forward to seeing them... Everyone I know that has played it speaks very highly of the course.
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This is great! I grew up literally just down the road from the club but somehow have never been there. Looking forward to more pics and commentary!
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Although Gulph Mills Golf Club has been mentioned frequently on this site (home club of former GCAer Tom Paul), I've never seen a thread completely dedicated to the club, nor has there ever been a photo tour.
From what I know about Gulph Mills it is a very private membership. Are you 100% sure the membership approves of you posting pictures openly on the internet for anyone to see?
Gulph Mills sure is lucky to have a member of the picture police like yourself looking out for them. If Joe had said he didnt know would you have called the club or just refused to look at the pictures?
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That is clearly no fun on a Saturday night! 8)
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Although Gulph Mills Golf Club has been mentioned frequently on this site (home club of former GCAer Tom Paul), I've never seen a thread completely dedicated to the club, nor has there ever been a photo tour.
From what I know about Gulph Mills it is a very private membership. Are you 100% sure the membership approves of you posting pictures openly on the internet for anyone to see?
Gulph Mills sure is lucky to have a member of the picture police like yourself looking out for them. If Joe had said he didnt know would you have called the club or just refused to look at the pictures?
Picture police? I have never set foot on the property why in the world would i call the club? I do however know several members as well as the greens chairman and know that they have no unaccompanied guest policy. I simply asked if his host was aware he was posting pictures? In hind sight I probably should have asked in private but my intention was not to protect the club but rather Joe so he did not offend his host.
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In hind sight I probably should have asked in private but my intention was not to protect the club but rather Joe so he did not offend his host.
Yes, Joe was in danger of being banned to Cobbs Creek for the rest of his golf playing days!! :D
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You philly guys have tight sphincters...
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Rat and Toilet Plunger Redux?
Well, I posted pictures from inside the clubhouse last fall showing that Tom Paul won the the club championship several years running with a hat tip to the former "Mayor of Pine Valley" John Ott and no one from GMGC complained. I would be surprised if any members beyond Mr. Paul ever deign to glance at this website.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,53792.0.html
Joe, please continue with your tour.
Malcolm
And also, Donnie, would the membership at Fishers be offended if photos showed up here? Oops, they've been here for years.
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Joe,
The history is so interesting! Thanks.
I had thought that this was a pure Ross course but never "got" it playing over the years. Other than the routing it just didn't feel that "Ross" like to me.
Thanks to you I learn the greens today are mostly Flynn rebuilds with some Maxwell and RTJ inputs at the turn. To me, the Maxwell green at 8 is barely playable. Stiles, too? , no way, and how did Gordon get in there? Appears Fazio had a minimum impact.
I like the RTJ 9th green as well as the bend on 10.
Thanks for the view into Gulph Mills evolution.
Malcolm
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Joe,
Thank's for your effort re Gulph Mills. The history you compiled is even more detailed than I knew of as I was aware of Stile's work and RTJ's, but was unaware of Flynn or Maxwell having had hands on the property. Looking forward to your unfolding photo tour.
I have played Gulph Mills somewhere around 90 times as a close friend is a member. Your compendium on the 1st hole is right on, and though I have stated this twice before at GCA I will mention it again; the first at Gulph Mills is a really stern test as an opener. The approach to the green is daunting even with a mid iron because the green is steeply pitched and the shot is so up hill. Missing long is dangerous because the rough is thick on that part of the property making recovery even more of a challenge. It is very easy to overcook it just a little and the ball will come right off the green and head back down the hill. Recovery from either side of the green is just as daunting. The only safe miss is just short. Bogeys and others are plentiful on this introduction to Gulph Mills, even good players get bittten frequently. I can't think of a harder opener on any course I play regularly. It is certainly no gentle hand shake.
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#2. Par 4 (404 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole2.jpg)
You get a tiny breather on this 2-shotter, although you'll see the green is two-tiered and our pin this day, just barely on the upper tier, was tough.
From the Evolution Design book:
The 2nd hole has undergone moderate alterations from the original design. A cross bunker, approximately 100 yards off the tee, was removed in 1941 by Wayne Stiles. The rightside fairway bunker is not as much in the line of playas previously and the fairway has moved left and narrowed, possibly due to the line of evergreens along Swedeland Road. Donald Ross felt the slope of the green was too severe and it was regraded in 1927. The green size has decreased over time. The original 9th tee was added, as an alternate tee, after the 8th hole was redesigned by Perry Maxwell in 1934.
The 2nd hole is a medium-length par 4, playing downhill, across a road to an uphill green. The fairway bunker on the right was the most functional of Ross' few tee shot fairway bunkers. His original design had only five tee shot bunkers. The ideal approach to the green is the right side near the bunker, but the left side is of little difference. The two-tiered green requires some thought but the 2nd hole is mild from a strategic standpoint.
Elevated tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/2a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/2a.jpg)
Approach shot view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/2b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/2b.jpg)
View from behind the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/2c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/2c.jpg)
After my school's commencement finishes this morning, I'll add the No 1 stroke hole, the par 4 3rd.
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I absolutely LOVE Gulph Mills. Everything about it was great to me - from the locker room, to the staff ribbing the members, and obviously the golf course. All I know is that I was treated by everybody like family when I was there.
It's a true oasis in the midst of the King of Prussia area commercial madness.
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The suprising thing to me @ GMGC is how difficult the first three holes are. It's not hard at all for even a good player to be +2 or +3 after 3. It's suprising considering Ross's normal edict about "Handshake Starting holes" and all that.
Was the original routing changed? I can't remember if my host told me that or not.
Either way, Gulph Mills certainly has a wonderful club atmosphere that really makes everyone feel at home. The day I played, my caddy lost my putter cover and I stopped by on my way out of town the next day with my wife and 3 year old daughter to see if it had been found. While I was talking to the staff in the pro shop, my daughter proceeded to take off sprinting around the clubhouse lanai and crowded putting green. Needless to say I was horrified that they'd scream at her and ask us to leave immediately but everyone from the staff to the members were laughing and couldn't have been nicer or more understanding. It's little things like that that stick in your head and give you a nice lasting impression of a place.
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It would be nice if Tom Paul could comment along the way.
Tom,
Why all the interior trees. On the right side I understand as that is the boundary, but there looks to be room for clearing on the left of 1 and 2?
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It would be nice if Tom Paul could comment along the way.
He is. Hang in there. :)
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From The Lurker:
At a time like this with Joe Bausch's excellent thread on GOLFCLUBATLAS.com, I realize this man Tom Paul who put that GMGC Design booklet together was apparently something of a novice golf architecture researcher/writer when he did that booklet back around 1997-98.
It was done before GOLFCLUBATLAS.com existed and at the time he was still just a mindless tournament golfer who essentially had little interest in golf course architecture or its history. All he knew at the time about golf architecture was how to recognize enough about its configurations and nuances to be able to score fairly well on it.
That all changed around 1997 when Paul was sitting having drinks on the patio of Manufacturers GC with a field of golfers after a qualifier for the Pa State Open. After about two and a half bottles of red wine, some of which he spilt all over himself apparently leading some of the Manufacturer's employees to suspect he had somehow severely cut himself, TEPaul began speaking with the superintendent of Manufacturers about the architecture of that golf course and he informed him he came from Gulph Mills GC. The super told TEPaul there was a remarkable collection of old aerial photographs (the Dallin Collection) of most all the old courses of the Delaware Valley at an old DuPont estate now known as the Hagley Museum in Wilmington Del.
Paul went down there and bought all the old aerials of GMGC and a number of other courses and was just blown away by the numerous changes in so many of them from those old aerials (early 1920s to 1939). What he first noticed via this comparison was how and how much so many courses had most all their features shrunken in over time by both trees and maintenance factors---eg shrunken hole corridors, fairways, greens and bunkers. And so began his interest in the history of golf course architecture. He put that booklet together only for his own interest. Paul was a real estate broker at the time who played about 40+ tournaments annually for the previous twenty years or so. Therefore, at the time he probably knew no more about golf course architecture than that insurance broker and novice golf architect, Hugh Wilson of Merion, when MCC asked him to design a new course for them in Ardmore in 1911 (Merion East). Within a year, the president of GMGC saw this architectural research and design chronicle and had it put together with the aerials into a booklet and had a thousand copies published that included having it handed out to every member and new member of GMGC. That definitely had an impact on the memberships' education and appreciation for the course and its architectural history.
I write this as a preface to explain that there appears to be a number of inaccuracies of fact in that 1999 GMGC Design Evolution booklet. One of them is that William Flynn 'rebuilt' seventeen of GMGC's original Ross greens. The exact fact is that Flynn (with the over-view of the Wilson brothers) only re-grassed those seventeen greens as they had been undergoing agronomic problems, since, inexplicably, in the late teens the greenkeeper (John Reid) had planted them with wheat! (for which Reid was summarily fired, leading him to mercilessly trash-mouth both GMGC and Flynn and Wilson for the next few ensuing years. Could this have been why Wilson and Flynn bitch-slapped Reid upside his stump-like head and came into Philmont to fix Reid's Philmont South?).
At this time, it may not be known if the membership of GMGC objects to this type of publication on the world-wide Internet, and a discussion of their immensely private course and club. If they do object you may expect Bausch and those he played the course with to be out of action for a year or so while they undergo some form of Rendition and water-boarding in some CIA contract country. If it comes to something like that, I will personally intervene and speak with TEPaul to ask him to try to prevail on the GMGC membership to amend this Rendition to only enough torture to determine which architect and course Bausch and those he played with hate most; at which point they will all be imprisoned on that course and forced to play it every day for up to a year.
The Lurker His-self
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The suprising thing to me @ GMGC is how difficult the first three holes are. It's not hard at all for even a good player to be +2 or +3 after 3. It's suprising considering Ross's normal edict about "Handshake Starting holes" and all that.
Was the original routing changed? I can't remember if my host told me that or not.
From The Lurker:
In the first few years after the course opened for play, the 2nd hole served as the 1st and the 1st served as the 18th. The reason for that was although Ross sited the clubhouse where it is today, the clubhouse was not built for a few years. The temporary clubhouse was the building just to the right of the first green that was part of the farm that preceded GMGC.
At another point, the club switched the nines simply so that it would be easier to get a cocktail coming off #18 (the front nine) on the way to the back nine. That iteration only lasted a year or so and the club switched back to the routing and sequence Ross designed.
In answer to that point about Ross wanting an easier "handshake" type hole to open the round, the original (and present) 1st hole was a short par 5. The tee for it was just about in the middle of what is now the pro shop, so it was longer than it is today. One interesting aspect of this course is that Ross apparently asked that a sycamore tree be planted on each side of every tee box. One can still see one massive sycamore tree next to the pro shop. More than half of them are now going but a few remain next to some of Ross's original tees.
Another interesting aspect of Ross's GMGC course, is it may be one of the few courses in the world that was originally designed (1916) with a longer total card yardage than it is today from the tips.
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Before putting up pics for the 3rd hole, I've been having some informative conversations with The Lurker about the less obvious aspects of some of the greens and their surrounds at GM. Three of them involved a good amount of engineering employing "cut and level" techniques (others call this "cut and fill") as the natural grade was too steep to just drop a green on.
Go back to the first post in the thread and look at the 1916 topo map. Here you can see that green #2 employed the "cut and level" technique. Two other original greens required this technique as well. I will not reveal them till later. But perhaps you'll want to see if you can guess them from the pics together with the topo map.
From the Lurker:
Note the swales surrounding those greens (cut) and also note how a lot of the fill (cuts) came from not just the upper side but also the lower side from which quite deep bunkering was created.
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#3. Par 4 (460 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole3.jpg)
There is a drop of 75' from the tees to the base of the fairway. Originally this hole was very open, the only trees nearby those at the quarry on the 4th hole. Many trees were planted on the course in the 30's and 50's. Two inline cross bunkers about 100 yards off the tee were removed by Stiles. Ross added the right fw bunker in 1927, and McGovern the left greenside bunker in 1946.
From the DE book:
With a drop of 75 feet to the base of the fairway, the view from the tee down into the valley and beyond is one of the prettiest at GMGC. In the 1930s and 1950s, extensive tree planting was done throughout the course. Prior to this the 3rd hole had an extremely open look from tee to green with the grove of trees surrounding the quarry on the 4th hole, the only trees anywhere near the 3rd hole sightline. The original rear tee box was reconstructed and enlarged in 1996 on the recommendation of Tom Fazio. Two inline cross bunkers, in the rough, approximately 100 yards off the tee, were removed by Wayne Stiles in 1941. The right fairway bunker, to the right of the cross bunker, was added by Donald Ross in 1927 and the left greenside bunker added by J. B. McGovern in 1946. The right side of the fairway to the creek and from the cross bunker to the green has moved left. The green size has decreased and become rounder. The original was square.
This beautiful hole has all the elements for a text book comparison of the design features of the "Golden Age Strategic" philosophy vs. the "Modern Age" philosophy and the dos and don'ts of design philosophy today.
From tee to hole-out the 3rd is chock-full of strategic options and alternatives for every level of player. The strong player is wary on the tee of the diagonal creek crossing the fairway and the historic building and out-of bounds, close on the left side. For those who debate the acceptability of historic buildings, roads on or near a hole and O.B., one only needs to point to the elements of strategic intensity on what is considered to be one of the best long par 4's in the world: the 17th hole at St. Andrews (the Road Hole).
To play the Road Hole properly one must drive blind over the G.B. railroad sheds on the right. The second shot into the green is intensified by the old road and the wall abutting it just off the Road Bunker to the right of the green. Thankfully, these old holes don't adhere to some modern formulaic concept of photogenics or "fairness". Their strength is they make you think, they can make you sweat and they energize you if you are successful.
The strong player may decide on the tee to go for distance and proper angle to the green, down the left side of the fairway, risking the diagonal creek. The safer and shorter play down the right side creates a more difficult approach to the green, which cants away from the player from the right. For the higher handicapper, the creek, the road and the cross bunker comes into play on the second and third shots and requires thoughtful alternatives. These features do not come into play for the low handicapper and are examples of Ross' philosophy of designing features for different levels of play. For this reason certain design features are incorrectly criticized as being out of place or unnecessary. The cant of the fairway over the cross bunker into the green is an excellent feature in "running conditions". A side to side, two tier green completes the experience. The downhill tee shot to a subtly uphill green is also much of the theme of GMGC.
Elevated tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/3a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/3a.jpg)
A less aggressive drive may dictate a layup from this spot:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/3b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/3b.jpg)
View from short of the green with the pin on this higher right tier:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/3c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/3c.jpg)
From long and right of the green where you can sort of tell the green was originally quite square (the construction is the new maintenance facility being built in the background):
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/3d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/3d.jpg)
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Well, if I must suffer that rendition with Joe, my least favorite course in the world would have to be Pine Valley. What hacks Crump and Colt were! Please inform GM that it would be sheer hell for me to have to play there every day.
Thanks!
David
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Joe,
Regarding the "cut and level" method of engineering the greens I would say that the greens on eight and nine are the two other likely candidates.
When I played in October the course had been set up for a "tough" tournament. The pin on eight was way back middle and if memory serves I witnessed six strokes to get down after missing the green just long.
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Regarding the "cut and level" method of engineering the greens I would say that the greens on eight and nine are the two other likely candidates.
Dear Malcolm,
You are on an 0-2 count!
Bah-bah-buh-dum.
Sincerely,
B. Barker
P.S. I said original greens.
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Ouch!
I will commit to hole number five for my last swing with two strikes. I' m just basing this on the severe right to left slope present today and the deep bunkers down left. Also it is sited along the same hill as two.
If I am right I go to 1 and 2.
I had not noticed how much the back nine routing had changed from 1916 to the present.
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Joe, for what it's worth, here is a May 20, 1948 aerial...
(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj310/eko_gfl/GulphMills1948-5-20_zps196ed9fc.jpg) (http://s275.photobucket.com/user/eko_gfl/media/GulphMills1948-5-20_zps196ed9fc.jpg.html)
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Joe
The ross cut and level greens pads are
2
5
13
Survey says?
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Joe
The ross cut and level greens pads are
2
5
13
Survey says?
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner.
Make sure to see Rusty on the way out, he has some papers for you to sign.
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#4. The quarry par 3 (117 yards).
Somehow this quarry hole falls a bit under the radar in the region. This hole isn't that much different than the original design.
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole4.jpg)
From the DE:
This very short par 3 has undergone minor natural alterations, tee and bunkering changes, but is essentially unchanged from the original design. In 1940, Wayne Stiles recommended building a new tee box to the left of the original tee (present white and red tee markers), adding a larger right greenside bunker and additional front bunkering, to give the hole the look of an island green. The Board did not approve these recommendations but the suggestions appear to have been acted on by W.F. Gordon in the 1950s.
Interestingly, the increased front bunkering done in the 1950s appears to have been reversed and the look of the bunkering returned to the original design. The alternate left tee box recommended by Stiles and built by Gordon, was eventually reconstructed and enlarged in 1995.
Although the ground design of the 4th hole has changed little from the original plan, the shot values* certainly have due to the loss of the large trees guarding the hole on the right front, left greenside and particularly, the left rear. Shots played high to the left rear of the green were knocked down by the overhanging branches of the rear tree. These trees were lost due to natural causes or taken down on the recommendation of the USGA as their roots were damaging the green. The hole now has an extremely open look.
*Shot Values is an important yet somewhat mysterious term. Golf architects Ken Killian and Dick Nugent described it well as "a reflection of what the hole demands of the golfer and the relative reward or punishment it metes out for good and bad shots."
This classic, topographical, short par 3 speaks for itself. The 4th hole is on Tom Doak's list as Donald Ross' best 4th hole.
In "Modern Age" design, probably in an attempt to increase total yardage, the very short par 3 has gone out of fashion. A good course should have one, at least for variety.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/4a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/4a.jpg)
From right of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/4b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/4b.jpg)
From left of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/4c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/4c.jpg)
I'll post the 5th hole after I visit another wonderful Ross course in the area this morning, LuLu. :)
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Joe,
Thank's once again for this posting and your excellent photos and commentary.
A comment about then 4th hole at Gulph Mills. It is a wonderful short par 3, I believe about 112 from the back tee. It often plays down wind in the warmer months. It yields few birdies as the green is dished and if the hole is anywhere along the greens perimeter putts tend to have significant break. It is an easy green to miss due to its 3/4 shot demand, and if you miss long getting it close is a real challenge. Just a great hole and it fits perfectly in the routing. The quarry you cross on the tee shot has been substantially cleaned up since I first played the hole in 1976. The left wall of the quarry serves as the left edge of the par 5 7th hole, you don't want to pull or over hook a long approach into 7 as you can wind up down in the quarry with an awkward pitch, turning your try at eagle into a potential bogey or worse.
The Wee one, a truly great short par 3, one of the best I have played anywhere. There's another great short hole coming up in the routing and when you get there Joe, I'll offer a comment about it. Enjoying your tour very much.
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#5. Par 4 (435 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole5.jpg)
From the DE:
While Hole # 3 has many strategic features, to this member, Hole # 5 is the most sublimely subtle, natural and valid hole on the course. One of the fundamentals of "Strategic Design" is to stand on the tee and detect the problems and the solutions of the hole. Part of the beauty of the "Golden Age" courses and the drawback of the "Modern Age" design is that these problems and solutions should be subtle. They should be uncovered through keen observation and experience. The "Modern Age" presentation is often so overwhelming with bunkers and drama as the be frighteningly obvious.
From the tee the player should look all the way to the green and then backwards. The severe right to left cant of the green and the pin position should be observed. They player should recognize that the tee shot should be played off the natural contour of the fairway to the flat left side for the best approach up into the cant of the green. The flat left side is closely guarded by the marsh on the left. This is good risk-reward in the style of some of the best par 4s are Merion (#5, #7 and #8) which require playing close to the danger (creek and O.B.) for the best shot in.
Playing the drive right leaves a difficult shot down and across the cant of the green and it is not easy to hit a shot above your feet left to right. The bunker on the left and the difficult grass swale on the right creates strategic intensity. The bunker right and short of the green has the interesting dual purpose of reminding the player to stay left and demarcating the blind grass swale behind it. The distance of the left bouncing approach shot must be precise or a three putt is likely when green speed is up on the severely slanting but straightforward green.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/5a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/5a.jpg)
Approach view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/5b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/5b.jpg)
From short of the right bunker:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/5c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/5c.jpg)
I tried to capture the depression to the right and rear of the green from this angle over the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/5d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/5d.jpg)
It is not known whether these were designed as sand bunkers, swales, or for drainage.
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i don't remember reading previously that Tom Paul compared this hole to #5 at Merion East, but it sure seems to me that they have strategic and structural similarities from tee to green.
This is especially evident when you play them on consecutive days!
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ick... is that a willow tree on #5? does it come into play?
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ick... is that a willow tree on #5? does it come into play?
I think there are a handful of willow trees at GMGC W2. But none of them are directly in play.
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Re: Fifth at GMGC,
You have to hit a duck hook to find the weeping willow and water beyond, (right handed) as I recall.
A bit more forgiving than the fifth at Merion, however, a very strong challenge with a similar, if less severe, right to left cant from tee to green and water to the left. Not sure why, but the green reminds me of the front nine Upper course at Baltusrol running away from the mountain right to left. Don't ask me which hole. It's an amalgamation in my mind.
One of my favorites at Gulph Mills.
Yet, who am I to review golf courses and who is really taking my reviews to heart? Go play it for yourselves.
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#6. Par 3 (173 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole6.jpg)
From the ED:
Standing on the tee it is difficult to see the extent of the angle and carry to the left side. Because of the reeds on the left, the green appears straighter across the front than it is... The pond originally had a small island, shots onto it could be reached by a rowboat... It is hard to believe that this undulating center spine green with separate cupping areas front, back left and back right is not a Perry Maxwell green. Is it possible he recontoured this green without attribution when he reconstructed the 7th Hole in 1938?
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/6a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/6a.jpg)
Even the drop area shot is tough (but it does show the angle of the green on the left side):
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/6b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/6b.jpg)
From the back edge of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/6c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/6c.jpg)
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Joe
The ross cut and level greens pads are
2
5
13
Survey says?
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner.
Make sure to see Rusty on the way out, he has some papers for you to sign.
We're going to have to check Tom's medication if he's suggesting 5 and 13 are cut and fill but 8 and 9 are not...
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Joe -
A friend of mine made the only ace of his life on the sixth hole in 1933, and he still talks about it.
Thanks for the tour, it brings back fond memories of an interesting day. Tom Paul offered me not one but two drinks for a par on the third hole and I collected.
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Joe
The ross cut and level greens pads are
2
5
13
Survey says?
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner.
Make sure to see Rusty on the way out, he has some papers for you to sign.
We're going to have to check Tom's medication if he's suggesting 5 and 13 are cut and fill but 8 and 9 are not...
I think you also need to check your reading skills Jimbo! ;)
I'm confident Tom means the original greens.
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Not so many comments so I will chime in again.
Agree that this must be a Maxwell green. It is a funhouse where even if you hit the green, if you are on the wrong side of the center spine you will fight real hard for a two putt. Likely you will face a six to ten footer for par.
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Professor,
I'm confident my reading comprehension needs improvement but can anyone actually decipher that original routing map?
Sully
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From the Lurker:
When I said in that 1999 Design Evolution booklet on GMGC that the 6th green's contours just looked to me so much like Perry Maxwell green contours it therefore must have been redone by Maxwell.
Since then I have learned so much more about how to be a competent architectural researcher and analyst. I definitely do not subscribe to the theory that if something "Looks like" a particular architect, it therefore must be that architect. The fact is Wayne and I have proven that theory from so many people, including golf architects, to be wrong. The way we proved it with Flynn was to provide those clubs with Flynn's original drawing plans when so many thought his holes were someone else's. This included some significant courses such as Concord, Kittanset and even the Country Club at Brookline.
GMGC's records are unusually complete and comprehensive for a course of its age (1916). There is nothing whatsoever in those records to indicate that Maxwell ever touched the 6th green. What he did redo and redesign we have comprehensive details and dates on. Therefore #6 is very likely original Ross although it is quite unusual compared to the rest of Ross's original greens on that golf course. There are at least two fairly unique looking Ross greens on that golf course. #6 is one, and #15 is another. I believe #15 green was a forerunner to the #10 green he did about ten years later at Aronimink (when Ross did for us a comprehensive master plan in 1927 he was in town to begin the Aronimink project and at that point he had an office in Wynnewood run by his primary foreman/partner, C.B. McGovern), although in somewhat mirror-image which was a basic template deception technique of a lot of architects including Ross and Maxwell.
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Yes it has both the stick routing and irrigation on the same plan. Also holes 1-7, 10-11 and 13 approach though 18 are in the same basic corridors. Does that help?
By the way this looks like a fairly intricate irrigation system for its time. The connection points are more numerous than designed 11 years later for St Davids.
St Davids first looked at this site and passed for economic timing reasons, thus opening the door for the creation of Gulph Mills. A J Drexel Paul was a long time board member at St Davids before and after the formation of GMGC. I have always thought he was the connection to Ross for both clubs.
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#7. Par 5 (496 yards).
Here is another par 4.5 hole, IMO. But with the quarry in play again just left of the green, a hockey stick or a Frosty are easy to make too. ;D
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole7.jpg)
From the ED:
The 7th hole is the first hole in the routing whose original green no longer exists... In 1938, Perry Maxwell relocated the green to the left, behind the quarry. Maxwell's green was small, severely contoured and difficult to hold, with four large bunkers sprinkled throughout the run-up landing area and four additional bunkers surrounding the green.... Although Maxwell's new green and location were controversial with the members, Wayne Stiles (1940) remarked that "it is interesting to have one short par 5 that negates the long hitter".... The controversy persisted and in 1946, J.B. McGovern rebuilt the present green, removed the bunkering along the quarry and one of the greenside bunkers... The following cannot be documented by it is possible, even likely, that Perry Maxwell, with his redesign in 1937-8, was attempting to recreate some of the high risk-reward "Heroic" features that exist on the 13th at Augusta National, considered by many to be the finest short par 5 in the world.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7a.jpg)
Second shot view (the golfers in the distance are on the green):
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7b.jpg)
Many will bunt up their 2nd shot leaving a full short iron for the 3rd:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7c.jpg)
The quarry is very much in play:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7d.jpg)
View from just behind the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7e.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/7e.jpg)
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Professor,
I'm confident my reading comprehension needs improvement but can anyone actually decipher that original routing map?
Sully
See if this helps:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/GMGC1916plan_annotated.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/GMGC1916plan_annotated.jpg)
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That present 7th green has been highly controversial with the membership since being redone around 2002-3. A Special Committee has just been formed to look into what to do about it.
Thankfully, or perhaps unthankfully, this man TE Paul, who is also highly controversial in some circles, seems to have inserted himself as the chairman of this Special Committee on the 7th Hole. Gil Hanse's marvelous partner, Jim Wagner is presently on the job.
The Lurker
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TE Paul, who is also highly controversial in some circles
The Lurker
Has TEP/The Lurker now gone completely schizophrenic?
I hope he/they don't start referring to himself/themselves in the 3rd person.
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There are sure some very tough pin positions on that green, especially when they are running at 12-13! (AJDP Cup).
Toughest of the three par 5's for me.
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More lurker!
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Dear Lurker,
Regarding the number six green.
I was misled by the original preamble to this thread which indicated that Flynn rebuilt all the Ross greens. Now I learn that they were re-grassed. The sixth green's current rendition never spoke "Flynn" to me nor "Ross".
I am guilty of Maxwell profiling! Take me away!
Always learning here at GCA!
Kind Regards,
Malcolm
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#8. Dogleg left par 4 (351 yards).
Nifty little hole here with a great PMax green.
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole8.jpg)
From the ED:
The 8th Hole is a dogleg left measuring 330 yards from the back tee (yardage is measured down the center of the fairway around the dogleg to the green). Although guarded from the tee by a pond, willow trees and extensive bunkering, the green has been driven. The original hole measured 397 yards with a severely sloping green placed on the hill above the present 9th rear tee box. Until the mid 1930s, the hole played as a very slight dogleg left with the left side of the fairway crossing the site of the present left pond. Extensive cross-bunkering, behind the leftside 4th tee and 125 yards off the 8th tee, was removed in 1941 by Wayne Stiles. A well-bunkered and undulating green was constructed at the base of the hill by Perry Maxwell in 1933. The hole shape was altered to a sharp dogleg left around a newly constructed pond. The pond on the right of the fairway was also added during this redesign.
The 8th Hole has options off the tee and can be played aggressively with quite high risk-reward. Some feel it is not a good idea to get too close to this green with the drive as short finesse approaches seem to frequently fail. The green and green complex is classic Perry Maxwell. The bunker-encircled, shallow; undulating green is one of the best on the course. The small grass island in the front left bunker is a Maxwell trademark. The quadrants of the green all have excellent pin positions and all quadrants are hard to putt to from the other quadrants.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/8a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/8a.jpg)
Can't just bunt one or you'll have to negotiate this willow tree:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/8b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/8b.jpg)
Approach shot view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/8c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/8c.jpg)
View from the next tee above:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/8d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/8d.jpg)
More later after I play George Fazio's first design this morning. :)
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The Philadelphia area is blessed with some truly great short par 4's. 10 and 11 at Merion immediately come to mind as does 12 at Rolling Green. Number 8 at Gulph Mills is another of the regions finest short 4's.
I have seen very long drivers of the ball go for this green in one. It is a small target surrounded by uneven ground, ledge behind the green, the fronting pond, and an array of bunkers, in addition to gnarly rough. The willow near the left water hazard can come into play on a less than purely struck drive if one is going for the green.
For mere mortals a good play is to drive the ball between and beyond the ponds. This sets up a less than full sand wedge or 60 degree wedge to the small, undulating, green. You see an awful lot of misses on the approach on this hole, even with the wedge in the hands of a superior player. Laying back with the drive is dangerous because the hazards are brought more into play and the approach is more difficult from further away due to the small size of the green. The green has multiple slopes and rolls and three puts are not uncommon, especially if one gets above the hole. As with #4, the Wee One, on number 8 par is a good score. Number 8 is listed as the 17th handicap hole on the card. I am sure most can guess which hole is the 18th handicap.
Pretty neat that this one course has two of the best short holes in greater Philadelphia, an area rich with superb golf courses.
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Simply put, my favorite hole at GMGC and one of my favorite green sites of my experience.
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From the Lurker:
I believe the 8th hole green and green-end (bunkering arrangement) is essentially a Maxwell "template." I believe he did this green arrangement and green surrounding bunker arrangement app 3-6 times including ANGC #7, whose green is in something of a mirror image to this one. GMGC's might've been the first but I cannot confirm that at this time. The original Ross #8 green was about a hundred yards up the hill to the left of the present 9th tees. You can still see vestiges of Ross's old 8th green and green-side bunker cavities on the ground.
In the Hanse restoration Master Plan over ten years ago we tried to remove the willows over the pond a few trees down the left to basically show the green from the tee but the membership resisted that one more than any other item on the Master Plan.
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The idea of a Maxwell template never occurred to me, but I came up with 7 at Augusta immediately.
The tee shot here is strategic golf 101, plus it plays with your (my) ego.
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Could this be the most extremely contoured green in the Philadelphia area.
Yup!, quite likely!
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#9. Par 4 (377 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole9.jpg)
From the ED:
The 9th Hole has undergone extensive tee and green alterations over the years at the hands of at least two and possibly three designers. The original 9th tee is, what most members believe to be, the alternate 2nd tee. Donald Ross' plan called for a 409 yard hole arcing slightly left all the way. The green was located on top of the hill extending front to back from the right side of the present 10th rear tee box to the cart park area for the 10th hole. The blind and bunkerless green was 50-60 feet above the base of the fairway.
The last fifty yards of the fairway was an extremely steep incline causing balls not reaching the green to roll to the base of the hill. Wayne Stiles' 1940 recommendation was approved to construct a log riser stair up the right hillside to the green. This is the same stair from the present 9th green to the 10th tee. The original bunkering at the inside of the dogleg, 175 yards off the tee, was allowed to grass over in the mid 1930s.
].B. McGovern was contracted in 1946 to move the 9th green to the base of the hill, its present location, and to build the present rear tee box. The "new" 9th green proved unsatisfactory and it was redone by Robert Trent Jones in 1966. Today, the hole plays in the 360-370 yard range. The original rear tee box is being used in 1998 as an alternate tee.
The 360-370 yard 9th can play as long as any hole of its length. The finishing holes on both nines underscore the lengthy "playable" distance of GMGC approach shots which is the theme of the course. The semi-blind green has good strategic intensity with a narrow front and a back to front two tier. The right rear pin position is very high shot value.
Elevated view from the forward tee box:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/9a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/9a.jpg)
Approach view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/9b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/9b.jpg)
From the hill left of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/9c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/9c.jpg)
From the back edge of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/9d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/9d.jpg)
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#10. Dogleg-left par 4 (417 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole10.jpg)
From the ED:
The 10th hole has been the most extensively altered of any hole at GMGC. The original design was 459 yards and believed to be a par 5. From a tee located on the present upper practice tee, the hole played straight-away, down the practice range, to a green located nearly 50 yards beyond the present 10th green.
In 1933, the original green was graded over and a new green was constructed by Perry Maxwell on its present location, with par dropping to 4.
Wayne Stiles recommended grassing over the left fairway bunker. The depression can still be seen to the left of the 150 yard flag on the practice range. WF Gordon enlarged the pond in front of the new green in 1958. Since the loss of the Varian Tract across Swedeland Rd. in the 1940s, GMGC was without a practice area. Robert Trent Jones was brought in to correct this problem and his solution was to use the 10th tee and the entire 10th fairway as the new range. As he and Willis De La Com stood on the old 12th fairway, he looked over at the lath green and stated: "this will do for the new lath fairway, the green is facing right at us." This necessitated the rearrangement of the LOth, 12th and 13th holes. The new 10th tee was placed fifty yards to the right of the old tee, on the site of the old 9th green, and the final third of the old 12th fairway and the 12th green were appropriated as the first half of the new lath routing. According to Mr. De La Com, Jones recommended "pulling a tongue down on the lath green", extending the front of the green to the edge of the pond.
Jones' alterations created a 415 yard dogleg left, with a tee to fairway base-drop of approximately 60-65 feet. Eventually, a line of evergreens were planted around the outside of the dogleg to screen the sightline of the new 10th from the new 12th hole, ending with an original hackberry tree. The combination of dogleg left, with the landing area for the drive canting in a negative camber and very penal trees just through the fairway, created controversy A properly placed drive in "running conditions" could easily carom off the fairway into the trees and be severely penalized. In 1997, the original Hackberry breathed its last, the offending evergreens were removed and the fairway was moved slightly right to flatten and extend the landing area at the base of the fairway. (Fazio's 1992 recommendation, Alternative 2.).
The 10th hole has seen a vast improvement with the removal of the evergreens through the fairway. From the tee, the shifting of the fairway right has moved the apparent center of the fairway increasing the length of the approach shot and it takes some experimenting to decide where best to hit the ball. Donald Ross would have appreciated this subtlety The likelihood of going too long, through the fairway into the rough, is something with which Ross probably would not have had much of a problem.
The essence of Ross' philosophy was the recovery shot and the miscalculated tee shot, in this case, would be penalized to the extent that the approach to the green, or its orientation, was made more difficult. This was part of his half shot penalty concept: if a stellar recovery was produced the player would be back in the game. This he felt heightened the constant ebb and flow of the competition. If Ross was asked about the placement of a bunker or trees at the outside of this dogleg he probably would have advised to let the topography and the angle be the design feature. He may have further advised that since the negative camber at the tum is not ideal there is no need to complicate matters.
The 10th hole may remain somewhat controversial with its complicated left-right landing area and right-left swing of the routing. This, however, brings up a few interesting and general architectural points. A good architect strives to create a course that offers good variety. He wants to provide a test where the player can, or occasionally must, hit different shots. He does not, however, want to stress one particular style of shot over another.
Generally, the player should be able to choose his own shot style and his own risk and reward. This is part of the options and alternatives of good "strategic" design. GMGC probably favors the fade, but almost every hole will accept a fade, draw or straight shot, which makes GMGC an excellent strategic course for every style. This is not the case with the tee shot on the 10th; a fade off the tee, unless extremely long and high does not work well. This instance of a "forced shot" may be looked at as increased variety in an overall sense and may be seen to balance the 15th hole, which really does not accept a drawn tee shot, unless extremely long and high.
Occasionally, even a "strategically" designed course will be heavily weighted in favor of a particular type of shot. Some believe Augusta National, a "strategic" course, stresses the draw. Top flight players often analyze whether a course routing is predominately clockwise or counterclockwise. In a tournament context, they may refuse to playa course they believe does not suit their shot style. A good example is Lee Trevino, who refused to play in the Masters, as he felt his fade could not work at Augusta. His opinion of Augusta and its weighting could be debated as Jack Nicklaus, a lifelong fader, won six green jackets. It is safe to say that neither a left to right nor a right to left player would consider refusing to compete at GMGC.
The tenth green is a wonderful example of the humps and bumps of "Maxwell Rolls". The Robert Trent Jones front add-on is a very good feature with a high shot value pin position. The right rear comer is also high shot value.
Elevated tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/10a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/10a.jpg)
Approach view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/10b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/10b.jpg)
From just short of the pond:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/10c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/10c.jpg)
Looking back from over the green, I very much like this picture:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/10d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/10d.jpg)
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Joe:
Another great photo tour; I've always liked reversed cambered fairways like the 10th -- I think they pose a challenge for golfers often not seen on courses. This course in Wisconsin, Old Hickory (with an original nine designed by Tom Bendelow) has a good one on the 4th hole:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,36792.0.html
Medinah #3 also has one or two of these -- they provide some interest on some flatter parts of that course.
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I greatly dislike reverse camber fairways and I don't like the 10th fairway at GMGC. However as I remember it, one of the most interesting greens I have ever seen. Ranks up there with the 2nd at Crystal Downs as one my favorite greens. Maxwell rolls are cool.
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From the Lurker:
Phil McDade:
You're right, Joe Bausch sure does do some wonderful photo tours of courses. With his first photo from the tee of #10, one can see the first half of the 12th hole in the distance. Combined with what we see as the first half of the 10th hole was Ross's original 12th. You can even see a few little contours about 10-15 yards past the cart path which are the remains of Ross's old 12th green and bunker cavities. His 12th played to 555 yds, the longest par 5 the course had.
Again, GMGC is unusual in that it's total card yardage was longer in 1917 than it is today.
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I remember the slope in front of the 9th green being more severe than it looks in that picture. Perhaps it is because I had my approach shot spin back about 15 yards down the hill when I played it!
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From the Lurker:
Lynn:
You are definitely within the vast majority in not liking reverse camber fairways.
Since Donald Ross did not design in an area for a practice range, in the 1960s RTJ took the fairway of Ross's original 10th hole (to the left of the present fairway) as our practice range, and moved the first half of the fairway of #10 to the second half of the fairway of Ross's old 12th. That created that negative camber tee shot on #10.
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I greatly dislike reverse camber fairways...
Lynn:
I'm curious -- why not?
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#11. Uphill par 4 (363 yards).
Another wonderful Maxwell green on this hole.
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole11.jpg)
From the ED:
Members who have never seen the aerial photographs or the Donald Ross survey plan will be amazed that the originaillth hole was a 229 yard uphill par 3. Judging from the length of the opening holes on either nine of the original design, one would assume that a Ross philosophy was that one should be "limbered up" before starting off.
The original long and narrow llth green began at the present fairway pot bunker and extended in the rear to approximately 20 yards in front of the present green. Three years after relocating the 8th and 10th greens, Perry Maxwell was brought back, in 1937, to redo the 11th and 14th holes. Tee boxes were placed behind the #18 tee box and to the right of the #10 green and a small, undulating, well-bunkered green was constructed 35 yards above the original green. Maxwell added the fairway pot bunker and the second left fairway bunker was added in the 1950s by WE Gordon. The cross bunker now used on #11, as a legitimate tee shot cross bunker, is the last remaining functional Ross "topped shot" bunker on the course; although designed for the original par 3.
The old tee boxes for the original 11th hole can be seen to the left, 40-50 yards off the present tee. Halfway between the tee and the beginning of the fairway, the outline of the old #10 green and its bunkering is still visible. In the fairway just above the pot bunker, is a slight terrace which was the old #11 green. The two right side fairway bunkers were the original par 3 right greenside bunkers.
This hole has an interesting amalgamation of design features from the original par 3 that still works well enough. The driving area is generous and provides alternatives. The Perry Maxwell green and complex is another exciting test with as much intensity as the 8th. The front right pin position is closely guarded by the front greenside bunker and you don't want to be long. The top of the front bunker is raised, deceiving the player's depth perception of the right half of the green.
A good conservative play for this pin is front left. The front left pin can be extremely fast coming from above it if the green speed is up. The right rear shelf is a terrific feature that is not overly demanding unless you happen to reach it and the pin is not there.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/11a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/11a.jpg)
Approach view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/11b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/11b.jpg)
From just short of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/11c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/11c.jpg)
From just over the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/11d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/11d.jpg)
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I greatly dislike reverse camber fairways...
Lynn:
I'm curious -- why not?
I like to play by feel and what my eye tells me. If the fairway is cambered toward the green, it feels so good to set-up a draw or fade and let gravity assist me. When this happens I feel I have combined the implement, my mind and skill, along with mother nature to optimize the shot. I have also reduced the yardage of the next shot. I believe golf is enjoyed most when all of the above are enabled in a shot.
For a reverse or negative camber, the ball will bounce away from the target even if I have "fought" with spin to minimize the "damage."
I feel like I am not in control, that mother nature prevents me from optimizing my implement, mind and swing. As a result it doesn't appeal to my eye and thus reduces the satisfaction in shot making.
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Re. #11
Two interesting features (besides the wonderful green!):
The tee box is essentially shared with #18. The back tees for #11 are near the forward tees for #18 and the back tees for #18 are near the front tees for #11 making it play around 464 instead of 421 (both par 5's!!).
Also, the #11 green is almost contiguous with #15 green with a closely mown area connecting the two. It would be pretty cool to have a true double green there.
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Re. #11
Two interesting features (besides the wonderful green!):
The tee box is essentially shared with #18. The back tees for #11 are near the forward tees for #18 and the back tees for #18 are near the front tees for #11 making it play around 464 instead of 421 (both par 5's!!).
Also, the #11 green is almost contiguous with #15 green with a closely mown area connecting the two. It would be pretty cool to have a true double green there.
From The Lurker:
David A:
I believe the Hanse Master Plan called for the 11th and 18th tees to be reconstructed into a combined rather large curvilinear affair. When the subject of the cost of reconstructing such a large tee came up (something like between 30-50K), I believe it was that infamous and highly controversial Tom Paul who suggested, since those two tees sort of lined up although playing in opposite directions, to simply reposition the 11th and 18th back tee markers as you described to add combined tee yardage to both holes in the neighborhood of about 80 yards; And better yet that it would cost nothing. He was presenting the Master Plan at a meeting at the time to most of the membership. They liked the idea of no cost but when they heard him say that golfers would be driving in opposite directions right at one another a number of members stood up at the same time and asked this infamous, controversial Paul fellow if he was trying to kill GMGC members. I understand he simply asked all those who asked that question if they actually expected golfers, even including GMGC golfers, to stand within 80 yards of one another in plain view and drive golf balls right at each other. I understand that explanation answered that question to their satisfaction, so that is the way the back tee markers have been arranged on those two holes for the last decade or so.
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I had no idea this course was this good. Considering the location, it looks very peaceful too.
9 & 10 look a little awkward but the rest look like lots of fun. Thanks as always to Joe B.
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A wonderful/evil green indeed!
This is a pretty straight forward hole except that there are pin positions on the Maxwell green that are quite punishing if your approach ends up in the wrong spot.
I have seen many, many strokes taken to get down from a slight miss just off of this green.
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I note Lynn's point about the reverse cambered fairway on the 10th at Gulph Mills. It's a doozy of an opener for the back nine, and matches the difficulty of the first hole in that the camber of the fairway tends to move the ball right and take away roll, which lengthens the approach. I am certain that Robert Trent Jones would be elated to know that I have never been comfortable on this hole, even on the few occasions where I have managed to draw the ball down the left tree line around the corner to shorten up the approach. It's a brute, there is no question.
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#12. Par 5 (523 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole12.jpg)
From the ED:
Originally a straight-away, 555 yard par 5, with a sightline near the back of the #15 green, to below the present lady's tee on the 10th hole. This hole was the most heavily bunkered, a total of 11, at GMGC.
Wayne Stiles made minor bunkering changes in 1940, grassing over the cross bunkers 100 yards off the tee and constructing the left fairway bunker. In 1966, as a result of the new practice range, Robert Trent Jones redesigned the second half of the fairway to swing left in a dogleg around the #13th hole pond, and to be bordered on the left side by trees to the present green.
Hole #12 is a pretty dogleg left into the base of the valley. GMGC has five or six fairway areas where a few extra yards of carry is the difference between the ball stopping quickly or caroming 30-40 yards down the fairway This fairway has that feature. The others are #3, #7, #13, #16 and #18. The large Ash, hugging the fairway on the right, one hundred yards from the green, is the main strategic consideration of the second shot. The 12th green, with its narrow front and wide back, combines features of a large and small green well.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12a.jpg)
I like how some old bunkers were grassed over and not made smooth:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12b.jpg)
Second shot view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12c.jpg)
My less than ideal line in for the 3rd shot: :)
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12d.jpg)
Looking back down the hole from just over the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12e.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/12e.jpg)
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Keep 'em coming, Joe :)
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To The Lurker:
There's still a few years to go until GMGC celebrates its centennial and I propose that you update your wonderful Design Evolution booklet to include all these anecdotes about Gil Hanse's contributions and any new historical info you now have. What a great complement to any centennial book that hopefully will be produced.
BTW, hope to see you in Philly for the US Open!!!
David
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#13. Uphill par 4 (435 yards; No. 2 stroke hole).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole13.jpg)
From the DE:
The old tee boxes of the original #13 hole can be seen between the side by side sycamore trees slightly in front and to the right of the present #12 green. The original design was a 416 yard, slight dogleg left, across the pond and over an enormous berm, possibly six feet high, above the pond. A drive up the hill had to be played over two inline "topped shot" bunkers and to the right of the berm.
This route was later guarded on the right by the fairway bunker added in the 1930s. In 1957, WE Gordon added the left greenside bunker and grassed over the bunker extending across the back of the green. The original green was much broader in the rear with a very steep "kick-up" which caused balls played to the back to run back down the green.
The present tee boxes were sited and constructed in 1966 by Robert Trent jones and the two left fairway bunkers replaced the extraordinary berm. The redesigned hole (necessitated by the practice range) plays as a slight uphill dogleg right at 401 yards.
The incline of this hole and the rise across the fairway at 220 yards makes this 401 yarder play about 430, particularly if the rise is not carried. The shot in is a typical GMGC approach shot playing longer than the actual yardage. The par of this hole for women needs to be altered or the tees need to be brought forward.
My only regret with this hole is that I never saw the berm above the pond. It must have been a difficult feature because one caddy I interviewed claimed it was fifteen feet high. Malcolm Wister remembers, as a lad, getting his ball stuck behind it occasionally with no hope for advancement. His solution was to hurl his ball over the berm in frustration, followed by his clubs and then himself. This extraordinary design feature was one that definitely did not stand the test of time.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/13a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/13a.jpg)
Approach view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/13b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/13b.jpg)
From short of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/13c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/13c.jpg)
From a rise over the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/13d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/13d.jpg)
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A comment about 13. This is a demanding long 4, ussually a hybrid for me into this green, occasionally a 4 or 5 iron if I really kill the drive. The large green is pitched back at the fairway and if the hole is located up front overcooked approaches can set up very defensive lags. The front right portion of the green has angled slope that adds an additional challenge to any putt or chip to hole locations left of it. The bunkering near the green tends to collect lots of 2nd shots, especially the left green side bunker. There are many putts on this green with substantial amounts of break if one is left or right of the hole. It's a beautiful long par 4 that fits nicely into the land and into the routing. Par is always a good score on this hole, one of my favorites at GMGC.
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#14. Par 3 (190 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole14.jpg)
From the ED:
A 295 yard par 4, this hole was considered relatively weak. The tee box was approximately 20 yards to the right of the cross bunker near the green on #13. The original green was sited just past the evergreen trees behind the present green. In 1937, Perry Maxwell relocated the tee box and constructed the well-bunkered green on its present site, creating a 165-195 yard par 3, thereby swapping par with the 11th hole in one redesign project.
In 1957, WF Gordon enlarged the first right greenside bunker and constructed the second of the three right greenside bunkers. The original "topped shot" cross bunker and rightside fairway bunker, from the old par 4, can still be seen on this hole. This well-bunkered hole has a relatively narrow center front opening. The tee shot, unfortunately, has a somewhat restricted feel due to the two mature trees on the left, halfway to the green. The evergreen tree hugging the left greenside bunker should be removed, particularly as the evergreens behind it have grown and provide some degree of protection for players walking off the 15th tee.
The green is Perry Maxwell's mildest effort on GMGC but there is green space that should be recovered. The far right portion of this green should be expanded toward the two right greenside bunkers. This would provide a more reasonable gamble to a wonderful pin position in the hollow, below the green's rightside downslope. As it is, this pin position really can't be used as any ball on the green to its left, would be putted off the green.
Note: I think the two trees talked about above are now mulch somewhere. :)
Forward tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/14a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/14a.jpg)
From just short of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/14b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/14b.jpg)
From left of the green on the way to the 15th tee box:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/14c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/14c.jpg)
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From The Lurker:
One might wonder what those two bunkers sort of connected in a chain to that left greenside bunker are all about.
They were the vestiges of a really interesting architectural feature back then that was referred to as a "necklace of bunkers." In other words, those two bunkers on #14 connected to top shot bunkers just off the tees of #15 and created a "necklace of bunkers."
Unfortunately, all the Ross "Top Shot" bunkers were removed from GMGC in the 1940s on the recommendation of Wayne Stiles. Gil wanted to put them all back but the club wouldn't let him.
Here is a photo of that area from the earlier 1937 PennPilot aerial:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/necklace.jpg)
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Thanks for the explanation on the bunkers Joe. Its a shame the club voted it down to put them back in...man that would look neat.
Mark
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From The Lurker:
Mark:
The infamous and controversial Tom Paul even remembers the exact discussion when the Master Plan committee was working on the plan with Gil Hanse. Gil really wanted to put that massive sand bunker back in the base of the quarry on #4 and #7 and he wanted to restore all the Ross "Top Shot" bunkers the course originally had which were on most of the holes. One member of the Master Plan committee just asked Gil what it would cost to restore one of those bunkers and Gil said; "About $8,000 each." The next remark was; "Well then, forget about that." It's too bad but that's the way things go in the real world sometimes. The club has just formed a "Special" committee to look into dissatisfaction with some of the playability of the 7th green and the fact that the quarry wall along side the green is unstable from erosion caused by drainage in that area into the quarry. The present 7th green was redesigned during the Hanse Master Plan. We were looking to create a Perry Maxwell style on it and with it.
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Thanks for the insight TP!
Mark
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Thanks for the insight
TP TL!
Mark
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#15. Dogleg right par 4 (394 yards).
Heading into the setting sun for a couple of holes so lighting not so good.
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole15.jpg)
From the DE:
Other than the removal or abandonment of various bunkers, the 15th hole has remained essentially the same, playing to its original 377 yards. Ross' trademark crossbunkering, 75 yards off the tee, was removed by Wayne Stiles in 1941. Also on Stiles' recommendation the fairway was narrowed on the right side, from the bend to the green, and the rear greenside sand bunker was abandoned. As a consequence of the narrowing of the right side of the fairway, the trees on the inside of the dogleg have grown out substantially. The size of the green has decreased, particularly on the front corners and in the left rear.
The strategic story of this hole relates almost entirely to its pin positions. The player should prepare for this hole from the 12th tee as the green cannot be seen from the 15th tee. The green contour of the 15th is different from any of the other seventeen greens which have a remarkably wide variety of shapes and contours, obviously due to the amount of architectural redesign.
During a round at GMGC, a player will see canting contour greens with run-offs #1, #5, #18, front to back, two-tiered greens, #2 and #9, side to side, two-tiered, #3, bowl shaped greens, #4, #13, free form, R.T. Jones greens, #9, #12, Maxwell undulations, #8, #10, #11, #14 and center spine greens, #6 and #18. #16 and #17 have a little of the above.
The 15th is the only center depression green on the course. Its midsection is somewhat of a mirror image of the 10th hole at Aronomink which Ron Prichard described as one of Donald Ross' finest achievements. The positioning of the drive for the approach shot is not as important as one might expect looking at the orientation of the green. The center depression has a way of evening out approaches from either side of the fairway. If the pin happens to be on the right shelf, or the extreme rear, the distance control of the approach shot is absolutely essential.
It is all but impossible to two putt to the right shelf from the front, or back, of the green. The same goes for the rear pin if the putt has to run the ridge from the right front. Before teeing off on the 12th, don't forget to peek!
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/15a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/15a.jpg)
Approach view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/15b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/15b.jpg)
From just over the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/15c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/15c.jpg)
Now off to play Wissahickon at Philly Cricket before the restoration begins!
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#16. Dogleg right par 4 (400 yards).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole16.jpg)
From the DE:
Although a downhill drive to a slightly canting fairway, and an uphill shot to the green, the 16th hole is similar to the 15th in distance and shape (dogleg right). The cross bunker, 75 yards off the tee, was removed by Stiles in 1941. The far left fairway bunker was abandoned. The fairway played over a piece of the rightside bunker and swept much farther out to the left. A large black walnut tree, at the inside of the dogleg, created a curious playing characteristic to this hole from the 1950s-1980s. Drives had to be played to the left two-thirds of the fairway to prevent the second shot from being blocked by the overhanging branches. This unique feature was removed by the unsolved theft of the tree in the mid 1980s.
The left greenside bunker was twice as long as it is today, possibly to prevent a ball from rolling up onto the # 17 tee. The depression behind the green was an enormous sand bunker. According to the Board minutes, Ross' 1927 recommendation to regrade the severe slope of the green was approved, but it does not appear that the job was done to his specifications, which was a side to side, two-tiered green.
At least two designers, Stiles and Fazio, made recommendations to remodel the front of the green or the run-up, particularly so it might be seen from the tee shot landing area. None of these recommendations were approved.
The ideal drive should be played just to the left of the right fairway bunker for the carom to the center of the fairway. The angle of approach to this green is also of little consequence. Although it does not look it, this green has three or four very deceptive pin positions. Blind or semi-blind greens have somewhat gone out of fashion in modern architecture but, obviously, Ross did not shy away from them as eight of the original greens were not completely visible.
An architect of his era had to work with what the land gave him but he did favor higher ground for his green sites. Thirteen of the original greens were above the approach area.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/16a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/16a.jpg)
Approach view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/16b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/16b.jpg)
From left of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/16c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/16c.jpg)
From just over the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/16d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/16d.jpg)
We'll finish with two real good holes tomorrow!
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Dear Lurker/and Joe,
No mention of the SEPTA train whizzing by every so often right behind the 16th green.
During my 2012 October match vs. the Philly ULC my opponent, who may have been entirely misinformed, thought that the rail line might have been another problem which helped torpedo the idea that a certain "fanatic" member, Tom Paul, had of moving the entire golf club to Radnor.
Perhaps the lurker can clear this story up?
Malcolm
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From The Lurker:
Malcolm:
The story of a potential move of GMGC to Ardrossan Farm in Radnor, and the specific reason it ended up not happening, is a long and involved one but I will ask TEPaul about it and relay it to you. Or better still just read what he said about it on Golfclubatlas.com in the Feature Interview section under his name about a year ago. As I recall his description of the whole thing was long and involved because basically that infamous and controversial Paul fellow is a long and involved windbag sort of guy. He once told me why he thinks that is so----he said he is just a free association kind of guy and for some reason the synapses in his fingers (typing) are directly connected to the synapses in his brain. He added he thinks that may be the only reason so many girls have loved him.
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One comment about the 16th. The front of this green is more steeply sloped than appears to the naked eye. With a left front hole location, it is easy to putt the ball past the hole only to watch it gather speed and head back down to the fairway. Interesting to know that Stiles recommended softening the front and the work was not performed.
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Thanks for honoring my wishes to produce a photo tour of Gulph Mills GC, Joe. ;) Very well done indeed.
It's nice to hear of the myriad of changes the course has gone through while not having its character compromised by ill thought out alterations. The Maxwell greens seem like an amazing feature. Do any other local courses have any or as many cool Maxwell greens?
I've not delved as deep into this tour as I want but I plan to give it a thorough study before US Open week so as to not embarrass myself in front of the Philadelphia GCA glitterati.
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One comment about the 16th. The front of this green is more steeply sloped than appears to the naked eye. With a left front hole location, it is easy to putt the ball past the hole only to watch it gather speed and head back down to the fairway. Interesting to know that Stiles recommended softening the front and the work was not performed.
Its about time one of Stiles' recommendations wasnt carried out. He already destroyed all the top shot bunkers... >:(
Mark
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I went on the Wayne Stiles Society web site and found his 9 page report to the GMGC Greens Committee (June, 1940) as well as their response:
www.waynestilessociety.com/pdf/GMReport.pdf
Interesting stuff.
Too bad so many of his recommendations (especially re. removal of the top shot bunkers) were approved.
Re. #15 and #16, as noted, they have some similarity. I find the #16 green site to be much more interesting and challenging. Big hitters who are tempted to cut the right corners on both holes will, most often, find considerable trouble.
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John S -
Maxwell worked on several Philly area golf courses. At Pine Valley he did some work on the right side of the 5th green, the small green on 8 and the left green on 9. He also did several greens at Philly CC. Only a few of those probably are in tact as Flynn came back in behind him and redid some of those. Also, there is Melrose, which was an original design with some input by Mackenzie. Some of the routing is in tact, but I'm not sure how much of his original greens remain. I would think the 17th green would be original, but beyond that I would be a little suspect. He did some other work on a couple of courses that NLE as well in the area. Maxwell actually maintained an office in Elkins Park.
Also, he redid a couple of holes at Saucon Valley on the Old Course (11 and 12 I believe but the course may have changed the order of the holes since I last looked).
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#17. Par 3 (213 yards).
What a fine finish to the collection of par 3's at Gulph Mills, this one my favorite (a close 2nd being the quarry 4th!).
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole17.jpg)
From the DE:
Other than the addition of a lady's tee on the left (1990s), the ground design of this hole is original. As with the 16th hole, the playing characteristics of this hole have substantially changed with the loss of the large Hackberry tree at the front and to the right of the green (1990s). The tee shot had to be played straight to the middle of the green or from left to right to avoid the overhanging branches. The hole now has a very open look and shots can be played in from any angle. The original green was a good deal larger, flaring out on all four corners and possibly extending closer to the front cross bunker. The fairway extended over the cross-bunker to the far right corner of the green. A small, rear bank bunker has been abandoned. It is interesting to note that the unique tongue on the rear left corner of the green was original green space.
This exciting, final par 3, plays less than its yardage. Tee shots played inside either corner of the green have a way of gently feeding toward the center. One of the biggest strategic considerations of this hole is the firmness of the ground in front of the green and the interesting upslope/downslope at the front fringe. If the ground is soft the ball has to be carried over the downslope. If firm, the ball should land quite short of the front slope so that it might run over it 'a la links golf.
The front downslope also creates a very high shot value front pin as the tee shot is very difficult to get close and the chip or putt from short of the green, is equally hard to control distance-wise and direction-wise, if short on either corner. The more conservative option is to play to the middle or back of the green and putt back up to the hole.
Tee view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/17a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/17a.jpg)
From short of the bunker:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/17b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/17b.jpg)
From just short of the green:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/17c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/17c.jpg)
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I love the look of this green and can only imagine if it actually extends out to the corners like you said!
MM
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This is a superb par 3 that ussually plays into a quartering wind coming from the right. The reverse sloped green's front ramp has a big influence on shots landing on it or running on the ground. It is quite easy to land in the left bunker, or to go over the back of the green. The last time I played the course, about a year and a half ago the hole was won with a birdie, hole location back center. Not a lot of Birdies on this hole.
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Thanks, Chris.
I've known of Maxwell's involvement at Pine Valley and Melrose but figured not much would remain at Melrose. I did not know he did work at Philly CC or Saucon. Are the Maxwell greens at Melrose worth me sneaking on with my putter?
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This 17th green reminds me a good bit of 5 and 15 greens at Schuylkill. Anyone agree??
MM
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Are the Maxwell greens at Melrose worth me sneaking on with my putter?
Sneak on?! Just go play it! Melrose now takes public play.
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Joe,
I also think this is a great par 3 and has had quite an impact on match play matches. I happen to like #4 better, but believe it or not, I tend to get a par on #17 more often than #4!
The tree clearing to the right on #18 sure gives a beautiful view up to the clubhouse and the drinks to come!
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Oh, yeah! Melrose is semi-private now. Can I sneak on to avoid a 5 1/2 hr round on the weekend?
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From The Lurker:
All the features mentioned in the first paragraph of the DE report were restored in the Hanse restoration over a decade ago. The 17th green is the biggest on the golf course. The last thing I would like to see done with this hole is to have the trees on the hill behind the green removed as much as possible so the clubhouse could be seen from the 17th tee and from the clubhouse the 17th and 16th green could be seen. A part of that hillside is staked as OB but it doesn't need to be because the club owns all the way to the RR tracks.
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18. Uphill par 5 (464 yards).
This is another example of a 1/2 par hole, in abundance at GMGC.
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/hole18.jpg)
From the DE:
Although numerous and sometimes dramatic alterations have been recommended for the 18th hole, only moderate changes have been approved. Trees now screen the length of the hole from the P&W rail line on the right side.
Grassing sections of the rear bunker behind the green was a recommendation of Donald Ross in 1927 but not approved. On Ross' suggestion the rear of the green was regraded to create two cupping space hollows, separated by a center ridge. Wayne Stiles' recommendation to grass over the entire rear greenside bunkers was approved but never done. Half of the right rear bunker and a third of the left bunker were eventually grassed over. Stiles' recommendation to construct a right front greenside bunker was approved in 1941 and a compensating left front greenside bunker appeared as well.
It may be worth considering if Ross' original green design with its classic "false front" contemplated a moderate to severe "run-back" situation for approach shots to the front or short of the green, like the 9th hole at Augusta National C.C. and the 10th hole at
Shinnecock Hills C.C.
It also seems likely, from the early aerial photographs, that the fairway was cut around the sides of the green; this would be consistent with a favored Ross feature of the short recovery shot ("run-offs") seen extensively at Pinehurst No.2.
Although the official yardage of the 18th is 421, it is well below the minimum for a par 5 (475). The hole plays much longer due to the uphill drive and uphill second and third shots. The theme of this hole is the premium placed on a long tee shot. A drive up and over the hill is a distinct advantage.
The finisher was described by Tom Doak as "GMGC's most amusing hole" and "the shortest par 5 of my acquaintance". This hole probably plays fifty yards longer than it is as the green is 75 feet above the tee. The 18th is not the hole for a short hitter to come into even, or one down, against a long hitter, or behind in stroke play Players are generally advised to play the shot or hole at hand, but in a tight match the 18th has a way of strategically coming to mind before coming into view.
As stated above, enhancing the "run-off" or "run-back" potential on the "false front" and short of it would have the effect of increasing the demand on the long hitter to get the ball over the "false front" in two and somewhat negate his strategic advantage. Although this might leave an occasional bad taste, the theme of GMGC is that the approach shots play longer than their yardage and the satisfying message would be if the player hasn't figured out the theme by now, here it is in spades!
Uphill tee shot view:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18a.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18a.jpg)
Pea-shooters will have this view for their second, where they must decide to go for it or carefully lay up:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18b.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18b.jpg)
I enjoyed this look back to the tee and the 17th and 10th greens in view, and much of the 11th hole:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18c.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18c.jpg)
Bigger hitters will have a view more like this, leaving a mid-iron at most for their 2nd shot:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18d.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18d.jpg)
From short of the green looking down the pretty steep slope:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18e.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18e.jpg)
From long and left of the green, with a particularly fun pin position (big kudos to the person that set the pins this day as they were fantastic!):
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18f.jpg) (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/18f.jpg)
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Joe,
Thanks again for your wonderful photo tour of GMGC!
Everyone who was there that day (and from previous trips) just loved your photos. Splendid effort as well to include Tom's evolution report with each hole.
Best,
David
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Great tour and thanks for all the insight everyone!
Mark
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Great tour Joe, Gulph Mills always ranks third in my book behind Pine Valley and Merion in GAP. The only time I ever made match play of the GAP Amateur it was played at Gulph Mills. I managed to eagle 18 in my opening round match, with a putt from the back right portion of the 18th green to a front left hole location, for a 2 up victory.
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Joe,
Thanks for the excellent tour of Gulph Mills. It is a real treat to see golf in the Northeast. Hard to beat Philadelphia!
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Joe,
Thank you for your well composed tour. I trust all viewers who have not played GMGC have a sense of what a fine property the membership has.
A couple of closing points; Mark I don't think 17 mimics the 5th or 15th at Skuylkiil, but having only played that fine course once, my ability to compare is probably not great. 17 at GMGC seems more reversed sloped to me.
GMGC doesn't have the finest club house I've ever seen though I think it quite nice. However, its small mens locker room, with no individual lockers and bench seating, and the men's grill are something to behold. Lit by windows set cathedrally and panneled in heavily varnished wood the intimacy of the two rooms is just fantastic. Understated elegance and efficiency combined. The new front veranda area allows one to look out over a substantial amount of the course and is a fantastic addition to GMGC.
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From The Lurker:
Charlie:
If GMGC had moved to Ardrossan one of the items that would probably have been duplicated over there was the locker-room. The Club is very proud of their hooks. That outlook in the back was another item done in the Hanse restoration. That lawn that melds into the 18th green actually had its grade lifted about four feet. The idea came from that same infamous, controversial guy who saw something like it at Misquamicut G.C. in R.I. and recommended GMGC do it.
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I finally get to say that I like 18
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Joe,
Interesting that you mention the elevation change near the veranda area, my eye told me it was there as I have stood on the old practice green, practice tee, first tee, and 10th and looked back at the club house dozens of times, but its nice to have confirmation.
Special place, nice job taking the time to educate us all; and thanks to "The Lurker". I wonder if our paths have crossed and I didn't know who he was? GMGC is one of the least crowded clubs I have ever visited. It is often only occupied by 4-6 foursomes spread out over the course, sometimes less. The chance to encounter other members is limited.
One final point, the men's grill features extraordinary "Pine Valleys" a refreshing potent potable after a warm summer round. One of the best post round beverages I have ever consumed.
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Charlie,
Your taste for alcoholic beverages is impressive. Dave makes the best Pine Valley's without doubt. Merion, not even close and I don't think they even make Pine Valley's at Pine Valley!
We had some friends over from St. Louis and London (and Philly) and tried the drinks at GMGC and Merion and it was unanimous!
Yuengling's are pretty fabulous as well after a round for this transplanted resident of Budweiserville (blech!!!).
Pretty special sitting above the 18th green after a round with special friends and looking out over the course!
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Thanks, Joe!
By the way, if you're not from Philly, you don't realize what an oasis of tranquility Gulph Mills is. The huge King of Prussia mall is nearby, as is I-76, the SEPTA light rail line, and PA-320.
It's also a very historic area - played a significant role in the Revolutionary War.
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Thanks everyone. I really enjoyed putting together this tour.
P.S. I've been updating the previous holes in this thread with more from the Design Evolution book.
------------------
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It's also a very historic area - played a significant role in the Revolutionary War.
From The Lurker:
Dan:
That's an item that has floated around for a while. A couple of pretty prominent local Revolutionary War historians believe the road that crosses the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th was the road Washington marched his army along when he moved them from Whitemarsh to Valley Forge in 1777. That Paul fellow, the GMGC historian, thinks there's between a 15.1%---98.3% possibility that Washington also nailed the lady of the farm on his way (the original farmhouse was the old maintenance office building to the left of the 3rd that just got torn down with the construction of the new Maintenance Facility).
As the creator of this thread, I must say this last post is more than I can easily handle. :-)
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"As the creator of this thread, I must say this last post is more than I can easily handle. :-)"
From The Lurker:
In that case, Mr. Bausch, I can only say you may have something less than full appreciation for what might be called "Historical Sublime."
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Thanks to a lurker for and showing me around Gulph Mills yesterday. It's a golf course that tends to surpass expectations and this tour does a great job of showing why. One thing that is difficult to represent in the photos though is just how much movement is in the land. The course is built on some very rolling propety that gets lost in some of the pictures. There aren't many flat lies on the golf course and it adds an element of doubt when playing the majority of approach shots.
Gulph Mills is an excellent mix of varied architecture, and one of the more unique courses in the area in that regard. I don’t think I can name another Philadelphia area golf course that has had so many architects come in and make changes through the years, yet it continued to evolve and stay one of the best golf courses in the GAP.
Mark
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Amen, Mark. It's a real joy to see and to play.
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Those that were following this thread may want to read it again from page 1. I've updated all the holes with more from the Design Evolution book. Amazing what these big scanners at my library with great OCR software can do!
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Mark,
I was wondering if you played when you went around with "The Lurker", or just walked the course.
You couldn't have a better guide, that's for sure!
Joe,
Thanks for the updated info, I look forward to re-visiting your wonderful tour!
David
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David,
It worked out really well actually. I was able to play the golf course, and TEP met up with our group on the 17th green and watched us play up 18. We then sat on the terrace and had a couple glasses of cabernet while discussing the golf course and it's evolution. We then took a loop on a golf cart and went around the course again and he showed me some things that I missed.
It was a great sequence of playing/observing/learning. I had an incredible afternoon and evening. :)
Mark
PS. I love the unique locker room. Its a very social orientation.
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From The Lurker:
"PS. I love the unique locker room."
Yes, and we love our unique locker room. We are extremely proud of our hooks.
"Its a very social orientation."
A very social orientation??
Now, that's a most interesting observation, and one I have not heard before. Notwithstanding that lack of audiogenic indication, I believe I can understand what you mean. What golf club locker room has no lockers, and only hooks and a long running U shaped bench and shelf built into the wall covering 3/4 of the room? The bench is so deep it actually has hidden space beneath it with lids and oval brass finger ring openers where one can store their "semi-valuables" and "un-imaginables." I suppose I have never seen a golf club locker room where everyone in it can sit and have conversations and drinks together in various stages of dress and undress no matter where they are in the room.
But does social orientation also mean one must get used to being "Neh-Kid" in front of everyone else in the looker room? I suppose so. For the more modest of us there is definitely nowhere to hide in that unique little locker room. With that potential shock to one's manners and modesty, I once suggested the club supply extra-ultra large towels that look something like the general garb of our Muslim brothers in the Near East. However, the Board deemed that idea a potentially excessive cost item as it was not something Brooks Brothers stocked, and would not produce, other than on some hundred year, quantity based bespoke order basis.
Also, after 35 years I have never seen the inside of the Ladies locker room other than a quick peak when the door swings open as a lady enters or exits. From that quick glimpse though, it does look inordinately posh and somewhat sensual for GMGC.
But let me abolish that thought immediately----or perhaps I should recommend to the Board of Directors that the Men's showers in our unique little locker room offer only ice cold water, as there may be a few more warm blooded people around these days than there used to be when it was built in 1925.
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Yes, the first interpretation is correct. I love that everything is out in the open and you can see and socialize with anyone else in the locker room at any given time. Its very unique to me, as I have not seen anything similar.
MM
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I recently found this article (April 27, 1958 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer; by sportswriter Fred Byrod) which talks about what the Gordons did at Gulph Mills:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/Apr27_1958_Inky.jpg)
I think The Lurker will be checking in again. ;)
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That was a terrific tour, Joe; thanks so much for posting. What a great classic layout and those greens look like a lot of fun.
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Removal of "obsolete traps".....such a shame. :'(
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Great Post. Gulph Mills is such a great course and unless your a avid Philly golfer you would never know about it. In my opinion, it is not given enough credit as compared to the other courses in the Philadelphia area. It really is one of the many courses that makes Philly golf so great.
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From the Lurker:
Joe:
Thank you for that 1957 Inquirer article mentioning the work about to be done at GMGC in 1957. Regarding the 9th green, I suppose that will mean it's had four iterations (Ross, McGovern, Gordons, RTJ). That is only equaled by the 7th green which has had as many iterations (Ross, Maxwell, Gordons, Hanse/Paul and may have another one soon (Hanse--"The Gil" and "The Jim" (who I've now renamed to that due to their extreme tightness with "The Donald")).
As to the Gordon's removing up to ten 'obsolete' bunkers, those would be the grading out of all the so-called Ross "top shot" bunkers on the first eight holes. In the 1940s Wayne Stiles recommended the removal of all Ross's top shot bunkers and the club agreed. However, it appears by "obsolete" (in those 1957-58 Inquirer articles) it only meant that they had let those "top shot" bunkers go to grass since the 1940s and not actually removed their cavities and shapes. But in the mid to late 1950s the club hit upon a ton of "free" dirt from some outside source and so they used it to grade out their "top shot" bunkers. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, they ran out of "free" dirt to finish off filling in and grading out ALL Ross's original top shot bunkers and that is why their old shapes and cavities still remain on most of the holes from the 8th on.
Gil Hanse was dying to restore all the Ross top shot bunkers in his 2000-2003 restoration but the committee voted it down only due to expense (Gil quoted about $5,000 per bunker).*
*Most all the information about the history of the top shot bunkers came to me from that wonderful man from GMGC, Willis de LaCour, who I mentioned some years ago because of what he said to the committee about the planting of so many trees in particularly the 1950s (Mr de LaCour had been both the green chairman and the president of the club in those years). His amazing statement about the trees came when he sat on the Hanse Restoration project committee in the early 2000s when he was in his eighties. What Mr. de LaCour said at that Restoration Committee meeting was that after listening to the committee explain how trees had so overcrowded the course and created agronomic difficulties and strategic diminishment----and that he had been responsible for them----and if we wished him to, he would personally go in front of the entire membership and admit that in those earlier years they really didn't understand what the long term issues of over-treeing would be. It was an amazing experience in my architectural career. The Committee had been constantly criticizing past administrations for over-treeing, never suspecting we might be actually insulting the ultra-gentlemanly Willis de LaCour at the same time. When he made that statement we all sat there quietly looking at the floor and damn near cried. What a wonderful man he was to say that and do that, as he did!
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I miss the lurker :)
PS - I LOVE Gulph Mills. It's a wonderful golf course, great locker room, and extra friendly staff. Very classy oasis amongst the KOP mall and its neighbors.
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Me too!
Excited to see what The Tom, The Gil and The Jim have in store for #7.
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Thanks Joe!
lucky to play there a few days ago
the greens are just now getting into golf shape
the head pro does a great job
fun course, nice clubhouse with a vintage locker room where it's all about the hangers, lol
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Thanks Joe!
lucky to play there a few days ago
the greens are just now getting into golf shape
the head pro does a great job
fun course, nice clubhouse with a vintage locker room where it's all about the hangers, lol
Thanks for the invite, Doc!
;)
GM is one of the best in a very rich area for golf.
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Joe,
LOL!
We had 4, otherwise I would feel bad. 8)
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Can't wait to get out there on Sunday! :)
Mark
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I saw the GAP Mid-Am is there this year. Anybody playing?
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I had the privilege of playing Gulph Mills last week, and as great as this photo tour is, it doesn't do the place justice. The elevation changes throughout the course - tee to fairway, and back to green - are among the biggest I've seen. #18 is instantly one of my favorite finishing holes anywhere, probably only second to Merion. Finally, the clubhouse and locker room have an amazing, hard core, old school feel, up there with San Francisco and Garden City.
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From the GAP's website (Member Clubs): http://www.gapgolf.org/clubs.asp?cmd=&cid=43
The history of Gulph Mills:
At times Merion was the victim of its own success. Despite the club’s two eighteens, some of its members still found conditions crowded. On June 19, 1916, a meeting was held to organize the Gulph Mills Golf Club. The founding group—Alba B. Johnson (who would be named president), Isaac H. Clothier, Jr., and A.J. Drexel Paul (vice presidents), Weston J. Hibbs (secretary-treasurer), C. Willing Hare, Thomas McKean, J. Kearsley Mitchell, J.H. Barnes, R.K. Cassatt, G.Q. Horwitz, C. Munn, and F.K. Wainwright—consisted in the main of men from Merion Cricket Club who envisioned a golf club limited to 100 or, at the most, 150 members.
A decision was made to purchase 160 acres on Swedeland Road in Gulph Mills at a cost of $60,000. Brought in to lay out the course, Donald Ross promised that Gulph Mills "will have one of the best inland courses in this country and that it will undoubtedly be a much superior course to any around Philadelphia."
Construction began in August, laborers being paid 30¢ an hour. In October a prospectus was circulated to a select list of potential members, and the course was touted even more highly than its designer had done: "... a course that will rank with the greatest inland courses in this country and Europe... will be ready for play July 1,1918 .... With this limited number of members [150], we will never be annoyed by the course becoming congested, nor will starters and starting times ever be necessary. [Because of] the close proximity to Norristown, Swedeland and Conshohocken... every man here will always be secure of having a first-class caddy at any and all times." Initiation fees and annual dues were set at $100 each.
(http://www.gapgolf.org/i/p093_01.jpg)
This farmhouse, built around 1761, served as the Gulph Mills clubhouse until 1925.
By May of 1917 the club had only 45 members, and, according to the excellent history written by former president A. Willing Patterson in 1976, "Directors were asked that wherever possible they show the grounds to prospective members and talk with those invited to join." A month later the club, because of its very limited revenues, had to borrow $18,000 from the Pennsylvania Company (eight directors personally endorsed the note) and $2,000 from Isaac Clothier. In a long, informative letter to Lieutenant A.J. Drexel Paul, who had survived the sinking of a U.S. Navy convoy escort ship off the coast of France by a German submarine on November 5,1917, Weston J. Hibbs, the club’s secretary-treasurer, concluded: ". . . . We have done practically nothing about the clubhouse and we will use some sort of makeshift for it till after the war, and after we finally lick the Huns we will have some golf."
The course, with considerable work still to be completed, opened "on a War basis," July 1, 1918. On more than one occasion directors as well as Life Members would advance the club money in these formative months to keep it afloat. At the beginning of October, the board voted to close the course because the activities of the small membership could not cover the overhead. But on November 1, it was decided to cut the greens and keep the course open during the coming winter. The possibility of bringing in a flock of sheep "for the greens was discussed, but no decision was reached."
At the end of January, 1919, "the Secretary was instructed to complete construction of the course as soon as practical so that a membership campaign could be commenced at once .... It was decided to allow the Bellevue-Stratford and Ritz-Carlton Hotels to sell to their guests club cards entitling them to club privileges at $2 per day, the club to receive $1 and the hotels to retain $1, for purposes of advertisement."
On May 16,1919, the club held the formal opening of its course. The engraved invitation made it clear that prospective members would, as it were, have an opportunity to examine the merchandise: "The President and Founders of The Gulph Mills Golf Club request the honor of your company at the Opening Reception and Inspection of the Links ...." More than 1,250 people attended, but a full 18 months later, with the club’s funds once more perilously depleted, the membership roster showed only 88 active members—little more than halfway toward the goal of 150. Effective January 1,1921, annual dues were increased from $100 to $150. Nevertheless, the club continued to operate at a deficit, and Life Members were once again called upon to pony up the needed funds. However, on February 25,1922, the secretary-treasurer, in a letter to the membership, was able to announce that". . . . our limit of 150 Active Men Members has been reached, and we have a waiting list."
Not all the high drama at Gulph Mills in the early years stemmed from money matters. A letter from the secretary- treasurer, Mr. Hibbs, to the president early in 1922 cited a personnel problem:
.... I have had considerable trouble in bringing the steward and his wife to the point of view that the kitchen and clubhouse must be kept clean and that the food served to the members must be clean and fresh.... At times they fought with one another, and twice the Steward cut his wife with a knife.... They have refused to serve meals to members at times when they did not want to.... Last Sunday morning I was obliged to go to Rochester on business, and Mrs. Hibbs went to Atlantic City. She returned to the Clubhouse unexpectedly Monday morning and found the house in a complete state of disorder and the Steward’s wife intoxicated. A closet and two doors on which I had Yale locks were broken open in their efforts to find liquor or get at my private effects. Mrs. Kane (acting chairman of the House Committee) instructed me to discharge the Steward and his wife at once, which I have done.
Early in 1923 the club’s barn burned down. The board was not distressed, since a claim for $18,000 was paid in full by the insurance company. However, the fire might not have been so devastating had it not been for the golf professional’s chickens. When the volunteer firemen arrived at the burning barn, the first thing each of them did was rescue two chickens, one in each hand, and run home with them, letting the fire blaze out of control till they could get back and make a belated—and unsuccessful— effort to put it out.
It was at about this same time that the professional, who seemed more inclined toward raising chickens than dairy farming, sold the club cow without authority. He was reprimanded in writing by the secretary-treasurer.
In June, 1924, the club contracted with Toomey and Flynn to rebuild all 18 greens at a cost not to exceed $650 per green. What the Gulph Mills Golf Club then had was a Donald Ross course—the routing of these excellent holes was not changed—with greens designed by William Flynn. It might no longer have been a purebred, but it was—and is—outstanding nonetheless.
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The last part of that history from the GAP web site is not correct, Dan. You can read the very first post in this thread which I corrected early on to reflect that Flynn regrassed 17 of the 18 greens in 1925.
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Thanks, Joe - correction made :)
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I wanted to add to this thread some very early newspaper accounts of Gulph Mills.
Williams Evans was a prominent golf writer in Philly and he wrote the first big article on the upcoming GM in November of 1916 for the Public Ledger:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/Nov12_1916_PublicLedger.jpg)
In 1918 Evans was now writing for the Evening Public Ledger. He wrote three substantial articles on GM.
On June 28, 1918:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/June28_1918_EPL.jpg)
On July 1, 1918:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/July1_1918_EPL.jpg)
On July 15, 1918:
(http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/GulphMills/July15_1918_EPL.jpg)
I also re-processed my photo album on GM where all the pics that made it past the cutting room floor are presented:
http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/GulphMills/ (http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/GulphMills/)
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Jim Finegan accompanied me as I played GM. He said the opening stretch of #'s 1,2,3 are the toughest in the region. Of course I had just gone three putt 5 on #1, double on #2, and pickup on #3, so in his great way, he might have been trying to make me feel better.
Alas, it is in my top 5 in the region..and I'm not saying its 5th.
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Does the club actually use the flooded quarry for swimming? (mentioned in one of the articles)
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Joe, thanks for the articles.
BTW, Jeff Silverman has been engaged to write the centennial anniversary book on GMGC for next year.
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Can someone post the letter from Bobby Jones invtiting the membership to play the newly opened AGNC. One of the best letters ever written. I'm too new to do such a thing.
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I do have a copy on my iPhone, but have no idea how to post it on this site.
It reads:
Dear _____:
We are opening the Augusta National Golf course (my course in Augusta) on January thirteenth, and Grantland Rice and Clifford Roberts are arranging a special train party of about one hundred golfers from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and such places. I believe there are already scheduled three or four carloads out of New York. I am wondering if you and some of your friends would not like to come down for a week-end of informal golf and a little fun. You will note from the schedule which I enclose that the special train will pass through the West Philadelphia station at 5:26 P.M. on January twelfth. It will arrive in Augusta at nine o'clock the following morning, and leaving Augusta Sunday afternoon, you will be back in Philadelphia at 7:13 Monday morning.
I think it would be fine if you would get up your own foursome, or perhaps two - or, if you have enough customers, even a special car- and hook it onto this train as it comes through. You will like the crowd, I know, and I believe you will have a very pleasant week-end. Let me know what you think about this.
Best regards,
Sincerely,
Bob Jones (signature)
RTJ-Jr.:MJJ
Enclosure - (1)
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Joe, thanks for the articles.
BTW, Jeff Silverman has been engaged to write the centennial anniversary book on GMGC for next year.
I've been helping Jeff with the research on Gulph Mills. I'm sure you will have a very nice book!
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I played here yesterday for the first time. Fantastic. Doesn't get enough mention anywhere. It may not be fit for today's bombers, but those greens are challenging and a ton of fun. Can't wait to play it again.
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Jim,
I played there twice last week and was very impressed with the work of our new superintendent (who was formerly the lead assistant at Aronimink). The course played firm and fast and the greens were stimping at close to 13, by my estimate. I'm told there hasn't been much rain in the Delaware Valley recently and that was just fine by me. Hopefully you had similar conditions for your round.
There have been a number of trees removed recently; the big tree at the rear of #4 green last year, the willow fronting the left pond on #8 this year and the lake along #5 and #6 has also been radically cleaned out recently, leaving a somewhat more open look to the course in places.
I'm pleased you enjoyed your experience over there.
David
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David -
The greens were fantastic and fast. The course was firm even though we had an hour rain delay. GM may be the perfect members course. Those greens have such a variety of pin placements that you could nearly never tire playing them.
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I just returned from our A. J. Drexel Paul Seniors event over this past weekend and saw some early changes to the course following Gil Hanse's Master Plan. Large areas of high fescue are now throughout the course, generally not in play except for considerably wayward shots. We will soon see significant changes to #7 and 10, the practice range and much lesser changes on most other holes. Joe Bausch will have to make a return visit to document these developments.
BTW, I had a fantastic breakfast at Joncarl Lachman's (Noord, Neuf) The Dutch on South 4th Street. Highly recommended!!
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I just returned from our A. J. Drexel Paul Seniors event over this past weekend and saw some early changes to the course following Gil Hanse's Master Plan. Large areas of high fescue are now throughout the course, generally not in play except for considerably wayward shots. We will soon see significant changes to #7 and 10, the practice range and much lesser changes on most other holes. Joe Bausch will have to make a return visit to document these developments.
BTW, I had a fantastic breakfast at Joncarl Lachman's (Noord, Neuf) The Dutch on South 4th Street. Highly recommended!!
Sounds like Gil is keeping busy in the Philly area!
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I just returned from our A. J. Drexel Paul Seniors event over this past weekend and saw some early changes to the course following Gil Hanse's Master Plan. Large areas of high fescue are now throughout the course, generally not in play except for considerably wayward shots. We will soon see significant changes to #7 and 10, the practice range and much lesser changes on most other holes. Joe Bausch will have to make a return visit to document these developments.
BTW, I had a fantastic breakfast at Joncarl Lachman's (Noord, Neuf) The Dutch on South 4th Street. Highly recommended!!
Sounds like Gil is keeping busy in the Philly area!
Very much so. ;D
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Joe Bausch,
Just got my copy this week of the Centennial book written by Jeff Silverman with photography by Laurence Lambrecht.
About 400 pages with excellent text and wonderful photos, both new and old.
"A very nice book" is a massive understatement. I would highly recommend this work to anyone who has any interest in the club.
David
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Awesome, David.
I hope to see/have a copy of the book at some point. ;-)
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I'm always glad when this thread/subject comes back up.
It reminds me that GM was/is the home club of our old friend TE, and that he must've spent countless hours, almost always alone, walking those fairways and honing his game.
if I'm not mistaken it was at GM where he won the club championship; and when TE called to tell his dad, his father said: "Congratulations, Tommy. They can never take that away from you".
TE must've been one heck of a player in his day.
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@Peter
Tom Paul was " one heck of a player in his day"
http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/tom-paul-april-2012/
http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/tom-paul-april-2012-part-2/
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Peter,
Indeed he was a heck of a player and an even better friend. Unfortunately, I was only able to play with Tom for just a few rounds at Pine Valley and he's only accompanied me briefly for some rounds at GM, mostly with my brother. It was only at the end of his playing career that we became friends. But boy could he swing a golf club.
The book has quite a bit of information about A. J. Drexel Paul, Tom's father Jimmy Paul and our 6-time club champion and winner of the A. J. Drexel Paul Cup, TEPaul himself. I'm still early on with my reading, but it's a fascinating account of this wonderful club.
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Got my copy of the new Gulph Mills book yesterday and it looks to be a winner. At 400 pages long, it will keep me busy for a while. And nice icing on the cake is photos by Larry Lambrecht.
And coincidentally I ran into a GM member last night at a local establishment and he is thrilled with the job Jeff Silverman did. I'm betting he is not the only member that loves it.
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It would be great to get some new photos up that show the tree removal work and fescue that has come in in the past three years. The fantastic short par 3 fourth hole plays completely differently now with no trees behind the green. The half wedge to that green with the wind as a real factor is, to steal a term from another recent thread, exhilarating!
Additionally, the tree by the pond on the left side of 8 has come down, which makes pulling driver more tempting (but not necessarily the correct play).
On my last visit, someone mentioned that they might use the lawn in front of the clubhouse as the 1st tee for the upcoming Philly Open.
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It would be great to get some new photos up that show the tree removal work and fescue that has come in in the past three years. The fantastic short par 3 fourth hole plays completely differently now with no trees behind the green. The half wedge to that green with the wind as a real factor is, to steal a term from another recent thread, exhilarating!
Additionally, the tree by the pond on the left side of 8 has come down, which makes pulling driver more tempting (but not necessarily the correct play).
On my last visit, someone mentioned that they might use the lawn in front of the clubhouse as the 1st tee for the upcoming Philly Open.
John:
Here's a very recent look at the par-3 4th, without the trees:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/29796691205_4c19ff1df4_c.jpg)
And the 8th, with the tree on the left removed:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/29169080134_3edae3a4ed_c.jpg)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/29170140343_a771fa77c2_c.jpg)
Any other holes that you (or others) would like to see? The course is gorgeous right now, and in impeccable condition. It's a wonderful place for a game.
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Thanks for the great photos, Jon. It was playing firm and fast this summer.
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Do you ever re-read something you've helped create and been very proud of it? I just did and think this thread is an all-timer for the discussion of a wonderful, architecturally fascinating golf course.
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John Cavalier,
Excellent photos. I especially liked the one taken from the 8th tee.
Some may enjoy any recent pictures you may have of #5 and 6 with the tree removal and clearing of the vegetation in the lake.
Matt Rogers has been doing a great job as superintendent following his stints at Aronimink and Saucon Valley. Still waiting to see how #10 and 7 turn out following Gil Hanse's Master Plan!!
I Unfortunately was unable to make the AJDP Cup last week, but I'm sure it was in wonderful shape.
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John Cavalier,
Excellent photos. I especially liked the one taken from the 8th tee.
Some may enjoy any recent pictures you may have of #5 and 6 with the tree removal and clearing of the vegetation in the lake.
Matt Rogers has been doing a great job as superintendent following his stints at Aronimink and Saucon Valley. Still waiting to see how #10 and 7 turn out following Gil Hanse's Master Plan!!
I Unfortunately was unable to make the AJDP Cup last week, but I'm sure it was in wonderful shape.
Thanks, David.
Here's the 5th:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/29787248336_f80f3d3904_c.jpg)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/29787245416_798aae4083_c.jpg)
And the 6th:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/29530052500_ae9265eb69_c.jpg)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8044/29195284894_06e1225e16_c.jpg)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/29787246946_16e16ac3d6_c.jpg)
Joe: thanks for starting this terrific thread on one of the best courses in the Philly area.
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Today I fixed all the broken URLs (my school web server location changed) and this awesome thread is back and better than ever!
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Joe,
Thanks for bringing this topic back to the front page.
I’m curious to know if you’ve had a chance to see/photograph our new 7th hole. Additionally, I’d be interested in hearing the opinions of those that have played there recently. FWIW, I quite like the changes.
David
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Joe,
Thanks for bringing this topic back to the front page.
I’m curious to know if you’ve had a chance to see/photograph our new 7th hole. Additionally, I’d be interested in hearing the opinions of those that have played there recently. FWIW, I quite like the changes.
David
Not been out to see the changes, David. Hope all is well in the show me state!
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How has that willow tree behind #6 survived in this age of the chainsaw?
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How has that willow tree behind #6 survived in this age of the chainsaw?
Pretty certain both of those willow trees behind the 6th green are now in the big tree heaven in the sky.
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In these current times (all non-essential businesses in the state of PA are now ordered closed), I thought I would bump this wonderful thread. Ignore the few posts near the beginning. No harm was done there!
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In these current times (all non-essential businesses in the state of PA are now ordered closed), I thought I would bump this wonderful thread. Ignore the few posts near the beginning. No harm was done there!
Any thread which brings back The Lurker is a thread worth re-reading.
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David Amarnek,
Could you describe the changes to the 7th hole? I recall The Lurker had some ideas that Gil (partially?) implemented back about 15 or so years ago that received some mixed reviews but I'm not recalling the details well. Thanks!
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Mike,
The Hanse-Paul green was redone with the slope softened from right-to-left and that cleavage in the middle of the green has been removed. As you said, the membership was never terribly fond of the previous iteration. Three mature trees were removed along the right side approach to the green and the two bunkers on the right, one short and one greenside were also removed. A new bunker was added at the rear of the green. The approach to the green has been widened somewhat and will more easily accept the risk-reward shot of going for the green in two. For those long hitters and also for me, there is an upslope at the front of the green which requires a solid shot to reach the green surface. There is a new back tee behind the path on the right side of the pond, adding another 20 yards or so to the hole.
In my mind, along with the other Hanse changes, we have an even better course than before. I'll be back when the club re-opens, whenever that is.
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Jeff Silverman’s club history book is the gold standard of club histories. Our favorite Lurker was more than a minor contributor to that product.
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Thanks, David.
Sounds as though the revision has had a lot of thought put into it and that type of fine-tuning may create a more subtle, interesting challenge.
Good luck and stay safe!