GolfClubAtlas.com > Golf Course Architecture
Cobb's Creek Collaborators - Restoration Dreams
Mike_Cirba:
I have in my hand copies of the Dallin Aerials of Cobbs Creek, with photos beginning at 1928 thru 1939, which just arrived today..
I can say this much with certainty.
By 1930 the course is much, much more similar to today's course than previous reports.
The major change is that the land that is currently serving as an independent driving range down on Route 1 was part of the course. As such, it seems that the loss of that land (for whatever conceiveable reason but I have a REAL good guess) necessitated the re-routing of a few holes.
However, the great news is that it is definitely possible to restore the course to what it was in 1930 (and I've never heard any account of any significant changes between 1916 and 1930, except for the building of the first 11 holes of the adjacent Karakung course, which are evident in the photos as well) is eminently possible because about 80% of today's course is original and it appears that every original greensite is intact!
I have two more photos coming soon.
One thing I'd point out is that it certainly wasn't a masterful bunkering job and that a number of holes have openings in front but are bunkered all the way across the back of the green. I'm betting Hugh Wilson had very little to do with the bunkering, and probably only the routing.
Also, the photos are great because they also seem to trace changes at the adjacent McCall Field GC by Flynn.
Oh...if he had only bunkered Cobbs! ;D
Mike_Cirba:
I've been studying these aerials most of the night (ok, I'm trying for the "Dork of the Week" honors), and comparing them to Jim Finegan's description of Cobbs Creek in his "Centennial Tribute to Golf in Philadelphia", and I'm really confused.
With all due and proper respect to Mr. Finegan, I am perplexed when he states;
"Is the Cobbs Creek we play today really the course Hugh Wilson laid out 81 years ago? Or, has it been altered over time that little of the original design remains?"
"There have been extensive changes, most of them stemming from the establishment of an anti-aircraft battery here during World War II (see my "Driving Range" comment above - MC). Half a dozen holes are completely different. Eight are just as Wilson laid them out (1, 2 3, 4, 7, 15, 16, and 18) and four others reflect some of the Wilson thinking."
I read this and then look at a series of aerials from between 1928 and 1939 and I can't understand what his source information is. I do know that the first draft of a routing for Cobbs was dismissed prior to construction because of too many blind shots, and a later draft was implemented. Perhaps this is the source of Mr. Finegan's contentions, because in viewing the aerials, this is what I see.
Starting on the clubhouse side with the holes (I've seen it sequenced where the 2 holes on the clubhouse side of the road are either 1 & 2 or 17 & 18...in this case we'll go with the modern version where they are the former), this is what the aerials indicate.
#1 - Same
#2 - Same
#3 - Same
#4 - Same
#5 - Same
#6 - Same
#7 - Perhaps playing from a slightly different, shorter tee, seems to play towards the same green.
#8 - Played from today's 8th tee as a par three to today's 14th green.
#9 - Today's #15
#10 - Going from the 15th green down the hill past #6, it was a dogleg right down the present neighboring driving range, bending right uphill to today's 8th green.
#11 - Today's 9th hole.
#12 - Today's 10th hole.
#13 - Today's 11th hole.
#14 - Today's 12th hole.
#15 - Today's 13th hole.
#16 - Today's 16th hole.
#17 - Today's 17th hole.
#18 - Today's 18th hole.
I might not have the sequencing exact, but it has to be really, really close.
Geoffrey_Walsh:
Mike,
I am so excited someone has finally seen these aerials!
A few questions:
On your #10, I don't see how you could play from the current #15 green down the hill past #6 and then back up towards the 8th green without crossing over the current 7th fairway (even if that tee was up). It would also have to be a long hole, similar in length to the current 14th.
I also wonder why Wilson wouldn't have fully utilized the creek which runs alongside the current range on the right. I never realized it was there until I looked at the Google aerial.
I have always thought the current 9th tee was originally further back in front of where the parking lot for the driving range is. Correct?
Mike_Cirba:
Geoffrey,
You're correct on every count, including the fact that the old 9th tee is back where today's driving range parking lot is.
There also seems to be a crossover (not unusual at all for Wilson, considering Merion) from the present 15th green down the hill, past today's 7th fairway, to a tee down on the current driving range. Also, that creek would have been in play.
I should also mention that it appears that the old #9...today's #15...had a tee down near today's 14th green and played as a LONG par five back up the hill.
Geoffrey_Walsh:
Your last point answered another question I had - how the corridor occupied by the current 14th was used. The 15th green is my favorite approach on the course, and it would be even better trying to get home in two on a par 5.
Was the old 10th green set next to the creek like the current 4th?
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version