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Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #50 on: February 11, 2018, 05:14:36 PM »
1916 (cont.)

Additions:

Topeka CC (Topeka, KS)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

While Ross was in Topeka planning the Shawnee course (which the Topeka CC eventually planned to take over), he spent some time working on the CC's existing course.

Aug. 26, 1916 Topeka Daily Capital -




Louisville CC (Louisville, KY)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Ross paid a quick visit here and offered suggestions.

See also the June 17, 1916 The Evening Post article in post #47 above.

Dec. 24, 1916 Courier-Journal -




Highlands GC (Grand Rapids, MI)

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

The DRS listing has this as a new 18 hole course in 1927, but Ross was called in around 1915 to rework Bendelow's recently completed 18 holes.

See also the Jan. 8, 1916 Pinehurst Outlook article in post #47.

Sept. 22, 1915 Detroit Free Press -




Happy Valley GC (Asheville, NC)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Happy Valley was eventually laid out by Willie Park, but before he became involved the plan was to have Ross do the design.

Oct. 3, 1916 Asheville Citizen-Times -




CC of Atlantic City (Northfields, NJ)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The history of Atlantic City has been hotly debated on this site.  For our purposes, we only need to note that Ross was going to be hired to design the new course that was contemplated in 1917.

May 27, 1917 Philadelphia Inquirer -



June 1917 Motor Travel -




Blind Brook Club (Port Chester, NY) 

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

There were a number of big names involved in the early workings of Blind Brook before Raynor took the reigns.  Ross at least deserves credit for a consultation here, and perhaps for laying out an early version of the course.

Jan. 7, 1916 The Evening World -



May 30, 1916 The Evening World -



Nov. 17, 1916 The Evening World -




Durand-Eastman Park Golf Course (Rochester, NY)

2018 DRS Update - Added to the list as 9 Holes, New in 1917

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Jim Kennedy has asserted the Ross provenance for this course previously on this site.  The course started as a municipal project, but became a private club around 1929, and in 1935 was revamped by RTJ.  See also the Oct. 10, 1917 Democrat and Chronicle article posted above under Irondequoit CC.

Sept. 14, 1936 Rochester Times-Union -



July 14, 1918 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle -




Grover Cleveland Municipal Golf Course (f/k/a CC of Buffalo) (Buffalo, NY)

2018 DRS Update - A listing was addd for CC of Buffalo in Buffalo as 18 Holes, Remodel in 1918

CC of Buffalo is included in the 1930 Ross Booklet, but probably referring to new course he designed in 1926.

See also the June 17, 1916 The Evening Post article in post #47 above.

June 9, 1916 Buffalo Enquirer -



April 2, 1922 Buffalo Courier -






Aronimink GC (Philadelphia, PA)

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 27 Holes.

Going to add the Aronimink info in here, as his work here was first mentioned in 1916 (see the June 17, 1916 The Evening Post article in post #47).  In addition to whatever work took place in 1916 or earlier, Ross was back in 1918 doing additional work and reshuffling the course.

April 22, 1917 Philadelphia Inquirer -




Dec. 3, 1919 Philadelphia Inquirer -




St. Clair CC (Pittsburgh, PA)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Although St. Clair would be designed by Bendelow, Ross, Tillinghast and Bendelow were asked to bid on the project.

May 30, 1916 Pittsburgh Daily Post -




Camden CC (a/k/a Kirkwood Golf Course) (Camden, SC)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The DRS listing notes Ross doing an 18 hole remodel in 1939, but it fails to note his work here in 1916 on the early version of the course.

Jan. 9, 1916 New York Herald -



March 1916 Golfers Magazine -

« Last Edit: August 24, 2019, 10:12:16 AM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #51 on: February 11, 2018, 05:48:08 PM »
Hidden away in the two 1916 articles copied above in post #47 are a couple of lists of courses he had underway or had recently completed.

Connecticut Course - Shennecossett?  Or was this a reference to Blind Brook.

Nantucket - to be addressed in the 1917 listing

Portland CC (remodel) - DRS has 1921 for his work here, but course was expanded to 18 holes around or prior to 1916

Exmoor (remodel) - addressed in the 1914 listing

Dayton (new course) - Dayton CC or Miami Valley?, both which the DRS has as 1919

St. Augustine (new course) - addressed in the 1916 listing

Memphis (new course) - addressed in the 1912 listing

Topeka (new course) - Shawnee, addressed in the 1915 listing

Warren, PA (new course) - Conewango, addressed in the 1916 listing

Grand Rapids (new course) - Highlands, addressed in the 1916 listing

Detroit (new course) - Shadow Ridge, addressed in the 1916 listing

Oakwood (remodel) - addressed in the 1915 listing

Aronimink (remodel) - Addressed in the 1916 Additions

Englewood (remodel) - Addressed in the 1916 listing

Riverton (remodel) - Addressed in the 1916 listing

Pittsfield (remodel) - The DRS listing has his work here in 1921

Bretton Woods (remodel) - Mount Washington, addressed in the 1915 listing

Bethlehem (remodel) - Addressed in the 1910 listing

Kernwood (new course) - Addressed in the 1914 listing

Southbridge (new course) - Cohasse, addressed in the 1916 listing

Balsams (new course) - Addressed in the 1915 listing

Denver course (remodel) - Lakewood, addressed in the 1916 listing

Woodhill (new course) - to be addressed later

Oconomowoc (new course) - Addressed in the 1915 listing

Allegheny (remodel) - Addressed in the 1914 Additions

Westmoreland (remodel) - Addressed in the 1913 listing

Willowick (remodel) - The DRS listing has him working on a new course in 1928, but it appears he reworked the old course as well

Erie CC (remodel) - Kahkwa, Addressed in the 1916 listing

Buffalo CC (remodel) - Addressed in the 1916 Additions

Overhills (new 9 holes) - Addressed in the 1910 listing

Palmetto (remodel) - Need to fit this one into the appropriate place in the listings

Palm Beach (new course) - To be addressed in the 1917 listing

Louisville (new course) - Addressed in the 1916 Additions, where it seems that the club opted to remodel instead of building a new course

Bob O'Link (new course) - Addressed in the 1916 listing

Skokie (remodel) - Addressed in the 1915 listing

Old Elm (new course and remodel) -  Addressed in the 1913 listing
« Last Edit: February 16, 2018, 12:31:57 AM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #52 on: February 12, 2018, 07:56:56 PM »
1917

Palm Beach Country Club (Palm Beach, FL) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

2018 RS Update - added in 18 Holes, Remodel in 1939

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

See also the June 17, 1916 The Evening Post article in post #47 above.

Jan. 25, 1916 Washington Herald -



April 4, 1916 Tampa Tribune -



Plan of the Course -




Calumet Country Club (Homewood, IL) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

The 1917 date here is off by a few years.  The club initially had plans for 27 holes to be done by Langford and others.  Ross came in around 1921 and reworked the 18 holes that were completed.  He returned in 1923 to make a few additional changes.  The plan copied below doesn't really match any other Ross plans I've seen, and my guess is that it was prepared by the club.

Feb. 6, 1921 Chicago Tribune -



May 6, 1921 Chicago Tribune -



Oct. 24, 1923 Chicago Tribune -



Course Plan -




Evanston Golf Club (Skokie, IL) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

Ross was here in 1917 to design a new course, and returned in 1918 to check on construction.  The Map of the Grounds copied below has a date, but it is too small to read.  It doesn't appear that the map was generated by Ross or anyone in his organization.

April 26, 1917 Chicago Tribune -



Oct. 28, 1917 Chicago Tribune -



May 21, 1918 Chicago Tribune -




Map of Grounds -




French Lick Spring Resort - Hill Course (French Lick, IN) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

March 31, 1918 Chicago Tribune -






Nantucket Golf Links (Nantucket, MA) - 9 Holes, New in 1917, NLE

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have any articles covering Ross' work at Nantucket, but the 1917 Annual Guide noted the course was being rebuilt by Ross.

See also the Jan. 8, 1916 Pinehurst Outlook article in post #47 above.

Ross Plan -




Oakland Hills Country Club - South (Bloomfield Hills, MI) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1916-17

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 36 holes.

Ross returned here in 1921 to oversee the planting of 170 trees on the course (adding some food for thought for those that espouse returning the course to its original treeless look).  There is also evidence that he returned around 1937 to make updates prior to that year's US Open.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62242.msg1479500.html#msg1479500.

May 20, 1917 Detroit Free Press -



Sept. 16, 1917 Detroit Free Press -




Dec. 15, 1921 Detroit Free Press -





May 1, 1937 Wisconsin State Journal -








Rogell Golf Course (f/k/a Phoenix CC o/k/a Redford CC) (Detroit, MI) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The first article below suggests Ross added 9 holes to an already existing 9 hole course, while the later 1938 article suggests he created a full new 18 hole course.

Dec. 23, 1917 Detroit Free Press -



July 2, 1939 Detroit Free Press -




Minikahda Club (Minneapolis, MN) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1917, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 holes.

In 1916, it was reported that Bob Taylor was making changes to the course.

April 1916 American Golfer -



With Ross visiting Minneapolis to work on the Woodhill course, Minikahda piggybacked on his time in the area.  Ross would return to make changes in the years leading up to 1927.  (Thanks to Rick Shefchik for supplying a number of articles on the Minnesota courses.)

Sept. 1, 1916 Minneapolis Tribune -



Oct. 29, 1916 Star Tribune -



March 20, 1927 Star Tribune -



Aug. 1927 Golf Illustrated -




Woodhill Country Club (Wayzata, MN) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, 18 Holes, Remodel in 1934, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1916

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 holes.

In addition to the Sept. 1, 1916 article above under Minikahda and the Sept. 17, 1916 article below, the Aug. 3, 1915 article below notes an expert from New York being brought in.

See also the June 17, 1916 The Evening Post article in post #47 above.

Aug. 3, 1915 Star Tribune -



Sept. 17, 1916 Minneapolis Tribune -






Hillcrest Country Club (Kansas City, MO) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1912

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 holes.

The date for Hillcrest should be 1912, although it took a few years for the course to be completed.  Ross would return in 1921 to suggest improvements.

Dec. 2, 1912 Hutchinson News -



June 4, 1921 Topeka State Journal -




Ardsley Country Club (Ardsley-On-Hudson, NY) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1917, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Dec. 27, 1916 The Evening World -



Jan. 6, 1917 El Paso Herald -




Schroon Lake Golf Course (Schroon Lake, NY)  - 9 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Added to the Listing.

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Sept. 19, 1917 The Post-Star -



Schroon Lake History by Robert Swan -






Immergrun Golf Course (o/k/a Charles Schwab GC) (Altoona, PA) - 9 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

This was Devereux Emmet, not Ross.


Rolling Rock Club (Ligonier, Pa) - 9 Holes, New in 1917, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1947, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 9 Holes.

Nothing naming Ross, but McGovern was here in 1918 constructing the course.

« Last Edit: August 23, 2019, 08:59:04 AM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #53 on: February 12, 2018, 08:32:44 PM »
Rogell Golf Course (f/k/a Phoenix CC o/k/a Redford CC) (Detroit, MI) - 18 Holes, New in 1917, Still in Existence

Sadly, Rogell, or New Rogell, as it was called after the City of Detroit sold the course, is NLE as of handful of years ago. The course became Redford CC in the early 20s when it was sold to Redford. Detroit bought the course in the mid 1940s. I am not sure when it became Rogell, but I suspect in the 70s.

Folks may remember that the Detroit News held a hole in one contest at Rogell every year for those who had hole in ones....it was a lot of fun to get the invite, go down and hit two shots (I think it was the par 3 18th) then play the rest of the course. 

Rogell was named after Billy Rogell.  My dad loved the guy because he was an instrumental part of the awesome infield (playing with a few no namers; Gehringer on 2nd & Greenberg on 1st) for the Tigers, the 1935 World Series champions.  Leading up to that season, the infield stats are unbelievable: the four (Marv Owen on the left side) totalled 769 hits (remember the 154 game schedule), 462 RBIs, 445 runs scored, .327 average with one game between the four missed all season.  Despite all the above, I think Rogell is most loved as a city servant for 36 years (I think) as a Council Member. Its for this reason that the course was named after Rogell.  For those who frequent Detroit Metro, you will notice that once Merriman crosses I94 from the north, the road names changes to WG Rogell Drive.

Incidentally, another public Ross course was named after a ball player...George Wright...

Ciao
« Last Edit: February 12, 2018, 09:03:36 PM by Sean_A »
New plays planned for 2024: Fraserburgh, Turnberry, Isle of Harris, Benbecula, Askernish, Traigh, St Medan, Hankley Common, Ashridge, Gog Magog Old & Cruden Bay St Olaf

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #54 on: February 12, 2018, 09:13:46 PM »
1917 (cont.)

Additions:


East Potomac Park Golf Course (Washington, DC)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

From its impetus in 1916, the public course in East Potomac Park had quite a few hands involved, including Ross, Walter Travis and Walter Harban with a first crack at construction by Col. Ridley before it was eventually completed by Robert White.  There is no way to know if any of Ross' ideas survived the nearly 5 years of development (with the land being used to grow corn during the way), but he did have his say in 1919.  This is one case where it wasn't a question of competing architects, but rather the collaboration of good friends.

Feb. 23, 1919 Evening Star -




Dover Hall GC (Brunswick, GA)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

No evidence this course was ever built.

May 1, 1917 The Daily Republican -




Lake Shore CC (Glencoe, IL)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Ross visited in 1917, but I have no evidence any of his suggested changes were made.  In 1918, the club decided they would bring Ross back at a later date for extensive changes.  It appears that instead George O'Neil was brought in to renovate the course in 1920.

April 26, 1917 Chicago Tribune -



June 9, 1918 Chicago Tribune -




Olympia Fields CC #4 (Olympia Fields, IL)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The second project I am aware of where Ross was originally on tap, and the project eventually went to Willie Park.

June 15, 1916 Chicago Tribune -



Jan. 7, 1917 Chicago Daily Tribune -




Yeamans Hall GC (Charleston, SC)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Before Raynor worked here in the mid-1920's, there were plans for Ross to lay out a course on the Yeamans Hall estate.

« Last Edit: April 04, 2019, 09:49:11 PM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #55 on: February 12, 2018, 09:43:40 PM »
In early 1917 the Grantland Rice piece below was carried in a number of papers across the country. 

First, if the 200 number for Ross courses to date was correct, there are close to 80 or so courses from the years leading up to 1917 that we have yet to identify.  My guess is this was a bit of inflation, and we're probably pretty close to the 120 or so already identified in this thread.

Second, the article offers some nice insight into the design philosophies (more accurately "general guidelines") that Ross had developed in the close to two decades he had been working on course design.  As with any architect, his work evolved over time.  In Discovering Donald Ross, Brad Klein identifies the year 1918 as a delineation between his early more basic work and his "mature period," a period that saw him spending more effort on tying his work into the surrounds.  I'd suggest that if Ross was explicitly acknowledging these concepts in 1917, he had been thinking about them (if not putting them into practice) for a good while up to this point.  The following quote alone makes the article noteworthy:

"The main development from now on will be in the way of landscape effect, of building for beauty on a course as well as the right test of golf."

There is probably also a line of conversation as to how much influence Ross' work had on William Flynn and the other "nature fakers," and that perhaps we've thought of the wrong guy when doling out this moniker  There was a recent thread on Ross' lineage, and although there really aren't any direct descendants in his family tree, it would be hard to argue that any architect that worked in the 1920's and beyond wasn't influenced by Ross.

Feb. 18, 1917 Indianapolis Star -

"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Lyndell Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #56 on: February 12, 2018, 10:09:51 PM »
Sven I played Yeamans today great Raynor, I was justing thinking what Ross would have done with the site. Do you think Ross would have done better?

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #57 on: February 12, 2018, 11:37:49 PM »
1918


Country Club of Mobile (Mobile, AL) - 27 Holes, New in 1918, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

The 1916 Annual Guide notes an 18 hole course that was established this year and the 1920 Guide has 18 holes and notes this as a new course by Donald Ross in 1916.  None of the Annual Guides note 27 holes.

May 1917 The Rotarian -



Ross Plan -




Broadmoor Golf Club - East Course (Colorado Springs, CO) - 18 Holes, New in 1918, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

June 16, 1918 Indianapolis Star -



Ross Plan -



May 1920 Golfers Magazine -



Nov. 1921 Golf Illustrated -



Undated Drawing -




Country Club of Orlando (Orlando, FL) - 18 Holes, New in 1918, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Not a Ross.  Here's what I wrote in an earlier thread:

"There are numerous reports from 1918 to 1920 of Bendelow's involvement with the addition of 9 holes (the original 9 opened around 1911 and was designed by D. K. Davidson).

Adding to the story, a Jan. 20, 1925 Orlando Evening Star article discussing a proposed Ross course in the Palermo subdivision off of Windermere Road quotes Ross saying he had only passed through Orlando prior to his recent visit."



Northmoor Country Club (Highland Park, IL) - 18 Holes, New in 1918, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1919

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

All of the reports I've seen have Ross here in 1921.

Feb. 28, 1921 Chicago Tribune -




March 25, 1921 Lake Shore News -



Ross Plan -




Belmont Country Club (f/k/a Belmont Springs CC) (Belmont, MA) - 18 Holes, New in 1918, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Listing changed to 18 hole, New c. 1910, 18 Holes, Remodel in 1920

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

Addressed in the 1908 listing in post #14 above.


Bellevue Country Club (Syracuse, NY) - 18 Holes, New in 1918, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1917

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

The date here should by 1916.

April 1934 Syracuse Journal -




Additions:


Wollaston GC (North Quincy, MA)

Not noted in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

April 22, 1920 Boston Post -




Grove Park Inn (o/k/a Asheville CC) (Asheville, NC)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The history of Swannanoa/Grove Park/Asheville has been hashed out here a bit in the last few years.  What was once thought to be a Ross layout is addressed by the DRS listing as a 1926 18 Hole remodel.  Ross was here in the late teens.

Jan. 26, 1918 Asheville Citizen-Times -




March 24, 1918 Asheville Citizen-Times -

« Last Edit: April 05, 2019, 03:35:22 PM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

ANTHONYPIOPPI

Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #58 on: February 13, 2018, 07:06:54 PM »
Sven:


Wykoff still exists but it is not the same course Ross designed. The layout was significantly altered when I-91 was built. For a period of time Ross lived on Northampton Street in Holyoke, within walking distance of the first tee.


Anthony

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #59 on: February 14, 2018, 01:31:20 AM »
1919

Banff Hotel Golf Club (Banff Springs, CAN) - 9 Holes, Design in 1919, NLE

2018 DRS Update - NLE date of 1928 added.

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Nov. 4, 1919 Calgary Herald -



1920 Report of the Commissioner of Dominion Parks -



1921 Through the Heart of the Rockies & Selkirks -





Lambton Golf & Country Club (Toronto, Ont., CAN) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1919, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

See the June 21, 1919 Calgary Herald article below.

Pine Ridge Golf Club (Winnipeg, Man., CAN) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1919, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

1919 Ross Plan -



Rosedale Golf Club (Toronto, Ont., CAN) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, Remodel in 1919, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

I don't have much on Ross' work in Canada.  If anyone has any articles or other information on any of his work north of the border or any additions to the list, please don't hesitate to add it in.

1919 was his first foray into Canada.

May 16, 1919 Lincoln Journal Star -



June 21, 1919 Calgary Herald -



Nov. 1919 Golf Illustrated -




Miami Country Club (o/k/a Miami Golf Links) (Miami, FL) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, NLE

2018 DRS Update - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1939 added

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

Ross would return to Miami CC some time after 1939 to rebuilt the course (see the March 16, 1947 Miami News article below).

July 21, 1920 Palm Beach Post -



Nov. 29, 1921 Miami News -




1919 Ross Plan -



March 16, 1947 Miami News -




Beverly Country Club (Chicago, IL) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 18 Holes, Remodel in 1918

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

Ross' work at Beverly has been discussed a bit in other threads.  I am of the mindset that giving him credit for a new course discounts the impact of George O'Neil's original routing, most of which remains in place on the course.  An earlier thread attempted to clear up exactly what O'Neil built
(http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60113.msg1420785.html#msg1420785).

Ross did come in and suggested a number of changes which seem to have been made a bit at a time in the '20's.

March 20, 1918 Chicago Tribune -



May 18, 1918 Chicago Tribune -




March 18, 1922 Chicago Tribune -



Dec. 8, 1922 Chicago Tribune -




Vesper Country Club (Tyngsboro, MA) - 9 Holes, New in 1919, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1919, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1947, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - 1947 Remodel changed to 18 Holes

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

June 24, 1921 Boston Globe -



1947 Ross/McGovern Plan -




Cape Neddick Country Club (o/k/a Cliff CC) (Cape Neddick, ME) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, Remodel in 1920, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Listing changed to 9 Holes, New in 1919, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1925

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I have nothing linking Ross to Cape Neddick.


Monroe Golf & Country Club (Monroe, MI) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 holes.

I have nothing on Ross at Monroe.


Midland Valley Country Club (Overland, MO) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, NLE

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

This sounds more like a remodel than a new course.



1919 Ross Plan -




Elmsford Country Club (Elmsford, NY) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, NLE

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 holes.

I have nothing at Ross at Elmsford.


Rip Van Winkle Country Club (Palenville, NY) - 9 Holes, New in 1919, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The only article I have on the genesis of the club doesn't mention Ross.

July 9, 1917 Brooklyn Daily Eagle -





Dayton Country Club (Dayton, OH) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

See the Jan. 8, 1916 Pinehurst Outlook article noted in post #47 above regarding his work at a course in Dayton (which could also have been Miami Valley).  It appears that Ross started working with the club in the late teen's, with the final plans for the rearrangement of the course being submitted in 1922, although I've found no evidence these plans were ever carried out.  Ross returned in 1935/36 to reconstruct the course.

May 12, 1917 Dayton Daily News -







Oct. 5, 1922 Dayton Herald -



Oct. 4, 1935 Dayton Daily News -



Feb. 16, 1936 Dayton Daily News -







Feb. 23, 1936 Dayton Daily News -




Inverness Club (Toledo, OH) - 9 Holes, New in 1919, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1919, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 18 Holes, Remodel in 1919

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes, Remodeled.

Two quick notes on Inverness, which has been covered in great detail in other threads.  First, the course had 18 holes prior to Ross' arrival.  Second, Ross came back in 1920 for two weeks to "dress up" the course in preparation for the US Open.

April 29, 1920 The Evening World -








Miami Valley Golf Club (Dayton, OH) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

July 3, 1920 Sandusky Star-Journal -



April 30, 1931 Indianapolis News -



Memoirs of Miami Valley -




Mohawk Golf & Country Club (o/k/a Mohawk GC) (Tiffin, OH) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

No articles, but the Ross plan is dated 1919.




Berkshire Country Club (Reading, PA) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1919, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything on Ross here, but the Givens site does have a number of hole drawings he did for the course.


Pocono Manor Golf Club - East (Pocono Manor, PA) - 18 Holes, New in 1919, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Upate - Date changed to 1911

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything linking Ross to Pocono Manor, and it doesn't appear that they got a new course in 1919.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2018, 08:57:11 PM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Bret Lawrence

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #60 on: February 15, 2018, 09:22:06 PM »
Another Ross in Canada article from The Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer-May 5, 1919:




Bret Lawrence

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #61 on: February 15, 2018, 09:32:55 PM »
Two clips from 1918 and 1919 comparing Ross' income to other professionals:
Evening Public Ledger-February 19, 1918


Evening Public Ledger-December 22, 1919

Jim_Kennedy

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #62 on: February 15, 2018, 09:37:07 PM »
The folks at Rip Van Winkle have a large blueprint of the course hanging on the wall behind the counter in the pro shop. It was constructed by Walter Hatch, who did a great job of creating a fun golf course on a pancake-flat site. The name was taken from the RPV club in Shandakan that went under, literally, when the town was flooded to create a reservoir for NYC. The Smith family has owned it since the '40s .
« Last Edit: February 15, 2018, 09:39:00 PM by Jim_Kennedy »
"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Sven Nilsen

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #63 on: February 15, 2018, 10:34:42 PM »
1919 (cont.)


Additions:


Mississauga G&CC (Mississauga, Ont.)

See the June 21, 1919 Calgary Herald article above under the Rosedale listing.


North Adams CC (North Adams, MA

Ross was to be hired to inspect the course and offer suggestions.  I don't have anything confirming whether or not this work ever took place.

April 18, 1919 North Adams Transcript -




Bloomfield Hills CC (Bloomfield Hills, MI)

A 1938 report notes Ross was here in 1919 making changes, including adding an irrigation system






Oak Ridge GC (Forest Park) (Tuckahoe, NY)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Feb. 27, 1919 New York Tribune -




Maketewah CC (o/k/a Hamilton County CC) (Cincinnati, OH)

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

Nov. 2, 1919 Cincinnati Enquirer -



May 28 1921 Cincinnati Enquirer -




Aronimink GC (Philadelphia, PA)

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 27 Holes.

Oct. 12, 1919 Philadelphia Inquirer -




Dec. 3, 1919 Philadelphia Inquirer -




Roxborough GC (Philadelphia, PA)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything that links Ross to RGC, but a number of other Ross listings include this as his work.  Worthy of further study at the least.


Whitemarsh Valley CC (Philadelphia, PA)

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes Remodeled.

In addition to the article below, see the Dec. 3, 1919 article above under Aronimink.

March 16, 1919 Philadelphia Inquirer -




Dahlgren GC (f/k/a Danville GC) (Danville, VA)

2018 DRS Update - New listing added noting 18 Holes, New in 1919-31

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Dec. 29, 1919 Richmond Times-Dispatch -



July 21, 1929 The Bee -

« Last Edit: April 26, 2019, 10:35:27 AM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #64 on: February 15, 2018, 11:27:35 PM »
As you can see by the 1919 numbers, once WWI ended, Ross was back on schedule.  Many of the projects that wrapped up around 1919 had started earlier.  The war put a freeze on new construction, delaying the completion of plans made in the late teens.  Looking for articles from this period, one wonders if there was a bit of an intentional black out in the press on any work that was taking place. 

A Dec. 31, 1919 article gives us a bit of insight into his daily routine.



And it comes as no surprise that Ross was looking for innovations that would make the construction process easier.



A couple of articles touching on Ross' opinion on course length.  Ross considered himself the club member's architect, in that he sought to design courses that emphasized the pleasures of the game.  In the 20 years leading up to these articles that he had been in America, the game had changed drastically.  It says something that many of us would consider a 6,500 yard course to be a perfect length today, yet these were the distances that new courses were being built at back then. 

The NYT article also gives us a bit of insight into how his design practices were evolving with the utilization of topographical maps, field note cards and hole blueprints.  If you study many of those notes and drawings on the Givens site, it is easy to understand how his vision was imprinted into the ground so easily by the foreman who were tasked with their interpretation.

May 11, 1919 New York Times -



June 4, 1919 Waterloo Courier -



"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Bret Lawrence

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #65 on: February 16, 2018, 12:12:39 AM »
One more addition for 1919 is Oakmont.  Buried in the back of a preview article on the 1919 Amateur, the author mentions Ross was consulted to look over the Oakmont Links prior to the National Championship:
The Evening World-August 16, 1919: (the article includes a typesetting error)

Jim_Kennedy

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #66 on: February 16, 2018, 01:22:38 AM »
http://tinyurl.com/2bv2r88


The reference to Hatch at Palenville is in the third column of text under the heading "Palenville". 
« Last Edit: February 16, 2018, 01:48:10 AM by Jim_Kennedy »
"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Sven Nilsen

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #67 on: February 16, 2018, 12:19:17 PM »
Bret and Jim:

Thanks for the additions.  I have heard the speculation of Ross at Oakmont, but never seen it in print.

Like Oakmont, it appears Ross was called into Myopia as well.  I'm pretty sure Jim posted this article a couple years back in another thread, and I haven't seen anything to confirm or deny that any changes were made, other than a late '20's article noting that Myopia had been altered less than almost any course in the district.

The article also fits in nicely with the comments above on Ross' thoughts on difficulty.  When CBM built Lido, the contention was he attempted to build as stern a test as possible to provide an American playing ground that (i) matched those in the UK and (ii) would provide a training ground for American golfers to level the playing field with their British counterparts.  The article does a good job of describing the counterbalance between the needed updates for modernization which many courses were facing and the thought of keeping the course playable for the average member.  Ross was positioning himself perfectly with respect to this juxtaposition, seemingly being able to straddle the center line by being the USGA's go to guy to update their championship courses while still maintaining the reputation of being able to suit his alterations to the needs of the average joe.

Sept. 6, 1918 Brooklyn Daily Eagle -

"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #68 on: February 16, 2018, 05:49:56 PM »
1920

Riverside Golf & Country Club (Rothesay, NB, CAN) - 18 Holes, New in 1920, 18 Holes, Remodel in 1920, 18 holes, Remodel in 1936-39, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - 1920 Activity changed to 9 Holes New, 9 Holes Remodel

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

St. Charles - South (Winnipeg, Man., CAN) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Listing - Country Club added to the name and changed to 9 Holes, Remodel in 1919

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

St. Charles - West (Winnipeg, Man., CAN) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Listing - Country Club added to the name and changed to 9 Holes, Remodel in 1919

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

A few additional Canadian courses, including work in Winnipeg as noted in the article Bret posted above.


Sarasota Golf & Country Club (Sarasota, FL) - 18 Holes, New in 1920's, NLE

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The Sarasota G&CC was the oldest club in Sarasota, stemming from the early holes laid out by J. Hamilton Gillespie.  The course was reworked in the mid 1920's, but I can find no mention of who did that work.  If this reference is for a new course built in the '20's, although there was a ton of activity in Sarasota at that time, I don't believe there was a new course with this name constructed.


Gainesville Municipal Golf Course (Gainesville, GA) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, NLE

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1933

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything on Ross in 1920 here.  There is an 18 hole map for De Soto Heights Golf Course in Gainesville with a date of 1933, suggesting Ross came back here later to rework the course and add 9 holes (assuming this was the same course).  I have no idea if this work was ever done.

1933 Ross Plan -




Ellinwood Country Club (Athol, MA) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1929

Not noted in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything on Ross here.


Ludlow Country Club (Ludlow, MA) - 18 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

Not noted in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything on Ross here, other than to note that the Annual Guides only note 9 holes up to 1927.


Newton Commonwealth Golf Course (Newton, MA) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1920, Still in Existence

Not noted in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Feb. 1923 Golf Illustrated -





North Andover Country Club (North Andover, MA) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

Not noted in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything addressing Ross here, and a 1922 article notes a new course being contemplated in North Andover.

Dec. 1922 Golf Illustrated -




Plymouth Country Club (Plymouth Center, MA) - 18 Holes, New in 1920, 3 Holes, New in 1929, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 9 Holes, New in 1921, 9 Holes, New in 1929

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

I don't have anything covering the 1920, and only have the 1929 Ross plan below with respect to the later new holes.




Sweetheart Tea Room (Shelburne Falls, MA) - 9 Holes, New in c. 1920, NLE

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 9 Holes, Design in 1920

Not noted in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything on Ross here.


Whaling City Golf Course (New Bedford, MA) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

Not noted in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything on Ross here.


Paradise Springs Golf Club (Paradise Springs, ME) - 9 Holes, Design in 1920, NLE

Not noted in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

1920 Ross/Hatch Plan -




Fred Wardell Country Club (Detroit, MI) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, NLE

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything on Ross here.


Fred Wardell Estate Golf Course (Detroit, MI) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, NLE

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I don't have anything on Ross here.


Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club (Grosse Ile, MI) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 holes.

Note:  I deleted the Aug. 29, 1920 Detroit Free Press ad included earlier which covered the Island CC on Grosse Ile, which can now be found later in the thread in a discussion on that course.  In its place I've added the following article.

Feb. 12, 1922 Detroit Fre Press -



Ross Plan -



June 26, 1938 Detroit Free Press -




Muskegon Country Club (Muskegon, MI) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1920, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 18 Holes, New in 1920 & 1930

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 holes.

I don't have anything on Ross here.  The routing map below matches the current lay out of the course pretty well, and since it is my understanding that Ross reversed the direction of the holes from the existing course, this plan probably represents his work.

Routing Map -




Minneapolis Golf Club (Minneapolis, MN) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1920, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

June 24, 1920 Star Tribune -



The Givens site has a map of the course, but the 1917 notation predates Ross' involvement.

Course Plan -




Forsyth Country Club  - Course #1 (Winston-Salem, NC) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1920, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

Dec. 2, 1921 Winston-Salem Journal -




Nov. 6, 1922 Winston-Salem Journal -




Homestead Country Club (Spring Lake, NJ) - 18 Holes, New in 1920, NLE

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 holes.

May 29, 1921 New York Herald -



July 10, 1921 Brooklyn Daily Eagle -



July 14, 1921 Asbury Park Press -




Montclair Golf Club (Montclair, NJ) - 27 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1919-22

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 27 holes.

Aug. 13, 1922 Brooklyn Standard Union -




Teugega Country Club (Rome, NY) - 18 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1921

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes.

June 30, 1921 Rome Daily Sentinel -



1920 Ross/Hatch Plan -




Wykagyl Country Club (New Rochelle, NY) - 18 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 18 Holes, Remodel in 1920

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 18 Holes Remodeled.

I don't have anything on Ross here, and it is worth noting that there were reports in 1919 of William Tucker remodeling a number of holes.  The club's history notes Ross' work, but has it as a remodel on several holes, and not a new course.


Piqua Country Club (Piqua, OH) - 9 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

The 1930 Ross Booklet notes 9 Holes.

Aug. 28, 1922 Dayton Herald -




1920 Ross/Hatch Plan -





Westbrook Country Club (Mansfield, OH) - 18 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Ross first visited Westbrook in 1917.

Sept. 13, 1917 News-Journal -



The club elected to build a new course a few years later, with Ross doing the layout.  The new course opened in 1923, and a Sept. 27, 1924 Burlington Free Press article posted in the 1924 listing notes the course was planned by Donald Ross and Walter Hatch.

Aug. 23, 1929 Dayton Herald -




1920 Ross/Hatch Plan -





Chattanooga Golf & Country Club (Chattanooga, TN) - 18 Holes, New in 1920, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

I have nothing on Ross here.
« Last Edit: January 09, 2020, 09:31:05 AM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Bret Lawrence

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #69 on: February 17, 2018, 09:32:59 AM »
Whaling City Golf Course in New Bedford, MA was not built in 1920. 


If you look on historicaerials.com you will notice the course did not exist in 1938.  By 1961 the course included 9 holes and by 1971 Route 140 was built causing the original nine to be rerouted and nine additional holes were added.


If Ross built this course, it wasn't implemented until after 1938.  If the plan was from 1920, it would have taken at least twenty years to get the plans in the ground?  I think most of what remains is William Mitchell's work from the late 50's.




Sven Nilsen

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #70 on: February 17, 2018, 12:33:33 PM »
1920 (cont.)


Additions:

Tucked at the end of an article on Biltmore Forest included later in the thread is the mention of Ross heading to Palm Beach and Kansas City to lay out courses.  The Palm Beach work is probably the Kelsey City project noted below.  As for Kansas City, the only course that makes sense for that time period is Midland Valley, which was a remodel and not the laying out of a new course.  The Hillcrest work took place much earlier, unless this trip had something to do with his 1921 visit to suggest improvements.  Exactly what three courses the article referred to would be a nice find.

July 19, 1920 Asheville Citizen Times -




Denver CC (Denver, CO)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

These changes were reported in 1920, but its possible that the emanated from an early Ross trip out west.

1920 Spalding Official Golf Guide




Kelsey City CC (a/k/a Palm Beach Winter Club) (Kelsey City, FL)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The Kelsey City course would eventually be built by William Langford.  It has a bit of a confusing history, as it was known as the Palm Beach Winter Club when it first opened.  The PBWC would eventually move over to the nearby Raynor course built a few years later just north of Kelsey City. 

July 21, 1920 Palm Beach Post -




Bellevue GC (Boston, MA)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

The Nov. 1920 Golf Illustrated notes Ross visiting in contemplation of extending the course to 18 holes.  I don't believe these plans were ever carried out, as Bellevue is noted as a 9 hole course in all of the Annual Guides through the 1920's.


New Bedford (CC of) (New Bedford, MA)

2018 DRS Update - New listing added with 9 Holes, New in 1924, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1924

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Tagging this here as a followup to Bret's post above regarding Whaling City.  It is possible that Ross did work in the city around 1920, just not at Whaling City.  The Annual Guides note the expansion of the CC of New Bedford course from 9 to 18 holes in the early 1920's.


Genundawah CC (East Rochester, NY)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

July 20, 1919 Democrat and Chronicle -



March 25, 1920 Democrat and Chronicle -




Hempstead CC (Hempstead, NY)

Not included in the 1930 Ross Booklet.

Nov. 26, 1920 Register Observer Post Inquirer -



April 15, 1921 The Evening World -



June 12, 1921 New York Tribune -

« Last Edit: April 06, 2019, 04:27:21 PM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #71 on: February 17, 2018, 12:54:25 PM »
There's an old thread you can find in the back pages hereabouts discussing why Ross didn't do much work on Long Island.  A misguided poster suggested that it was most likely due to Ross' personality.  I almost spit out my Fresca when I read those words.

Donald Ross may have been golf's most beloved, with all apologies to Ran.  He was just at home playing with a young beginner as he was getting a round in with the President.

April 7, 1920 Atlanta Constitution -



Nov. 8, 1920 Washington Herald -



Putting this thread together I have been struck by the similarities between Ross and Tom Bendelow.  I'll touch on their individual impacts on the game later in the thread, but for now I want to highlight non-design activities that they had in common.  Both Ross and Bendelow were in the small group of experts that were called upon to run a wide number of tournaments.  They were both considered top notch instructors.  In addition, they both were involved with some of the first college classes in the realm of golf architecture.

March 12, 1920 Boston Globe -



Dec. 20, 1920 Atlanta Constitution -



As we get into the 1920's, and the great boom in golf course construction in the United States, we start to see Ross expanding his bases of activity.  He was well established as the go to guy in most of New England and had taken on quite a bit of work in the NY/NJ/PA corridor.  It appears he was making almost yearly visits to Chicago and Detroit, and getting a bunch of work in Ohio and some other midwestern stops along the way.  He put himself on the map in Florida with his work at Bellair, with a deluge of work down there to follow.  At this point, the only real well-known hotbed for Ross courses that we would think of today that hadn't yet taken off was his winter home state.  He was certainly doing a ton of work around Pinehurst, but it would take a few years before golf course construction (and Ross' involvement therewith) would take of in the mid-Atlantic.

We touched on the impact of the automobile a bit earlier in the thread.  Here's a 1920 article discussing its impact on the latest boom.

Oct. 2, 1920 Buffalo Evening News -

« Last Edit: July 20, 2018, 09:10:54 AM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

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Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #72 on: February 20, 2018, 11:53:50 AM »
1921


Daytona Beach Golf Club - South (Daytona Beach, FL) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1944 added

Not included in the 1930RB.

Opened as a private club, but became a municipal course.  Ross returned here in 1944-45 for a redesign.

Dec. 14, 1919 New York Sun -



Dec. 28, 1919 New York Herald -



Jan. 7, 1921 Tampa Tribune -



Dec. 9, 1945 Tampa Tribune -




Mark Bostick Golf Course at the Univ. of Florida (Gainesville, FL) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1921, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930RB.

I don't have anything on Ross here.


La Grange Country Club (La Grange, IL) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1921, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930RB.

Another mystery, nothing on Ross here.  Langford reworked the course in 1916.


Broadmoor Country Club (Indianapolis, IN) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

June 30, 1924 Indianapolis News -



July 20, 1930 Indianapolis Star -




Charles River Country Club (Newton Centre, MA) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

A Sept. 27, 1924 Burlington Free Press article in the 1924 listing notes course was planned by Ross and Hatch.  Ross redesigned at least one hole later on.

June 26, 1921 Boston Post -







1921 Ross/Hatch Plan -




Longmeadow Country Club (Longmeadow, MA) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

Nov. 11, 1922 American Contractor -



1922 Ross/Hatch Plan -




Country Club of Pittsfield (Pittsfield, MA) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

Not noted in the 1930RB.

I don't have anything on Ross here.  He supposedly returned in 1928 and his proposals lead to the Stiles and Van Kleek that severely altered Ross' layout.




The Country Club (Brookline, MA) - 18 Holes, Design in 1921

Not noted in the 1930RB.

Ross produced a layout for a second 18 that was never built.




Waltham Country Club (Waltham, MA) - 9 Holes, New in 1921, NLE

Not noted in the 1930RB.

1921 Ross/Hatch Plan -




Prince George's Country Club (o/k/a Beaver Dam CC) (Landover, MD) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, NLE 1980

Not noted in the 1930RB.

A muddled history here, with some reports giving credit to William Flynn in 1921 and subsequent work in 1927.  The course is noted as having anywhere from 9 to 27 holes.


Silver Spring Country Club (Silver Spring, MD) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, NLE

Not noted in the 1930RB.

This is the same course as Indian Spring GC which is noted in the 1922 listing.


Portland Country Club (Falmouth, ME) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

I don't have anything on Ross here.


Kent Country Club (Grand Rapids, MI) - 9 Holes, New in 1921, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1921, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Both dates changed to 1916

The 1930RB notes 18 holes.

Ross' work here started earlier than 1921.  The Annual Guides note the expansion of the course to 18 holes in 1920, but I don't have anything linking it to Ross.

Jan. 1915 Golfers Magazine -




Interlachen Country Club (Edina, MN) - 18 Holes, Remodel in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 holes.

Jan. 11, 1920 Star Tribune -





July 9, 1930 The Herald-Palladium



Aug. 1930 Golf Illustrated -














Mid Pines Golf Club (Southern Pines, NC) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

The 1921 Annual Guide notes this as a new 18 hole course by Ross.

July 14, 1921 Moore County News -





Dec. 1, 1921 Pinehurst Outlook -







March 1922 Golf Illustrated -






Bald Peak Colony Club (Melvin Village, NH) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930RB.

I have nothing on Ross here.  A March 1921 Golfers Magazine article notes the course was laid out by George Merritt.


Wentworth-by-the-Sea Golf Club (Portsmouth, NH) - 9 Holes, Remodel in 1921, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930RB.

Ross Plan -




Plainfield Country Club (Plainfield, NJ) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Remodel in 1928, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 holes.

Jan. 6, 1920 Central New Jersey Home News -



Sept. 17, 1921 Central New Jersey Home News -




Chautauqua Golf Club (Chautauqua, NY) - 9 Holes, New in 1921, 9 Holes, Remodel in 1921, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930RB.

Nov. 6, 1920 Jamestown Evening Journal -



Aug. 26, 1924 The Daily Notes -




Thendara Golf Club (Thendara, NY) - 9 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

Not included in the 1930RB.

June 6, 1920 Brooklyn Daily Eagle -



June 13, 1920 Brooklyn Daily Eagle -



June 20, 1920 New York Herald -



Sept. 27, 1920 Utica Daily Press -



1921 Ross/Hatch Plan -




Arlington Golf Club (o/k/a Aladdin CC) (Columbus, OH) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, NLE?

Not included in the 1930RB.

Question if this was more of a 9 remodel 9 new as opposed to 18 new.

May 23, 1921 Chillicothe Gazette -




Athens Country Club (Athens, OH) - 9 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 2 Holes, New in 1921, 7 Holes, Remodel in 1921

Not included in the 1930RB.

I don't have anything linking this to Ross, and an April 4, 1921 Sandusky Star-Journal article notes George Sargent being called to lay out a course.


Springfield Country Club (Springfield, OH) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

The course had 9 holes up until the 1922 Annual Guide, timing fits and possibly an R9/A9.

1921 Ross/Hatch Plan -



1938 Aerial -




Edgewood Country Club (Pittsburgh, PA) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

March 6, 1921 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -



July 2, 1922 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -



A Sept. 27, 1924 Burlington Free Press article posted in the 1924 listing notes the course was planned by Donald Ross and Walter Hatch.

1924 Ross Plan -




Green Oaks Country Club - West (o/k/a Westmoreland CC) (Verona, PA) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Date changed to 1913-14

Not included in the 1930RB.

The Ross work at Westmoreland was covered in the 1913 Additions above which included a April 27, 1913 The Pittsburgh Press article noting Ross was in town to lay out a new course for Westmoreland.  I don't have anything on a new course in 1921.


Torresdale-Frankford Country Club (Philadelphia, PA) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

April 12, 1919 Evening Public Ledger -



July 12, 1920 Evening Public Ledger -



1919 Ross Plan -




Metacomet Country Club (East Providence, RI) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 18 Holes, Remodel in 1925

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

Nothing on Ross in 1921.  The new Metacomet course was planned by Willie Park and an Oct. 1, 1924 New York Telegram and Daily Mail article notes the whole course was to be rearranged with W. H. Follett handling the work.  Ross' remodeling plans are noted on the Givens site, and my understanding is that Follett was brought in by Carter's Tested Seeds with respect to the turf.

Edit:  Found a 1926 article that notes Ross had submitted his plans to improve the course.

April 27, 1926 Hartford Courant -




Belle Meade Country Club (Nashville, TN) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 18 Holes, Remodel in 1917-21

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

The history of Belle Meade is fairly muddled.  Credit is given to both Bendelow and Barker for the club's new course.  Ross showed up in 1917, but his work was focused on planning hazards and updating the course.  The 1922 article below makes it sound like Ross' plans weren't carried out for a few years and not completed until around 1928.

June 13, 1917 The Tennessean -



June 17, 1917 The Tennessean -



June 20, 1917 The Tennessean -



July 27 1922 The Tennessean -



Spet. 2, 1928 The Tennessean -




Galveston Municipal Golf Course (Galveston, TX) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, NLE

2018 DRS Update - Name changed to Galveston CC

The 1930RB notes Galveston CC and 18 Holes.

When this course opened it was a private club.  The story goes that the city's original municipal golf course was the Ross design, but it didn't open until the 1930's, and disappeared when it was reclaimed during WW II.  The city bought the club's course later, but it was never credited as a Ross.

April 1, 1922 Galveston Daily News -



March 19, 1923 Corsicana Daily Sun -



1919 Ross Plan (Nov. 9, 1919 Galveston Daily News) -




Jefferson Lakeside Country Club (o/k/a Lakeside CC) (Richmond, VA) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

The 1930RB notes 18 Holes.

A Sept. 27, 1924 Burlington Free Press article in the 1924 listing notes the course was planned by Ross and Hatch.


Country Club of Virginia (Westhampton Course) (Richmond, VA) - 18 Holes, New in 1921, Still in Existence

2018 DRS Update - Changed to 18 Holes, Remodel in 1920

Not included in the 1930RB.

The Ross plan notes 27 holes.  The Annual Guides note 18 holes up until 1931, then two 18 hole courses.

1921 Ross Plan -

« Last Edit: April 03, 2019, 04:44:44 PM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Bret Lawrence

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #73 on: February 21, 2018, 12:38:03 AM »
Sven,


Here is a preliminary routing of Thendara from 1920.  This routing matches up with the September 27, 1920 article you posted on Hatch describing the fourth hole as a Par 3. 
Holes 3-7 have a different routing in the plan you posted from 1921 compared to this routing from 1920.
This map came from a 1987 book titled: Adirondack Golf Courses...Past and Present

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Reunderstanding Ross
« Reply #74 on: February 21, 2018, 10:03:21 AM »
1921 (cont.)

Additions:

Marlborough CC (Marlboro, MA)

Not included in the 1930RB.

Although Marlborough would be laid out by Wayne Stiles, the club did call Ross in at the beginning to look at the site.

Feb. 13, 1921 Boston Post -




Hickory CC (Hickory, NC)

Not included in the 1930RB.

See the Dec. 11, 1921 Charlotte Observer article below.

Dec. 22, 1921 Manufactureres Record -



June 17, 1923 Charlotte Observer -




Hamilton County Adirondack Club (Lake Pleasant, NY)

Note included in the 1930RB.

April 1921 -



July 1923 -



Oct. 26, 1933 Post-Star -




Mercer CC (Princeton, WV)

Not included in the 1930RB.

Dec. 11, 1921 Charlotte Observer -



Nov. 25, 1922 American Contractor -



Industrial Development and Manufacturers Record Vol. 80 -

« Last Edit: January 05, 2020, 10:58:28 PM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

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