when did the golden age of golf course design

What was the Golden Age of golf design?

This was, as the title of this lovely celebration proclaims, The Golden Age of Golf Design, a time when the giants of the craft--A.W. Tillinghast, Marion Hollins, and Alistair McKenzie, to name a few--were in full flourish. Their courses--Riviera, Seminole, and Augusta National among them--dominate any list of the best in the world.

When was the best time to design a golf course?

The early 20th century has been dubbed by many to be the golden age of course design in the United States, as 94 of the top 100 layouts on Golfweek’s Best Classic Courses list were built in the four decades through the 1930s as cars proliferated and airplanes took off.

Who were the famous golf course architects of the 1900s?

This is an EXCELLENT overview of the famous golf course architects and their work from the “Golden Age” of golf course design in the early 1900s in the United States. The book is broken down into the following sections: 1. The Early Influences (e.g., Old Tom Moris, Harry S. Colt) 2. The National School of Design (e.g., C.B. Macdonald, Seth Raynor)

What is the oldest golf course in the United States?

One of the oldest golf courses in the United States is the Quogue Field Club in Quogue, NY. The private course was built in 1887 and is still in use today. Originally, the Quogue was an 18-hole course.

When was the golden age of golf?

1910-1930The 1910s and 1920s were a time of rapid growth for golf, as economic prosperity and increased leisure time spurred the growth of country clubs and golf courses.

When were golf course invented?

The modern game of golf originated in 15th century Scotland. The 18-hole round was created at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1764.

When was the oldest golf course built?

The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland is the oldest golf course in the world, dating back to 1552. Every golf aficionado knows that St. Andrews is the “home of golf” as the game was played on the links as far back as the 15th century.

When did golf course architecture become a profession?

Early golf-course architects didn't have a standard path to follow to enter the profes- sion. In fact, the term wasn't coined until 1901. The field became a second career for some of the greats—Alister Mackenzie was a doctor, Walter Travis a machinery merchant, Perry Maxwell a banker and Pete Dye an insurance salesman.

Why does golf have 18 holes?

Andrews formalized the rules and stated, “One round of the Links, or 18 holes is reckoned a match, unless otherwise stipulated.” Legend has it that the reason for 18 holes is that a bottle of whiskey contained the same number of shots as holes on a course, thus providing just enough drink for a shot on each hole.

Who made the first golf club?

The first record of commissioned golf clubs was by King James IV of Scotland, who hired William Mayne, a bow-maker, to craft him a set of clubs and made him the Royal Club Maker.

What is the oldest golf club that still exists?

First on our list of the oldest golf clubs in the world is Cruden Bay Golf Club. There is evidence, in the form of a ballot box inscribed Cruden Golf Club 1791 that a nine-hole golf course existed before the layout of today's links course in Port Erroll.

When was the first golf course built in the United States?

Foxburg Country Club, established in 1887, is the oldest golf course in continuous use in the United States. It is located in Foxburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, approximately 55 miles (89 km) north of Pittsburgh on a hill rising about 300 feet above the Allegheny River.

What is the second oldest golf course in the world?

BLOGSt Andrews Course (1754)Musselburgh Old Course (1774)Elie and Earlsferry (1787)Fortrose (1793)Kinghorn (1812)

Who designs golf course?

1. Getting Started in Golf Course Design. Golf course designers are essentially architects. They turn ideas into reality while balancing the needs of golfers, golf course owners, and the physical and budgetary realities that go into making a golf course viable and profitable.

Who has designed the most golf courses?

H.S. Colt, as he's often referred to, is a Golden Age architect with a whopping 11 course design credits appearing on the Top 100. That's three more than any other architect on the list. Mackenzie and Old Tom Morris come in second with eight apiece, while Tillinghast is fourth with seven designs.

What is a golf course architect?

Golf course architects come from varying backgrounds, with training in landscape architecture, civil engineering, environmental studies, agronomy, golf course construction and professional golf, to name a few. The most common degree amongst golf architects is landscape architecture.

What was Hanse's work at Winged Foot's West?

Hanse pointed to his and Wagner’s work at Winged Foot’s West course in New York as a restoration , with the duo trying to reclaim the characteristics instilled by the original designer, Tillinghast. Greens edges had crept in since the course opened in 1923, leaving fewer hole locations. Some bunkers had become irrelevant.

Is Pinehurst a restoration?

Pinehurst is a great example of the different ways to approach a renovation or restoration, as it has been 10 years since Coore and Crenshaw wrapped up what most certainly was a restoration of Pinehurst No. 2 , the resort’s flagship course that rests directly next to Hans e’s since-renovated No. 4.

Who renovated Pinehurst No 4?

The second hole at Pinehurst No. 4, which was renovated by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner (Courtesy of Pinehurst Resort)

Who restored the ninth hole at Winged Foot Golf Club?

The ninth hole at Winged Foot Golf Club’s West Course in New York, which was restored by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner before the 2020 U.S. Open (Copyright USGA/Russell Kirk)

When did the US Opens open at No. 2?

No. 2 hosted U.S. Opens in 1999 and 2005, and even between those Opens the course changed, with fairways growing more narrow between ever-expanding fields of rough. After that 2005 Open, the resort’s operators wanted to make drastic changes.

Where is Oakmont Country Club?

Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, host to nine Opens, for example famously removed thousands of trees in the 1990s and 2000s to restore playing corridors as intended by original designer Henry Fownes. That certainly would be one of the most visually impactful restorations for any television viewer.

When will the US Open return?

And with the U.S. Golf Association now slated to establish a second headquarters at Pinehurst, the U.S. Open will return with No. 2 as an anchor site in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.

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What do bunkers tell about a course?

Most would rather have nothing to do with them, much less study them. For architecture devotees, however, bunkers tell stories and, like greens, say much about a course and its past. They’re not merely functional hazards but reflections of the architect’s and shaper’s skill. Their style and dimensions contribute hugely to a course’s identity ...

Where did Willie Dunn grow up?

And though a Scotsman born in Musselburgh, Dunn grew up in London, at Blackheath, where his father, Willie Dunn Sr., was Custodian of the Links. Blackheath, where golf had been played since the early 1600s, sat upon heavy soil and was to links golf what the slow, clay-like surfaces of Roland Garros, site of tennis’s French Open, ...

Where are the Dog Turds bunkers?

And although his “architecture” would ultimately be roundly criticized, he wasn’t entirely without creativity: At Hanger Hill, in West London, his bunkers feature bizarre looking formations—the Apennines and Pyrenees—which, not unreasonably, are often referred to as “Dog Turds.”.

Who was Donald Ross?

Donald Ross was a leading light of the Golden Age of golf course architecture , when more natural bunkers took over from the unsightly, artificial cross-bunkering of the Victorian Era (the second half of the 19th century).

Who designed Harbour Town?

Harbour Town (photo by Kevin Murray) Inspired by Dye’s willingness to experiment and follow his own path, one of his acolytes, Bill Coore, more or less instigated another new phase of architecture and bunker-styling with his, and partner Ben Crenshaw’s, pioneering design of Sand Hills in Nebraska in 1995.

Who was the architect who wanted to do the opposite of what the mid-century architects did?

Everything was boiler-plated.”. One shining light, toward the end of the 20th century, was Pete Dye, who sought to do the opposite of what the mid-century architects—specifically Robert Trent Jones—had done.

Who were the Golden Agers?

MacKenzie, Colt, Tom Simpson, John Abercromby, Tillinghast, C.B. Macdonald, Raynor, George Thomas, Perry Maxwell, Stanley Thompson, Ross, and other Golden Agers on both sides of the Atlantic were now creating attractive bunkers, recognizing that the contrast of sand against turf, water, and shadows was a beautiful thing.

Holy Moses

Lately I've been reading up on golf course design. I'm about halfway thorough Keith Cutten's "The Evolution of Golf Course Design" - a book which I highly recommend. Currently, Global Golf Post has the following article ( https://www.globalgolfpost.com/best-of/469/) on their Best of 2019 Course Design list.

FairwayFred

Yes I agree with this. Coore/Crenshaw don't use width for widths sake nearly as much as Doak in my experience. C/C usually has some interesting fairway bunkering and or other reasons to make sure your in the right place where alot of Doak tee shots are just super wide in spots.

CougarRed

No one talks about Chet Williams who (either on his own or in his work at Nicklaus Design) has some of the best courses in Texas, including #1 Whispering Pines. #4 is the Club at Houston Oaks. (rankings from Dallas Morning News).

mallrat

I think the links vs parkland/heathland courses is based on the land available. Many of the parkland courses are near cities where there is not the land available or just too expensive. Many of the newer links or links style courses are being developed in places where they have the land available for that type of course.

FairwayFred

This is why I haven't made the trip over there yet. I've heard that about SV and I heard Mammoth is even wider.

az2au

One of my favorite things in golf is double digit handicappers complaining about FW width being too much. :)

Chanceman

In days of declining water availability, wide fairways become a bit of a burden to golf clubs. So I am in favour of tighter lines which in the end will improve the game.

Tools of the Trade

Baltusrol Golf Club members who played the Lower Course prior to Gil Hanse’s recent restoration will see evidence of the 7,135-yard layout’s modernity everywhere they look: reshaped fairways; dramatic, eye-catching bunkers; expansive greens; and new sightlines thanks to the removal of about 400 evergreen trees provide plenty of evidence that what once was old is now new.

Challenges and Rewards

Depending on the course and the architects involved — both the original creator and the specialist charged with bringing the course back to life — a Golden Age course restoration can deliver both unique obstacles and points of pride once the work is completed.

Ancillary Benefits

Beyond the satisfaction that comes with preserving a classic course for future generations to enjoy, the architects tasked with such restorations also learn tangentially what makes a course great.

What is Colt's legacy?

But Colt’s true legacy is that he was the key figure in the creation of golf design’s Golden Age. More than any other person, he defined golf course architecture as a discipline, and, through his partnership with Hugh Alison and John Morrison, influenced golf’s spread across Europe and many other parts of the world.

What was the attitude of golfers in the 19th century?

Nineteenth century golf’s attitude to blindness seems to have been a mixture of necessity and bravado. For sure, with no ability to make significant alterations to the natural grades, combined with the need, in a pre-irrigation era, to put greens in locations that would collect water, blind shots were inevitable.

Was Colt the first golfer to build a golf course from scratch?

Ironically, much of this is about what Colt is, or was, not. He was not the first designer to build a great strategic golf course from scratch on an inland site – that title goes to Willie Park Jr at Sunningdale, as is well known. But Park’s courses of that period, though hugely important in the history of golf design, ...

Who is the designer of golf courses?

Alister MacKenzie, designer of three courses included in most lists of the top ten in the world is an obvious contender. Charles Blair Macdonald, whose role in the spread of golf to the US was so crucial, is another. Some could argue for Willie Park Jr, widely believed to be the first man to construct, rather than find a great course, ...

Who is the most important golf designer?

The birth of the modern. Adam Lawrence explains why he believes Harry Colt to be the most important designer in the history of golf.

Who was the engineer that worked at Swinley Forest?

It is interesting to compare Colt’s work around the end of the first decade of the century – at Swinley Forest, for example – with the pioneering work being done in America at the time by Charles Blair Macdonald and his engineering associate Seth Raynor.

What golf courses were open in 1884?

Consider the Foxburg Golf Club (Pennsylvania), and The Oakhurst Golf Club (West Virginia). Both Foxburg and Oakhurst had records of playable courses in 1884. The Foxburg, however, was a private course on private property that only had eight holes when it was created.

How many holes are there in Quogue Golf Course?

Originally, the Quogue was an 18-hole course. In 1938, however, three holes were lost to a natural disaster. Now, only nine holes remain of the original 18 from 1887. Those nine holes are among the oldest in the United States golf course history.

How many bunkers are there in the Irish Open?

Host of the 2021 Irish Open, the Jack Nicklaus designed golf course is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in all of the country. With five lakes and over 80 bunkers, the challenging course measures over 7,200 yards and features a unique ‘bunker walled green’ protecting the pin on the 16th hole.

How many holes are there in the golf course at Wheaton, Illinois?

The course was originally only nine holes, but it was increased to 18 in 1893. The 18 holes were redesigned in 1895 and moved to a location in Wheaton, making it the second oldest 18-hole course still existing in the United States, next to Shinnecock. All 18 holes, sadly, are no longer accessible.

What is the oldest golf course in the world?

St Andrew’s Golf Club (New York) also deserves mention because it is among the oldest golf courses with continuous use today. The golf club proudly acknowledges more than 125 years of continuous course play and can attribute continuous play on the current course back to 1897 — although the club itself has been notably active since 1888. Shortly after the opening of St Andrew’s course in 1897, the Savannah Golf Club responded with a course that has been in use since 1899. Although there are some discrepancies about what makes a golf course old, the oldest golf courses or clubs in the United States are all worth visiting if the opportunity arises. They are all an important piece of history and loved by their communities.

When was Oakhurst Golf Club founded?

The Oakhurst Golf Club also formed in 1884. Oakhurst claims to be “the first organized golf club in the United States.”. Remember, some golf clubs at that time were not exclusively golf clubs. Oakhurst is the oldest golf course still in use in the same location in the United States. Although the Oakhurst links make up one ...

When was Savannah Golf Course opened?

Shortly after the opening of St Andrew’s course in 1897 , the Savannah Golf Club responded with a course that has been in use since 1899. Although there are some discrepancies about what makes a golf course old, the oldest golf courses or clubs in the United States are all worth visiting if the opportunity arises.

What golf course hosted the 2015 Women's Open?

The course is essentially built in a bowl, which accounts for those sidehill lies. 7 . Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club: The host of the 2015 U.S. Women's Open. Currently ranked seventh in Best in State, Lancaster Country Club was a member of Golf Digest's 100 Greatest from 1971 through 1985.

Did Flynn work on golf courses?

Flynn didn't work on nearly as many designs. Tillinghast and Trent Jones have hundreds of courses to their name. Flynn did not, but among the key principles in the Golden Age of American golf course architecture, he was as influential as anyone else.

Who restored Flynn's design at Shinnecock?

Perhaps with the recent restoration work by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to bring back many of Flynn's design features at Shinnecock before this U.S. Open, Flynn will resume his place as one of the most heralded designers in American history. 10 .

Where is Flynn's country club?

10 . Lehigh (Pa.) Country Club, Allentown, Pa.: Much of Flynn's stellar work came in the Philadelphia area, and Lehigh Country Club is one of Flynn's best. Currently ranked No. 11 in Pennsylvania, Lehigh is an example of Flynn's ability to utilize the best pieces of land in his routing.

Who was the kid who played against Francis Ouimet?

Flynn, a Massachusetts kid who competed against Francis Ouimet in high school, was hired by his brother-in-law, to help him with construction there. Wilson and Flynn would continue to revise the course up until Wilson's death in 1925, according to Morrison.

Who visited Omni Homestead?

6 . Omni Homestead (Cascades course): As the story goes, Tillinghast, Raynor and Peter Lees visited the site where the Cascades course would eventually be built by Flynn's team. They all said a golf course couldn't be built on the dramatic site. Flynn had a different idea.