Historical Muni Golf Preservation

Community Golf Fan,

Beyond the style, setup, and quality of a course, an often-overlooked opportunity to market your golf facility, is to promote and embrace your course’s history and design lineage. We at Staples Golf believe there’s an obligation to record your history accurately, and we make it a priority in all our Master Plans. One important reason is to inform future parties as to how the golf course evolved over time, and why certain decisions were made out on the course.

During recent research at FCC Staples Golf was able to find this great aerial documenting the original Perry Maxwell 9 hole layout.

Admittedly some courses are going to have more interesting historical details, for example, courses designed by heralded architects during the “Golden Age” of golf architecture (1911-1937) vs. courses that were designed by various architects in more recent times. Whichever the case may be, course managers and stakeholders should be interested in discovering their course’s history, and preserving any relevant information, and storing it in a safe place.Here's a link to an article on the recent burning-down of Western Golf and Country Club's original 1926 clubhouse, which illustrates the importance of securing records in multiple places if feasible.

An aerial of Hillside Golf Course in Sidney, NE, from 1954 revealed sand greens; a detail forgotten until this photograph re-surfaced.

Also, prior to any sort of renovation (significant or otherwise), research should be done to determine whether or not the proposed changes will alter any notable historic features of the course. The current situation at the Belmont Golf Course in Richmond, VA, comes to mind, as recent proposed changes to some original A.W. Tillinghast's features, have stakeholders back at the drawing board largely thanks to this article stressing the original historical nature of the course.

Regardless of who designed and built your course, we're sure it has some interesting historic details worth sharing with your golfers and community. Beyond that, the importance of preserving history shouldn’t be taken lightly by those in positions of authority over these facilities, and who should consider themselves present day stewards.

This rediscovered photo from the 1940's at San Jose Country Club has influenced recent Master Plans with regards to bunkering and greens design.

A good place to start is with any local archive; most universities, historical societies, or public libraries can get you solid information (if it exists) from newspaper clippings, to old photos, to design plans, or as-built documents. In some instances, you may even be fortunate to come across historic photographs of your course near the time of its debut.

You may even have some great stuff lying or hidden around, as was the case for one lucky Minnesota Club that just stumbled across original designs from circa 1920 by prolific golf architect Seth Raynor (in the ceiling of a clubhouse closet!).

The photo of MCC from the 1940's reveals limited trees in the early days; a feature of great strategic design.

Here's What You Need To Know:

- Preserving the historic nature of your course is very important
- Historical details will help future parties preserve relevant course features
- You can source local archives for information lost to time and turnover
- All pertinent information should be compiled, and stored in a safe place
- Many golfers enjoy and appreciate learning about their favorite courses!

In addition to your local resources, here are a few more great places to explore your course's history:
1) Historic Aerial's photo database
2) Michigan State University Turfgrass Archive
3) The USGA Library Archives

Good Luck with your search, and please report back with anything you might consider special!

Timing is Everything

We realize that more often than not, everything comes down to timing, so when you're ready for us, we'll be ready for you and your golf course!

Please remember, we present webinars at no charge to stakeholders who oversee facilities looking to improve. If that's of interest to you, please tell us about your golf course byclicking here.

Sincerely,

Andy Staples, ASGCA