Here are some answers from Jack Snyder. He is at home, but not much energy to even get on the computer -- so these have been dictated to me for all your enjoyment:
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When did the idea of raking the bunker sand into furrows originate, and about what time period did the practice end?
Jack recalls that his father noted that the practice began early on after the course was built. Jack's father, Arthur A. Snyder, began caddying in 1907. Eventually caddying for W.C. Fownes, Jr., before getting promoted to the greenkeeping crew. It was after jack left as greenkeeper (1952) that the powers that be (perhaps the USGA?) felt the practice of furrowed rakes unfair. Exact dates unknown.
Jack and his family always felt the practice was fine -- after all, sand is supposed to be a hazard! Interestingly, almost all courses in Western PA also raked traps with furrowed rakes at that time. The practice was widespread -- after all, if Oakmont did it, it was the thing to do!
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About the greenspeeds of Oakmont way back when?
Jack says they rolled the greens heavily -- and often. Especially before tournaments. They also shaved the knives on the greens mowers so the cuts would be very clean and close. Jack recalls mowing at 3/16-inch -- but with the shaved knives it made it seem a cleaner cut -- and it made for faster surfaces. Jack says they were the fastest he'd ever seen in that day.
Jack came to Oakmont when all green mowing was by hand mowers -- and they were not gas powered! He had to argue to give power mowers a try and they (green committee) agreed. they tested the Toro "Pony", about a 20" wide gas mower. It worked excellently and the club purchased several, at least three. That was in 1951 -- first power mowers at Oakmont greens!
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Were the "Church Pews" always configured as at present?
They are as Jack recalls them since he can remember. He first set foot on Oakmont in about 1933 or thereabouts. The bunker is one bunker with grass ridges spaced within. Jack recalls cutting the ridges with scythes, not mowers. He doubts that the bunker was originally several long traps which were made into one large with the ridges -- but he will defer to you historians on this question.
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My question to Jack would be about the Turnpike and its impact on the golf course. Sad to say, I really don't know much about how the course changed as a result of the highway?
The course really didn't change as there was quite a right-of-way already there for the railroad, as TEPaul said. Jack recalls that the turnpike commission may have facilitated the addition of a pedestrian bridge. The noise was a factor, especially the part of the highway where trucks had to shift gears to make the grade. Jack planted conifers along that area to assist in buffering the course. Jack staked all of the trees along Nos. 7 and 8, and behind Nos. 1 green, 9 tee, and 10 green and 11 tee -- adjacent to the turnpike.
All-in-all the turnpike really didn't have much negative impact to the the course.
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Regarding No. 8 Green?
The Green Committee authorized Jack to re-do No.8 green after Jack asked pro Lew Worsham how many times he might be able to hold the green -- "Only one in four" was Worsham's answer. Jack created the plan for the green and used in-house labor to get the work done. The sand came from local river sources. The Saraha trap stayed along the left, the change was in contouring and a raise on the right portion so a ball could be held more often by a well executed shot. The intent was not to change, just improve the playability.
"When a pro of Worsham's caliber could only be on 1 out of 4, something needed to be done", Jack said.
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I would love to hear what Jack has to say about the moving of the 8th green when the turnpke was added to the existing railroad bed?
The re-done No. 8 green had nothing to do with the turnpike, it was simply Jack's suggestion because the green was too difficult to hold. And, it didn't move, it just was just re-contoured. Jack also enhanced the sand on the right, making it work with the newly contoured green. Jack also recalls building a new forward tee at No. 8 hole at the same time.
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Regarding the No. 8 green being 3 feet above its present height and playing as a short par 4 that balls would not run up on and stay put?
Jack doesn't recall this at all -- No. 8 was raised only on the right and it was always a par-3 as he can recall. He kept the green in the same spot and shape.
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