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Ran Morrissett

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« on: November 14, 2001, 04:47:00 AM »
Linc Roden is one of the world's gentleman golfers and is annoying to play with as he continually shoots around his age!

Many of the Philadephia participants on this site have already read his manifesto entitled Golf's Golden Age 1945-1954. For those who haven't, the following Feature Interview provides a sample of the hard hitting messages that can be found in the book.

Hope everyone enjoys this one and Linc will be periodically responding to questions/comments.

Cheers,

PS Please note: Numerous photographs have also just been added to Darren Kilfara's November Feature Interview.

PPS The Feature Interviews will continue fast and furious with the next one with Lorne Rubenstein and his time in Dornoch followed by Paul Daley's coffee table book on the Sandbelt courses. After those two, we then return to the United Sates for a long overdue March Feature Interview with Ron Prichard.


GarySmith

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2001, 06:03:00 AM »
Really enjoyed that interview, and loved the information on Flynn. Glad to see his appreciation for grain.

Chris_Clouser

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2001, 06:44:00 AM »
Easily my favorite interview since George Bahto.  No slight to the others since then intended.  Just full of so much information about Flynn and HVCC.

T_MacWood

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2001, 04:21:00 AM »
Linc
A very enlightening interview. Why did you take a long break from the game? A side from the obvious enhancements in the playing characteristics, are there economic benefits for a club going this route?

BillV

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #4 on: November 15, 2001, 06:07:00 AM »
Linc Roden-a true gentleman of the game.  

Mark_Huxford

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2001, 12:35:00 PM »
My grandfather gave me Ben Hogan's "Power Golf" once Ran. Did Ben ever hit an easy 252 yard 2 iron uphill to the 13th at Champions like Duval did the other day? They are about the same size...

I feel he may have reached for the brassie.


George Pazin

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2001, 01:07:00 PM »
Thanks for an incredible interview. It's gonna take awhile for me to digest & think of questions, but all I can say for now is WOW.

I'd feel better if Linc were the Open Doctor. :-)

Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Craig_Rokke

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2001, 03:07:00 PM »
It's rare that someone is so intimately familiar with their club's evolution. Couple that with his keen understanding of the game,
and what makes a golf course special,
and you have a great interview!

Tim_Weiman

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #8 on: November 15, 2001, 03:15:00 PM »
Ran;

How many words of praise can I offer?

These interviews are a real treat.

Tim Weiman

Linc_Roden

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2001, 12:41:00 AM »
For Tom MacWood;There should be significant economic benefits to the course from the Firm (Hard) and Dry maintenance regime. With healthier grass plants and deeper roots there should be less disease and reduced use of fungicides, and reduced use of the watering system. Watering system upgrades are not so necessary; double or triple row systems are not needed.(At HVCC we have a single row system, and we installed only a single row system when we restored the C course.) The program may save on labor costs. From a practical view, Green Committees are likely to use the savings to upgrade quality, do tree work, buy equipment. So, the savings may pass to the members in the form of quality rather than dues savings. In the end, Green Departments are farmers and dependent on the weather.


Ran Morrissett

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2001, 05:35:00 AM »
One of the surprises contained in Linc's book - and reiterated here in this Feature Interview in Q&A #11- is Flynn's appreciation (and love) of trees.

Did other Golden Age architect share Flynn's sentiments? Perhaps they did but Flynn is the only one that I can recall expressing them in such a forceful manner.


Mike_Cirba

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2001, 05:53:00 AM »
I'll have to check my book tonight for specifics, but didn't Tillinghast have a lot to say about using trees and tree lines as well?  He didn't seem particularly averse to their proper use, particularly as ornamentation of tee areas and such.

Also, I would just like to add that the interview was superb.  Thank you, Mr. Roden, for your insight and participation here.  Every club would be fortunate to have such a treasured, experienced, golfing traditionalist among their membership.  HVGC is indeed lucky!

My book order will be coming soon.


Linc_Roden

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #12 on: November 16, 2001, 09:14:00 AM »
Mike Cerba

Many thanks for your kind and much appreciated comments.

My book, Golf's Golden Age 1945-1954,is out of print and hard to come by. Besides discussing the changes in rules, maintenance, and equipment, the book describes "the Great Open" at Merion in 1950; Joe Kirkwood, one of the all time greats; Joe, Jr., who could have been a great; and Arnie's Amateur in 1954, as well as other stories. I have some copies available at $15 including shipping and handling. My home address is 2535 Edgehill Rd., Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. Linc


Mike_Cirba

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #13 on: November 16, 2001, 09:46:00 AM »
Linc,

Thanks!  I'll get a letter out to you this weekend.  Your book sounds like a great read and I'll look forward to it.  

Thanks again for the enjoyable and educational interview.  


Linc_Roden

The December Feature Interview with Linc Roden is posted
« Reply #14 on: November 21, 2001, 04:58:00 AM »
In my December Feature interview, in responding to question 12 about the changes Joe Kirkwood made to Huntingdon Valley Country Club, I referred to the 14th (B-5)as a par 4 when Flynn built the course, and to the 15th (B-6)as a par 5. An older golfer, long familiar with HVCC questioned this, recalling 14 as a par 5 and 15 as a par 4.

Flynn showed 14 as a 452 yard par 4 (uphill and into the prevailing wind). He showed 15 as a 479 yard par 5 (with the wind).

By the mid 1940's HVCC had redesignated 14 as a par 5, and 15 as a par 4. Those scorecards showed 15 as a 439 yard par 4; I presume this was because that was then the maximum distance or a par 4. The 15th played shorter than 14 because of some downhill roll on the drive and on the second leading into the green.

Kirkwood's changes in the late 1940's made two much better holes. Interestingly the design changes owe something to Donald Ross who did some drawings. Kirkwood oversaw the construction, which was done by Dominic Thomas, HVCC's long time Superintendent. Joe Kirkwood personally raked the subtle contours into the 14th green. He put in a series of pin positions separated by little slopes, rather than the larger slopes on many of Flynn's greens.

Hope this clarifies history of 14 and 15. Linc


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