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Willie Park, Jr.

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Jeff_Mingay:
The name Willie Park, Jr. instigates comparatively little discussion these days, which seems to me to be very unfortunate.

Park's turn of the twentieth century works at Sunningdale and Huntercombe in the heathlands, completed in 1901, were really the first inland golf courses to exhibit links characteristics and principles, and natural aesthetics, as I understand.

Those early heathlands works developed for Park a reputation as an expert in the infant fields of golf course design, construction, and upkeep, which lead to over 70 golf course designs in North America prior to his death in 1925.

Again, Park goes comparatively unappreciated today as a pioneer. Of his North American courses, I've visited Calgary,  Weston in Toronto, Mount Bruno (pre McBroom), Ottawa Hunt (post McBroom), as well as Meadowbrook and Red Run in suburban Detroit. That's it. These golf courses have suffered terribly from natural evolution and blatant redesign. I suspect there's very, very, very little authentic Park left here in North America. (Although that may soon be remedied, we'll see...)

Are there any other Park designs left out there today that continue to exhibit the pioneer spirit, creativity, and imagination this two-time Open championship seems to have possessed? Just curious.  

Gerry B:
Jeff:

I have played Calgary twice and it is hard to say which part is Park and which part is Tom Bendelow (Medinah #3) - I suspect the latter -who is also credited as course designer. Nice course in the heart of the city -some more penal bunkers are in order but some interesting green complexes and elevation changes. The 2 finishing holes are fabulous. Club has a predominately older membership that probably likes it just like it is and it is always in great shape. And you have to love the elevator between # 10 green and #11tee box - like a couple of courses I have played in Japan.

Is Maidstone not a Willie Park course? Have not played it  -but heard it is wonderful.

Tyler Kearns:
Jeff,

   Southwood CC in Winnipeg was originally designed by Willie Park Jr. The first revisions to the course occured only 4 years after its completion, with Stanley Thompson re-designed 5 greens. The course is situated adjacent to the University of Manitoba, and is bisected into three parcels of land by major roads. The course is quite short, and many players cite the fact that the driver is taken out of their hands as a major downfall. Conversely, the greens are fantastic which is attributable to both the original architecture and the work of a talented superintendent. Four greens were re-built in the not so distant past, and the reason for it remains unclear, but they do stand out as being much less interesting than the others. I do not know if the roads bisecting the course were the cause of any renovations over time?

Tyler Kearns

T_MacWood:
Sylvania in Toledo is a gem....why it is not better known is beyond me.

Mike_Sweeney:
Jeff,

Maidstone is obviously well liked here at GCA (except for Mr Ward ;) ). I have not played any of the Park courses in CT, although I have walked a few holes at Madison CC. It is a very tight property, very flat and close to but not on Long Island Sound. New Haven CC and Woodway seem to be well respected but maybe not inspiring. Driving by Woodway in Darien again looks tight and they just built a new clubhouse in a new location, so the routing probably changed.

The other one that I have played besides Maidstone is Greate Bay at The South Jersey Shore. The property has been chopped up over the years by condos, roads and a new clubhouse which again changed the routing. There were some great holes and I understand that Archie Struthers who is the Owner or GM and the architect of Twisted Dune has done some nice work to take it back to its Park heritage. Maybe he will see this post or others who may have played it more recently than I.

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