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Willie Park, Jr.

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Jonathan Davison:
I sure a lot of Willie Park jnrs early work was in and around the North East of England, we have a number of his courses.
Newbiggin, Hartlepool, Tynemouth and Goswick, with maybe only Newbiggin which still looks and feels like an original. From his early designs he certainly got the most from the landscape. What interests me is that many wonderful architects have worked in the north east of England but nobody talks about our courses or history within the game.

Jeff Goldman:
Let me second Terry Lavin's view that OFCC North is quite similar to the time it was built (no surprise; Terry knows far more about the course than I ever will).  The routing is the same, and I was stunned to see pictures from the 1920s showing holes that look eerily similar to what you see today - same tree coverage, and some really deep bunkers more reminiscent of the course now than before the recent work.  I do not know how much the greens have changed, but it appears that 15 of the greens have been affected only by time.  Changes to note:  Originally a couple of holes had bunkers dead center up the fairway (17 and 12(??)), which were removed in preparation for the 1928 Open, and hole 3 (12 at the US Open) now has two greenside bunkers below the green on the right (stair-step fashion), whereas in the 20s there appears to have been just one big catcher's mitt.  I do not know when that changed.  Also, a small pond was added in the 1960s short right of the green on 18.

Jeff Goldman

archie_struthers:
 :D ;) 8)


Man, its tough playing golf in the Northeast again! Hard to bite on the global warming theory the last couple years around here.

I'm sitting here lookin through the mist at a couple of Park holes here at Greate Bay. His design of the Ocean City/Somers Point Golf Course (1923) was reconfigured by George Fazio with help from his nephew Tom in the early 70's at which time the club became known as Greate Bay.

A lot of Parks' original work still shines through with some beautiful, if simplistic greeen complexes similar to many you will find at Olympia Fields. The seventh green at Geate Bay is one of the finest greens I have ever seen, wickedly difficult with some of the most subtle green gradations anywhere. Much of Parks course is intact at Greate Bay with Fazios' major work being the addition of lots of formal bunkers which replaced the native sand areas.

Willie supposedly did some tweaking of the Atlantic City Country Club while in town, predating the redo by Mr. Flynn and recently our own Tom Doak. I will do some more research on this.

Don't forget Sunningdale, which many think is Parks' real epiphany. I'd like to have some of our overseas brethren chime in on their observations on this one.

As to Greate Bay, Parks' use of false fronts and smallish greens has made even the existing course, that will someday soon be extensively restored, wery resistant to scoring, The competitive course record four years after changes to #'2,3, 10& 16 is 67, just three under par. Hard to believe but true!

Mick:
Jonny Davidson,

I too hail from the North-East (Cramlington), but left before I took up the game.  In doing some research I notice that Braid and Colt also laid a few tracks in the area.  Knowing how unspoiled and spectacular the scenery is up the old coast road (used to go to seahouses all the time), you must get some great sea views from places like Dunstanburgh (Braid), Bamburgh (Rochester), and Alnmouth (the newer, Colt I think).  Maybe you could give a little more info on Newbiggin or start a thread or two detailing some of the places you've played.  Alnmouth Village (4th oldest track in Britain) sounds brilliant.  

Its no real surprise that the North-East gets little mention in golf lore, it's the North-East we always get overlooked and quite frankly given the prices at some of these courses, I hope it stays that way at least until I can get back to play them.

Mick

Tyler Kearns:
Jeff,

    I appreciate the blunt response, and couldn't agree with you more.  :)  It is sad that architects who wax eloquent about classic architecture have perpetuated the deconstruction of many great golf courses all over North America. Often the best advice an architect can give is to leave the golf course alone, and therein lies the catch 22. Principles matter, they may not always pay the bills, but the do help one sleep at night!!

Tyler Kearns

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