GolfClubAtlas.com > Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group

Willie Park, Jr.

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ian:
Jeff,

I can tell you the Canadian courses I know.

Park Jr laid out Beaconsfield, which was renovated by Thompson some 20 years later. The back nine routing is worth seeing, its a very outstanding use of one dominant limestone ridge on almost every hole. Gibralter is amazing, one of Canada's finest threes.

Laval-sur-le-lac (green) is Willie Park Jr, and much of the origional course is there (hidden in the trees). Some really great threes on the back are ruined by large trees. Worth playing, and I know somebody who can arrange the game for you. ;D

Islesmere GC is very intact and much of the orgional bunkering still exists. The bunkering is quite detailed and a times very bold. I thought Strong had renovated the bunkers like the best of the ones at Laval, until I saw the old aerials which confirmed that the bunkers were Willie's. Mind blowing stuff, compared to the simplicity of Weston. Club is very french.

I have not seen Whitlock, I'm not sure why really!

Weston is OK, but the bunkers have nothing to do with Park.

Bruno is real interesting and at times very good, but not the great secret gem people assume is hiding in the mountain. Trees need to go to return what was intended.

Toronto Hunt is a nine holer around the corner from the house, but like Ottawa Hunt, it loks like a McBroom course, nt a Park course.

Isn't Royal Ottawa a Willie Park? Its about to be redone by Cooke.

Jeff_Mingay:
Tyler,

I'll be blunt, do you know what the principle reason for putting green reconstruction and so many other changes to classic courses in our country (Canada) has been? A contemporary golf architect's desire to make money. Period.

We have so few golf architects here in Canada these days who are principled. Which I guess I should accept, because I agree, people choose a living and they're free to do what they need to do to generate income.

But, geez... so many of our classic courses have been altered for the sake of sending a bill, it's sickening.

Jeff_Mingay:
Ian,

As you know, I'm yet to see any of Park's historically significant work in Quebec, unfortunately. Islesmere sounds like it's worth the trip. (I think you had told me that before... I must have had a few too many Labatt at that point in the conversation last time!)

Ottawa Hunt and Toronto Hunt are a disaster, two historic courses in Canada that would have been much better served in the long run retaining their history. Ottawa Hunt is definitely a eye-opening study - much like Inverness in Toldeo - on "modernization". Yet, if go to Tom McBroom's website, you can read about how he respected Willie Park, Jr.'s original design and restored the course to Park's original intent. What a joke.

Royal Ottawa has a ton of potential. But, as far as I know, it's Tom Bendelow's work originally. Perhaps Park visited and did some remodeling work later? I'm not sure.

Nonetheless, Cooke's work over past decade or so at Royal Ottawa (I think he's been working with the club that long) is very "modern" in appearance. And far from comprehensive.

I visited a few years ago and was astonished at how much the original green parameters had shrunken in over the years. None of them had been expanded back out to their original margins. Many evergreen trees have been planted as well, and as a result, the course is very, very claustrophobic.
Moreover, a bunch of new bunkers and several new greens contrast greatly with original features.  

It's quite disappointing, 'cause I think Royal Ottawa has tremendous potential to capitalize on its history. It's kind of a Canadian version of Myopia Hunt, Garden City, old Inverness... that vein. If some of those classic features were reinstituted, along with a classic aestheic, Royal Ottawa would become again one of Canada's most unique golf courses, complimenting by one of golf's most attractive, and historic clubhouse overlooking the 18th green.

I fear though, we have another Ottawa Hunt on our hands.

Peter_Herreid:
Perhaps I am not remebering correctly and Jeff Goldman can set us straight, but isn't Olympia Fields North a Willie Park, Jr. design?  

I know it was worked on leading up to last year's Open, but I would think a fair amount of that course is still fairly true to Park's original design.  I'll have to go back and re-read T. Lavin's "My home course" piece...

Peter

kwl:
olympia fields is was a w. park venue.
as you stated, many have been changed. red run was recently revamped/modernized by ray hearn (over the last year and complete?) :o

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