Pine Meadow originally by Flynn?

[Jeff Goldman]

The website for Pine Meadow Golf Club, loved by all and Shivas, states:

"St. Mary of the Lake Seminary began in 1921 on land donated by the Edward Hines Lumber Company, and the first class was ordained in 1927. The original course was nine holes on 80 acres laid out by Cardinal Mundelein and went to 18 holes in 1929 because the Cardinal's doctor told him he had to walk.....

"The 18-hole course was designed by William Flynn of Toomey and Flynn of Philadelphia. Flynn also did the Mill Road Farm Course and the Glen View Club. Joe and Frank Jemsek leased it from the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1985 and had Joe Lee, Rocky Roquemore and Joe T. Jemsek remodel it. Several million dollars later it opened to the public as Pine Meadow Golf Club, and in 1986 was named the Best New Public Course by Golf Magazine and has since been recognized with various awards."

Is this true???  Did Rocky and JoeWinkle wipe out a Flynn?  Wayne? Tom Paul?

Jeff Goldman

[Jonathan Cummings]

Jeff - when I played PM years ago it seemed brand new.  There was a gc there before??

[Jeff Goldman]

Jon,

It was an old 18 holer that the Jemseks bought (that I knew).  According to the stuff from the website I printed out in my post, it was designed by Flynn (that I didn't know).

Jeff

[wsmorrison]

This is the first time I've heard the name Pine Meadow let alone associated with Flynn.  This, of course, would be a fascinating find if true.  Where was that quote that connected the course to Flynn?  Can anyone research the local newspapers around the course's opening to see if there is any attribution?

Stop the presses!  We may have a story here.  I'll try and find out what I can.  In the meantime, Flynn worked at Glen View Club in 1922 and at Mill Road Farm in 1926.  Could he have gone back in 1929?  He was working at Boca Raton (North and South) Springhaven, Woodcrest and a bit at Pine Valley.

[Tom_Doak]

Wayne:  Ron Whitten would know whether the original Pine Meadow course was Flynn or not.  The redesigned course won the GOLF DIGEST Best New award in 1986, and I am sure that the article mentioned the previous course on the ground ... I think they kept a good portion of the routing the same, so the holes could be played through corridors of mature trees.

[TEPaul]

"Wayne:  Ron Whitten would know whether the original Pine Meadow course was Flynn or not."

TomD:

How would Ron Whitten know more about whether or not Pine Meadow was designed by Flynn than the club knows---or think they know?

[wsmorrison]

Tom D,

Thanks, it couldn't hurt to give him and the club a call.  Maybe there's something in their archives--if they have one.  Are you familiar with the course?

Tom P,

Have you ever heard of this course?  It is in Mundelein, IL.  Cornish and Whitten only mention Joe Lee and Rocky Roquemore.

[SL_Solow]

I seem to remember that around the time Pine Meadow opened, the CDGA magazine published an article attributing the original course to Flynn.  I think the Jemsek family has some data.  They would be the source as there is no "club" per se.  Wayne, Frank Jemsek is  a real gentleman and is likely to be responsive to an appropriate inquiry.

[A_Clay_Man]

Dave, I'm having trouble remembering the start of the backnine. I remember the ninth green and then somewhere soon came a great par 4 w/ water in front of the tee, slight dog left up the hill. That area seemed like it had the most character on prop., Where is that now? 13 14?

[wsmorrison]

Shivas and I spoke earlier today.  With his efforts along with Shelly and Mike I am certain we'll get to the bottom of it.  Interestingly, Mill Road Farm was just a few miles away.  Maybe the Cardinal played there a few times, heard the name Flynn and thought a nice Irish-Catholic lad would be perfect to design the Archdiocese golf course.  Makes sense to Shivas and I--maybe its even true!

I was told that contacting Frank Jemsek would likely yield a favorable reply.  I heard you know him, perhaps you wouldn't mind speaking to him on our behalf.  Anything you can do to help unravel the mystery of this lost Flynn would be very much appreciated.

[TEPaul]

The thing that makes me wonder about that course and Flynn is there's nothing from it in the box and just about everything he did had drawings in that box,it seems. The few courses that didn't have drawings in that box we know a bit about who may've taken the drawings out and at least one that wasn't in now may not be a Flynn course unless the club has something we don't know about. But if Pine Meadow turns out to be a Flynn course that'll be interesting. Flynn's daughter said Flynn's secretary who was with him forever had all Toomey and Flynn's business records and apparently they didn't survive his death or hers.

[T_MacWood]

As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface.

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