[T_MacWood]

Has anyone been able to figure out (with any certainty) who did what and when at Beverly? Early Chicago architecture has always been a little confusing to me...so many architects running around that region in the early decades and their work does not appear to be very well documented.

[tlavin]

I think that the history is best summarized thusly: The original course was laid out by George O'Neil, the first professional, who then had assistance from Tom Bendelow.  After Bendelow and before the 1931 National Amateur, Chick Evans reportedly did some consulting, but ultimately, the club chose Donald Ross for a complete reworking of the golf course.  In the late '50's Langford tweaked a few holes.  Bob Lohman came in in the '80's and '90's for some bunker work and Ron Prichard did a complete loving restoration a few years back.  If you're interested, I wrote the club history for our new scorecard and I could send you that...

[A_Clay_Man]

Wasn't there also significant changes made due to the routing of either Western avenue or the numbered crosss street?

[tlavin]

87th street now runs through the absolute middle of the golf course.  The front nine is north of the street and the back is south.  Oddly enough, that work (done as a WPA project, methinks) did not alter the routing at all.  It did shorten up the first hole and the ninth hole, but the routing is the same.

[T_MacWood]

When did O'Neil (O'Neil & Bendelow) lay out the original course and when did Ross redesign it? Did Ross incorporate some of the original course into his plan?

O'Neil is one of those little known Chicago architects.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

I think that the history is best summarized thusly: The original course was laid out by George O'Neil, the first professional, who then had assistance from Tom Bendelow.  After Bendelow and before the 1931 National Amateur, Chick Evans reportedly did some consulting, but ultimately, the club chose Donald Ross for a complete reworking of the golf course.  In the late '50's Langford tweaked a few holes.  Bob Lohman came in in the '80's and '90's for some bunker work and Ron Prichard did a complete loving restoration a few years back.  If you're interested, I wrote the club history for our new scorecard and I could send you that...

I would love to read it, if you wouldn't mind?

[michael_j_fay]

My resords show that Mr. Ross designed Beverly in 1907.
He was on site.

[Jim Thompson]

Rick Holland has THE O'Neil scrapbook that he obtained from O'Neil's daughter I believe.  It is magnificent.  It includes O'Neil's columns on great course architecture as well as plans for Beverly.  Perhaps one of the Chi-town posse can get in touch with Rick and get some of the items scanned.  I was able to briefly look over it after the GR golf show and was amazed.  Rick, if you are lurking, I'd be happy to host the e version of the archives for you.

Cheers!

JT

[Jeff Goldman]

In the archives somewhere Paul Richards gives a good timeline of the evolution.  My recollection is that he said that the 1907 Ross visit is incorrect, and that he was actually there much later (somewhere around 1916, give or take a few years?).

[michael_j_fay]

Paul Richards would be the authority.

I believe that Rick is out of the country.

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