CC of Lansing (Langford) michigan

[mark chalfant]

Is anyone familiar with this early W Langford  course. Are some of Langfords bold features still remaining ? Hows the routing/terrain or any wild greens?  thanks

[Peter Pratt]

Mark,

CCL is in the town where I now live. I've played it 15-20 times. While I can't speak to how much it has been changed since the original design, I can say that it has some very wild greens. The short par-3 8th is a wonder, one of the very best greens I've ever 4-putted. The fall-away green on the rolling par-4 13th is great, too.

[Scott Stearns]

grew up across town from that course.  the short par three was, at that time, 93 yards from the back cut of the back tee.  green was very difficult as it had lots of undulation and was elevated.  over was X.  lots of fun.  Rest of the course wasn't terribly memorable.  it was at the time the third best course in town, behind the university course and the other private course, a bruce matthews redesign.

board went back and forth over an internal out of bounds on one hole, as the hole had an Inverness problem--was easier to play down the adjacent fairway than play the hole as designed.

[Bruce_Matthews]

Started as 6 hole course laid out on 25 acres.  Designed by F.W. Hodges, Detroit Golf Club Professional in 1908.  Dues to Lansing Country Club were $15.00/year.  In 1913, 3 more holes were added, name was changed to Riverside Country Club.

The original contract was signed by Moreau, designated as Landscape Architect and Langford, as Golf Course Architect.  The fee was broken down to $3500.00 for design, $3000.00 for observation of construction based on a $65,000.00 construction budget.  The original design included 98 lots.

The name was changed to Country Club of Lansing in 1920 when the 18 hole course opened at a cost of $75,000.00.  The golf course was overseen by Mr. Alex Taylor, a Scotsman who previously worked at Ravisloe & Exmoore, Chicago and Losantiville C.C., Cincinnati.

[Bruce_Matthews]

Ron Whitten was kind enough to forward a copy of the original plan awhile back.  The present routing is the original.  There are 15 original greens, some with dramatic contouring. #10 green was remodeled by Larry Packard in the early '70's.  #8 and #10 green were remodeled by Newcomb in the 1970's.  #15 green was remodeled, date unknown.  Original bunkers were filled in, yet the bold banks are still there, some with trees growing in them.  Bunkers were remodeled many times over the years.  I visited Texarkana C.C. a year ago and the old bunkers look very similar.  The golf course has been lengthened as Langord had the foresight to leave room.  

[Dan Moore]

Bruce,

Are the filled in bunkers mainly fairway bunkers or are some greenside?  Can you tell from the plan if any of these were originally intended as grass bunkers rather than sand bunkers that have been grassed in?  

I see on their web page they have a Growing Gift Tree Fund, supported by the membership, which has provided over 250 trees which have been planted around the course.  

[Brian Cenci]

I live in East Lansing.  Never played this course but from what I have heard, just like others stated here, the greens make the course.