Thanks Niall,
To add some more detail, I have been doing some deeper digging:
We'll just have to take the Good Doctor's word for his early visit.
I am pleased to confirm that I have found a reference to his inspecting the site.
But unfortunately, I cannot date that visit, nor confirm that he was first on site, nor if the report he made was solicited or unsolicited.
Ref: 28 May 1919 – The Perthshire Advertiser (on the occasion of the soft, no fanfare opening of Gleneagles – as the Hotel was not completed until 1924) wrote:
“…And the following excerpt from the report of Dr. Mackenzie of Leeds, the well-known architect: -
“In conclusion I am strongly of the opinion that in the magnificence of the surroundings, the bracing character of the air, the boldness and infinite variety of the golf, and the undulating character of the ground, with the total absence of steep hills, Gleneagles will be absolutely unrivalled among inland links.”
I concur that Colt's recommendation of CKH was more likely relating to the GM position, given his own great standing in that role at Sunningdale, which he resigned in 1913 (reasons below)
I have not found that the job was considered for anyone else but James Braid, but await to hear if Adam has unearthed anything from his research from his upcoming Colt Book. Colt certainly will have known CKH from their Amateur exploits.
Why did Colt step down at Sunningdale in 1913?
Simply, his architectural career was blossoming, and this initial period was an incredibly busy time for Colt including UK work at; Blackmoor, Copt Heath, Handsworth, St George’s Hill, Woodhall Spa, Royal Porthcawl, Beaconsfield, Betchworth Park, Camberley Heath, Manchester, & Oxley Park.
This was also when Colt’s international business, introduced by Carters’ Office in North America was taking off. Resulting in a period of extensive international travel for Colt including notable as projects such as:
Golf de St Cloud (France).
The Royal Montreal, Bowness (NLE) & Hamilton (Canada).
Old Elm, Bloomfield Hills, Pine Valley, & Detroit CC (USA)
Ironically, Carters’ UK operation were hired to construct the two courses at Gleneagles.
But, listening to Adam on the excellent “Firm & Fast” Podcast it seems in the UK Colt was retained by Suttons Seeds, and not Carters.
So, Colt will have known he wasn’t going to be available for such a large-scale project, even if he was approached.
John Moreton read a lot of the original early Gleneagles Hotel documentation for his book “James Braid and his 400 Golf Courses” and he describes CKH as being “Construction Supervisor” which is consistent to your hunch.
I have found numerous press reports over the years 1914-1922 that all cite Braid as the lead on the project, even explicitly as the “Architect in Chief” and then in several reports secondly “in association with Captain C K Hutchison”.
Braid’s first visit was on 4th/5th Dec 1913 from his meticulous ledgers (Ref. George Payne’s “Divine Fury of James Braid”). Braid & CKH’s first joint visit was 29th December 1913 (according to John Moreton)
Braid made 9x return train trips up there prior to Oct 1914 (mostly by the overnight Sleeper, as noted in his ledgers this was a £1 fare!)
Braid received a payment of £100 in May 1915 and another of £59-18-6 in August 1917.
Interestingly I can find no record of CKH’s involvement in any press reports pre-WWI, which is odd given his notable amateur exploits. (He represented Scotland in nine consecutive annual matches against England from 1904 to 1912. During that time, he also reached the final of the Amateur Championship while a member of Tantallon Golf Club in North Berwick, losing to Robert Maxwell by a single hole at Muirfield in 1909).
In fact, I can find only two reports that even possibly suggest CKH at the same level of input as Braid in relation to the Gleneagles project.
The first of these was in the “Evening Post” on 17 May 1920 – when Abe Mitchell is quoted in anticipation of his first ever visit to Gleneagles as follows: “It represents the work of Captain C K Hutchison and James Braid, and though they had wonderful natural golfing country to deal with I am told that they have done their work with great credit”
This seems to be the only press reference I can find with CKH listed first.
Perhaps this was; traditional class distinction by the editor as Amateurs (Gentlemen) were considered above Professionals (Players/Tradesmen), or a puff piece fed by CKH in launching his own golf architecture career and if so could he have been the person who told Mitchell about the works quality and his role in it, or perhaps did Mitchell himself have an axe to grind?
The second, was of course The Good Doctor’s in “Spirit of St Andrews”, so perhaps the Mitchell quote, or merely Dr. Mackenzie's competitive pique, was the source of that published misconception?
In terms of the extension of The Queen’s to 18, this decision was made in late 1919.
Braid did this for an additional fee of £19-0-0 plus £2-5-0 expenses.
One of the original King’s Course holes (“Muir Tap” the 11th) was transferred to the Queen’s Course (as the new 11th) and eight brand new holes were created, predominantly on an extended parcel of land at the West corner or “neuk” of the site.
It was not just an addition of these 9 holes, as Braid added a considerable number of new bunkers to the original 9 holes (originally 34 bunkers over 9-holes, became 117 bunkers over 18-holes)
The length was enhanced too from 2505yds for 9, to 5810yds for 18.
Also, there were two new short holes built (11th “Deil’s Creel” & 16th the new “Wee Bogle” replacing the lost one that was originally the 12th) for the King’s Course in its re-routing at that time.
I have reviewed maps of both the 1920 routings (pre-changes being complete) and the 1926 routings (post changes)
I can confirm that you are correct that the original first four holes (on the 9-hole Queen’s Course) connected to the original last five holes as you guessed. i.e. Holes 1-4 then 14-18 today, are in fact the original 9-Holes and routing (but with more bunkers).(Note: The 3rd Hole on Queen’s was changed in name only from “Heather Bell” to “Gushet Rig”)
The original 9-hole Queen’s course was intended as a Ladies’ Course, but it was used during the qualification in the £1000 Press Association (and later Glasgow Herald) Tournaments in both 1920 & 1921. The professionals found it a handful at times especially if the wind blew.
Daily Telegraph 9 Jun 1921 - “(Arthur) Havers created a record for the Queen’s course - a box of tricks, as some disappointed golfers have described it - by going round in 31.”
N.B. - J.H. Taylor scored 41 as the highest score that same day, and 3 others including Gordon Lockhart (The Gleneagles Professional) scored 40. Proving that the 9-holer at only c.2500yds was no push over.
Sunday Dispatch 12 Jun 1921 - George Duncan wrote - “I do not think I have played over a more picturesque course than the Queen’s, which was brought into use for the purpose of the qualifying competition, but it is alarmingly narrow and, in some respects, tricky. You may be only a few yards off line and yet be in hopeless trouble.”
8 Apr 1922 Perthshire Advertiser - re. Glasgow Herald 1000 Guineas Tournament - noted that “the Queen’s Course is at present being extended to 18 holes.”
What about CKH during and post WWI (as he is not mentioned regarding the later Queen’s extension to 18, in any press reports I have found so far)?
In December 1914 Captain Hutchison was in action at Givenchy (France).
The following month the trenches were over-run and he was taken as a Prisoner of War.
He was held in Germany in various camps until November 1917 when he was transferred to Switzerland and returned home at the end of 1918.
He resigned his commission on 12 June 1920 and was granted the honorary rank of Major (hence the change of title).
The Perthshire Advertiser (18 May 1921) - CKH was cited as visiting Pitlochry GC “a week ago” to produce a detailed report on some fairly extensive course improvements.
He was credited with designing Tadmarton Heath and Kington during the early 1920s before joining up with S.V. Hotchkin and Guy Campbell – a family friend who had assisted him in the reconstruction of Wimereux in France – to form the Links and Courses company in 1926, taking on projects in the south of England at Ashridge, Leeds Castle and West Sussex. The design practice didn’t last long, however, and after a few years Hutchison was back out on his own, renovating courses such as Harewood Downs (1938) and the Ailsa at Turnberry (1939, notably with Braid who he paid directly for his input) before the start of the Second World War.
In 1936 he also made proposals at Sheringham (which Braid had remodelled c. 1904) which were completed as shown on a Course Plan dated in 1952.
Sadly, he died in a private nursing home at Horsell in Woking, Surrey on 25 March 1941, at the age of 64.
RIP (Seems apt to post this and celebrate CKH's service, involvement, and subsequent career today, Remembrance Sunday)
Cheers