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Chicago Aerial: Twin Orchards Langford

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T_MacWood:
It looks a lot like William Langford (at least part of it) to me.

Twin Orchard?

Dan Moore:
Located at the intersection of Wolf Road and Bryn Mawr, approximately 7 miles as the plane lands due east of Medinah, Twin Orchard Country Club was condemned in 1947 to make way for O'Hare Field (ORD), the world's busiest airport.  Twin Orchard relocated to Long Grove where it developed the two 18 hole courses that Dave Esler refers to.  

Welcome Dave.  Love to see you participate more!!!

The other aspect, in addition to those cited by Dave, that clinched it for me were the large, generally round greens which are very characteristic of Langford and Moreau.  

This course looks very interesting.  The routing makes good use of the creek and small lake.  For example, look at the two holes on the western side.  On the upper image the top hole on the west see look at how the green is aligned to the angle of attack, very cool.  And on the bottom left see what looks like a double dogleg par 5.  The other thing I notice that seems unique for Langford is the size of some of the bunkers, much larger than what I've seen on other aerials from this time period.  

T_MacWood:
Twin Orchards was a very long course when it was built in 1924 (6400 yards). It went from private course to public course back to private course before closing and relocating. One of the few Jewish clubs that did not protect their original design.

Dan Moore:
Tom,

What are you implying?  The north end of the course does look different than the south.  

Regarding Dave's comments about Langford being underated, its interesting that three of the holes on Shackelford's Dream 18 on courses atrributed to other architects were actually holes Langford played a role in designing.  Skokie, Glen Oak and the 12th at Medinah.  If you look at the 1939 aerial of Medinah, the 12th was a dead straight hole.  Jeff Brauer pointed out that Tim Cronin's Medinah history credits Langford with a redo of the 12th hole in 1957 by moving the green to the right and bringing the pond into the picture.  

Tim_Cronin:
Nice call, Dave. I'm told that the course is essentially where the American Airlines terminal (No. 2? I can't remember) is at O'Hare. Next to the golf course was a small airport called Douglas Field, where Douglas Aircraft had a plant. It was expanded during World War II and eventually renamed Orchard Field, after the course and the hamlet at Higgins and Mannheim (where Rosemont is now). Which, of course, explains the ORD.
To top it off, Ridgemoor, a few miles due east of O'Hare's southern east-west runway, was given the Langford and Moreau treatment in their heyday.
I have seen reference on a map, but have not confirmed, that the Twin Orchard had 27 holes at one time. Any ideas on that?

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