David,
A little information can be misleading. The golf boom really hit Philadelphia and the members at Merion Cricket Club needed more room to accomodate more golfers. Within 10 years of the start of golf at Merion, the Haskell ball obsoleted a lot of early courses. Merion's course in Haverford was short for its time. Within 15 years of the start of golf at Merion there was a need for a second course with membership continuing to climb to over 1000 members. A third course was being planned.
Wayne, no doubt Merion had very real and practical considerations which prompted the move and the new courses. Nonetheless, these considerations do not explain why Merion departed so drastically from the local style and approach (if they did), or even why Wilson went to GB to study their courses.
What you don't understand is the course you think of today was not the course opened in 1912, nor was it the course modified for the 1916 Amateur, greatly modified for the 1924 Amateur, more for the 1930 Amateur and the last significant change for the 1934 Open. The original East Course was not nearly as radical a departure as you credit it. It was a great improvement but not finished for another 25 years. It wasn't until Wilson and Flynn began collaborating that it began to resemble what you think of today. It took about 10 years after it opened that it began to take familiar form.
While I dont at all know the specifics, think I do understand that the course has evolved significantly over the years. Nonetheless, I am not convinced that the original Ardmore Ave. Merion shared much in common with the previous courses in the area. Maybe it did, but I havent seen or read convincing evidence that this was the case.
I look forward to seeing such evidence, if it ever comes to light. Until then, what I keep going back to in my mind is just how different these older courses were, not just in the shape or look of the hazard, green, or tee, but in their entire approach to golf and golf architecture. Because these courses were wiped off the map, I think it is easy for us to overlook just how much golf design changed during this time period.
Frankly, too many people seem to be taking a lot of stabs in the dark. It will be beneficial to all when the full facts are disseminated.
Sorry you feel this way. I posted the excerpt not as a "stab in the dark" but as another step in the direction of the "full facts." If you feel differently, feel free to disregard it.
TEPaul said:
When it came to good inland golf architecture it had to start somewhere.
Yep. And in America it appears to have started with a rejection of about 15 years of professional architecture, and a return to the links and to the heathland courses inspired by the links.