We (Dick Daley, Mike McGuire and Dan Moore) are pleased to announce that we have finalized all arrangements for a Golf Club Atlas Architectural Tour of Langford and Moreau in Wisconsin.
William B. Langford and Theodore J. Moreau were the most prolific architects in the Midwest during the first Golden Age of Golf Architecture. They formed their partnership in 1918 just as the post-WWI boom in golf course construction was taking off. According to Cornish and Whitten, over their career they completed more than 60 documented new courses designs and remodeled numerous others. They completed their most revered work at Lawsonia in 1930 just as the depression set in and put an almost complete end to new course construction. Langford was just 42 and Moreau 40. As many architects have improved with time and experience one can only imagine what they would have accomplished had they been able to continue their work over the next 20 years.
Our tour of Langford and Moreau in Wisconsin will give us a look at a fascinating cross section of their 1920's work and how it has evolved over the years. We will start at Spring Valley CC (1927) (originally Our Country Club) in Salem, Wi. Owner Harry Bairstow, a business associate of Langford and Moreau at Mid-City GC in Chicago, mandated that the course be built without sand even though over 65 bunkers can be seen in the original plans. The course went out of commission during WWII only to be brought back to life in the 1950's by the father of the current owner. At Spring Valley we will be joined by Chicago based architect Dave Esler (Black Sheep CC Golfweek Top 100 Modern) who played the course as a teenage golfer before his NCAA career at Ohio State University (4 Big Ten Championships). Dave has worked on Langford Moreau courses in the Chicago area and is very familiar with the Culver Academies course and will provide his insight on Langford/Moreau and Spring Valley.
Spring Valley 7
After Spring Valley we will proceed north into the Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin just 25 minutes north of Erin Hills. At West Bend CC Langford and Moreau designed 18 holes, but only 9 were built in 1930 on some terrific property. Many years later the club expanded to 18 holes but did not use Langford and Moreau’s plans. At West Bend we will play the Langford/Moreau nine and can take a look at what might have been on the back nine. At sunset we will enjoy a traditional Wisconsin Friday night Fish Fry dinner in the Langford Room of the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired clubhouse. There is still a possibility we will be joined by architect Ron Prichard who will discuss his work on a long range plan for the club and his work at Skokie CC where Langford remodeled 12 holes of an original Ross design when new land became available.
West Bend’s 3rd
Lawsonia needs little introduction to GCA participants. Suffice it to say Lawsonia is considered by many to be their crown jewel. Almost lost during WWII when the front nine was used a cow pasture, the course has been improved considerably in recent years under the guidanace of a Ron Forse Master Plan. In 2005 Lawsonia celebrated its 75th anniversary and to honor the occasion received the putter William Langford used throughout his playing days which was donated by his granddaughter. They also received an oil painting of Langford (a similar painting of Seth Raynor by the same artist graces the clubhouse at the Chicago Golf Club) and both items are now displayed in Lawsonia’s Clubhouse. Director of Golf Gary Zimmerman and Mike Berwick will be on hand to discuss the history and ongoing restoration efforts.
Lawsonia’s 6th
Our tour will conclude on Sunday at Ozaukee CC in Mequon, Wi. where we will be joined by architect Ron Forse. Nestled along the Milwaukee River the course may have lost some of its original character over the years but is still known for its undulating greens and is considered one of the best courses in the Milwaukee area along with Colt Alison’s Milwaukee CC and Raynor’s Blue Mound CC. Built in 1922 the course hosted the 1929 Western Open won by Tommy Armour. The course has special significance to the Moreau family as Theodore J. Moreau met his wife while working on the course; she just happened to be the daughter of one of the members who founded the club and hired Langford/Moreau to design and build the course. Moreau’s grandson, Ted Moreau, is a member at Ozaukee and helped make our visit possible. He and his brothers will be joining us for all or part of our tour. We will have a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Theodore Moreau’s role in the Langford/Moreau firm. At Ozaukee Ron Forse will present a slide show on Langford and Moreau and discuss his work at Lawsonia and Ozaukee.
Those of us familiar with Langford Moreau courses are very excited. Those of you who will be seeing their courses for the first time are in for a treat. Please join us.
Here are the details.
Dates: Friday September 7th to Sunday September 9th
Events:
Friday September 7th
8:00am
Spring Valley Country Club
Owners John and Dave Wagner
Presentation on L/M by Chicago Architect Dave Esler (confirmed)
3:00pm
West Bend Country Club (Langford Moreau Nine)
Welcome Mike McGuire (WBCC Green Committee Chair)
Presentation by Architect Ron Prichard (pending) Master Plan WBCC
Fish Fry Dinner in the Langford Room at West Bend CC
Saturday September 8th:
7:10am
Lawsonia Links 36 Holes
Welcome Dick Daley and Dan Moore
Presentation on Lawsonia by Director of Golf Gary Zimmerman and Superintendent Mike Berwick (confirmed)
Dinner J.T. Skewers Host Jeff Pentkewicz former DOG at Lawsonia
Sunday September 9th:
10:30 am
Ozaukee Country Club
Welcome Ted Moreau (grandson of Theodore Moreau)
3:00 pm Slide show Presentation on L/M, Lawsonia and Ozaukee
by Architect Ron Forse (confirmed)
Green Fees: $250 per participant for all three days (4.5 rounds)
Price includes green fees only at Spring Valley, West Bend, Lawsonia and Ozaukee. Cart or caddie fees not included, except at Lawsonia where carts are included in the all day rate. Walking is strongly encouraged. Green Fees Price does not include beverages, meals and overnight accommodations which will be the individual responsibility of each participant.
Reservations:
We have 24 slots available for this event. Reservations will be taken on a first come, first in basis. Initially only GCA members will be able to fill positions. In the event all slots are not taken by August 1st, we will make the remaining slots available to guests of GCA members. If you are unable to participate all 3 days we will attempt to accommodate you while giving priority to full event participants. We have some flexibility to expand or contract the size of the group each day so we anticipate this will not be a problem.
All reservation requests must include a registration form and a check for full green fees. We may not be able to provide a refund unless your slot can be filled.
Accommodations:
We have made arrangements for housing starting as low as $15 per night per person for a no frills cabin to resort rooms starting at $230 a night for a lakeside hotel with many options in between.
To obtain a registration form and information on housing please send a request to me at: troonster@aol.com
Note: I will be away from my computer for most of the weekend but will get to you as soon as I can.