William Bell, jr.

[David Stamm]

Sorry to rip off your idea JK, but your thread about RTJ,jr. inspired me to ask what others here think of the younger Bell. What are your impressions of the Bell,jr courses that you have played? What did you like and dislike? IMHO, it's ironic that jr did not seem to have the artistry that his father possesed, yet his courses are far more well known. I have never been disppoointed with jr's courses per se, although there have been at times a certain sameness to some of his courses. Any thoughts?

[Troy Alderson]

David,

Jr. made a career off his daddy's name.  I was the superintendent at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort in north central Oregon.  He designed the front nine and a local GCA designed the back nine.  Jr's front nine was the better of the two but still lacked any wow factor.  The resort also failed to uphold his original design and did many in house "upgrades".  The back nine is a close copy of the front but the layout was terrible.  In house changes to both nines included par 3 starting holes, not good for moving golfers through.  Good thing the golf course only did 10K-15K rounds per year.  The terrain for the golf course is fantastic if the resort ever does a complete redo, nothing is worth saving.

Troy

[Scott Weersing]

William Francis Bell designs are very playable and not very memorable.

I have played Sandpiper in Santa Barbara where Bell, Jr. had a piece of land right on the ocean but managed only three holes on the coast. The 11th is one of the most photographed. (see Aidan's photograph).

I played Olivas Park Golf Course and it was very boring. Fortunately, Forrest came in and created Olivas Links.

Most of Bell's designs have been torn up and changed. I can't think of any reason to preserve his design style except that it is very playable for  older golfers. I do not think we need to start the William F. Bell Society to preserve his courses and design philosophy.

Here is a list of his designs:

http://www.worldgolf.com/golf-architects/william-f-bell.html

[Sébastien Dhaussy]

David,

Here are 3 GCA threads discussing Billy Bell Jr :

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=20946

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=14683

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=8889

Hope it helps.  

[Wyatt Halliday]

William Francis Bell designs are very playable and not very memorable.

Diddo for Valley Country Club in Aurora, CO.

[Tom Yost]

Here is a list of his designs:

http://www.worldgolf.com/golf-architects/william-f-bell.html

Scott,
I would like to use this site for some research but for the life of me I can't figure out how you generated that list...   ?

Thanks for your help,
Tom

[Steve Lang]

 

here's some more discussion on the jr Bell legacy, i.e.,  from Dad & Mom Bell..

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=27734;start=msg529223#msg529223


Do an advanced search.. simpler keyword is better.. make sure days back is adequate.. be patient..

right click on header of results  click on properties.. copy url..

paste where you want.. it should open original thread from past pages..  

[Forrest Richardson]

Having worked on several Bell (Jr.) courses (remodels, studies and re-builds), I can attest that his "style" was somewhat predictible and formula-driven. But, his routings were solid and — when given a good site — he made good courses.

Even on bad sites, his routings were good or better. In the late 1960s and 1970s, as land became more expensive, I see Bell courses that are well tighter than they should be. This is problematic when we try and create something new out of them — there simply is not room to do a lot except work with hazards. usually, however, Bell (both Sr. and Jr.) left a trademark of triangles in their routings. We find these over and over, often putting them to modern-day use with new greans, shifted holes, etc.

[Scott Weersing]

Here is a list of his designs:

http://www.worldgolf.com/golf-architects/william-f-bell.html

Scott,
I would like to use this site for some research but for the life of me I can't figure out how you generated that list...   ?

Thanks for your help,
Tom

I did not generate the list.  I just found it online. The website often has a good list of which courses are designed by less famous architects.

[Scott Weersing]

Having worked on several Bell (Jr.) courses (remodels, studies and re-builds), I can attest that his "style" was somewhat predictible and formula-driven. But, his routings were solid and — when given a good site — he made good courses.

Even on bad sites, his routings were good or better. In the late 1960s and 1970s, as land became more expensive, I see Bell courses that are well tighter than they should be. This is problematic when we try and create something new out of them — there simply is not room to do a lot except work with hazards. usually, however, Bell (both Sr. and Jr.) left a trademark of triangles in their routings. We find these over and over, often putting them to modern-day use with new greans, shifted holes, etc.

I think you hit it dead solid perfect with, "his routings were solid and — when given a good site". Bell's best courses have good sites.

Bell did not add lots of lakes or move lots of dirt to improve the land he was given. I would say that he was not a visionary architect in that he did not imagine or create great golf holes from nothing.  Maybe that was the case in this time of history.

[Tom Yost]

Here is a list of his designs:

http://www.worldgolf.com/golf-architects/william-f-bell.html

Scott,
I would like to use this site for some research but for the life of me I can't figure out how you generated that list...   ?

Thanks for your help,
Tom

I did not generate the list.  I just found it online. The website often has a good list of which courses are designed by less famous architects.

OK, I figured it out.  One has to first find a course in the course guide, then clicking the architect's name gives a list of courses by that person.

Tom