Geoffry
1928 Publinks - wow. If No.5 was a Par 4 then the tee position is less of a challange - it could be in the same position as today's back tee (and both now and then an awesome hole). To tell you the truth when Geoff and I walked up near the 17th green to see if we could imagine a tee up there - to me it was unpleasing to the eyes. No choice but to layup short of the bridge. A Par 4 425 yard hole from the current back tee (that gets used today about once a year) is so much more strategic.
Now imagine the 5th tee as above, and the position of the 4th green (as an island green) makes more sense in that it is out of harms way and a short walk from 4th green to 5th tee.
The only thing thats bugging me is that I am just not seeing the 4th tee in the aerial pic. in the spot we all hope it is. What a great trio of holes that would have been - the short Par 4 3rd hole with the approach to a small green with old man Cobb's arm wrapped around her right waist; an island green 4th and a monster Par 4 with Mr. Cobb splitting the fairway.
Bill,
I understand what you're saying about not seeing the #4 tee, but I wanted to ask if anyone else can see the tree right in front of today's teeing area?
Also, on another aerial I have from the City Line Avenue angle, one can see a corridor over, there, but it's not definitive until we get that one blown up.
As far as #4, I think there are a number of possibilities;
1) The hole played exactly as it does today (I don't think so, because that island looks like a green to me and that tree I'm seeing in front of today's tee would have been right in the way)
2) The green was on the island the the tee was on the other side of the creek, towards the railtracks and the service road (I think this is still likely)
3) The green was on the island and the tee was up on the hill (behind the present tee) by the rocks where we looked the other day (I think this is less likely because I couldn't find an appropriate "flat spot" up there that would have served as the tee, unless the whole thing washed away).
But, don't worry...we'll find the answer. I think I saw Joe Bausch wearing fatigues and with a ski mask over his face patrolling that City/Delaware county line. Reports also indicated he had something that looked like a chainsaw.