I have for some time been fascinated by the Sayers family connection to Philadelphia golf. As I read it, the timeline goes something like this:
1902: Ben Sayers Sr. is personal golf instructor to visiting Philadelphia socialite Frances Griscom, in North Berwick, Scotland.
1906: Ben Sayers Sr. is golf instructor for both Frances Griscom and her brother Rodman, again in North Berwick.
1910: Merion Golf Club (whose movers and shakers included Rodman Griscom) tasks Hugh Wilson to be Chairman of the Construction Committee and to lay out their new golf course on Ardmore Avenue.
1911: Rodman and Frances Griscom again visit North Berwick and again are instructed by Ben Sayers Sr. in the arts of golf
1911: The new Merion (East) golf course is constructed
1912: Hugh Wilson visits the UK to study the great golf courses
1913: GAP asks Wilson, Griscom, George Crump, Ab Smith, etc. to find a site for a new public golf course in Philadelphia
1913: George Sayers (son of Ben Sr.) sails to the USA in May to become the professional at Merion GC
1914: GAP approves the Cobb’s Creek site for the new golf course
1914: Ben Sayers Sr. sails to USA in April to visit son George in Philadelphia. Spends 5 weeks there.
1915: Ben Sayers Sr. Sails again to the USA to visit Son George and play in the US Open at Baltusrol June 17-18 and deal with “business interests.” (George beats Dad, age 58, by one shot; Dad beats players such as Frances Ouimet and Macdonald Smith). No record as to when Ben Sayers returned to Scotland.
1916: Cobb’s Creek opens. Ben Sayers Sr. is prominent at opening and described as professional/instructor at the course.
1916-1977
--Wilson et. al. make continuous and significant improvements to the East course
--Merion plays host to US Amateur in 1916, 1924 and 1930 and US Open in 1934. Cobb’s Creek plays host to US Public Links in 1928.
--Ben Sayers Sr. Dies in 1924
--George Sayers leaves Merion in 1950
--George Sayers dies in 1977 (age 90)
Logical inferences I take from this timeline include:
1. It is highly likely that Wilson's trip to the UK in 1912 was influenced by Griscom and probably included a visit of significant length to North Berwick and the Sayers family.
2. The appointment of George Sayers as Pro at Merion was probably based on Griscom and Wilson's recommendations.
3. Due to George's background it is highly probable that he influenced Wilson both on the subsequent re-designs of Merion East (e.g. the mercy killing of the abominable "Alps" hole) and on the design of Cobb's Creek.
4. Given the time spent by George's father (Ben Sr.) in Philadelphia in 1914-1916, it is reasonable to assume that his advice on Cobb's Creek (and Merion) would have been sought and given. That he played such a big part in the opening of Cobb's Creek supports this judgement.
Any thoughts?
Rich
PS--thanks to Pete Trenham for his web page
http://trenhamgolfhistory.org/PTHGAboutTrenham.html which includes a very accessible copy of Mike C's and Joe B's fine work on the history of CC GC.
rfg