I've just changed the heading to this thread to reflect some new findings.
In Hugh Wilson's 1916 letter, he claims to have only complete novice knowledge of golf course construction and design "of the average club member" at the time he was put in Chair of the Merion Committee in 1911.
On the various Merion threads, I felt that he simply said this due to his humble, unassuming nature, and it turns out that was correct.
I've just spent some time going through Wilson's competitive record at Princeton, where he was between 1898 and 1902. During his career he played at;
Myopia Hunt
Garden City
Chicago
Lakewood
Baltusrol
St. Andrews
Essex County
Philadelphia Cricket
Philadelphia Country Club
Richmond County
Morris County
Midlothian
Exmoor
Atlantic City
Ardsley
Misquamicut
That playing experience alone would have put his knowledge far, far, FAR beyond the average club member, even if he didn't play another single course for the next decade until 1911, which we know he did.
However, where he was really fibbing us was in this latest bit;
As mentioned, Wilson went to Princeton in 1898 and played golf through all four years.
In 1898, it was reported that the University was looking at land to build a new course, one which they hoped would be 18 holes. Later that year land was aquired, and work began on the course.
I've seen accounts of this first course that suggest it was designed by Willie Dunn, and I came across an account today that suggested that it was done by one James Swan.
In either case, work was slow, and funding was scarce but nine holes of the course opened by 1901.
On March 16th, 1901, the Trenton Times reported that,
"The governors are making every effort to have the course open by June 1st. A professional has been engaged to take charge of the new course and will arrive here in a few days. The work will be pushed as rapidly as the funds will permit."
"H.I. Wilson, (class of) 1902, was elected a member of the greens committee."