If you have to misrepresent my point make yours, then what’s the point?
I did not say that Macdonald routed the course exactly as it was ultimately built. I readily acknowledge Francis’ contribution. Also, some of Barker’s routing may have survived. And the construction committee and/or M&W could have changed things later. But reading Francis, it sure sounds like the routing plan was set at the end of the conversation.
As for your logic here, you original said that Macdonald must have routed the course on only 75 acres, so you are heading in the right direction, but still your logic does not follow.
When M&W inspected the property, Barker had already done a routing on around 100 acres. Based on M&W’s views on what could be done with the land, the Committee recommended the purchase “nearly 120 acres, which included the clubhouse and outbuildings, which you ” Of this, the Dallas Estate was 21 acres, and the RR land was another nearly 3 acres. Subtracting out this nearly 24 acres from the “nearly 120” we are left with only 96 acres from the HDC, right around the amount HDC had offered.
The 3 acres between the creek and the water that was used for the old 13th hole and 12th hole approach/green are off limits. That land was owned by the Railroad, and even if Merion got access rights to use it, Macdonald could not have recommended that for purchase from the Development company for his 120 acres.
Honestly Mike, I cant figure out whether you are being disingenuous or if you just can’t follow the reasoning. My theory is that M&W did not limit their inspection and advice to the HDC property. In this regard, the RR property and Dallas Estate are on equal footing.
As for the placement of the 15th green and 16th tee, that was done by Francis and Lloyd and I have no reason to believe that Barker or M&W had anything to do with this change. One can see that it would have been very difficult to lay out five good holes on the remaining property, but this is why Francis and Lloyd altered the plan.
David tells us that Charley Macdonald was able to put a 6235 yard championship course on the property I described, and recommended that Merion spend the big bucks because of this amazing routing he'd put together.
I’d ask you to point me toward where I said this, but of course we both know I never did. You just made it up to try to make a point that you cannot otherwise make.
But if you can’t write something negative about my
real position then maybe you should consider not writing anything at all.
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Phillip, I am in partial agreement with you, and think that your own example helps make my point. Tillinghast wrote:
“After a careful examination and analysis of the new property, I agree to lay out two (2) courses, each of eighteen (18) holes. These are to be staked on the ground and after the various points had been located by your surveyor, I am to prepare a completely detailed working plan . . . .”I agree, staking out the course “on the ground” is the same as laying a course out on the ground.
However, laying out a golf course is not always the same as planning a golf course. Tillinghast laid the course out on the ground while he was planning it, but others created written plans first, then later staked out (or laid out) the course.
For instance, what if Ross had wanted the same job, but instead of staking out the land, he inspected the land then sketched his routing on a map and sent it in, calling it his proposed lay out? Had Ross just laid out the course by creating a written plan? Or had he merely offered his plan for the proposed layout? I think the latter, because
he had not yet set, staked, or laid the course out upon the ground.An architect can draw up 50 different routing plans without ever seeing the property, but until someone actually lays the course out upon the ground, no one has “laid out” the golf course.
Merion was different than your Tillinghast example, because, while Wilson laid the course out upon the ground, he was not the one who had planned where the holes should be laid out.