November 30, 1924 review of Aronimink by J.E. Ford (North American)

[Joe Bausch]

I now have in my possession good quality scans of the entire series of golf course reviews from late 1924-early 1925 by J.E. Ford of the newspaper called the North American.  Some of these I've posted before, but most I have not.

The first in the series is Aronimink, a club with a fascinating history.  Before it moved to its current location in Newtown Square, PA (and, future site of Tiger's tourney in 2010 and 2011), the previous location was near Drexel Hill, PA (closer to the city of Philadelphia).  You'll read that many architects were involved in the evolution of the Drexel Hill layout, including such biggies as Tillinghast, Ross, and Findlay.

As you read the article below, you might want to compare and contrast it to an early history of Arominink written by now deceased member Fred Byrod, who wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer for over forty years.  His article, on the Aronimink home page, is available here:

https://aronimink.memberstatements.com/tour/tours.cfm?tourid=4597

[Mike_Cirba]

Really awesome article, Joe, and interesting indeed is how George Klauder is pretty much cited as the architect of record, with Tillinghast consulting.

[Joe Bausch]

Really awesome article, Joe, and interesting indeed is how George Klauder is pretty much cited as the architect of record, with Tillinghast consulting.

I'm certain our good friend Phil Young will (vehemently?) disagree!  Phil, where are you?!

I also find it interesting that Findlay is mentioned as being in the mix for the Drexel Hill iteration of 'Mink.  I wonder if ole Alex was involved with any other courses around the Philly area that have not been mentioned previously.

Joe

[Mike_Cirba]

Joe,

It makes perfect sense.

Round 1912 Tilly was much too busy writing as Far and Sure and a host of other pen names to have designed the original 'mink, while George Klauder was obviously fated to using his experiences there as sort of a proving ground for his later work with Wilson, Crump, Smith, et.al. At Cobbs Creek.

[Phil_the_Author]

Hi Guys,

As usual, you have once again displayed an uncanny inability to read!

The article NEVER states that Klauder either designed or laid out the course. Read it again, it states "George Klauder was particularly painstaking in his efforts to give his club a course of lasting quality. An architect of courses, with a thorough knowledge of soils and grasses, he gave up for two years his own play that Aronimink might have a championship course."

WHERE in that does it state that Klauder either DESIGNED or LAID OUT the course?

If he didn't, then what did Ford mean by what he wrote? The answer is found TEN (10) years earlier in the February 1914 issue of the American Golfer. There, it states, "Mr. George C. Klauder and Mr. Cecil B. Calvert have HEADED THE CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE [capitals mine for you weak-eyed ones  ] and the very favorable condition of the new links must be attributed to their zeal. The COURSE WAS LAID OUT BY MR. A.W. TILLINGHAST... {once again my capitals!]

Note that Ford's article highlighted Klauder's expertise in "soils and grasses" and so it was only natural that he spent two years overseeing the construction of TILLY's design and planting and growing in of the turf.

[Joe Bausch]

Hi Guys,

As usual, you have once again displayed an uncanny inability to read!

The article NEVER states that Klauder either designed or laid out the course. Read it again, it states "George Klauder was particularly painstaking in his efforts to give his club a course of lasting quality. An architect of courses, with a thorough knowledge of soils and grasses, he gave up for two years his own play that Aronimink might have a championship course."

WHERE in that does it state that Klauder either DESIGNED or LAID OUT the course?

If he didn't, then what did Ford mean by what he wrote? The answer is found TEN (10) years earlier in the February 1914 issue of the American Golfer. There, it states, "Mr. George C. Klauder and Mr. Cecil B. Calvert have HEADED THE CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE [capitals mine for you weak-eyed ones  ] and the very favorable condition of the new links must be attributed to their zeal. The COURSE WAS LAID OUT BY MR. A.W. TILLINGHAST... {once again my capitals!]

Note that Ford's article highlighted Klauder's expertise in "soils and grasses" and so it was only natural that he spent two years overseeing the construction of TILLY's design and planting and growing in of the turf.

I just knew you would come through for me Phil. 

[Mike_Cirba]

Phil,

Who wrote the American Golfer article?  Couldn't it be interpreted as Tillinghast trying to take more credit than due to help publicize his budding architectural endeavors??

Was Tillinghast alive when Ford credited Klauder and stated that Tillinghast was "consulted" and "advised" on the design??

Why didn't Tillinghast object and set the record straight??

No matter which of the men designed the course, why do you think Donald Ross was brought back in 1916 to do bunkering and then again after World War I to make wholesale changes including 5 new greens??

Sorry Phil...I think I'm channeling Patrick Mucci!    

[Phil_the_Author]

Mike,

Nice try!

Who wrote the American Golfer article?  Couldn't it be interpreted as Tillinghast trying to take more credit than due to help publicize his budding architectural endeavors??  Answer... Tilly did. No, it could and should not be interpreted either that or any way other than what Tilly wrote and what Ford wrote. They are in agreement.

Was Tillinghast alive when Ford credited Klauder and stated that Tillinghast was "consulted" and "advised" on the design?? Answer... Yes, he was. Tilly died in May of 1942.

Why didn't Tillinghast object and set the record straight?? Answer... There was nothing tio object to. Ford was correct. Tilly advised and gave them the design and laid the course out. Klauder (& others remember) built it. In the building of it Taylor and another one or two gave their opinions on additional details. By the way, in his his 1925 advertising brochure in which he listed the majority of all the work he had done to that point (if you're good I'll send you a copy  ) In it he lists Aronimink as one of the 39 original designed 18-hole courses to date. He also had 9 nine-holers, 4 27-holers, 4 36-holers, 36 "reconstructions and extensions", 6 "Lilliputt Links", 24 "examinations and numerous other listed site visits.

No matter which of the men designed the course, why do you think Donald Ross was brought back in 1916 to do bunkering and then again after World War I to make wholesale changes including 5 new greens?? Answer... I don't know. Question, why was Tilly brought in to design the Colonial Golf Club in Atlanta just three weeks after the job was awarded to Donald Ross and two weeks before they broke ground? These types of things happened back then as they also do now.

Sorry Phil...I think I'm channeling Patrick Mucci! Answer... Don't insult Patrick! Now maybe if you had said Tom Paul...   

[TEPaul]

"Sorry Phil...I think I'm channeling Patrick Mucci! Answer... Don't insult Patrick! Now maybe if you had said Tom Paul..."


Thanks Phil....after I get finished laughing at the preposterousness of the trivialities of the posts on here of some of you people about your parsing of historical events and people....I'll remember that!      

[Phil_the_Author]

Mike,

By the way, check your email. I just sent you a scanned page from Tilly's 1917 brochure "Planning the Golf Course" in which he displayed one of his hole sketches for Aronimink. As I am inept in posting poictures, please feel very free to do so. 

p.s. - A copy of that brochure just sold for $14,400...

[Mike_Cirba]

Hahaha...I figured we could draw Phil Young out on this!   

I wonder if he'd at least be willing to give poor Mr. Klauder some co-design credit since the poor chap gave up two years of his life and golf to build this stinking course that the at that time novice Tillinghast sketched? 

Seriously though...Phil Young just sent me some amazing stuff including this very rare Tillinghast drawing of one of the original holes at Aronimink.   Enjoy!

[TEPaul]

It is interesting to me that R. Beale (a noted agronomist) predicted that hole would either be a real folly or a real success. That kind of description seemed to be fairly common back then. It's actually the same thing Macdonald said about Pine Valley when he saw it in the making! 

But I'll tell you one thing that truly is an enduring pain-in-the-ass-----eg threads and posts that are as wide as this one is!