[Mike_Cirba]

Thanks to Matt Davenport for letting us know about this incredible software.   Unfortunately, it seems that large sections of the country aren't well represented, but Philly, NJ, NY Metro, Mass, and CA seem to have some great stuff.

If you click on the years on the right, you can see the exact same shot.

A couple of surprises to look for;

The double-fairway on 17 is still very evident in the late 50s and there is even evidence of it in 1970.

There were no trees out to the ridgeline on the left side of 12 for a very long time..

Other fun stuff in there, as well.

Check out the feature to compare two different years...INCREDIBLE!

Also, I have it coming up with the year 1940, but play around and enjoy!

http://www.historicaerials.com/default.aspx?poi=3850

[Scott_Burroughs]

Good stuff, Mike!

Riviera's alternate 8th fairway was gone as far back as 1952, the oldest aerial available in L.A.

This website might put Craig Disher out of business, depending on the coverage!

I never read any of the heated Merion threads, but can any of the issues argued about be resolved with this?

[PCCraig]

Mike-

Woah this site is really cool!

Even looking at the muni down the street for me you can see all the bunkering changes, and all the greens that are still there.

Thanks for sharing.

[SPDB]

I think the coolest feature is utilized the "compare two years" where you can click and drag the button at the top center of the photograph. It will feature side by side photos from years of your choice.  You can then drag the "Comparison Tool" from side to side to reveal one picture or the other - this to me is the real value added tool.

[TEPaul]

"I never read any of the heated Merion threads, but can any of the issues argued about be resolved with this?"


ScottB:

This is an amazing tool but it couldn't possibly shed any light on those Merion threads because the issue on those threads was how much of a part Macdonald/Whigam (or Barker) had in the original design of Merion East. All the participants in those threads admit that took place in the years 1911-1912 and nobody was up there flying aerial photography back in those days. 
 

[TEPaul]

By the way, the issue of the evolution of the alternate fairway on PV's 17th is an interesting one that's pretty much been told on here over the years. The aerials on this cool new tool seem to confirm it.

[SPDB]

For example utilizing the Compare Two Years tool, with 1940 on the left and 2006, you can drag the comparison tool expanding the 2006 picture over the 1940 picture, you see all sorts of interesting things appear or go missing - my favorite (and emblematic of modern-day PV) is the bunker on the right of 15 fairway. When you drag the 2006 picture over the 1940 pic you see a tree appear in front of the bunker.

[Ian Andrew]

Mike,

Now I'm checking to see if there are any aerials of places I've worked at that I haven't seen. In one particular instance I could call up all of the ones that I had ever seen in one minute. But in most cases I have older ones than the site does.

The Pine Valley stuff is cool.

Ian

[Mike_Cirba]

Glad you fellows are enjoying...its sort of a restorationist/preservationist's wet dream and I now know what the Nike Missile battery they put on the 13th at Cobbs Creek in the mid-50s looked like.

I'd encourage others who find interesting course transitions and evolutions to post those links here as well.

Sadly, it's also a great place to view NLEs.

[Gene Greco]

Southampton Golf Club before and after removal of most of the Raynor bunkers.

                                                Shocking.

(1005 County Road 39, Southampton, NY 11968)




You can also slide this aerial over a bit and check the "other" courses in the neighborhood.



Thanks, Mike. You've just filled in any free time which I might have had this winter.

[Kyle Harris]

Glad you fellows are enjoying...its sort of a restorationist/preservationist's wet dream and I now know what the Nike Missile battery they put on the 13th at Cobbs Creek in the mid-50s looked like.

I'd encourage others who find interesting course transitions and evolutions to post those links here as well.

Sadly, it's also a great place to view NLEs.

So, can we restore the Missile Base?

[Mike_Cirba]

Thanks, Mike. You've just filled in any free time which I might have had this winter.

Yes, Gene...I told Matt Davenport that he has just given our wives/loved ones additional grounds for divorce! 

[Charlie Goerges]

Thanks for the link. It's also good for seeing if my dad was lying when he said his old neighborhood south of St. Paul was surrounded by farms when he was a kid.

[Mike_Cirba]

So, can we restore the Missile Base?

Kyle,

I'm thinking that any efforts to restore the old 13th fairway might need to move very, very gingerly during construction. 

Original Recipe;



The Potentially Extra Crispy Cold War version



That hosted a bunch of these suckers....

[Mike_Cirba]

Cobb's Creek might be the most historic course in the US begging for a restoration, but in the realm of "what could be", prepare to cry bitter tears at the differences between the Colt/Alison 1954 version of Timber Point out on Long Island with the 2004 version, where William Mitchell complied with the township's wishes to turn an 18 hole masterpiece into a 27 hole defacement.

http://www.historicaerials.com/default.aspx?poi=3860

[Gene Greco]

Cobb's Creek might be the most historic course in the US begging for a restoration, but in the realm of "what could be", prepare to cry bitter tears at the differences between the Colt/Alison 1954 version of Timber Point out on Long Island with the 2004 version, where William Mitchell complied with the township's wishes to turn an 18 hole masterpiece into a 27 hole defacement.

http://www.historicaerials.com/default.aspx?poi=3860

   

   Interesting that the two examples so far (TP and SGC) which move a gca affecianado to "bitter tears"    were by the hand of one, William Mitchell.

[Kyle Harris]

Mike,

The Nike missile you depicted is the anti-aircraft variety. I believe this site is more indicative of the counterstrike variety that made you all MAD during the 60s. Also, the missile launchers are located closest to City Ave in the woods next to the 13th green in first picture.

So just drive gingerly when you park in that lot. ;-)

[Mike_Cirba]

Kyle,

That's an interesting point.   

I wonder if they dug them out or just paved over?   

Isn't that about the spot that you just said the other day would be the optimum angle for the approach shot if the 13th was restored?!?   

Talk about a closely guarded strategic angle!!!   

In the style of Ran;

"The 13th at Cobb's Creek features what may be the most uniquely dangerous hazard on the globe, which over the decades has proven no less perilous than when originally conceived during the Eisenhower years."

"Although the left-side is by far the preferred angle to avoid the severely reverse-canted terrain nearer the green, the golfer who chooses that route needs to challenge a literal "mine-field" of hazards, each with potentially exlosive results."

"Even if that strategic angle is successfully garnered, the golfer needs to be very careful on the approach, because the choice of a highly-lofted short-iron approach taking a divot just a millimeter too deep can result in catastrophic results, as can be seen in the following picture.   My unfortunately now fragmented playing partner is seen somewhere on the lower left of the photo.  In retrospect, his better choice might have been to play a low-runner with a less-lofted club, again illustrating the wonderful strategic variety inherent on this vexing golf hole."

[Kyle Harris]

Those launchers are more closely guarding the optimum line from an over zealous approach shot. Much like ripping one through the dogleg. This really hammers home my idea of "Shot Urgency" to the extreme.

On a more serious note, is there any more urgent hole on a golf course than the 1st at Cobb's Creek?

Okay, yes there are several, but that one is pretty darn good.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()