[Dan Herrmann]

William Harries was a golf course architect that designed a number of courses in Western New York.

Our own Ronald Montesano wrote an article on Harries here: http://www.buffalospree.com/archives/2006_0910/091006designgolf.html

Quoting from Ronald's article, "William Harries was the only local gentleman making anything close to a living/career out of golf course architecture between the two great wars. A landscape architect by education, he was unfortunately caught in an era when local development tended away from his area of expertise. Harries was unable to secure a number of high-profile commissions for the simple reason that money was not available. Looking back at his body of work, three types of Harries courses are discernible. The first type was characterized by great land but an average budget. The second classification was blessed with great land and bolstered by a great budget. The final grouping was saddled with both average land and an average budget. Into the first category we place Byrncliff, Sheridan Park, and Elma."

"The second includes Brookfield and Niagara Frontier. The third are Audubon, Beaver Island, Hyde Park, and Brighton. William Harries was a member at Cherry Hill, designed by Walter Travis, yet Harries demonstrates very few of the characteristics associated with Travis’s fine Ontario country club. Harries’s two predominant features seem to be the falling off of greens to the sides and back, and false-front bunkering (the location of sand bunkers ten to twenty yards away from the putting surface). If viewed in separate and isolated pieces, his body of work is clearly dependent on the whims of the client. When given the opportunity, he designed interesting, challenging layouts; when the budget or the land restricted him, well, he did the best he could.
"


I wonder if Harries career could  be a blueprint for the economic period we find ourselves in today.  I for one always really liked playing his courses.  Fun, fun, fun!

[Ronald Montesano]

Ah,Harries...we hardly knew you.  One never needs to be more than an average chipper and pitcher to get it up and down from a missed Harries green.  The guy ran out of inspiration when it got to putting surfaces.  I pray to God above that he is not a blueprint for the next generation of golf courses, for it's at the putting station that I find my greatest inspiration (and perspiration.)

Around here, Brookfield was often considered the second best CC (after Crag Burn.)  Right now, I'd rank it as the second best Harries, after Niagara Frontier.  The reason for the demotion is the work done with additional land by Carrick at Niagara Frontier.  Harries filled land with golf, nothing more.

Do you think that Audubon and Brighton are the same course, just towns apart?

[Dan Herrmann]

Nah - Brighton's better.  Better angles, better greens.

But I'm biased - I played Brighton many, many times when I was in college.

[Mike Nuzzo]

I believe one can make something inspiring with any opportunity.
Bill Coore said the same thing last fall.

[Matt Bosela]

William Harries also received credit for designing East Aurora CC with Russell Tryon, one of my favourite courses in the Western New York area and home of the International Junior Masters each year.

Pretty tremendous topography...a couple quirky holes but still a really fun golf course with some diabolical greens.

Below, the par five third hole from the approach area over a dry ravine.



A look from behind the 3rd green back to the elevated and rolling fairway.



The changes in elevation are apparent on the par four ninth, shown below.



The par three 13th, shown below, has a tremendous green with a prominent ridge bisecting the putting surface.

[Ian Andrew]

There are lots of great original holes at Niagara Frontier.

The 10th is one of the best par fives around with all those great undulations - although I wish they would drop that giant spruce from the centre of the fairway assuming it's still there.

He was heavily involved in the creation and construction at Cherry Hill - but not the design - I have never fully understood how that worked.

[Dan Herrmann]

Matt,
Thanks for the pictures of East Aurora - a true hidden gem.   That land just outside the Great Lakes plain is perfect for golf - rolling and subtle.

[John Blain]

If East Aurora CC is a hidden gem, what's Crag Burn?

Is East Aurora even in the top 20 in western New York?  News to me if it is...

John

[Ronald Montesano]

JP Blain, I'm with you.  Matt Bosela, the only people who approach 3 green from your point are old, novocated ladies.  The hole is barely a par five, which is why they have that target-on-a-stick behind the green.  Also, the reason the IJM is won by 13 year olds is that they are the only ones who can hit driver and keep it in the fairway.  Quick:  name five driving holes at East Aurora that allow you to hit a 260 yard driver?

If you read the Labbance book on Stiles, you'll find that he had something to do with EACC.  How much?  Who knows?  IJM is cool for all the Mexican and Columbian contingents (maybe Camilo played there...yup he did...in 1997...http://www.internationaljuniormasters.com/content.aspx?Title=Past%20Players)

East Aurora is not a hidden gem when compared to Crag Burn.  EA lacks the same creativity around and on the putting surfaces that all Harries courses fail to produce.

Depends on where you put the limits on western New York...If you just include Batavia west, yes it is, but just barely (with the good new publics.)  If you throw Rochester into the mix, no it is not.

[Ed Homsey]

East Aurora is a quirky, somewhat disconcerting course in its routing and terrain.  I don't hit 260 yard drives, but here's a try at your challenge, Ron.  How about 1, 5 (unless you want a full 100 yard shot to that relatively shallow green), 7 (if you're very accurate), 9, 12, 16, and 17???

Ed

[Ed Homsey]

I neglected to add to my previous post that I've always enjoyed the Harries back 9 at Thendara GC.  But, I would have to say that it's largely the setting that I enjoy.  The greens are rather unimaginative; especially in comparison to the greens on the Ross front 9.

[Dan Herrmann]

JP - I've only seen East Aurora in pictures.  They don't let me on private clubs in Erie County, NY

[Ronald Montesano]

Ed,
You are correct in your assessment.  I have heard the young stars "suggest" that it is quirky and frustrating because their bread-and-butter shot (the long drive) is denied them.  Half would argue good thing and half would argue bad thing.  I do know that it is always in wonderful shape.

I have not played Thendara.  However, your observation about the greens seems in keeping with the Harries legacy.

Dan, Really?  What crime did you commit in your youth against the landed gentry of Erie county?  IM me when you are back up this way and we'll sneak through the trees on a few.

[Ed Homsey]

Ron---I agree regarding the conditioning at East Aurora.  The course is immaculate--especially since they've solved the geese-problem.  And, that old clubhouse is a neat place to have food or a beverage.

BAck to Harries.  I'm looking at a letter that Tillinghast wrote regarding his visit to Park Club's Williamsville and Orchard Park courses.  He told about a gathering of professionals, greenkeepers, and committmen in the evening after he inspected the courses.  He stated, "One of those who asked me the most questions was Mr. Harries, who has built many courses in this district.  Courses planned by Travis, Allison and Donald Ross.  He came to me afterwards and expressed his satisfaction and pleasure."  That letter was written August 26, 1936.  It was provided to me by Phil YOung, the author of the Tillinghast bio.  So, Harries made an impression on Tilly.  Wonder what Ross course he's referring to.  CC of B?

[Dan Herrmann]

Ron, I'm kidding - I was a middle, middle class kid when I lived in Tonawanda, and we couldn't afford the nice clubs.  Besides, I had a lot of fun at Harries' Sheridan and Brighton courses.  I spent many 36 hole days out there during my UB college breaks!

A nice Harries tie-in.  After UB and Buff State, I ended up working at Nike in Beaverton, OR.  Well, one day about 10 of us have lunch with Curtis Strange.    Till I was 30, I always made it back to play in the "Moore Ave Open", held at Beaver Island State Park (a Harries design).  Bunch of neighborhood kids/young adults and their parents.

Mr. Bob Choboy organized the event every year, and it really meant a lot to him.  So I ask Curtis to sign something for Mr. Choboy, and he really came through - Signed a nice card saying "Dear Bob, To me, the Moore Avenue Open IS the event of the year!  - Curtis Strange.    This was just after he won his 2nd US Open.

Needless to say, it really made Mr. Choboy's day.  I still LOVE that story!

[Ronald Montesano]

Ed,
So Tilly was saying that Harries built courses that were planned/designed by Ross, Travis and Allison?  I need to be sure I understand this letter.  I can't imagine Harries having a hand in the greens at Park Club (Allison), CCB (Ross) or any of the Travis courses.  My head is spinning!

[Matt Bosela]

JP Blain, I'm with you.  Matt Bosela, the only people who approach 3 green from your point are old, novocated ladies.  The hole is barely a par five, which is why they have that target-on-a-stick behind the green.  Also, the reason the IJM is won by 13 year olds is that they are the only ones who can hit driver and keep it in the fairway.  Quick:  name five driving holes at East Aurora that allow you to hit a 260 yard driver?

If you read the Labbance book on Stiles, you'll find that he had something to do with EACC.  How much?  Who knows?  IJM is cool for all the Mexican and Columbian contingents (maybe Camilo played there...yup he did...in 1997...http://www.internationaljuniormasters.com/content.aspx?Title=Past%20Players)

East Aurora is not a hidden gem when compared to Crag Burn.  EA lacks the same creativity around and on the putting surfaces that all Harries courses fail to produce.

Depends on where you put the limits on western New York...If you just include Batavia west, yes it is, but just barely (with the good new publics.)  If you throw Rochester into the mix, no it is not.

Wow, a bit harsh and exaggerated Ron.  I don't even know how to respond to the bit about foreign contingents at the IJM.

#3 is definitely better as a long par four and it's not an ideal driver hole even from the back deck.  It's a short, quirky course with limited options for the big dog - #1, #7, #9, #16, #17 are the only holes where you would pull driver without even thinking, with #3, #5, #6, #11, and #14 being riskier plays.  That said, I find the golf course to be fun to play, as do my buddies, and we're always treated extremely well when we make our annual trip to EACC.

I must admit though.  I laughed audibly when reading your bit about "old, novocated ladies" making their approach from the end of the 3rd fairway.  I guess I should be suitably embarrassed that I've hit from that spot about half the times I've played the course.   

"That's a peach, hon!" 

[Ed Homsey]

Ron--

Regarding Harries' construction work.  There is confirmation in the Cherry Hill Club and Park Club anniversary books about Harries role in constructing their courses.  I don't know about CC of Buffalo.  Will check with their Historian.  Amazing, though, that his courses, i.e. Thendara, could have such bland green sites after he constructed incredible green sites at Cherry Hill Club and Park Club.  Doesn't make sense.

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