Neil,
Great research. I would love anything you can send for us to display at the club. My timelines are merely based on subjective evidence, not of your detailed work. I new that he arrived in January, but what day? I know that he was at El Boqueron on March 4, 1930 as my guest register shows his signature with a date. I know El Nuatico is dated May 1930, aslo Club de Golf Uruguay is dated May 1930. I merely expected that he drew the plans in Argentina, but from your research I was wrong.
Much in Argentina is the result of Luther Koontz, who at the time worked for the Wendell Miller group. Koontz as explained in an article in Golfer Argentino graduated from Ohio State Uninversity, worked for Colt & Allsion, and also Donald Ross. He is a very well respected architect in South America having 27 or so courses attributed to him. He is listed as the superintendent at the Argentino in Palermo during the 40's. Koontz redesigned Olivos in the early 30's, it was later taken and relocated to the current sight, were he designed the 27 hole layout. He also redesigned several greens at San Andres Golf Club and San Isidro Golf Club. His vocational background is in irrigation and drainage, but I would guess that his associations gave him great insight in the minds of experts. In Argentina he found his niche and stayed. Not much is known about him, but with your skills you should have no problem.
El Nautico San Isidro and San Isidro Golf CLub are two different clubs. El Nautico at this time was one of the most prominant clubs in Argentina. It was and is primarily a sailing club. For this reason the land did not exist for the golf portion of the club. The land was being reclaimed in stages. When Mackenzie showed up there was a boot shaped piece large enough for a small 9 hole routing. San Isidro Golf CLub is close by and inland from the Jockey by about 1/4 mile.
My guess is that when he arrived, all the clubs wanted some insight from him. For this reason there is a lot of redesigning of greens and bunkering during the early 30's. The Golfer Argentino was a fortunate find and a tremedous resource into the world of early Argentine Golf.
I have heard rumblings about a some connection to Mackenzie at the former club Parque Camet in Mar Del Plata. It was acquired by state and turned into a community park, but at one time it had a golf club.
All of the Jockey Clubs records from that era were burnt in the fire when the Peronistas did their bonfire. The only plan that exists is the irrigation plan from the Wendell Millar group, which hangs in the club.
Interesting connections between Koontz and Ohio State. Maybe Koontz got Mackenzie the job,or Mackenzie found Koontz via Ohio State?
Keep put the good work. I plan a trip to Argentina in the next few months, so hopefully I can go to the newspapers and look for information about his movements. I am disappointed that his timeline has him for only a few months, as there could be more material to be found. My guess is the language barrier slowed things down, and communication was difficult for him. Also, that period is the summer there, and everything shuts down for vacations.
A note: the plans on the this site are for personal use only. It was my belief that showing the plans would give us all great insight into his mind set at the time. El Boqueron was probably something that was floating around in his mind and he found the right scenario to place it. Many asked whether is was prudent to show the plans in their entirety, but that would be selfish. I would hope all would respect their circulation. The version in the T&L had a seem down the middle and I knew that would be the case.
Good work Neil,
David