Andy
I am not say CBM was there when actual courses were being surveyed/designed etc. However, what I am saying is that CBM was at St Andrews, I believe the University of St Andrews when a young man in 1872 and not returning home to the USA until 1874. During that time, he was closely associated with Old Tom. He even had his club locker in Old Toms shop. CBM was also involved with the R&A through his grandfather and uncle.
For me this clearly confirms a close link and he would have been party to designs and modification that Old Tom was involved with – also he would have known Young Tommy who had just pulled off his fourth consecutive Open win.
As for the courses Old Tom was involved with at that time, I will list just a few which should prove that CBM could have been very aware of them i.e. Forfar, Luffness (old), & Carnoustie.
Mike, he may well have also learnt from Horace Hutchinson. Yet I am surprised that you have not realised that Horace grew up on a course designed by Old Tom, he was there on a few of Old Tom’s many visits over the years to tweak the course for the club(Royal North Devon).
Hutchinson was a close companion of Old Tom and travelled with Old Tom to Askernish, Stornoway and other sites in Scotland, so was also very aware of how courses were designed. Either way Old Tom had some influence over both. Although I am not aware of many of Horace’s designs apart form Royal Eastbourne, Royal West Norfolk and one on the Isles of Scilly. Would that limited design portfolio convey much about design to anyone, let alone CBM or should we say he too learnt some design knowledge from Old Tom and this in part is what he passed on to CBM?
I will say that Hutchinson was indeed a good golfer and prolific writer, but was his design experience sufficient enough to actually influence a designer like CBM – I can’t answer that. As for Chicago, I again cannot comment but he was in contact with Old Tom during that time asking for help in providing Green Keepers, Professional & Club Makers. Hence the move of the Foulis Family on the recommendation of Old Tom to CBM. I feel this in my humble eyes shows a close contact between men that did not die out in 1874 when CBM returned to the USA. Chicago may or may not have reflected much of Old Tom but CBM went to town on the NGLA.
The point is there is more to it that you may think, so we should not dismiss things out of hand or because they may not fit our current opinions.
Melvyn