Sean, Thanks. I cropped out the other 9 for clarity of comparison. The range is now located north of my aerials views.
Note the distance of the course. 6,382 in 1898 pre-rubber core ball. A huge course and one of the reasons Tweedie's work has stood the test of time and is still relevant today.
Let's start the photo tour. I'm going to give 4 yardages. Original Course/1914 US Open/1973 Western Open/Tips Today.
It was cloudy dark day so unfortunately my photos reflect the conditions.
Holes 1-3 represented a strong start to the course and a introduction to the character of the course. Long 1st hole with a very severe green tilted from back to front, a long par 3 2nd to a well guarded green and a shorter par 4 with a large bunker blocking one's view of the green.
The tidy routing shows the 1st tee adjacent to the clubhouse where it has been since 1898
Plaque next to 1st tee Commemorating Billy Casper's Western Open Wins at Midlothian with 9 and 18 greens in background.
Close-Up
#1 Bon Voyage 350/300/411/419
1st Fairway From Tee While Trees have reduced original width of course the fairways were still fairly generous. Creek as seen in the Green Book routing has been piped under the 1st fairway and reemerges to the left of the fairway today.
Look Back from landing Area
2nd Shot
Look back
Similar Shot from 1998 Centennial Book Showing extent to which new tree plantings have narrowed this hole corridor.
View of 1st and Clubhouse from 4th FW
#2 Dell 190/196/204/208
Tee Shot on 2nd. This was the hole cited by George O'Neil as one of the best 18 in the Country in his Chicago Tribune survey in the Teens From the aerial it appears the green was moved to the left after the 1930's so this is no longer the original green location. This view is from the tee on the right which is also a later addition. Original hole would have started from left of this view to a green to the right of the present green.
Closer View of 2nd
Shot of 2nd From 1998 Showing Former Bunker Style
#3 The Summit 357/359/369/374
3rd from Tee A fairly common theme on Tweedie courses to use a small rise to have the landing area hidden from view. Note fairway bunker in view on right.
View from over crest of hill. 1st Bunker not visible from tee.
Large Bunker Short of Green as seen in aerial hides the green surface A Ross bunker???
Looking Back from Green