I copied Sean's post and reasearch from a thread of few years ago. He also included a link to his website with some old pictures and maps:
"It has long been repeated that SFGC is a Tillinghast design dating
back to 1915. In my short time researching the course I was able to
find out a little more about the history of the course and some of
the changes it went through.
The early history of the course is pretty confusing as little seems to be written about it. Along with that the names of the courses in the area shared similar names and added to some of the confusion. When they moved from the Presidio to the SFG and CC at Ingleside site about 1905(where the SFSU is today) they stayed there for a number of years and then moved to the current site in 1918(while still retaining the same name). The old Ingleside course was then taken over by the California Golf Club in 1920 up until they moved to their current location in 1925. The old Ingleside course remained until SFSU needed to expand the university in the early 1940's.
If that sounds confusing, that’s because it is and I still struggle with it even after looking at the info for the last 6 months...
heres some more info, most of this should be new if you only know the old story of Tillie designing the course in 1915. Source of information is from the SF Chronicle.
1915--new course proposed at current site of SFGC
1918--Feb 22 Course is opened to play...Willie Lock is given some
mention as a possible architect, "Lock, the SFGC "pro" has seen to it
that there is plenty of trouble to trap the balls that stray from the
beaten path." I have also seen a mention of Neville&Grant.
Low score on the first day was 91.
1920-Tilllinghast brought in reform SFGC course, for the most part
Tillie endorsed the the plans already outlined by Lock
1920-Tillinghast was to relieve the monotony of the last three holes
and his plans along with those of Neville's where to be followed. Changed the routing of the existing course.
1924-Tillinghast is onsite and making a number of changes to the course
1.adding new bunkers(61 new bunkers)(GIJUNE1924)
2.changes to the greens at the 7th, 8th, and 11th
3. some lengthing of the course, par stays at 71
Tillie contemplates with addition of bunkers and yardage the course
will be a stiffer test of par.
1930-Excess traps removed from course
greens regrassed with cocoos bent replacing the poa and Fescue
"all greens being recontoured so as to allow for a power cutter to
be used right up to the green"(sounds more like surrounds)
The first green was moved after the club purchased some adjoining property.
All but three greens were regrassed (2nd, 10th, 12th)
Par threes length
4th 210 yards
7th 150
11th 165
13th 120
Sept. 1930 course to be finished.
William P. Bell and E. Byrne-Cavendish completed work.
Your first thought should be bunkers!
Not surprising that Bell was involved, as he was a partner of Tillie's for a period of time. Although Bell was involved he was following the plans as set forth by Tillie. Except for what I believe was the reconstruction of the remaining bunkers. The bunkers have been
misinterpreted as Tillie's as he has been given credit for the entire course. It is obvious through my research that Tillie played a big part in the courses evolution, but had some help from his friends.
I had always struggled with the bunkers at SFGC and how they had the lacy edge look to them in 1918! and had lost that look already by the 1924 pics. When I finally looked at the dates for the article in the book "The Course Beautiful" I found the piece of info that I had been missing, the dates for the lacy edge bunkers. They were taken in the early 1930's, with that info and the article on Bell's work at SFGC in 1930 I finally understood for me at least, that the bunkers that have been called Tillie's are actually Bell's, which makes a lot more sense anyway as seen by his work in SoCal ie Riviera.
There is more info to be found, but I thought I should share the info so credit can be shared with the people that were involved. So here is my early and still under construction timeline for SFGC
1915-1918---course goes from planning opened in Feb 1918
Design credit William Lock.
1920---Tillinghast brought in to renovate the course and add some value to the last three holes. Tillinghast is paid $2500 dollars a week. As a comparison, Ross was said to have asked for $2600 to work at Beresford but his schedule was full for a year and a half. He would not make it there until 1922.
1924---Tillie brought in to toughen up the course adds bunkers, changes to some greens etc. Adds 61 new bunkers to course.UPDATED
1925---Vernon Macan writes an article for the Fairway Magazine referring to the 12th hole at SFGC and mentions that the green is not in view from the fairway and that the large mound in front should be opened up to allow a site line to the green. Not sure who finally did it, but interesting information.
1930---Course changes overseen by Bell
1949-50 Harold Sampson's plan dated December 13, 1949. His work most likely done in the spring of 1950.UPDATED---Re-recorrection Tom D.
1951-2005---not sure if anything at all happened here, time frame is not my focus of research
2006---Club is in process of restoring holes back to original design work overseen by Tom Doak/Jim Urbina and crew.
I have some pics and early maps at the following link…
http://homepage.mac.com/tullfescue/PhotoAlbum5.htmlUPDATED, I added a picture of the 13th from 1926. Compare that with the 1934 timeframe pic."