Merion's minimal bunkering in 1915 and NOW: Seaview Origins

[Joe Bausch]

Yes, that is basically the provocative title from a July, 1915 article from the Evening Ledger shown below.  But to me what is much more interesting are two very different paragraphs from the article.

1.  Even as late as the summer of 1915, Merion has limited bunkers.

2.  The wicker baskets are discussed.

[Joe Bausch]

Hard to believe this article has received no replies yet, so perhaps it needs a more provocative title!

[Tom_Doak]

Everyone is afraid to open up a thread with the word "Merion" in the title.  These threads are like "Halloween" movies. 

But, it's fascinating to hear that they really waited that long to build most of the bunkers.  You couldn't justify it today, because it's so much more costly to add bunkers after construction, to work around irrigation systems, etc.  What this really goes to show is how primitive Merion was in 1915.

Regarding the wicker baskets, it is interesting to see that Flynn is credited.  I always thought Hugh Wilson must have seen some similar form on his tour of Scotland and England ... in very old pictures of the British links it is not uncommon to see the holes marked with a large metal pole with various adornments on top, right down to the sort of markers you would find on a practice putting green today ... something besides the standard flag.  But I'm not sure if Flynn ever visited the UK.

[JohnV]

The other interesting thing about the baskets, is I've always read that they were used to prevent players from getting information about which way the wind was blowing, but this article implies that that they were really used to make the holes more visible form a distance.  I'm sure some Luddites here will think that this made it too easy for the golfers.

[Joe Bausch]

And the wicker baskets back in 1915 were different colors (at least the back nine) than currently.

Regarding the bunkering:  there are people that believe some MacDonald template holes were there originally (and probably still feel that way!).  Aren't many of his template holes really defined by bunkering? 

George Bahto:  please pick up the white courtesy phone.   

[Kyle Harris]

Aren't many of his template holes really defined by bunkering? 

Hmm. That's a good question.

I'd be in the fairly categorical "NO" camp. Maybe just the Alps, Raynor Prize Dogleg and Eden. I think one could build a Redan, Biarritz, Punchbowl, and even Short without bunkers but with plenty of creativity. Bunkers were just the chosen hazard.

I'd say most are more defined by the type of shot or shots required to overcome the contours presented on the ground. The bunkering or other hazards simply negate areas of play and emphasize those shots.

[Chris Cupit]

The other interesting thing about the baskets, is I've always read that they were used to prevent players from getting information about which way the wind was blowing, but this article implies that that they were really used to make the holes more visible form a distance.  I'm sure some Luddites here will think that this made it too easy for the golfers.

Big John,

My limited research pointed out the same fact.  I have an old Stumpf's (?)catalogue that advertised "wicker balloon baskets" for $7.50 each.  The advertisement made the point that for inland courses where the wind was often absent, the "balloons" were much more visible than the limp flag and pole.  I saw nothing about "hiding the wind direction" as a selling point.

Hope all is well in California.  See you in NY in 2010.

[JC Jones]

  But I'm not sure if Flynn ever visited the UK.

I think this is intentionally incendiary to get Tom Paul and Wayne Morrison back

[Chris Cupit]

Hmmmmm.  I just noticed near the end of the article I must have had a long lost relative from whom I have inherited much

[Dan Herrmann]

Doesn't this kinda confirm the idea that the course was laid out simply and, through the following years, the additional features were added?

Joe - once again, great find... 

[Michael Blake]

Didn't Flynn sometimes wait to add certain bunkers to his courses until he inspected where most of the divots were?  Is this an early example of that?  Did he learn it from Wilson?  Or is this something completely different?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Similar to Seaview with respect to adding bunkers after opening.

[mike_malone]

 As far as I know Flynn never went to the British Isles. I recall Wayne calling him a truly American architect because of that. I also believe Wayne posted that Flynn may had gotten a patent on the baskets.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

If anyone has the Walker Cup program and a scanner, please copy and scan pages 60&61 for the article "The Origins of Merion's Wicker Baskets" by Wayne Morrison and Steve Ryan. It would be appreciated so that it can be posted here.

I have the program but do not have my scanner.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

According to the article, Flynn does hold a patent granted in 1916, the same year that ads by Flynn & Peters appeared for the baskets in American Golfer.

[George_Bahto]

Regarding the bunkering:  there are people that believe some MacDonald template holes were there originally (and probably still feel that way!).  Aren't many of his template holes really defined by bunkering? 

George Bahto:  please pick up the white courtesy phone.   
[/quote]

not necessarily fairway bunker - greenside bunkering, yes, joe   ...... (in the case of Old Macdonald, Doak/Urbina - neither - hah)

[Sean_Tully]

here you go

courtesy of google

Tully

[Dale Jackson]

This is not the first time I have heard mention of an early course being built and the bunkering put in later.  I know AV Macan did this on many of his courses.

Was this a common practice back in the day?

[Kevin_Reilly]

I think one could build a Redan, Biarritz, Punchbowl, and even Short without bunkers but with plenty of creativity.

Kyle -- that would make an interesting thread to examine further, particularly the idea of a bunkerless Redan and Short.

[Adam Clayman]

Joe,

Imagine playing Merion, where the entire canvas is really firm with nothing to stop balls from just rolling and rolling, to their unpredictable ultimate conclusion. I'll tell you want it would define, the best golfer would be the one who could predict the proper golf shot, rather than just the proper yardage for their aerial shot.

After writing that and hearing about this, I now see where Mike Cirba had a problem with the fronting bunkers on the fifth hole(?)  

[Jim Nugent]

This may be another way of asking what Joe already asked.  Did CBM ever design any courses that way, i.e. with almost none of the bunkers in place? 

[Sean_A]

Joe,

Imagine playing Merion, where the entire canvas is really firm with nothing to stop balls from just rolling and rolling, to their unpredictable ultimate conclusion. I'll tell you want it would define, the best golfer would be the one who could predict the proper golf shot, rather than just the proper yardage for their aerial shot.

After writing that and hearing about this, I now see where Mike Cirba had a problem with the fronting bunkers on the fifth hole(?)  

Adam

The fronting bunkers on the 5th are weird because they are just beyond the stream.  They don't seem to have any purpose if the stream is truly a hazard. 

I am not convinced you can build these templates without the bunkers unless of course the idea is merely "inspiration" or "on a theme".  The bunkers on the par 3s are critical elements of the designs.

Ciao

Ciao

[Niall C]

This is not the first time I have heard mention of an early course being built and the bunkering put in later.  I know AV Macan did this on many of his courses.

Was this a common practice back in the day?

Dale

I believe so, certainly in Scotland. Although I can't really say about the US I imagine it would be similiar.

Niall

[Tom MacWood]

Does the article claim the golf course is bunkerless or the golf course has relatively few bunkers in comparison to Apawamis, Garden City, Baltusrol, Ekwanock, etc?

The author gives the impression there is only one golf course at Merion, but I believe Merion had two golf courses in 1915. When the article says Travers played 36 holes a day was that over the East course or over the East and West courses? The West course was very sparsely bunkered, and still has relatively few bunkers to this day.

The most important feature of the Redan and Biarritz is the configuration of the green. The most important features of the Road and Alps holes is the road and the hill.

Did Sunningdale have wicker basket pins prior to 1915?

[Joe Bausch]

The author gives the impression there is only one golf course at Merion, but I believe Merion had two golf courses in 1915. When the article says Travers played 36 holes a day was that over the East course or over the East and West courses? The West course was very sparsely bunkered, and still has relatively few bunkers to this day.

I'm very confident that the 36 holes played (twice over two days) were all at the East course, but I'm not certain.  Travers was in town for the Lynnewood Cup tourney at Huntingdon Valley, then was convinced to come over to the Harold Sands Invitational at Merion.  This Joe Bunker article from June 25, 1915 talks about both tourneys.  And the part about Merion is almost certainly talking about the East course.  Another article I have from the Inky also strongly suggests this Sands tourney was held exclusively at the East course.