Yet again we are fighting over the wording of those back in the 19th Century
Layout out by OTM
Contractor R.Duff
Designer/ plan Hall Blyth
The conflict is in trying to seek to discredit one in favour of the other, something Tom MacWood has been trying to do with Old Tom. Yet we keep coming back to the language of the day and fully understanding what it means in our modern day tongue.
Old Tom laid out the course, Hall Blyth converted it to a technical design or plans for Duff to construct the project. Yet what MacWood is saying is that Hall Blyth produced a plan, from that plan OTM set it out on the links. Now I would not disagree with that if that was the normal way or standard practice of the day but it was not. The sites were staked out, greens agreed as with the hazards, that is natural hazards, then upon agreement being reached re the layout, the fairways grass were cut ready for the construction of the course. So why would Old Tom be asked to repeat a process that had already taken place. This procedure did not happen at Muirfield which had all three working together operated with Old Tom laying out the course, Hall Blyth producing the technical design ready for the construction to start being done by Duff.
As I mentioned we need to understand the language of the day, more importantly the MO of course design and construction process and last but not least money was very tight and did not allow for duplication, anyway that was not the way they worked back then.
Also The Green Committee of the R&A also set up a sub committee to over see the construction work of the New Course “A sub committee of the club, along with Old Tom Morris are charged with the duty of looking after the work, which will be immediately superintended by Mr R. A Duff, Edinburgh”
A further report that appeared in the local press of the 30.03 1895 also reads as follows
“It is too soon yet to say what a really good score ought to be, because hazards will be introduced by and by which will make the round, as now laid out, fulfils all the conditions of a first class course, and reflects credit alike on the Committee of the club, on Old Tom Morris, and on Mr Duff, who superintended the work.” It goes on the describe the course and its overall length of 3 miles 1160 yards. Part of this report also appeared in a national newspaper of the day. The interesting point is the omission of Hall Blyth on both accounts. There are further publications that again omit to mention the involvement of Hall Blyth in the planning of the course. Another which was printed on the 11.04.1895 under the title of
“The New Golf Course at St Andrews
The relief course at St Andrews was opened yesterday, the first round being played by Sheriff Henderson and his son David against Dr. Duncan and Tom Morris. Its has been laid out upon that part of the Links on the far side of the Swilkan Burn lying between the present course and the sea, and Old Tom Morris has had a big share in the planning of the round, it is tantamount to say that the ground available has been utilised to the best advantage.”
Now that is what I call praise for his design and of the man. It was the first few line in another national paper printed the day after the course opened. Reading through the whole article I see no reference to Hall Blyth involvement.
Having said all that, it is clear to me that the New Course project was a close copy of the way the Muirfield golf course was undertaken and so credit IHMO goes to each of the three main individuals involved each undertaken what they were good at in their own right.
Agree or not that’s your choice, but I believe I have furnished you with enough information based upon a quarter of the reports I have of the day, well yes they were actually of the day printed by the press on the following day. All credit OTM for laying out of the course, none mention Hall Blyth. I have also furnished further info of his work to oversee the contractors and if you check George Coburn his comments also confirm this.
Melvyn
PS As for the maps of St Andrews I have many including the Links Maps of 1821, 1836, 1875 and a few more as well.
PPS Its worth looking at the book MacWood suggested re the maps as on Page 45 confusion come in full force when Hall Blyth is credited with "The course was laid out by R Hall Blyth". there we go yet again using the word laid out yet was that not what Old Tom was siad to have done. No disrespect but why was Duff's name not mentioned, it all goes to show that this book does not give a clear picture of who designer (laid out) the New Course and we must look to more articles printed on or around the time of design/construction of the New Course. They clear up the fog for me and name Old Tom as the guy who did the location of fairways, greens and natural hazards in otherwords designed (as we use the word today) the course.