Alex Findlay and Brae Burn Country Club

[Travis Dewire]

Donald Ross is credited with the design of Brae Burn Country Club, in West Newton, MA, in 1912, and again he revisited the course for a redesign in 1928. However, many of the holes Donald Ross found when he came to BB, were original holes and/or green sites, from the 9 hole layout played from 1897-1902, and the first 18 hole layout, played from 1902-1912.

Recently I found a gentleman's website, created for his grandfather, Alex Findlay. Here, he credits Findlay with designing such courses as Brae Burn, Worcester, Salem, Dedham C&Polo, Woods Hole, Bass Rocks, Framingham, and even East Lake. It should be noted that the Bass Rocks website lists Findlay as building a 9 hole course that was first used until an 18 hole course was later added. The Woods Hole website, a Stiles and Van Kleek design, lists a Tom Winton as the original designer


How certain can I be that this information is accurate?

I asked the site host to provide me with evidence of Findlay building any golf holes at Brae Burn, and he has just moved so it will be a while until he has anything for me. There is no mention of Findlay in either the 1997 Centennial Book, or the 1947, 50 Years at Brae Burn.

If anyone has any information or advice to help me in my search, that would be great!


Thank you,


Travis

[Tom MacWood]

Travis,
Good information, thanks.

[Mike Sweeney]

I am assuming this site?

http://alexanderfindlay.com/courses

"A little history concerning this site and who is preparing the information. It is a joint effort of both myself Richard B. Findlay and Ronald A. Findlay, grandsons of Alexander H. Findlay  by his 3rd son Norman E.J. Findlay, Sr. Growing up in Philadelphia, PA we had a house full of one of the most extensive private golf collections of antiquity in existence. We knew that our grandfather was famous for golf but not actually sure of his legacy. You see he died before I was born and when Ron was only 7 years of age. Our father would tell us of his father’s accomplishments in early American golf. He would even indicate that Alex was "The Father of American Golf"."

He also list Overbrook GC in Philly as a 1900 Findlay. First I have ever heard that about Overbrook:

http://www.memberstatements.com/tour/tours.cfm?tourid=42656

Then he states:

"In 1898 he returned to England and persuaded Harry Vardon to tour the United States in 1900. It was then, and during subsequent golfing tours arranged by Findlay for Vardon, that these two golfing champions, playing under their respective colors, red for Vardon and green for Findlay, over 4,000 holes of golf together in the United States and Mexico. At the end of 4,000 holes Alex was up by 2!"

Sounds like he was playing alot of golf in 1900, so what did he actually do at Overbrook?

Here is the 1900ish Overbrook clubhouse.

[TEPaul]

In my opinion of all the architects who had long term careers in America the one who is probably the least effectively recorded and chronicled is Alex Findlay.

It also gives one pause to consider just how early he was in America promoting golf and architecture.

[David_Tepper]

http://alexanderfindlay.com/courses

According to this website, Mr. Findlay "created" 24 courses in 1900. If nothing else, he was a very busy, energetic man!

[Mike Sweeney]

http://alexanderfindlay.com/courses

According to this website, Mr. Findlay "created" 24 courses in 1900. If nothing else, he was a very busy, energetic man!

Add in the 4000 holes played with Vardon in 1900 in an era with no cars or planes and this guy gets Wardian status!! Did he have time to eat?

I played a 9 hole Ross today in New Hampshire. Nice course, nice routing but either those greens have been flattened out over the years or Donnie Ross never saw the place.

I accept Tom Paul's premise that Alex Findlay is under-documented in golf history, but let's see the documentation.

[Mark McKeever]

I thought Dedham Country & Polo was a Raynor track?

Mark

[Travis Dewire]

Yes, I believe that Dedham Country and Polo is a Raynor. It also has been noted by MassGolfer magazine, in an article chronicling New England architect Wayne Stiles, that Stiles did some redesign work of Dedham. It also says that a number of other designers have indeed worked on Dedham. But to play it, it feels like a Raynor from start to finish, a truly spectacular course - has the membership of a Raynor course too!


Interesting about Findlay going to England to seek out Vardon. Vardon played an exhibition match at Brae Burn in 1900, on the then, 1897-1902 9 hole course - easily a Findlay design and hence why Club President Harry Ayer had such success in securing the match. It should be noted that Vardon's opponent was Ben Nicholls.

Maybe Mr. Findlay's grandson will be able to document and make public his grandfather's impact on early American golf architecture