A Mackenzie Report from 1911 Uncovered

[Neil_Crafter]

Our Mackenzie research group recently heard of the discovery of a 6 page letter handwritten by Dr Mackenzie in a carton of documents at Ryburn Golf Club, a nine-holer in Yorkshire. The club is putting out a centenary history and uncovered the letter in the process. We have just been given digital copies of the report and think the contents are of some interest and worth sharing on here. Of particular interest are two cross sectional sketches, quite likely the earliest of this type by Mackenzie known. In fact the report letter, dated 21st October 1911 is to our knowledge the earliest Mackenzie report on an existing golf course known.

We do not yet know whether or not Mackenzie's recommendations were implemented. The course remains a 9 holer as it was in 1911.

There are 6 pages and I have included scans of the six pages and hope you find them of interest.

[Phil_the_Author]

Neil,

Wonderful Find! I hope there are more out there...

[Marty Bonnar]

Glorious, Neil!

Although, I'm constantly surprised at how CRAP a draughtsman MacK was!!! And THAT wonderful Doctor's scribbled handwriting. Just about managed to decipher most of it...
best,
FBD.

[Bill_McBride]

For the Spion Kop fans, it's interesting to note he proposes a new short hole of 100-130 yards of that description!  (#3)  This was less than 10 years after Mackenzie's service in the Boer War, right?  I don't know when it became standard practice to name hill top holes "Spion Kop."

[Marty Bonnar]

MacK's yardages:



Present Scorecard so looks like not all the Doc's suggestions were applied...

1       3   15   188   10       3   12   211
2       4   11   292   11       4   6   278
3       3   5   207   12       3   14   195
4       4   3   343   13       4   4   328
5       4   1   347   14       4   2   365
6       4   7   358   15       4   8   358
7       4   9   299   16       4   10   299
8       4   17   260   17       4   16   274
9       3   13   155   18       3   18   161

[Neil_Crafter]

Marty
Yes, glorious is the word.
As for Mac's handwriting, I think it is rather decent and I don't have much trouble deciphering it. Now you should try Alex Russell!!!!!

The one that gets me is the cliff face at the rear of the hummocks at the back of the green. Oh dear, mountain climbing gear anyone?

Bill, yes Spion Kop gets a mention without any explanation so this sort of hole in 1911 was fairly commonpace one would think.

Philip, there are more finds out there, I have no doubt. 

[Tony_Muldoon]

Wonderful ,thank you for sharing.

Killing worms was a major preoccupatoin at Suttons, they had people demonstrating all manner of things to them.  What do you read when  he wirtes  "Carter's, Suttons,   +++++ +++++++ of Mercury ++"

[Scott Macpherson]

Neil,

Thanks for posting this. It is interesting.

Tony,

It says   '....Perchloride of Mercury etc'


scott

[Neil_Crafter]

Thanks Scott

Tony, I believe Scott has nailed it with his reading. Mackenzie would have been familiar with this as it was used in medicine as an antiseptic around this time.

[Tom MacWood]

Those sketches of the raised bunker are interesting. At the time that must have been a speciality of Mackenzie's. Here are some similar bunkers at Alwoodley.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Yes, that bunker design is very similar to those shown in the early photos of the 11th at TAGC.

[TEPaul]

I would say those examples are some of the first of Mackenzie's use of transposing what he garnered in the Boer War on Boer trench camouflage techniques into golf course architecture.