1901 Harper's Official Golf Guide - Complete

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

For those who use the Harper's Official Golf Guide as a reference know, the 1901 version that appears on the USGA website is incomplete, ending on page 166  in the midst of the Massachusetts section. I recently stumbled across a complete version available on Google books http://books.google.com/books?id=BbAUAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA297&ots=PW6FX_nRDs&dq=usga%20harpers&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false. I alerted USGA Museum Director Rand Jerris of the fact and he is looking into whether the museum can get the complete edition onto their site.

As for the complete 1901 book, I looked at it quickly. There are some wonderful photos that do not appear in the 1900 edition as well as pages of information not available. It is interesting that the course descriptions are not as complete in 1901 as they were in 1900. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful research tool.

Anthony

[Mike Cirba]

Tony,

Awesome...thanks!

[Mike Cirba]

Tony,

There are some terrific pictures, including a good one of the ancient nine-holer at Charlevoix, in Michigan.

The only disappointment is that the club writeups seem more focused on the club leadership than earlier versions, to the omission in most cases of the course architect info.   

[Bill_McBride]

On page 71 is the Country Club of Mobile, where "Robert Hunter" is president of the club.  I believe this is Melvyn Hunter Morrow's ancestor.  Last time I played what is now a D. Ross course updated by Ron Forse, there were golf carts zipping everywhere.  Of course this was in August last year, a nice 93^o, 75% humidity day.  

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

I noticed right away that the 1901 edition does not list the designers the way the 1900 version does.

So far, the most interesting information I found in the 1901 version is that Donald Ross is listed as the greenkeeper at Pinehurst. In 1900 version, John Dunn Tucker is named as greenkeeper.

Anthony

[Bill_McBride]

Some notable figures in early golf:

Chicago Golf Club, president:  Charles B. Macdonald

Garden City Golf Club,  VP;  Devereux Emmet; Captain:  Walter J. Travis

Palmetto Golf Club, Aiken SC, president:  Tommy Hitchcock, Jr. of polo fame

Ekwanok nCC, VT,  greenkeeper:  George Low

+++

The most amazing thing in this directory is the vast number of golf clubs that were founded between 1895 and 1900, hundreds of them.

[Mike Cirba]

Bill,

All of that is very cool, but I'd trade the bunch of them in for the type of architectural attribution found in previous versions of the guide. 

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,

All of that is very cool, but I'd trade the bunch of them in for the type of architectural attribution found in previous versions of the guide. 

Can't compare as I( never saw it.

But one I forgot - the two greenkeepers at Chicago Golf Club were Foulis brothers!

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Bill:

You can find the 1900 edition here: http://www.usgamuseum.com/researchers/usga_segl/

Anthony

[Lester George]

No mention of Oakhurst in WV. 

Lester

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Here's a few more interesting items:

•Woods Holl, Mass. (should be, Woods Hole)
“There is a golf club here, but the Secretary, James Dwight, 225 Beacon Street, Boston, states that ne never fills out data forms, so we are unable to give details relating to the club.”

•Wentworth Golf Club, New Castle, N.H.: George Wright was club secretary. His address was listed as the Wentworth Hotel.

•Hillside Tennis and Golf Club, Plainfield, N.J. “Greenkeeper described as being, ‘a worthy Scotchman who need not be spoiled by being placed on a pedestal.’”

•The best name I came across was the head greenkeeper for the Cape Fear Golf Club in Wilmington, N.C.: Neptune Faison.

Mungo Park was greenkeeper at Mt. Anthony Golf Club in Bennington Center, Vt. I think he designed the course, as well.



Lester:

Under Foxburg, Penn., there is a Clarion County Golf Club founded in 1893 and Foxburg Women's Golf Club founded in 1898, both nine holes.  There is no mention of Foxburg Golf Course and Country Club that purports to have been founded in 1887.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

This is great stuff!!

[Mike Sweeney]

•Woods Holl, Mass. (should be, Woods Hole)
“There is a golf club here, but the Secretary, James Dwight, 225 Beacon Street, Boston, states that ne never fills out data forms, so we are unable to give details relating to the club.”

You have to love the guy for filing out a form that states he never fills out forms!!

Tom Doak

On page 237 there is a picture of "Cayuga Lake Golf Club". It looks flat so is that the current Tremont State Park at the bottom of the lake?

[Mike Cirba]

Anthony,

Thanks again for these links...they are simply terrific stuff.

[Sven Nilsen]

Does anyone know how to get access to the 1900 Harper's document?  I tried the USGA archive search function and it doesn't seem to show up.

Thanks in advance,

Sven

[Joe_Tucholski]

Try this link

http://photoarchive.usga.org/cgi/mbweb.pl?framedone=1&sid=340&do=fullsearchdownload&filename=Harpers Official Golf Guide 1900.pdf&id=28&dbname=SEGL_Books

[Jim_Kennedy]

Sven,

http://photoarchive.usga.org/mbwtemp/Harpers%20Official%20Golf%20Guide%201900.pdf

It will take a while to load.

[Sven Nilsen]

Joe and Jim:

Thanks.  What a resource.

Sven

[Sven Nilsen]

Does anyone know if there is an online version of the 1900 Harper's Guide that shows page 171 (Mass.) and pages 257-272 (NY)?

Also, I've seen references to an 1899 Harper's Guide (its is noted as available through SEGL but seems to be inaccessible).  Is anyone aware of an online copy?