Tom MacWood,
Crump purchased 184 acres of a much larger tract from Lumberton/Ireland in Oct/Nov 1912.
The question I have, is what comprised the tract he purchased.
Crump purchased additional land subsequently.
The subsequent purchase appears to be land with lakes/ponds, and the only lakes/ponds I know of on the property are at the northern end, influencing holes # 14, 15, 16, and 18. One of the subsequent purchases was in July 1917 for 325 acres.
It's also reported that the initial routing was incomplete, only containing 14 holes, with holes 12, 13, 14 and 15 missing.
Could it be, like Sand Hills, that additional land was purchased to accomodate/site those holes, in part or completely ?
In July of 1917, PV purchased an additional 325 acres from Ireland.
I'd like to know the area of that tract and if any of that tract included # 12, 13, 14 or 15 ?
And, if there's a survey or topo associated with that tract.
At Crump's death in January of 1918 those four holes hadn't been completed.
A question is: at what stage were they in on January, 1918 ? non-existant, conceptualized, under construction ?
As of early 1919, the holes hadn't been completed and wouldn't be completed and opened for play until the summer of 1920.
Did the purchase of the 325 acres include portions of # 12, 13, 14 and 15 ?
After the purchase in Oct/Nov 1912, Reports indicate that Crump commenced clearing immediately and continued to do so into the early spring of 1913. Colt arrives in May of 1913. Reports further indicate that Crump ONLY cleared land intended for golf holes, although I seem to recall that there were reports of excess clearing due to the fact that there were alternate considerations being weighed, and that this excess clearing was partially responsible for the extensive planting program that would follow.
So, Once Crump buys the land, he immediately clears it, it appears that he also has solicited 18 Guardian Angels to inititally fund the course and design each hole, a plan later abandoned.
I forget the date of Crump's stick routing, but, perhaps one of the Merionettes who lurks and sends 38 emails a day on this subject can refresh our memories.
Reports also indicate that Colt was paid $ 10,000 for his consulting work.
One of the questions I have is: Did Crump send Colt a survey/topo prior to his arrival on site ?
Prior to HSC's agreement to visit ?
If Crump cleared the land intended for the golf course in late 1912, early 1913, a general plan must have existed as early as fall/winter 1912. If a plan existed as early as fall/winter 1912, was it based on a survey/topo made prior to fall/winter of 1912 ?
And if so, what was the nature of that plan ? Survey ? Topo ? Both ?
What's also interesting is that the large map that hangs in a room at PV, dated 1927, gives HS Colt and Crump equal credit for the course as it existed in 1927. Baker gives Colt credit for the design. George Thomas gives equal credit for the design. In October of 1914, Colt wrote that he layed Pine Valley out the previous year.
Irrespective of the weighting of credit, it seems highly unlikely, that an architect, even a very talented architect, could visit a site, previously unseen, and within short order, design a masterpiece absent topos.
There had to be topos prior to May 1913. Topos that Crump and Colt relied on.
Where are they ?