Patrick,
A few things clarifying what I posted last night.
First, I never posted Paul's blue/red map on this or any other thread. The only reason I have it is from a copy I made from a different thread here on GCA a few years back.
Early on this thread I posted a photo of Tom Paul's map of the routing that where it is written in the lower left corner "As Suggested by Harry S. Colt", or something to that effect. Tom privately asked me if I had permission from Pine Valley to post it and I told him I didn't know it was not in the public domain. Out of respect for his wishes, I deleted it.
Around the same time Paul Turner came on the thread and said he's be peeved if someone posted his photo of the blue/red map here, and I responded to Paul that I'd certainly respect his wishes, as well.
Shortly after that, someone posted the blue/red map here.
I would appreciate you correcting your previous post.
Thank you.
As regards some of your other questions, let me point you to this Tillinghast article from March 23, 1913, that describes the work that had been done by that time and the names of the men involved.
As regards Colt's visit, I'm not sure the original source but a number of accounts mentioned that Harry Colt's visit in late May, 1913 was to inspect the courses at Merion and Seaview, and that Crump had convinced him to come down. Tom Paul believes that Colt stayed with Hugh Wilson while in town, which would make sense as he likely looked Colt up during his visit abroad.
First, I find it interesting that zillionaire Clarence Geist would have asked Wilson to create his dream resort course at Seaview (which based on the articles seems to already be in some type of rough existence by March 1913) if he had no prior architectural experience at that time (Merion East had opened a mere seven months prior). Joe and I have looked for any articles indicating Colt's involvement in that course to no avail yet.
Second, it might be informative for us to ask Paul Turner if he knows of any stick routings Colt may have done, or any drawings not in blue light pencil, or any drawings on topos of land he's never seen prior. I don't know the answers but I'm quite sure Paul does.
In any case, here is the article to help with your timeline.
Tom MacWood,
I'm glad you believe that and it explains the disagreements we've had here.
Truly, with the exception of David, and possibly Patrick (sometimes I think he just likes to argue), I'm really not sure you guys have convinced anyone else.
That's ok...as I said, I appreciate your research, and I'm quite sure we'll keep coming to different conclusions in the future, but at least I think we can talk with a degree of civility.
Tom Paul,
In your description of events posted here by Bob Huntley, I believe you made one mistake.
You mention that Tillinghast wrote an article (which I just posted above) in "May, 1913" describing some of the holes.
As you see, it was published on March 13th, 1913, which means that the holes were conceived (and routing drawn) at least two months prior, likely early March 1913. I would suggest their conception may have even preceded the creation of the March topographical map, as tree clearing had already begun before then, which to me would indicate that he routed those holes through walking the property first, and then transposing them to the map later after it had been created..
You mentioned that the March stick-drawing map has a notation on the top which reads;
“Am not sure if the greens are marked on this map where I marked them on the ground - GAC”
This to me strongly suggests that he and his committee had already been out locating and staking out these holes ON THE GROUND prior to the creation of any topo map that has been produced to date with a scale suitable for routing a golf course on.
In fact, it virtually proves that Crump staked out these holes first on the ground and THEN they tried to transpose them to the map and not visa versa. Frankly, based on the evidence I can't imagine another plausible scenario, although I'm quite sure someone here who "logically" can't accept Crump's authorship will try to come up with one. I think the critically ill patient just made an amazing recovery.