This course first appeared in the 1923 golf guide (but not in the earlier guides), which makes sense based on the articles and when the course was actually ready, and the entry has the club being founded in 1920, which also matches the articles. Why did it takes so long to build nine holes? Was it a difficult site?
Ross did not list Hamilton County on his pamphlet from the late 20s. A couple of potential reasons: his organization did not construct the course and therefore he wasn't confident in the final product or one of his associates (Hatch or McGovern) actually designed the course. I have found several nine hole courses attributed to Ross were actually designed by one of his associates and he never listed them. Two good examples are Lancaster (McGovern) and Whitinsville (Hatch).
Tom,
Perhaps the pace of construction was partly due to the change of ownership and possibly due to concerns over spending money.
Although it appears that Ross planned the course I haven't found anything placing him or one of his people at the site for the construction.
Some things I have found are:
In April of 1915 Mr. W. Barlow Dunlap and others purchased the Morley Hotel (AKA Hamilton County Club & Lake Pleasant GC) out of foreclosure. Shortly thereafter, on May 10, 1916, it was reported that the hotel burnt down and that it was to be rebuilt immediately
if the insurance case was settled by June of the same year
and a new building could be
"put in readiness" by July. If not they would wait until later in the season to proceed with the work as they still had an inn, seven cottages, and tents that could accommodate 75 to 80 guests. They waited, yet by May of 1917 construction on the new hotel had progressed far enough that plasterers were being brought in for the interior work, and by July 1st the hotel was re-opened for business. The new Morley Hotel Co. was chartered
"with a capital stock of $50,000". By 1918 the hotel had built a new dock on their lakefront, a "clock" golf course, and a 50'x100'concrete garage.
The first mention of Donald Ross appeared in the Morning Herald of Thursday, August 7, 1919, but the article was chiefly about the Banker's Association and their pursuit of the hotel and its property for use as a country club. This group asked W. Barlow Dunlap (of The Morley Hotel Co.) for a statement of all the property owned by MHC and also for a purchase option. The paragraph about Ross in the article reads:
"A nine hole golf course has been surveyed and laid out by Donald J.Ross, a noted golf architect, who states it was one of the best-natural courses he had ever laid out, and one that can easily be built. There is ample land for an eighteen hole course if desired." This is the earliest mention of Ross and the golf course that I have found.
The sale transpired and The Hamilton County Club was chartered by the Sec'y. of NY State in 1920, for the purpose of
"taking over the holdings of The Morley Hotel Co.", and the HCC named W. Barlow Dunlap (he of the Morley Hotel Co.) the V.P. of the new organization. . Clearing of the land and construction of the golf course began in the fall of 1920. Two of the greens were built and seeded by the end of the season and additional construction was scheduled to begin the next year.
As 1921 rolled in one of the first policies of the new owners was to reduce the rates at the hotel, bringing them in line with the economic state of the country at that time. The club also hired their first Pro in May, 1921. His name was Channing Floyd and one of his tasks was to finish construction of the course. By July of 1923 the club had seven holes in play. I haven't found any info about the other two.
Floyd was quite a guy. He grew up in Chicago, caddied at the Washington Park course, and had a very respectable amateur record before he became a club pro. His career took him to places like Yountakah, Lake Placid GC, Lake Champlain Club, Nick Stoner GC, Caroga GC, Cobleskill GC in 1947, and then returning to the Hamilton County Club in the early '50s for a short stint before ending up at Kingsboro GC. He was also an author, a designer of courses, an inventor, and a champion billiard player. This guy had skills!
Channing Floyd passed away in 1961 at the age of 78. His nickname was "Mr.Golf" and he was considered to be the dean of golf professionals in the Eastern NY section.
p.s While digging for the above info I came across this humorous little nugget:
