Just how bad was Donald Ross' stab at Banff?

[Jeffrey Prest]

I see the topic has been covered here in the past but having read a Montreal Gazette article on golfing in the Rockies, I was struck by this paragraph:

Ross's course in Banff fell short of expectations, but Thompson earned raves for his achievement at Jasper Park Lodge. So envious was Banff that it hired Thompson to redo Ross's work and spare no expense.

Just wondered if this was a fair reflection of what happened. Not used to seeing Ross cast as the villain.

[Tom MacWood]

I'd like to know more about that, it's not well documented.

From what I understand there was 9-hole course built in 1911, and then Ross expanded it to 18 in 1919, and then Thompson worked his magic in 1927. I can't imagine Ross dropped the ball in 1919, but who knows, execution may have been the problem.