Cobb's Creek restoration: TGC Morning Drive programming update

[Joe Bausch]

It is exciting times for all of us that have worked so hard on this project.  Please see Joe Logan's very recent update that begins this way:

Big changes could be coming to Cobbs Creek GC.
 
Nothing has been finalized – or at least not officially announced – but for months now, talk of a major restoration at Cobbs Creek, the city-owned course in West Philadelphia, have inched closer and closer to reality.

Go here for the entire article and accompanying videos:

http://myphillygolf.com/detail.asp?id=13153

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

What a journey it has been for us, Mr. Bausch.  We have come too far not to get it across the finish line!

[Chris Roselle]

All I can say is I hope I still am a member of the Golf Association staff when this dream becomes a reality.

[mike_malone]

 I understand #14 Karakung could go; that's fine but #15 and #18 are cool holes.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I received a "heads up" from Mike Cirba recently so this doesn't come as surprise.

I shall return, as MacArthur said, for the grand opening whenever it happens. I can't wait.

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Joe and Mike,

What great news!

I pray that this comes to fruition. What a great story it will be. I do wish that the author mentioned the other collaborators who all had a hand in designing  Cobb's Creek other than Wilson but I'm sure that the story will get out in time.

I look forward to teeing it up with you guys on the completed project!

Malcolm

[Chris Roselle]

Joe and Mike,

What great news!

I pray that this comes to fruition. What a great story it will be. I do wish that the author mentioned the other collaborators who all had a hand in designing  Cobb's Creek other than Wilson but I'm sure that the story will get out in time.

I look forward to teeing it with you guys on the completed project!


Malcolm

I looked through a bunch of the GAP archives for the project
and those that collaborated with Wilson are a Who's Who of the all time great architects of the Golden Age...

[Joe Bausch]

Joe and Mike,

What great news!

I pray that this comes to fruition. What a great story it will be. I do wish that the author mentioned the other collaborators who all had a hand in designing  Cobb's Creek other than Wilson but I'm sure that the story will get out in time.

I look forward to teeing it with you guys on the completed project!


Malcolm

I looked through a bunch of the GAP archives for the project
and those that collaborated with Wilson are a Who's Who of the all time great architects of the Golden Age...

:-)

[Peter Pallotta]

Joe (and Mike) -- Congratulations!!

I didn't think you could do it, and I didn't think it could be done, and I thought you guys made several mistakes/mis-steps along the way.....but I was wrong, and you were right, and I've rarely ever been so pleased to be proved so wrong!!

Good for you, all the best the rest of the way.

Peter

[John Burnes]

Way to go Joe!

[Tim Martin]

Congrats to Professor Bausch and Mike Cirba. They have been tireless advocates for this worthy project and I have my fingers crossed that it will happen.Joe is an amazing and dogged researcher who is just as comfortable pouring through old newspaper articles as he is behind the camera. Hope the next bit of news is that the project is all systems go.

[Mark McKeever]

We're getting closer!!  Maybe an announcement during the Open at Merion?!?!

Great work guys!

Mark

[John Shimony]

Joe and Mike, keep up the great work.  This a worthy project that will benefit the local golfers and community.  Thanks to everyone who is making an effort to complete this project.  Best of luck.  I would love to provide any help that is needed.

[Joe Bausch]

Thanks all.

Newcomers to this project can get a fairly condensed recap from a blog I keep here:

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/focc/Friends_of_Cobbs_Creek/

[Kris Shreiner]

Things look optimistic on this project, but we are at about the 10 yd. line. The last few steps are often the most difficult, but it would really be criminal for this effort to be turned away after all the heavy-lifting and positive collaboration, on many fronts, that has been invested to get us to where we are today. Joe and Mike have indeed been tireless in nurturing along this long-overdue revitalization of a real municipal gem.

The folks at Billy Casper Golf, particularly course superintendent Darren Wondolowski, who has taken a very personal interest in championing the project, deserve kudos. There are others who will be named in the near future that have also been instrumental in advancing this comprehensive plan.

The history and characters surrounding the property, the original 10-year fight for Cobbs inception, and all the other elements that encompass it are a Rocky story in American golf that deserves to be brought back, delivered on and celebrated.

We all eagerly await final approval!

Cheers,
Kris

[Joe Bausch]

If you are an insomniac, perhaps you've waded through the 'tome' called "Cobb's Creek Golf Course:  Uncovering a Treasure" online at Pete Trenham's web site (trenhamgolfhistory.org):

http://trenhamgolfhistory.org/PTHGCobbsCreek.html

It is over 300 pages long, and near the end you'll find preliminary plans from Hanse Golf Course Design for the restoration of Cobb's Creek.  

Please note this preliminary plan has since been refined.  

Note:  this restoration would bring the course back to the routing in 1928, not what it was originally.  The original course had a par 3 (#14) that ran to the southwest (see upper left part of the figure below to imagine it; the par 3 17th hole in the figure below was added around 1926).

This plan is clickable to generate a much larger size:

[mike_malone]

Joe,
 Thanks for the diagram.

[Joe Bausch]

Mayday, I thought you or someone else would have asked about the 'tan holes' on the redone Karakung 9 holes in the right on the diagram above.

 

In order to entertain the possibility of hosting a tournament with big-hitting players, a composite course has been planned.  In this early iteration of such a plan (the plan below has since been modified significantly), note how three holes are part of Karakung and allows a par 70 (+7100 yards):

(this figure is also clickable to bring up a very large version)



Do you know of any composite setup like this utilizing tees and greens on another course (holes 2 and 4 above), but not specific holes on said course?

[Mark McKeever]

Having toured the course across the street, all I can say is that those composite holes are going to be ball busters!!!  I don't know of any other courses that i have ever seen that can literally flip a switch and make a normal 9 holer into a brutal stretch for a tournament.  Its a very cool and unique idea.

Mark

[Brad Tufts]

TCC's composite course combines two holes on the third nine to become composite #11.

400-yd par four + 170 par three = 470ish par four.

Not quite the same, but playing over one green is interesting.

[Joe Bausch]

TCC's composite course combines two holes on the third nine to become composite #11.

400-yd par four + 170 par three = 470ish par four.

Not quite the same, but playing over one green is interesting.

Thanks Brad.

I guess we'll be seeing it in action at the US Am this year!

[Brad Tufts]

I have played the Composite at TCC twice...once for a practice round (a rain delay scared off others that could have gotten in the way), and once in round 2 of the Mass. Amateur in 2010.

The hole that is 2-in-1 plays pretty awkwardly.  The tee shot should be hit with less than driver, which makes more sense for the shorter par four.  With the hole stretching to 450-460, one must hit a longer club, and the tight corridor asks for a 30-40 yard hook to make it happen.  The next hole is a 480 uphill par five that becomes a par four for the composite, and I think the average score on that hole in the Mass. Am. was like 5.2 or something.  Interesting stuff...but feels a bit forced.

Back on topic...looking forward to seeing the revamped Cobb's someday!  Do you foresee "composite days" where the public can test out the championship routing?  I believe TCC members can play the Composite one weekend per month or something.

[Joe Bausch]

.
Back on topic...looking forward to seeing the revamped Cobb's someday!  Do you foresee "composite days" where the public can test out the championship routing?  I believe TCC members can play the Composite one weekend per month or something.

It would be wonderful to be at the point of inquiring whether "composite days" are going to be implemented!  I know I would hope so, at least a few times each golfing season.

[Joe Bausch]

Brad, perhaps Gil and Jim were inspired by their recent work at TCC.

[Chris Roselle]

Joe, I walk by an updated design plan for Cobbs Creek every morning when I arrive at the GAP office and I tell myself I'm one day closer...

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