The Country Club - ca. 1908

[Jim_Kennedy]

I thought these were some interesting photos of three new holes built at Brookline in 1908. Construction of the new holes was carried out chiefly under the direction of G. Herbert Windeler and Herbert Jaques. The members came up with 13k which was given to the Trustees, but the whole project was going to cost 'something more' than 30k.

Looks like a lot of grubbing and filling, and I wonder how frequently railroad ties were used in the USA at the turn of the 20th century?

Got a kick out of the reference to the 'Scottish' look of #2.  
  

From the teeing ground of the first new hole stretched the fair green already looking verdant, smooth and playable with the brooks to be carried with the first and second shots and the outline of the bunkers distinctly visible. Nearly a third of a mile away through a delightful vista could be seen the putting green on higher land than the undulating fairway. “Three good shots” one would say at once, or for a very long player, “two and a mid iron”









Then the second new hole, a short one which is sure to become famous. Here the difficulties of construction were fully as great as at the first hole. Where the green now is formerly was an uncompromising marsh. This was filled with the stone from the blasting operations. The green sets high and is banked by railway sleepers. The shot must land the ball on the green for to be short means burial in the trench filled with sand at the base of the sleepers which rise perpendicularly; on the right is a brook and beyond the green are woods which will be out of bounds. A very pretty iron shot hole which suggests the __________ at __________, but we will not mention Scottish links.






The third new hole will require two good shots and will bring the back to the old course. Traps trees will be the hazards at all of the holes. With these new holes The Country Club will have a links of championship length and one of the best of its kind. The tame holes at the beginning of the round will be done with and some of the others will be improved by utilizing this additional room. Perhaps no golf committee is more up to date than that of Country Club in knowledge of  how to bunker a links and of details of upkeep.

[Brad Tufts]

So where are these holes today?

Members routing 11/12/13?

The "first hole" above looks like the rocky par five (par 4 in the new composite).

The "second hole" looks vaguely like members #12...and that green sits in a marshy area.

The last photo looks like the land containing the current #13 members (#10 composite) green.

[Tom Bagley]

Brad:
You are correct.  Interesting that the members' 12th had sleepers buttressing the green.  The green looks lower and larger than the current green.  Perhaps William Flynn made changes to it during his later renovations.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Brad:
You are correct.  Interesting that the members' 12th had sleepers buttressing the green.  The green looks lower and larger than the current green.  Perhaps William Flynn made changes to it during his later renovations.

That type of green doesn't seem like one that would make it into Flynn's inventory, it's just too abrupt. If Flynn tied it in to the surrounds he would have needed more fill (swampy area to begin with). Most likely outcome would be a higher and smaller green than the one shown in the photo.

[John Ezekowitz]

I wouldn't be surprised if the green at 12 members hadn't shrunk in recent times. It looks like the pad is bigger than what is currently kept as green. Obviously, it is significantly smaller than it was in 1908.

Does anyone know how the routing of the course for the 1913 Open compares to the current Clyde and Squirrel (Members' course) nines? If Frost's descriptions in The Greatest Game are to be believed, 1, 17 and 18 match up to the current first, 17th and 18th holes.

(Edit: I should probably read the course profile before I ask questions. Apologies)

[Brad Tufts]

From Ran's updated review of TCC:

Ouimet’s 1913 U.S. Open preceded Flynn’s work so all of the holes from the Clyde and Squirrel nines were used. It is worth noting that Ouimet won over the following sequence of today’s member holes: 1-8, 11,12, 13, 9, 10, 14-18.