Golf courses and war

[BHoover]

So I've been thinking about how to start a new topic that combines my two interests--history and golf. One of the questions that has always been fascinating to me is how golf courses have been impacted by war? As the years since the war(s) has passed, the question then becomes whether and how those courses continue to show scars or impact of their wartime experience?

I'm thinking that most courses impacted by war would be found in the UK and in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, although I'm sure there may be others. For example, I know that Turnberry was used as an RAF airbase during WWII, and remnants of the runway still can be seen on the course. I think we'd be hard-pressed to find a course here in the USA that bears wartime scars--although, I'd be happy to be surprised.

Does anyone out there have any stories or, better yet, photos of courses that still show signs of wartime? For example, are there courses in France that show remnants of the Atlantic Wall? Anyone have any thoughts?

[Niall C]

Brian

Not sure about WWII but during WWI many courses had to be wholly or at least partially turned over for food production while many of the seaside course, Turnberry you've mentioned, were either used as airfields or training camps for troops. As to how many still bear the scars, I suspect not a lot as courses affected in WWI would have been tweaked/redesigned since then anyway. That said at Killermont, they only recently got round to filling in the shell hole from a stray German bomb from WWII.

Niall

[Adam Lawrence]

Royal Jersey's terrifying first hole bears the imprint of TWO wars! The Napoleonic Wars era fort that now serves as the greenkeeping compound sits to the left of the fairway, while the sea wall was constructed by the Germans during their occupation of the island in WW2. Between them sits the fairway. I think it's the scariest opening tee shot in golf, even more so than Prestwick.

[Tom_Doak]

Brian:

There is lots of evidence of W.W. II on the links in Europe and even in Britain ... I've been told that this or that bunker is the result of a bomb crater, and there are coastal defense bunkers of brick or concrete in many spots [I remember one at Burnham & Berrow, but there's also one behind the 10th tee at The Renaissance Club].  For that matter, part of Royal Portrush is set in an area known as the "War Hollow," where there was a skirmish back in the 1600's I believe, but I don't know if there is any physical evidence of such.

There are some courses in America with remnants from the Civil War ... Cape Fear in N.C. had a line of mounding between two holes that was built for defense.  And I believe there are a couple of courses in New England with Revolutionary War elements as well.

[BHoover]

Here are a couple photos (courtesy of Thomas Dai's recent photo tour) from Royal Jersey, which show the bunker built by the Germans during the occupation.

You can see the bunker in the center of the photo.


The bunker is on the right of the photo.


I find this kind of quirk fascinating.

[Jim Nelson]

Since you didn't put a time limit on this, how about the Viking burial mound on 17 at Cruden Bay?  I had to hit off the side of it which produced a poor result.  Were my ancient ancestors unhappy?

[BHoover]

No time limit. I would be interested in learning about how historical features, particularly relics from wartime, impact GCA.

[Tim Johnson]

Gullane #1 has concrete blocks to the right of the 12th tee that were placed there as a defence for the tanks that could have come a shore. Not sure if I have seen that at other courses during my travels in Ireland.

I remember seeing a clip years ago of, I believe Turnberry, where rocks were placed spelling out EIRE so the pilots would know they have reach Ireland. Did a quick search but could find the video onlone.

[Nigel Islam]

New South Wales and St. Michael's were used ny the military in WW2, I believe. The non-golf bunker at the Greenbrier could qualify as well.

[Thomas Dai]

Royal Jersey's terrifying first hole bears the imprint of TWO wars! The Napoleonic Wars era fort that now serves as the greenkeeping compound sits to the left of the fairway, while the sea wall was constructed by the Germans during their occupation of the island in WW2. Between them sits the fairway. I think it's the scariest opening tee shot in golf, even more so than Prestwick.

Brian,

Adam is spot on about Royal Jersey - here's a post I did a while ago - http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,55239.msg1279934.html#msg1279934 - yee bigge olde castle on the high headland hill in the distance is a wee bit older than the fortified structures next to the beach!

As Adam rightly says, the opening shot at RJGC is indeed a very scary tee-shot, especially as the prevailing wind is left-to-right. I have not been to Pebble Beach, but jeez, if the views at PB are better than those at RJGC they must be something really, really special. One of my favourite courses. I can be a bit boastful now, I split the middle of the fairway with a ripper of a drive. My playing partner, alas, blocked two onto the beach. Fore!

In the first photo you've re-posted, taken from the 1st tee, the large tower on the left of the fairway, the one with the flagpole on top, is originally of British/French design, later modified by some German visitors. The smaller concrete building visible above the shore line, of which there are more than one, and can also be viewed to the right in the second re-posted photo, is of exclusive German design, although labour from several other countries may well have helped with it's construction.

In the second photo, in the far distance you will see a smallish tower. This is from an earlier period in history when British-French-etc relations were not at there, well um, best. You can walk out to this tower at low tide. I believe you can also stay the night if you fail to adhere to the tide times.

The other of the two larger Channel Isles, which actually lie much closer to France than Great Britain, let's not get into that one, is Guernsey. There is a post by Melvyn Morrow about Royal Guernsey GC where various fortifications from various ages are prominent - http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48020.0.html - and if you read my RJGC post you'll see mention by Bob Huntley of an earlier written piece by him about RGGC, one that unfortunately, the search engine doesn't seem to be able to locate it.

As to another course, Royal Aberdeen had WWII concrete pill-boxes of British design built on the dune-line above the beach. One was roughly level with the 2nd hole, another was level with the 5th hole, where the stream that crosses the 14th and 5th holes exits into the sea, and a further one was level with the 9th hole, where again a stream exits into the North Sea. I believe a minefield was also laid to the right of the 5th hole as well, out-of-bound presumably, and that at some stage the 1st fairway was used as a rifle range. The pill-boxes are now lying on the beach, a victim of crumbling dunes and coastal erosion. Murcar GC, immediately adjacent to the north of RAGC, probably had pill-boxes etc as well. There were also some up Balmedie way as well - decommissioned now though, perhaps fortunately for the sake of a recent overseas interloper. The Balnagask/Nigg Bay course, on the high cliffs south of Aberdeen, was very extensively used and fortified by the forces in WWII. I'm sure someone can add to these brief comments.

Most UK courses, especially east course links ones, would have had various measures installed to deter potential interlopers during WWII (and at times of previous international disagreements). Some had existing fortifications enhanced, some had anti-aircraft guns, some as mentioned above had minefields laid, some had barbed-wire fences installed, some had anti-glider landing measures, some planted crops, some were used for training (eg tank training on Fowlers West course at Saunton), some had airfields built on them, some had temporary tented troop encampments, some were requisitioned to build barracks and hospitals etc. I have even heard a story of a young fighter pilot member at Princes running out of fuel over the sea and landing on the Princes course! I wonder if he had his clubs with him? You should certainly get few extra stableford points for such an achievement!

A fascinating subject. I wish you all the best with your research. PM me if you wish and I'll try to be of more help.

All the best.

Edit/addition - reading the comments within the other posts below has reminded me that Tadmarton Heath was apparently re-built after WWII using POW labour. I wouldn't be surprised if some other UK courses weren't also.

[R_Paulis]

During WWII a Japanese submarine surfaced off the coast of Santa Barbara County firing shells at an oil field. Very little damage occurred to the coastline where Sandpiper GC is now located. Lore has it that the submarine captain fired on the area in retribution for being mocked when he visited the area in the 1930's as a captain of an oil tanker. It is said that oil workers laughed after the captain fell on a cactus along what is now the 11th hole of Sandpiper. I'm not buying into the cactus episode but the only attack on the US mainland by the Japanese Navy is a fascinating piece of history.

[Joe_Tucholski]

ANGC has a bit of history with war.  Like many courses in the US livestock were introduced on the grounds to decrease mowing maintenance and provide food during WWII.  ANGC started with cows then moved to turkeys.  Also read that a group of german POWs built a bridge over Rae’s Creek on the 13th hole (no longer present).

The course on Ft. Gordon was also built with proceeds from the Masters.

Interestingly enough I recently bought a book called "when war played through: golf during world war ii" but haven't read it yet.


Also wrote about walking around the concentration camp that borders Hoge Kleij golf course in the BUDA thread.

[Steve Okula]

In the clubhouse at Mofontaine in France there is a photo of people with their golf clubs dismounting from what looks like a charcoal or wood powered bus in front of the same clubhouse. A caption identifies it as 1943, during the German occupation. I wish I had more detail, but it seems that Morfontaine at least managed to stay open through the war. I'm sure that would be an interesting story.

[Bill_McBride]

There is a big concrete bunker to the right of the 16th fairway at Deal (Royal Cinque Ports), well into the rough.  You can go inside and look out the gun ports to see the English Channel peeping over the sea wall. 

[Craig Disher]

A prominent concrete bunker sits off the left of the 4th fairway at Rye. Although evidence is hard to see, the large grass bunker on the left of the 18th fairway contained an AA battery during WWII. I was told that much of the battery is still there under a few feet of earth - it was too difficult to remove all the concrete and metal.

In the US, one of our greatest courses was lost due to WWII. The Navy took over the Lido GC for a training site in 1942; the activity completely obliterated the course.

[Joe Bausch]

Perhaps not exactly what your are looking for Brian, but what could have been the very first course in the Philadelphia area, called Shenley Pines, had some interesting features like trenches used by the Continental Army in the Battle of Germantown during the Revolutionary War.

Shenley Pines is long gone. 

Here is the article from the Public Ledger (in 1922):

[Carl Rogers]

The property of Nansemond River Course in Suffolk, VA has Civil War  trenches and a dug in artillery positions.  They are not part of the course.  See siege of Suffolk.

[Mac Plumart]

East Lake has a civil war trench that cuts across the 8th fairway and currently looks like a diagonal swale cutting across the hole.

[BHoover]

Great posts thus far, guys. Very interesting.

I know it's no part of the course, but I believe that the Lusitania was torpedoed not far off the coast of Ireland near Old Head. In fact, I think the U-boat sheltered in an inlet below the cliffs.

Keep em coming!

[BCrosby]

A prominent concrete bunker sits off the left of the 4th fairway at Rye. Although evidence is hard to see, the large grass bunker on the left of the 18th fairway contained an AA battery during WWII. I was told that much of the battery is still there under a few feet of earth - it was too difficult to remove all the concrete and metal.

Craig -

I had always understood that the Rye clubhouse was bombed by the Nazis and then rebuilt a couple of times since.

Princes never recovered form WWII. The three nines there now have little in common with the pre-war course. As I recall it was used by the RAF as a bombing/strafing training area. It would be interesting to know how its close neighbors RSG and Deal escaped that fate.

I did not know that about Lido. But wasn't it largely gone by then in any event?

Bob

[mike_beene]

Perhaps someone can say for sure, but I believe there are concrete barriers along the firth at Gullane that were constructed during WWII to disrupt an enemy landing

[Craig Disher]

Craig -

I had always understood that the Rye clubhouse was bombed by the Nazis and then rebuilt a couple of times since.

Princes never recovered form WWII. The three nines there now have little in common with the pre-war course. As I recall it was used by the RAF as a bombing/strafing training area. It would be interesting to know how its close neighbors RSG and Deal escaped that fate.

I did not know that about Lido. But wasn't it largely gone by then in any event?

Bob

The clubhouse was hit by a stray bomb or two during the war and remained in a damaged state for years after. The clubhouse was repaired, not rebuilt, and has been added to a few times. It's generally accepted that the clubhouse wasn't an initial target but was a convenient place for German bombers to dump excess ordnance on their return to the continent. There is a photograph from the late 1940s in the clubhouse that shows a still-damaged clubhouse - possibly uninhabitable - with golfers playing on the 18th green.

Lido GC was in great shape in 1940-1. By 1943 the Navy had excavated the center of the course and at the end of the war it was hard to tell a golf course had been there at all - military buildings covered the site except for the north end where the lagoon and the channel hole survived for a while.

[Steve Wilson]

During the recent BUDA it was pointed out that at Kennemer  the Germans had built upwards of a hundred bunkers and other fortifications as part of the Atlantic Wall.  Many are still there but are not prominent or obvious.  I think I got a picture of the entrance to one of them.  If I did and if I can find it and I master posting photos I'll post it to this thread.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Brian,

I share your interests.

Gullane # 1 still has the cement block tank traps and landing obstacles strewn about the area of the beach.
When I was playing there I had a flashback to what it must have been like for those folks living there in the early 40's.

Turnberry has the remnants of the airstrips used by the bombers in WWII.

When I saw those remnants, I inquired further and was told that the bomber fields were on the west coast and the fighter fields on the East coast such that the fighters could meet and repel any attacks before they could get inland and before they could get to the bomber fields on the west coast.

Google earth is down right now, but you might want to try it to see if you can locate those features.

Good Luck

If I remember correctly there was an obelisk commemorating the pilots on the grounds at Turnberry.

[James Boon]

Brian,

A fascinating topic! A few further points regarding courses already mentioned:

Burnham & Berrow has a small brick bunker on the left of 6th hole that looks out to sea. It also used to have one on the 10th hole, just beyond the large dune that you drive over. This bunker would have been looking out across the low ground beyond the dunes, to fire on any invaders coming off the beach. This later bunker though was removed some years ago as it did get in the way of playing the hole a little.

The whole of the Saunton area was taken over as a battle ground training area, predominantly by American tanks in preparation for the liberation of Europe. The East course however was back up and running by 1952, with some help from POWs. The west course didnt reopen until the 1970 when Frank Pennink was brought in. It is said by some that the ridges along the 8th fairway on the west course are old tank tracks that have not been covered over?

Turnberry again became an airfield at the start of the second world war, with the hotel becoming a hospital. It was used by the RAF for training, specifically the bombing and torpedoing of shipping under the guidance of Coastal Command. This was mainly the smaller twin engined bombers such as Beauforts and Hampdens. Later in the war, it became a base for air sea rescue training. There were 3 runways in a triangular formation and as has been pointed out there is a memorial to the right of the 12th green on the Ailsa course.

Cheers,

James