Very nice pictures, Richard. Brings back good memories of my only round at Stamford, a year ago this October, with the colors in the surrounding hills just spectacular.
The Travis Society has solid documentation verifying Travis' work on the Stamford course in 1923. It was clearly a redesign. Some reports suggest that it involved all 18 holes, but there is no clear evidence to support that conclusion. We have had an extensive exchange of information with a gentleman who grew up on the course and is currently developing a history of the course. His records indicate that an original 9 holes were laid out by a "Mr. Stark" in 1907 and opened in 1908. It was at a different location that the current course. Regarding the current course, his records indicate that changes have been made in the routing, e.g. the original first hole becoming today's 4th. He cites reports that suggest today's 17th did not exist in the original Travis layout. Also, modifications were made to the 10th hole when two holes were merged to make the current par 5 10. There are several other changes pointed out by this gentleman including his claim that the wild #16th green was created "as a joke" by the superintendent in the "70s/'80s.
Bottom-line is that, at this point, Stamford appears to be a mish-mash of holes with many changes from the layout created by Travis, from the '30s, the '60s-'80s. The green that I would bet my last dollar on as a Travis creation is #15. That is a beautiful green complex with very interesting internal contours, and the surrounds indicate that it was heavily bunkered. The punchbowl 14th reminds me of the 14th at Yahnundasis, and the swale #12 at Stamford appears to be pure Travis. In addition, I am absolutely certain that the "chocolate drops" in the 16th fairway at Stamford are the work of Travis. Very typical of the courses he designed in the '20s. There are other features on the course that are likely to be the work of Walter Travis, but we can't be certain. I am hopeful that with all this attention that Stamford has received over the past couple of years, someone will find a Travis layout of the course in some dank and dark attic.
I hope others take a trip down to Stamford to play the course. Though suffering from very low budget maintenance, it is fun. I have to return, because I wasn't able to stay for a drink on the porch overlooking that beautiful valley.