George Bahto

[Tyler Kearns]

Very sad news.  I never had the pleasure of meeting George, but corresponded with him a few times, and his passion and enthusiasm for golf course architecture was clearly evident.  I am very thankful that he poured that passion into The Evangelist of Golf, a precious tome in any golf architecture library.  

My sincerest condolences to the Bahto family.

[Patrick_Sisk,_CGCS]

I met George in 1996 while I was the superintendent of Country Club of Fairfield.  This larger than life, walking cartoon character of a man pulled up to my shop one cool spring afternoon, jumped out of his car and proclaimed “You’ve got a Raynor and I need to see it!”  Six hours later we said our good-byes and my professional life was changed...forever.

The “art” of the golf course is what drew me into my profession.  George helped me think about and understand the men behind the art.  He introduced me to the study of golf course architecture, which, at the time, seemed light years off of anyone’s radar.  He was obviously passionate about this topic but he was also patient and humble as he delved deeper and deeper into his topic.

Although we haven’t talked in a few years I think of him often.  George Bahto, nearly single handedly, started the golf course architecture renaissance and for that we all owe him a great debt of gratitude.  I’m so happy that, finally, he may have the opportunity to sit down with CB, Seth and Charlie to get the real story.

RIP Old Friend

[Dan Kelly]

Sincere condolences to the Bahto family. I never had the privilege of meeting George -- but felt affection for him nonetheless, from the words and pictures here and in his fine book about Macdonald and Raynor.

He set an extremely fine example for all of us "young" guys, didn't he?

Like Jason, I loved the story of his marking the center of the Redan at Bandon. I will remember that tear in his eye with one in mine.

Dan

[PCCraig]

A very sad day. George lived a full life, raised a family, and was able to live out his dreams...what more can you ask for? Just a great person and an inspiration for many. I hope someone will put the finishing touches on his Raynor book in order to deepen his already significant contribution to golf. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[Mike Sweeney]

From Brad Klein's article:

Bahto also had a hand in the design business. He worked closely with architect Gil Hanse on the restoration of Essex County Country Club (West Orange, N.J.), and three New York courses: The Creek Club (Locust Valley), Sleepy Hollow Country Club (Scarborough) and Westhampton Country Club. Bahto even landed a solo design/build project, Stonebridge Golf Links Country Club in Hauppauge, N.Y.

I think we can also add The Knoll in New Jersey which was the catalyst to George's second career. I just need to play Westhampton to complete the "Bahto Slam".

[Jerry Kluger]

George loved golf and he loved people - he was a dear friend who I will miss forever.  Rest in peace. 

[Tim Martin]

Condolences to George's immediate and extended family. Although I never had the good fortune to meet George he was very kind and patient with me in a few emails that we traded about Yale a number of years ago. He had the answers to all my questions and offered them with as much grace and eagerness as one could hope for. Personally I have never struggled with the notion that Macdonald and Raynor were and are my hands down favorites and to that end George was the man. I truly hope that someone can jump in and complete his work on the Raynor project. RIP George.

[Robert Thompson]

Having read George's work and spent time with people who knew him well, I think it is safe to say there are few in the industry who garnered more genuine respect. His work on Macdonald will be a tribute to his vision and perseverance for future generations because it is such a commanding project. It'll be his legacy in many ways -- one that time won't change -- and when we're gone few of us will be lucky enough to have such an accomplishment in our pasts.

He'll be missed, but by the sounds of it he lived life on his terms, which is remarkable and praiseworthy.

[Mark Hissey]

Departed but never forgotten. I am assuming that George has some plan to continue to give to golf. I look forward to learning what we can do to support that plan from George's family. Last summer George had such a twinkle in his eye when we were talking in his workshop and said he hoped to be able to share exciting news in a few months. I hope George has chosen to share his secret before he left us. We'll miss you friend.

George was working with us on the plan for the new Lido. He was incredibly excited about it. His legacy will be preserved in that project. It was his passion.

[JeffTodd]

Even as a "sometimes" poster and long time reader of GCA, George was a well known and well appreciated contributor from my point of view. May he rest in peace.
 

[ed_getka]

Departed but never forgotten. I am assuming that George has some plan to continue to give to golf. I look forward to learning what we can do to support that plan from George's family. Last summer George had such a twinkle in his eye when we were talking in his workshop and said he hoped to be able to share exciting news in a few months. I hope George has chosen to share his secret before he left us. We'll miss you friend.

George was working with us on the plan for the new Lido. He was incredibly excited about it. His legacy will be preserved in that project. It was his passion.

Aha. That explains the twinkle in George's eye last summer. I knew it had to be a pretty cool project.

[David Kelly]

RIP.  George went out and accomplished what so many others only talked or dreamed about.

[mike_malone]

We are losing gca guys like my dad's foursome. My sympathies to George's family. I was lucky to get an NGLA lunch talk from George

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

My condolences to George's family.

George was passionate about his pursuits. I have some wonderful memories of traveling with and talking with him about Macdonald, Raynor and topics beyond golf.

Anthony

[Gib_Papazian]

Gentlemen,

I will be there Friday and Saturday for the service. PM me if you are coming.

-gib

[Bill Brightly]

From the Newark Star Legder:

George Bahto, 83, of Pine Brook NJ passed away on Tuesday March 18,2014.

Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ.  A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 9:45 a.m. at St. Thomas Mooe R.C. Church in Fairfield, N.J.

Here is the full obituary:

http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?pid=170247087

[Michael J. Moss]

I have been absent from the GCA website for a while and therefore had no idea that George was even ill.

But I’d like to share the following…

Back in 2002, I enlisted Daniel Wexler to help me research Sunningdale Country Club’s architectural history as our Club’s archives were in a word, nonexistent.  Our oral history had it that Sunningdale was an AW Tillinghast design, but that just didn’t feel right. Dan suggested I head over to the local library and fish around.  As fate would have it, I found on microfiche a 1916 Scarsdale Inquirer article that confirmed the hiring of Seth J. Raynor to lay out the course and supervise its construction. I still remember my excitement!

 I saved a copy of an email that Dan sent me soon after…

Sent: Friday, October 25, 2002 2:39 PM
To: Mike.Moss@ox.com
Subject: Re: Sunningdale CC- Scarsdale, NY

Hi Mike.

Okay, by now I believe that my friend George Bahto has been in touch with you.  George is THE Seth Raynor man and being the overly dedicated gent that he is he will now likely do all of your legwork for you.  If Raynor was involved (and it now seems, thanks to your discovery, that he was), George will get to the bottom of it.

I love Dan’s description, “being the overly dedicated gent that he is…”

He was indeed!

I will not soon forget the fun I had at a NY City restaurant with George and Ken Bakst poring over a large 1926 aerial of Sunningdale’s course trying to identify the “greatest hole” strategies. We found all usual suspects including a version of the “Bottle,” as George pointed out, how could this new Sunningdale course not include this strategy from its London namesake. (George preferred calling them “strategies” over “templates,” right?)

His enthusiasm and energy were infectious. He was just a lovely, lovely man!

I will miss our Uncle George.

[Neil Regan]

George's daughter Pam has asked that this be posted.

She had wanted to reach out individually to George's golf friends, but,
well, there are just too many.
So they decided to put this up here on GCA, but please do not re-post on Facebook, Twitter or other very public sites.
The visiting hours and funeral mass are as posted above in #168.
After the mass, the Bahto family invites any of George's friends here to join the family
at Hanover Manor, not far from the church, at noon, to remember George with joy and good stories. The address is Hanover Manor, 16 Eagle Rock Avenue, East Hanover, NJ 07936.
Please also tell any of George's friends who you think might miss this post.

[Paul Jones]

Prayers will go out to George and his loved ones. I am sure Tiger Bernhardt was waiting to discuss golf with him in heaven.

[Bill_McBride]

Prayers will go out to George and his loved ones. I am sure Tiger Bernhardt was waiting to discuss golf with him in heaven.

I'm sure that was true, Paul.  Nice thought about two great guys. 

[Bill Brightly]

Let's pray that George meets CBM and Seth. Can you imagine THAT conversation!

[Sean Walsh]

I hardly knew George, met him once at the Renaissance Club meet and greet. I can't give any anecdote about my interactions with him.  What I can say is that the esteem with which he was obviously held by many on this site, along with his achievements in the Golf Architecture field speak volumes. 

The quote from Ran in Brad Klein's article “Bahto did more after he was 65, than most people do in getting to 65" got me thinking about anything this site could do to mark his passing.

I came up with 2 options:

An award for any member not directly involved in the golf industry making an extraordinary contribution to Golf Course Architecture.  This would not be a annual award but would receive nominations for consideration annually.

A fund setup to assist with continuing any work left unfinished by Mr Bahto

[Neil Regan]

A repeat post, in case it slipped by.

George's daughter Pam has asked that this be posted.

She had wanted to reach out individually to George's golf friends, but,
well, there are just too many.
So they decided to put this up here on GCA, but please do not re-post on Facebook, Twitter or other very public sites.
The visiting hours and funeral mass are as posted above in #168.
(Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ.
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 9:45 a.m. at St. Thomas Mooe R.C. Church in Fairfield, N.J.)
After the mass, the Bahto family invites any of George's friends here to join the family
at Hanover Manor, not far from the church, at noon, to remember George with joy and good stories. The address is Hanover Manor, 16 Eagle Rock Avenue, East Hanover, NJ 07936.
Please also tell any of George's friends who you think might miss this post.

[Dan Herrmann]

To George's family:  May you find peace in your time of healing.  May you find calm, knowing that George was loved by many and respected by all.    And in your tears, the joy of knowing the richness of the life that George lived.

[Jud_T]

The quote from Ran in Brad Klein's article “Bahto did more after he was 65, than most people do in getting to 65" got me thinking about anything this site could do to mark his passing.

I came up with 2 options:

An award for any member not directly involved in the golf industry making an extraordinary contribution to Golf Course Architecture.  This would not be a annual award but would receive nominations for consideration annually.

A fund setup to assist with continuing any work left unfinished by Mr Bahto

Sean,

Nice ideas.  I wonder how far along he was on the Raynor book and whether someone qualified might be able to finish it and get it published?  I also propose that any GCA outing at or involving a MacRaynorBanks course from this day forward be referred to as the Bahto Baffie, or something honoring George's memory and contribution.