The Travis Society has a large file of information about Lochmoor Club in its file. It includes a Golf Illustrated article from February 1906, a Brooklyn Eagle article from 8/5/1919, an American Golfer article of Sept 1919, and several articles about John S. Sweeney 1917 and earlier.
Sweeney was a very prominent member, and "scratch" golfer of the CC of Detroit, and worked closely with Colt in the design of the CC of Detroit course. He picked up many ideas of golf course design from Colt and wrote an article published in the Feb. 27, 1916 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that described the principles of golf course design he had learned from the design of the CC of Detroit course. A Brooklyn Eagle article in 1919 described Sweeney's intentions in the design of the Lochmoor Club. The 1919 article reported that "The Lochmoor course, now in its third year, owes its good points largely to Mr. Sweeney. Walter J. Travis, who was retained as consulting architect, was so thoroughly in sympathy with most of the Sweeney plans that he endorsed them".
It is speculative, of course, but I believe that Mr. Sweeney, who was very active on the USGA Green Committee, for several years, knew Travis well, and invited Travis to check out his ideas for the Lochmoor Club course. We have no confirmation of the Cornish/Whitten claim that Colt and Allison were involved at Lochmoor Club. If there is such confirmation, we would appreciate receiving it.
Ed Homsey
www.travissociety.com