Breaking Down the Bendelow List

[Sven Nilsen]

In my mind, there was no more important figure in the growth of golf in the United States than Tom Bendelow.  He is often denigrated for his skill as an architect with the description of "18 stakes on a Sunday afternoon," a label that sells short a career dedicated to bringing the game to the masses.  

The most complete listing of Tom Bendelow's golf courses that I've seen is found at the MSU Turfgrass Information Center (which I understand to have been compiled by Stuart Bendelow from the research he has done on his grandfather's career):

http://golfarchitects.lib.msu.edu/pre-ASGCA/bendelowt/

The list is not perfect, and is far from complete.  The current count is 556 (a remarkable number by itself, especially when compared to the 292 courses noted in Cornish & Whitten).  But considering that Bendelow supposedly passed the 600 mark during the first decade of the last century, we still have some work to do (sources claim the total number to be in the 700's).  Here are a few benchmarks for Bendelow from early in his career:

-From Jan. 1, 1897 to Sept. 2, 1898 he laid out 83 courses.

-In the year leading up to March 19, 1898 he designed 60 courses.
-By Nov. 14, 1905 he was responsible for 395 courses.
-As of March 21, 1913 he had laid out over 350 public golf courses.

My goal for this thread is to provide an update to the current list, to document any contemporaneous reports of his work and to attempt to fill in any missing pieces.  Along the way I might stray into the bigger picture of a career that followed this basic path:

1.  Moved to New York City from Scotland in 1892 and worked as a typesetter.
2.  Started working with A.G. Spalding in the greater New York area as a designer of golf courses.
3.  Managed the first municipal golf course in the United States at Van Cortlandt.
4.  Moved to Chicago in 1901 to help Spalding spread the game throughout the country.
5.  Worked as the Golf Department Manager for Wilson from 1916 to 1920.
6.  Took over the position of in-house architect for The American Park Builders in 1920.
7.  Continued to work as an architect throughout the 20's and 30's until he passed away in 1936.

Along the way, if anyone has any information to add about particular courses, aspects of his career or thoughts on his importance to the game, please feel free to chime in.

Sven

[John Kavanaugh]

I've never liked this list because of how two clubs where I am a member are counted four times.  Two courses in Lawrenceville, Illinois and two in Robinson.  I don't get the need to artificially stretch the numbers on such a prolific career.

[Sven Nilsen]

Bendelow's Early Years (1894 - 1896)

1894

H.M. Pratt Private Course (Glen Cove, NY) - Was hired by the Pratt Family (Standard Oil) to teach golf and build a 6 hole course.
Glen Ridge GC (Glen Ridge, NJ) - The list has separate listings for 1894 and 1900, C&W has 1900 only, did he do the original 1894 course and come back again later?  May 14, 1900 New York Tribune article notes Bendelow adding 6 holes.  


1895

Allegheny CC (Far Hills, NJ)
Llewellyn GC (West Orange, NJ) - Oct. 29, 1895 The Sun article notes Bendelow adding two holes.

Soangetaha CC (Galesburg, IL) - This seems early for his work in the Midwest.
Queens County GC (Nassau CC) (Glen Cove, NY) - C&W has 1900.

Notes:  Sources also have Elkridge Hunting and CC (1899 on the List) and Pelham Manor GC (1898) with a date of 1895.

1896

Nutley GC (Nutley, NJ) - The List has 1898.  Nov. 24, 1896 New York Times notes course laid out by Bendelow.  1899 Guide notes laid out by Bendelow.

Oakland GC (Bayside, NY) - Aug. 19, 1896 The Sun article (see below) notes course laid out by Bendelow.  Dec. 1908 The American Golfer notes course was laid out by Bendelow.

Flushing Athletic Club (Flushing, NY) - June 17, 1896 New York Tribune notes Bendelow visit to Flushing.  March 4, 1896 The Sun article notes Bendelow and Travis designed a 9 hole 2,300 yard course.  The 1899 Guide and the 1900 Harpers note course laid out by Bendelow in March, 1896.

Oak Ridge GC (Forest Park) (Oak Ridge, NY)
Forest Park GC (Woodhaven, NY)
Patchogue GC (Patchogue, NY) - The List has this as Patchogul.  Oct. 27, 1896 The Sun notes Bendelow laid out a course at Durkee's place in Patchogue.

Highland GC (Canton, OH)
Congress Lake Club (Hartville, OH)
Scranton CC (Dunmore, PA) - Aug. 19 and Dec. 18, 1896 The Sun articles note course laid out by Bendelow.  1899 Guide notes laid out by Bendelow.  1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow in 1896.

Easton GC (Easton, PA) - Dec. 29, 1896 Ithaca Daily Eagle notes Bendelow laid out a 9 hole course in Easton.  Nov. 24, 1896 New York Times (see above) notes course laid out by Bendelow.  1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow in Nov. 1896.

Wyoming Valley CC (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - 1899 Guide notes laid out by Bendelow in April 1896.  1900 Hapers notes laid out by Bendelow in April 1896.  Other sources have him returning in 1915.

Additions:
Englewood GC (Englewood, NJ) - An April 10, 1897 Boston Evening Transcript article notes new course laid out by Bendelow.

Westchester GC (New York, NY) - April 18, 1896 New York Tribune article notes Bendelow laid out 9 holes on the Watson estate.

Interlaken GC (Saratoga, NY) - Is this Saratoga GC, which the early guides note as laid out by R.C.B. Anderson (the greenskeeper) in 1896?  May 2, 1896 Mechanicville Saratoga Mercury notes plans for Bendelow to lay out the course.

Phelps Private Course (Blue Ridge, PA) - May 2, 1896 The Evening Post article notes Bendelow laying out 9 hole course for Miss Phelps in Blue Ridge.


Notes:  Were Oak Ridge GC (Forest Park) and Forest Park GC (Woodhaven) the same course?  C&W have his work at Forest Park dating from 1910.

Oakland article -

[Sven Nilsen]

I've never liked this list because of how two clubs where I am a member are counted four times.  Two courses in Lawrenceville, Illinois and two in Robinson.  I don't get the need to artificially stretch the numbers on such a prolific career.

John:

There are a handful of duplicates on the list, which I hope to identify as we work through the courses.  Some of these are the result of a course being referred to by different names at different times.

Sven

[Rick Shefchik]

The list includes Northland Country Club in Duluth. My research definitely puts Bendelow at NCC around the time that the club expanded to 18 holes in 1912, and it certainly makes sense that he would have been involved, but I haven't been able to find any definitive documentation that he in fact designed the club's first 18-hole layout. I don't think Stuart has found any such proof, either.

[Sven Nilsen]

The Early Boom - 1897 and 1898

1897

Hendricks Field GC (Belleville, NJ)
Chestnut Hill GC (Montclair, NJ) - May 1897 The Golfer notes course laid out by Bendelow.

Morris County CC (Morristown, NJ) - Sept. 11, 1898 The Sun article notes Willie Weir, Tom Bendelow, W.F. Davis and H.M. Way had a hand in planning the course.  Nov. 22, 1898 The Day article notes course was remodeled by Bendelow.

Roselle Casino GC (Roselle, NJ) - Noted in an April 10, 1897 Boston Evening Transcript article as a new 9 hole courese by Bendelow at 2,520 yards.  May 1897 The Golfer notes laid out by Bendelow.

Dyker Beach GC (Brooklyn, NY)
Chappaqua GC (Chappaqua, NY) - Sept. 30, 1897 The Evening Post notes Bendelow laid out a 9 hole course at Chappaqua.

Yahnundasis GC (New Hartford, NY) - April 26, 1897 The Sun notes course laid out by Bendelow.

Nyack CC (Nyack, NY) - Noted in June 5, 1897 Boston Evening Post article as just laid out by Bendelow.

Mount Pleasant Field Club (Sing Sing, NY) - 1899 Guide and 1900 Harpers note laid out by Bendelow in 1897.

Notes:  The List also has The Marine and Field Club from 1896, which merged with Dyker Beach GC.  Were these separate courses?  

The List also notes Bellerive CC (aka St. Louis Field Club) as a Bendelow design in 1897.  The 1899 Guide attributes the course to D.O. Ives and A.L. Kenneth in Oct. 1897, while the 1900 Harpers notes A.Q. Kennett, J.G. McGee and D.O. Ives in Sept. 1898.  The club moved to Normandie in 1910 and reorganized as Bellerive CC.  I have not seen anything yet that gives a date for Bendelow's work, but I suspect it was an improvement to the original 1897 course after that date or perhaps work on the new 1910 course.

1898

Littlefield GC (Littlefield, CT) - This should be Litchfield GC in Litchfield, CT.  The List has 1897.  April 15, 1898 The Evening Post notes Bendelow remodeling the course.

Eastern Point GC (Groton, CT) - 1899 Guide notes course laid out recently by Bendelow.  1900 Harpers notes course as Shennecossett GC and laid out by Bendelow in Sept. 1898.
Litchfield CC (Litchfield, CT) - 1899 Guide notes The Litchfield Club laid out by Bendelow in March 1898.  The List has this as 1893.
Stonehenge GC (Norwalk, CT) - 1900 Harpers notes course laid out by Bendelow in 1898.
South Wilton GC (South Wilton, CT) - Noted in a Mar. 16, 1898 New York Tribune and a Mar. 19, 1898 Boston Evening Transcript article as 9 holes laid out by Bendelow on Dr. Edwin Smith estate.  1899 Guide and 1900 Harpers note course laid out by Bendelow in 1898.

Forest Hills Field Club (Newark, NJ) - 1899 Guide and 1900 Harpers note laid out by Bendelow.
Washington GC (Washington, CT) - 1899 Guide notes present course by Bendelow.  1900 Harpers notes course improved in 1899.
Saginaw CC (Saginaw, MI)
Bernardsville GC (Bernardsville, NJ)
Plainfield GC (West Course) (Edison, NJ) - This is the same as Hillside G&TC noted below.
Hilmetia GC (Hilmetia, NJ) - Should be Helmetta GC.  1899 Guide notes laid out by Bendelow.  1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow.
GC of Lakewood (Lakewood, NJ) - 1899 Guide notes present 18 hole course laid out by Bendelow in May 1898.  1900 Harpers notes course laid out by Bendelow in 1898.
Lawrence Harbor CC (Morgan, NJ) - 1900 Harpers notes course laid out by Bendelow in Sept. 1898.
Park GC (North Plainfield, NJ) - June 11, 1898 The Sun article notes 9 holes 3,165 yard course laid out by Bendelow.  1899 Guide and 1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow.

Hillside Golf and Tennis Club (Plainfield, NJ) -  March 12, 1898 Boston Evening Transcript and Jan 7, 1898 The Sun articles note Bendelow extending the course.  May 1898 Golf Magazine notes Bendelow laid out the new 18 hole course (see below).

East Orange GC (Short Hills, NJ) - An 1898 (exact date unknown) The Sun article notes course laid out by Bendelow.  1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow in May 1898.

Essex County CC (East Course) (West Orange, NJ)
Montclair GC (West Orange, NJ) - Also in 1900.  Nov. 23, 1898 The Sun article notes new 9 hole 3,000 yard course laid out by Bendelow.  May 2, 1899 Brooklyn Daily Eagle notes opening of course laid out by Bendelow at the beginning of the year.  Jan. 20, 1900 New York Tribune article notes Bendelow laid out club's new 18 hole course.  1899 Guide notes will have 18 holes in the Spring, current 9 holes mapped out by Tom Bendelow.  1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow in March 1899.

Sunset Park GC (Brooklyn, NY) - The List has this as 1899.  May 28, 1899 New York Times article notes Bendelow laid out the course.  August 6, 1900 New York Tribune article notes early players built a crude 6 hole course starting 13 years ago and then Bendelow laid out a new 6 hole course about two years ago.

Rockaway Hunting Club (Cedarhurst, NY) - Nov. 1898 Golf Magazine notes 18 hole course laid out by Bendelow.  Nov. 30, 1898 New York Tribune article notes 18 hole 5,713 yard course done by Bendelow.  1899 Guide notes 18 hole course laid out by Bendelow in Sept. 1898.

Huntington GC (Halesite CC) (Huntington, NY) - The List has this as 1899.  August 15, 1898 The Sun article has a 6 hole course laid out by Bendelow.  1899 Guide notes recently laid out by Bendelow.

Pelham Manor GC (Westchester, NY) - Other sources have 1895.
Stittson Private Course (Tuxedo Park Estate) (Sturlington, NY) - 1899 Guide and 1900 Harpers note laid out by Bendelow.
Century CC (Bronx, NY) - June 11, 1898 Brooklyn Daily Eagle notes course staked out by Bendelow.  1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow in Spring of 1898.

Williamsport CC (Williamsport, PA) - Noted in a July 18, 1898 The Sun article as 9 holes laid out by Bendelow.  1899 Guide notes laid out by Bendelow.  1900 Haprers notes laid out by Bendelow in June 1898.

York CC (York, PA) - Nov. 23, 1898 The Sun article (see above) notes Bendelow laid out a 9 hole course for Grier Hersh.
Tuscumbia CC (Green Lake, WI) - The List has this as 1897.
Waveland GC (Chicago, IL) - Looking for source information on this attribution.

Additions:  

Stern Private Course (Westchester, NY) - Did this course become known by a different name?  April 27, 1898 Brooklyn Daily Eagle notes Bendelow laid out a course for Benjamin Stern.

Dutcher Private Course (Pawling, NY) - Is this Dutcher GC?  April 28, 1898 Brooklyn Daily Eagle (see above) notes Bendelow laid out a private course for J.B. Dutcher at "Paulding."
Phillip Small Private Course (York, PA) - Sept. 2, 1898 The Sun article notes Bendelow laid out a 9 hole 2,400 yard course for Philip Small.  (Also see Nov. 23, 1898 The Sun article above.)

Newport Second Beach GC (Newport, RI) - August 25, 1898 The Sun article notes Bendelow laid out a 9 hole 2,825 yard course.  The list has an Eastern Point GC in Newport for 1898.

Hartford GC (Hartford, CT) - Looking for source information on this attribution.

Additional Morris County CC article (The Sun, Feb. 20, 1898) -




Additional Hillside T&GC article (May 1898 Golf Magazine) -

[RJ_Daley]

Sven, how do you think this effort might exceed the already copious and thourough efforts and information found in Stuart's book?

I'm all in favor of any effort to bring forward new and authentic information about Bendelow's work and influence on GCA.  I hope new data is discovered.  But, other than obscure local newspaper or magazine articles heretofor undiscovered, it seems unlikely we will learn anything new. 

(Unless you have found a drawing by Tilly, with Dr Mac and old Tom's autograghs next to Bende's, with a note commemorating a night of drunken debaucery on the town of Old Chicago...)     

[Sven Nilsen]

Sven, how do you think this effort might exceed the already copious and thourough efforts and information found in Stuart's book?

I'm all in favor of any effort to bring forward new and authentic information about Bendelow's work and influence on GCA.  I hope new data is discovered.  But, other than obscure local newspaper or magazine articles heretofor undiscovered, it seems unlikely we will learn anything new. 

(Unless you have found a drawing by Tilly, with Dr Mac and old Tom's autograghs next to Bende's, with a note commemorating a night of drunken debaucery on the town of Old Chicago...)     

RJ -

Here are the courses I've already noted (just for the period from 1894-1898) that should be added to the list, there will be more:

Englewood GC (Englewood, NJ) - An April 10, 1897 Boston Evening Transcript article notes new course laid out by Bendelow.
Westchester GC (New York, NY) - April 18, 1896 New York Tribune article notes Bendelow laid out 9 holes on the Watson estate.
Phillip Small Private Course (York, PA) - Sept. 2, 1898 The Sun article notes Bendelow laid out a 9 hole 2,400 yard course for Philip Small.
Newport Second Beach GC (Newport, RI) - August 25, 1898 The Sun article notes Bendelow laid out a 9 hole 2,825 yard course.  The list has an Eastern Point GC in Newport for 1898.
Hartford GC (Hartford, CT) - Looking for source information on this attribution.

In addition, I'm hoping to identify the duplicate entries and to clean up any mistakes in names, dates and locations.  There are quite a few of these noted already.

When I first reviewed the list a couple of years back it did not include information found in the 1899 Guide and the 1900 Harpers.  It does now, mostly I suspect due to those omissions being pointed out on this site. 

There's a wealth of information out there that just needs to be reviewed, compiled and presented.  C&W started the process, but their 292 count for Bendelow was lacking.  Stuart has done a wonderful job in providing as comprehensive of a list as has been presented to date for Bendelow.  I'm hoping to add to what he has accomplished.

If you don't see any value in this, that's fine.  I do.

Sven

[RJ_Daley]

Sven, in my view, we always have a hurdle to overcome when trying to measure the true impact Tom Bendelow had on GCA.  We know he was the Johnny Appleseed of the proliferation of golf as a game, through his reputation of the enormous  number of courses characterized as "18 stakes on a Sunday afternoon".  And, this sort of derisive slogan used to describe TBs work product is in conflict with much of his serious work, when he was the lead architect at American Park Builders, quite a while after his association with Spaulding.  We know that TB actually did 'do the work in and on the ground' for several of his more notable courses like Medinah.  We know he was a leader in using pliesticine modelling to plan in 3D, how golf holes would lay on the ground based on the actual topography.   We know TB was a competent architect and builder. 

But, it seems to me that most of these numerous attributions that TB "laid out" 9 holes here and 9 holes there as reported in these various local publications and newspapers are more 'fluff' pieces akin to 'society notice' where some newly formed golf and country club or wealthy guy brought TB in to look perhaps at topo map of a piece of land, and maybe he had a syllabus or template folder he left with some local construction guy that had some methodology of how to drain some area, how to build a bunker, or how to seed newly graded and shaped area in accordance to basically a stick routing he laid upon the local topo map.  Perhaps he rode into town on the train, was carted out to the local plot of land the newly formed golf club members were thinking about starting a golf course, walked around and placed those stakes where a tee, LZ and green ought to work well, then took his rest at the local hotel, and jumped back on the train to make his next appointment with another newly formed club looking into the "golf thing" that was becoming all the rage of the era. 

So, in my mind, we have this dicotomy between Bendelow the competent architect and the actual work he was on site to follow through and direct as lead architect, and this early gentleman that was known throughout the burgeoning golf craze circles as a guy that could come in and "lay out a course" for our newly formed country club that up until then was just a clubhouse with a social agenda of dinners and perhaps horse riding, hunting or other genteel sporting pursuit

I just think it is hard to acquire context to TB's vast scope of work in relation to the golf craze and proliferation of the times, including the Spaulding marketing effort to spread the game and sell equipment, and TB's role.  It seems to me that sometimes he was a promoter and sometime a legitimate architect. 

I do hope that your new efforts will turn up something like real architectural drawings done by Bendy detailing heretofor unknown architectural design work that he may have contributed as opposed to a news blurb that he blew into town and 'laid out 9 holes'.  That would truly be a valuable find IMHO. 

[Sven Nilsen]

RJ -

Back in the Spring I posted an instruction letter from Bendelow regarding his guidance for the construction of a course he had just laid out (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,57936.0.html).  I found this letter to be particularly interesting for two reasons:

1.  It added a bit more color to the "18 Stakes" practice; and

2.  It described to me a business model of pure economy. 

Bendelow's main goal was to spread the game.  He wasn't what Ross would become, a multi-tiered operation that supplied the construction team.  He also wasn't predominantly a "society" hire, being asked to build courses due to his social connections. 

We may not uncover any earth shattering plans or concepts in this exercise, but it might help us understand a bit better the growth of the game amongst the middle and lower classes.  Bendelow may have built courses on the cheap, but by doing so he allowed a multitude of people to play that game that would not have been able to do so otherwise, or at least not with the rudimentary guidance from an expert that he provided. 

As this progresses, I'm hoping to highlight some of his efforts to develop public golf.  Starting with Van Cortlandt, moving to his work with the Chicago Park System and a myriad of other places, there is no one more influential in the development of public golf in this country than him.  There are quite a few other concepts to highlight, including his thoughts on course length after the introduction of the Haskell ball, the changes in his practice as his career developed and, as you noted, the high level of work he did when actually spending time on site.  There are some other side notes of interest, including how he became personna non grata on the east coast after his move to the midwest.

Hope this helps explain where I'm coming from with this.

Sven

[Sven Nilsen]

Bendelow in Carnegie Hall?



From the Feb. 1898 edition of Golf Magazine.

[BCrosby]

Bendelow might have been one of the first, but there were many pros who gave indoor lessons in NYC, Boston and Chicago. Alex Morrison among them. They seem to have reached a peak of popularity in the 1920's.

Bob

[Sven Nilsen]

Bendelow might have been one of the first, but there were many pros who gave indoor lessons in NYC, Boston and Chicago. Alex Morrison among them. They seem to have reached a peak of popularity in the 1920's.

Bob

Bob:

How many of them gave lessons at Carnegie Hall?  I thought there was an interesting parallel to the old joke "How do you get to Carnegie Hall..."

There were quite a few indoor golf schools, as well as a number of indoor golf courses, but that's an exercise for another thread.

Sven

[RJ_Daley]

Sven, I missed the earlier spring post as we were in transit those days, Tassie, Melbourne, NZ.  Nice find!  I was looking at the Google aerial of that area of Marseilles-Ottawa IL  and found this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3578451,-88.6946546,1142m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Do you think those straight ditches were what was referred to in your posted news article about digging the ditches to drain the area?

At any rate, I am happy you are taking up a new search for such artifacts and news stories.  As far as the content of the article, it bolsters or drives home the probable methodology that Bendy used to make those many site visits and place so many projects on his resume.  Your find does indicate he was on site (perhaps only a day or so) and left those general instructions in a letter to that club.  We see similar instructions for the agronomy aspect of preparing greens, fairgreens, and such in both Ross's book and MacKenzie's.  Interesting that your article introduces Bendy as; "the recognized authority on golf courses in this country".   Again, this would tend to suggest that whilst Bendy was doing the Johnny Appleseed thing to spread the game to more public participation (as his leading authority and expert consultant of the Spaulding Co. implies),  he was also considered among the few that were plying the trade or profession in the 1890-1910 period as "the man" and I would think that the elite country club set would seek his counsul out as much as the community project planners.  I think Bendy had it going on both fronts as the people's man for golf consulting, and the elite club's go to man.  What do you think?

BTW, Stuart's book has a reference to how Bendy had some large building space a block or so down from his Chicago Spaulding office where he also gave indoor lessons in the winter...

[Sven Nilsen]

RJ -

If you had asked me about Bendelow a while back, I would have given the stock answer that he was pretty good at churning out courses.  But after delving into the old magazines and tracking down old newspaper articles on his work, I'm pretty well convinced that he was the most important figure in early American golf (and not just golf architecture).  

In addition to laying out golf courses, he ran many of the larger tournaments as an official.  He also gave lessons, consulted with numerous clubs, wrote articles on a variety of topics, lectured on golf architecture at the University of Illinois, edited the Official Golf Guide for a number of years, organized and participated in the tours of many of the great UK golfers who came to the US and was a general "go to" guy for all things golf related.  I was just reading an account of his travels in 1903 to five different states as a survey of the state of the game.  There may have been business reasons for his travels, but those travels certainly gave him an insight into what was happening where that few others could have garnered.

There is no doubt to me that he was highly sought after by the bigger name clubs.  He traveled to California around 1910 to consult with Los Angeles CC on the prospects for their newly acquired land when the club changed sites.  Perhaps he was involved in the design of what became the South course, or perhaps the committee that worked on that project just wanted the advice of a well seasoned veteran.  Its just another in a long line of meetings that I wish I could have been a fly on the wall.  But I think his real interests lay in making the game accessible.

Back to the chronology.

Sven

[Ed Homsey]

Sven--Do you discount the March 4, NY Sun article that reported on a match that Tom Bendelow played against Walter Travis at the Oakland Club.  The article states, "In the morning, Travis and Bendelow journeyed to the links of the Flushing Athletic club and designed the course.  The course consists of nine holes and is about 2,300 yards the entire length."  Stuart Bendelow sent the article to me a while ago. 

Ed

[Sven Nilsen]

Sven--Do you discount the March 4, NY Sun article that reported on a match that Tom Bendelow played against Walter Travis at the Oakland Club.  The article states, "In the morning, Travis and Bendelow journeyed to the links of the Flushing Athletic club and designed the course.  The course consists of nine holes and is about 2,300 yards the entire length."  Stuart Bendelow sent the article to me a while ago.  

Ed

Ed -

I don't discount it at all, and will note the collaboration in the listing.  

It is curious to me that the two guides only noted Bendelow, perhaps due to the status of each man as an architect at that point in their careers.

Sven

[RJ_Daley]

With the other thread going about the disaster of the Olympic course, it is interesting to remember that Stuart mentioned Tom Bendelow was the organizer or official of rules for the only other golf played at Olympics in around 1903 in St Louis.  I may not be precise as I'm too lazy to go find the book and look it up... 

[Sven Nilsen]

Moving on -

1899

Elkridge Hunting and CC (Baltimore, MD) - Other sources have 1895.
Columbia G&CC (Chevy Chase, MD) - The List has 1898.  1900 Harpers notes 9 hole course laid out in March 1899, 18 hole course to be laid out shortly.
Colonia CC (Colonia, NJ) - Jan. 9, 1899 and Jan. 30, 1899 New York Tribune articles and an 1899 Brooklyn Daily Eagle article note Bendelow laid out a 9 hole course.  1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow in Jan. 1899.

Hackensack GC (Hackensack, NJ) - Is this the same as Oritani Field Club?  July [6?], 1899 New York Evening Post article (see below) notes laid out by Bendelow.
Somerset G&CC (Somerville, NJ) - 1899 Guide notes course now being laid out by Bendelow.
Van Cortlandt Park GC (Bronx, NY) - March 9, 1899 The Sun article (see below) notes Bendelow expanding course to 18 holes.  April 1899 Golf Magazine notes Bendelow completed the 18 hole course.  

Dyker Meadow GC (aka Shore View GC) (Brooklyn, NY)
Ellenville GC (Ellenville, NY) - 1899 Guide and 1900 Harpers note laid out by Bendelow.
The Apawamis Club (Rye, NY) - Apr. 21, 1899 The Sun article notes Bendelow being consulted about a new 18 hole course.  May 9, 1899 New York Tribune notes new 18 hole course laid out by Bendelow.

Fox Hills GC (fka Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club) (Staten Island, NY) - Dec. 10, 1898 New York Tribune article notes Bendelow and A.G. Griffiths asked to provide separate advice on proposed course.  Dec. 23, 1898 notes Bendelow planned a 18 hole 6,022 yard course.  Jan. 15, 1899 The Sun article details the Bendelow designed 6,100 yard 18 hole course.  1899 Guide notes Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club laid out by Bendelow.

Oritani Field Club (Hackensack, NJ) - March 11, 1899 Brooklyn Daily Eagle notes course laid out by Bendelow.


Additions:  

Norwalk GC (Norwalk, CT) - Noted as laid out by A.G. Spalding & Co.  Was this Bendelow?
Yountakah GC (Delawanna, NJ) - Course is listed as a Bendelow in C&W, although the 1900 Harpers notes the initial course was laid out by A.H. Larkin.

Notes:  Somerset G&CC also know as Somerset CC and Finderne GC, which was noted in the 1900 Harpers as laid out by Bendelow in Jan. 1899.

1900

Suburban GC (Elizabeth, NJ) - The List has 1896. April 13, 1900 New York Times article notes Bendelow laid out the course.

Mahopac GC (Lake Mahopac, NY) - The List has two listings for Mahopac.  April 13, 1900 New York Times (see above) notes Bendelow laid out a course at Lake Mahopac.  July 6, 1919 New York Times article notes a new 9 hole course was laid out by Bendelow.

Quogue GC (Quogue, NY) - Oct. 18, 1900 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle article notes course laid out by Bendelow.  Aug. 10, 1907 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle states “The grounds were laid out under the direction of Bendelow.”

Eagle Nest CC (Raquette Lake, NY) - July 12, 1900 New York Tribune article notes both Bendelow and Dunn making frequent trips to supervise construction.  Also noted in the July 15, 1900 New York Times and July 27, 1900 Geneva Daily Gazette.

Ravine Land and Game Association (Somerset Hills CC) (Ravine Lake, NY) - C&W has this as Somerset Hills in NJ.
Sharon CC (Sharon, PA)
Allegheny CC (Sewickley, PA) - The List has 1902.  Nov. 14, 1900 The Daily Times notes Bendelow laying out the course.

Detroit CC (Detroit, MI) - This should be Detroit GC.  Club's 40th Anniversary Book notes first course laid out by Bendelow with assistance from Frank Thompson.

Automobile and Golf Club of Westchester (Tarrytown, NY) - Noted in an April 3, 1900 NYT article as laid out by Bendelow.


Additions:

Onondago G&CC (Onondago, NY) - The list has the date as unknown, course dates from 1900.  As noted by Ed Homsey, the club history book has no notation of Bendelow.
Iowa City CC (Iowa City, IA) - The list has the date as unknown, course dates from 1900.
Terre Haute CC (Terre Haute, IN) - The list has the date as unknown, course dates from 1900.

Hackensack -


Additional Fox Hills article (The Sun - Jan. 15, 1899) -


Van Cortlandt (The Sun - March 9, 1899)

[Jim Sherma]

Easton GC (Easton, PA) - 1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow in Nov. 1896.

Does anyone know anything about this? I grew up in Easton and Bethlehem and this is the first I have ever heard of it.

[Tom Walsh]

1 small thing, 1 bigger thing. Both St. Louis

Algonquin Golf Club, not Country Club- definitely first 9 Bendelow

Normandie has always been credited to Robert Foulis not Bendelow. FWIW their website credits Foulis. I think I've read he lived near the course.

[Sven Nilsen]

Easton GC (Easton, PA) - 1900 Harpers notes laid out by Bendelow in Nov. 1896.

Does anyone know anything about this? I grew up in Easton and Bethlehem and this is the first I have ever heard of it.

Jim:

Easton GC was listed in the 1899 Guide (as laid out in Nov. 1896), the 1900 Harpers (laid out by Bendelow in Nov. 1896) and the 1901 Harpers.  I have not seen any other references to the course.  My guess is that it was a short lived club, perhaps one that suffered due to the creation of the CC of Northampton County in 1899.

Sven

[Sven Nilsen]

The list includes Northland Country Club in Duluth. My research definitely puts Bendelow at NCC around the time that the club expanded to 18 holes in 1912, and it certainly makes sense that he would have been involved, but I haven't been able to find any definitive documentation that he in fact designed the club's first 18-hole layout. I don't think Stuart has found any such proof, either.

Rick:

Does this help (from the June 10, 1914 edition of The Duluth Herald):

[RJ_Daley]

I have often wondered what connection Bendy had that explains the anomally  of his branching out so far west to Green Lake WI in 1897 to " lay out"  Tescumbia.  Given that Green Lake was a resort for wealthy even back then, I suppose a referal from an influential east coast client with a resort home there was made.  

[Ian Andrew]

Quogue Field Club

Bendelow probably came to Quogue sometime in August of 1900

There is no hard evidence to indicate how much time Bendelow spent working on the course but The Brooklyn Daily Eagle published a story on August 10, 1907, which included the statement, “The grounds were laid out under the direction of Bendelow.”

The construction was believed to begin in September 1900. The Club would have employed a number of workmen to build the course. These would have been mostly farmers to plow and harrow the land. The course was built largely by hand and the assistance of horse teams.

The construction was most likely handled by Alec Lawson

It believed that S.F. Morris, Jr. and E.F. Post oversaw the golf course construction. Morris was the best golfer at the Club at the time and Post maintained a leadership role with respect to golf throughout his years as a Field Club member.

In an article in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle dated October 18, 1900, and entitled “Gossip from Baltusrol”, it states that: “Work on the new golf links at Quogue, L.I. is progressing rapidly and the greens are being prepared for the next season. The course is laid out by Bendelow and is very attractive, skirting in part the shore of Shinnecock Bay. There are a number of natural hazards. Preparations are being made to move the Field Club building to its new site, where it will be more convenient of access.”

It was described in the Suffolk County News at the time as follows: “The new golf links of the Quogue Field Club have been opened for the season and the course is said to be one of the finest on Long Island. It is a nine hole course and extends from the South Country Road [today known as Quogue Street] to Shinnecock Bay and thence among the shore, making the entire course one of picturesque beauty.”

The course was built on approximately 50 acres of land, it played to a par of 38 and extended to 3,135 yards.

The routing of the first three holes of the course was the same as is today. The first hole was a par-5 but it was shorter at 460 yards. The second was slightly shorter par-3 at 125-yards. The third played slightly longer than the current hole as a 290-yard par 5.

The middle stretch of holes was quite different. The fourth hole was a par four of 315-yards playing approximately in the same direction as the current hole but towards the current 6th green. The original 5th was a 350 yard par four playing out towards Penniman’s Point over the land leased from the Foster Sisters. The 6th returned on the same piece of land playing 290 yards back towards the current 6th green.

The routing of the seventh, eighth and ninth holes were very similar to what exists today. The seventh hole was a 465-yard par-5 finishing at the green north of Quanquantuck Lane. The eighth hole was a shorter par-4 than exists today at 320- yards playing to the current green. The ninth hole also was a par-5 and similar in length to today’s ninth hole at 534-yards.