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Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« on: November 03, 2013, 12:40:25 PM »
Belleair seems to be the first course in Florida, and perhaps most of the south, to have successfully built grass greens in an era when sand was the medium of choice. Some time ago I read a short four paragraph history of BCC that's found on their website and hoped that sooner or later I'd find a photo of their grassed greens and the 4th hole.  

http://www.belleaircc.com/belleair-country-club-about-main.php

"Today’s layouts are essentially as Ross designed them, although the sequence of holes has changed. #4 West was elevated and entirely surrounded by a sand moat, with the putting surface accessible by stepladder. Although the fairways and greens have been sculpted and refined, #4 West remains as it was originally designed by Donald J. Ross, without the use of a stepladder."


Finally came across one. I'm outside the lines, but the photo looks better at this size:



"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2013, 12:51:04 PM »
Jim:

A postcard of the 11th:



Sven
« Last Edit: November 03, 2013, 04:31:11 PM by Sven Nilsen »
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2013, 12:55:24 PM »
AHHH, green!  ;D

Thanks Sven.
"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2013, 01:54:55 PM »
Off on a tangent, but here are a few other old Florida relics:

Routing map of Nassau Golf Links:



Routing map of Miami Golf Links:



Tee box at St. Augustine:

"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Eric Morrison

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2013, 07:37:48 PM »
Here is the Ross sketch of 4


It is what it is.

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2013, 07:39:59 PM »
I wonder when that marvel was blown up?   I played Bellaire a few years back and there was nothing remotely interesting left there. 

Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2013, 02:50:32 PM »
I wonder when that marvel was blown up?   I played Bellaire a few years back and there was nothing remotely interesting left there. 

This guy?
http://www.golfflorida.com/departments/coursereviews/belleair-country-club.htm
"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2018, 06:10:26 PM »

This snip from a 12/23/1900 NYT article suggests Kissimmee as the first course in Florida to have grass greens, with Bellair, Tampa, and Ocala following suit the next year. John Duncan Dunn held sway over these  courses during the 1900 Florida golf season.

"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2018, 06:26:43 PM »
...and even though it isn't about grass, here's a list of the 50 courses in Florida from a 12/17/1916 New York Herald article.

"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon