Panama Country Club - Lynn Haven, Florida

[Mike Hendren]

Best I can tell this course just north of Panama City, Florida opened as St. Andrews Bay Golf Course in 1927 with W. C. Sherman as the founder and perhaps architect with mention of Donald J. Ross' involvement.  Alterations by Willard Byrd in the 80's. 

I'll be down on the coast next week and might check it out - the price is right at $32.   Anyone familiar with it?

Bogey

[Adam Lawrence]

I haven't been but according to my records the course was a Hugh Alison design. See this contemporary advert:

PANAMA AD by Adam Lawrence, on Flickr

[Anthony Gholz]

Great Find Adam.


see also previous thread http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60997.msg1446661.html#msg1446661

[Mike Hendren]

Uh oh: experts, mounding and landscaping?
https://www.wjhg.com/content/sports/Panama-Country-Club-in-the-midst-of-major-reconstruction-following-damage-from-Michael-505341251.html


A call to action!

[Rees Milikin]

Uh oh: experts, mounding and landscaping?
https://www.wjhg.com/content/sports/Panama-Country-Club-in-the-midst-of-major-reconstruction-following-damage-from-Michael-505341251.html


A call to action!

I have driven around and looked at the course and there isn't anything some mounding or landscaping will take away from what is currently there.  The CH Alison design was plowed under long long ago.

[Mike Hendren]

It would be no great challenge to build the best course in the Panhandle on that site even with its limitations whether it be a Ross-like classic or a Collins-like modern or something in between. This is big opportunity for a little gem.

Bogey

[Anthony Gholz]

Rees:


Have you seen anything to confirm Alison's original routing vs today's? The site is pretty defined with the various water sources on all sides, so maybe not much room for a modern reroute?  fyi I've only seen your posts re Panama/St Andrews and recent (GE 1995-present) aerials.


Anthony

[Rees Milikin]

Rees:


Have you seen anything to confirm Alison's original routing vs today's? The site is pretty defined with the various water sources on all sides, so maybe not much room for a modern reroute?  fyi I've only seen your posts re Panama/St Andrews and recent (GE 1995-present) aerials.


Anthony

I haven’t ever seen anything from the 20’s, but comparing today’s routing with that of the 40’s, there isn’t much left to compare.  Houses now take up all the holes that formerly bordered water and save a couple of holes, it’s nothing like the course that existed in the early 40’s.


Michael, what is so great about that course or its topography that would make it prime for a great re-do?  I’m not saying it couldn’t, but nothing about it makes me think it would be a special opportunity. The panhandle courses that would really have a great chance to be something special are Defuniak Springs, Florida Caverns, and Eglin.  Not holding my breath on those.

[Craig Disher]

I have an aerial from 1953 which I assume shows the course as it was in the 1940s - no houses, 5 or 6 holes along the water, and a lot of space separating the holes.

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's a 1942 Aerial that was posted recently by Rees in the other thread.


Routing looks fairly close to the modern layout.

[Craig Disher]

Sven,At best, I can see only a few holes that might be in the same corridors as the earlier course. The holes along the perimeter were replaced by housing which led to some new holes forced into the previously open space. I'd guess about 20% of the original site was lost to real estate and Willow Lake. Take a look:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Panama+City,+FL/@30.2514346,-85.628327,1418m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x889381562ac66341:0xbf585ed52c4701f3!8m2!3d30.1588129!4d-85.6602058

[Sven Nilsen]

More than just a few.


Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting what is there now is in any way representative of what Alison did.  I was only suggesting that this wasn't a complete tear down.

[Mike Hendren]

Greetings Rees. I never said anything about a great re-do, but how often do the cognoscenti pine for a sandy, treeless site - not to mention a “free” one in a favorable climate? 


Sure the topo is not exciting but there are hundreds (or more) of great holes worldwide that are dead, solid flat - the 2nd at Talking Stick North comes to mind as does the 10th at Blue Mound.


The routing might be pedestrian but does the retail golfer or modest club member notice or even care as he will likely be cart-balling anyway?


There isn’t anything even remotely fun to play along the Panhandle other than Love Design’s 6/12 holes hybrid Origens course. Push the greens up a foot or two and surround them with short grass and patches of natural sand and perhaps you’ve got a solid six or better.

[Mark McKeever]

Here's a 1942 Aerial that was posted recently by Rees in the other thread.


Routing looks fairly close to the modern layout.

Wow that original layout looks neat..