William Herbert Fowler

[Sven Nilsen]

Well, whatever you want to call it, Park had no one other than Bernard Darwin announcing his foray into American course design.


One wonders if we'd have a bit more insight into just how much self-promotion there was back then if there had been online discussion groups. 

[Peter Pallotta]

I've read here over the years, and I can believe, that "connections" are often more important than publicity and/or self promotion -- connections to the very wealthy golf lovers in any given time & place. I think of 'native born' CBM, and how his close connection to NYC money-men helped make NGLA a reality. And then I think of 'immigrants' like Ross, and marvel at how he parlayed the very few early connections he had into such a long and successful and productive career -- but at least he had a 'home' and home base and patron in Pinehurst and Mr. Tuft. In comparison, I feel a little sad for the 'immigrant outsiders' like Fowler or even Dr Mac; man, it must've been a tough racket without big money connections.

[Sven Nilsen]

I feel a little sad for the 'immigrant outsiders' like Fowler or even Dr Mac; man, it must've been a tough racket without big money connections.

This sentence amazes me.  It is not like they wandered off of Ellis Island with a sign that said "Will Design Golf Course for Food."


Mackenzie's connections with Americans prior to coming here were nothing short of amazing.  Robert Hunter alone could have set up enough work for a career in California.


If anything, I feel sorry for the golfing world that Mackenzie's run in the states was interrupted by the Great Depression.  Imagine what would have happened if he had come over in 1921 instead of 1926.

[Peter Pallotta]

No, I didn't think they arrived at Ellis Island/Pier 21 as penniless and with so few friends as my parents and grandparents did.
Yes, I do think that "connections" -- to as many wealthy potential financiers as possible -- probably goes a long way in helping to build and sustain a successful career, then and now.

 

[Peter Galea]

*

[Sean_A]

After a 5 year search in the 1980's, the historian for the San Francisco Water Department found this for me in the attic of the water department. Crystal Springs is in Burlingame, 17 miles south of San Francisco. I sent a copy to the secretary at Walton Heath and he invited me to visit the W. Herbert Fowler room there. Someday I hope to make it.


AF1QipN8LYmQaoMe0LxK3xGhE77muCsv2D8hjghz9MRd

Peter

I am coming up error for your link. Can you please post the item?

Ciao

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's a series of articles on Fowler from the American magazines printed prior to his visit to the US.


Feb. 1906 Golfers Magazine -






Sept. 1913 Golf Magazine -














Jan 1920 American Golfer -





April 1920 Golfers Magazine -

[Tommy Williamsen]

Sven, you find the most interesting articles. Thanks.

[Sven Nilsen]

Here are a series of Ads and articles noting Fowler's American visit.

Jan. 1920 American Golfer -



Feb. 20, 1920 San Francisco Examiner -



Feb. 22, 1920 San Francisco Chronicle -



Feb. 28, 1920 Morning Oregonian -



March 1920 Golfers Magazine -



March 14, 1920 The Sun and the New York Herald -



April 1920 Golfers Magazine -



Aug. 1920 Golfers Magazine -





Aug. 14, 1920 San Francisco Chronicle -



Oct. 1920 Golfers Magazine -



Dec. 1920 Golfers Magazine -







March 1921 Ad -



June 1921 Golfers Magazine -

[Sven Nilsen]

The articles above note Fowler working at the following courses:

Presidio GC of San Francisco (remodel)
Los Angeles CC (two new courses)
Pebble Beach Golf Links (remodel)
Del Monte GC (remodel)
Capitola G&CC - a 36 hole project that never came to fruition
Eastward Ho GC aka Chatham CC
Ambassador Hotel GC aka Rancho GC
Crystal Springs GC
Sequoyah CC (remodel)
Burlingame CC (remodel)
Menlo CC (remodel)
Sacramento CC aka Del Paso CC (remodel)
Allegheny CC (remodel)
San Francisco Municipal GC (remodel)
Riverside GC (remodel)

In addition to those listed above, here are a number of other projects where Fowler has been cited as having involvement:

Monterrey Bay G&CC - course was built by S. C. Hardin in 1928-29, but reports have him using Fowler's plans
Lake Merced G&CC - consulted on the site
Olympic Club
Bryn Mawr CC - Fowler completed plans for the course that would end up being designed by Langford & Moreau
Dedham Country & Polo Club - brought in to extend a 9 hole Ross course

If anyone has anything to add to the list above, please let me know.

[MCirba]

Great stuff, Sven...thanks!


Sounds like Tilly had a rough Saturday night in the city by the bay.

[Sven Nilsen]

The following letter from Donald Ross gives you a bit of insight as to what the "local" guys thought of Fowler's US interests.

[MCirba]

Wowzers.  Donald bares his claws!

[Thomas Dai]

Sven,
Terrific posts. Thanks for sharing.
Atb

[Bernie Bell]

Some amazing stuff in this thread, Sven, thanks.  Is there any distinction to be drawn between the work done in that era by architects born to wealth/inheritance, versus work done by others hand who, like Ross, had more humble origins?   

[Thomas Dai]

Some rather curious newspaper comments about Fowler having been in California in 1878 on his way back from a cricket tour of Australia.
From an admittedly quick internet search (my much thumbed copy of Wisdon having gone astray) it doesn’t appear that Fowler was a member of any of the MCC/England teams who toured Aussie/NZ back in that period. Maybe he went there in some other capacity, ie the overseas adventures of a young man from a wealth family?
Never mind though, he laid out some splendid courses and they’re his real sporting legacy.

Atb

[Mike Bodo]

Sven, you are a virtual living and breathing encyclopedia. I don't know where you find or come across the old newspaper clippings and articles you do, in addition to things such as the Ross letter to the Dedham Country and Polo Club, but I always marvel at the archival material you post in these forums. The Ross letter could be very telling about Fowler's reputation among his peers in the U.S. or at least as it concerns Ross' opinion of him. Obviously, DJR didn't view him as a credible GCA, as I suspect he was familiar with his history and knew that he basically fell into being a golf course designer. In a way, so to did he when you consider he started out as a carpenters apprentice and then began producing golf clubs for Tom Forgan at St. Andrews. It was by fate while working as a golf pro at Royal Dornoch that he met Professor Wilson from Harvard and through him got the gig at Oakley Country Club from whence his design and consultancy work in the U.S. began. It's apparent from the tone of his letter that Ross felt slighted he got passed over to design the second nine at Dedham to compliment the work he did years prior on the front in favor of Fowler and he wasn't about to go back and fix the things the club didn't like about Fowler's work only for Fowler to receive the credit. I can't say as I blame him, but to go so far as to imply Fowler never did anything of worth in the U.S. is a bit much and comes off as sour grapes.

[Sean_A]

Which Fowler US courses remain more or less as Fowler designed?

Sven

Thanks for your efforts!

Ciao

[Pete Lavallee]

According to William L. Healy’s 2016 history book, the only major change to Eastward Ho! in Chatham, on Cape Cod, was shortening #1 and #9 to the accommodate a clubhouse expansion. The 9th hole had a new green built 30 yards short of the old one. The 2004 restoration by Keith Foster was very sympathetic and concentrated on expanding greens and tees, removing trees and firming up the course especially in the approaches to the greens.

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