Met Golfer article on Friar's Head and profile on George Bahto

[Scott_Burroughs]

The Friar's Head article is in the current issue, but the Bahto profile was in the April/May issue.

FH:
http://www.mgagolf.org/intraclub/query/catquery.html?doc_number=2650

GB:
http://www.mgagolf.org/intraclub/query/catquery.html?doc_number=1823

[A_Clay_Man]

Thanx Scott,

Certainly you sharing these articles is what makes this site and game great.

[George Pazin]

Thanks for the links & heads up, Scott.

Ken is too nice a guy - I'd have nothing nice to say about them enviro types.

The FH article is full of interesting potential threads, but to me the most interesting comment was from Ben Crenshaw:

“Our job was to meld or marry the two distinct elements of the Friar’s Head property together,” Crenshaw says. “We wanted to find a way to bring together the high dunes section of the property overlooking the Sound with the lower farmland section and unite them with a theme. We didn’t want you to feel like you were playing two separate golf courses with one nine up on high and the other nine down on the flat.”

I've always thought one of the most intriguing aspects of Cypress gleaned from Geoff's opus was the varying nature. Yet, it seems like soooooooooo many courses built today look to follow the standard one 9 one theme, one 9 another: dunes/woods, open/treed, non quarry/quarry, etc.

It's hard for me to imagine I wouldn't prefer C&C & the good Doc's approach.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Just bumping this since it was posted late afternoon yesterday, and threads leave the first page in just a few hours these days....

[Jim_Kennedy]

Scott,
I found out about George Bahto when I was lobbying the administrators at the Hotchkiss School to do restorative work on their Raynor/Banks course where I am the Pro. At that time I only knew of Brian Silva as someone doing Raynor restorations but the school's call to him went unanswered. That's when I heard about George Bahto. His name was mentioned, in an article written by Geoff Shackelford, as one of the most knowledgeable persons on the works of CBMac, SR and CB.
Interestingly enough, George had been to Hotchkiss several years earlier digging up info on Banks, the course, etc.. He was the perfect "fit" as he already knew so much of the past/present history of the course.
 
He drew up a master plan for the course that included much historical reference and detailed sympathetic restoration(we aren't in the same league as a Yale or Fishers ).
He improved the second shot landing area on our road hole, the par 5, 9th. This has always been a controversial hole, it's as easy to birdie as it is to triple bogey, and George found a way to help the golfer who lays up without interfering with the challenge the hole presents.
He re-shaped the surrounds of our second green, effectively using the thousands of yards of fill deposited by a construction project.
He constructed a new green (necessitated by yet another construction project) on our 4th hole. This is what is so telling about George, the plan he used came from an early drawing of Banks' and was adapted by George to our site.

I've been to Essex and seen his work there, I've been to his house and seen some of the extensive collection of info he has, I've even peered into the trunk of his caddy and seen more historical evidence there on CBM/SR/C"J"B than most people would even think existed about these men.
I think any club, built by the above mentioned fellows, who is looking to know more about the history of their course and what was there originally should seek George out.

As to the Friar's Head article I can only say that both sides are now smiling and it's not just environmental concerns that stall projects but a compilation of the perceived changes that development brings, golf course or otherwise.  

[GeoffreyC]

Jim

Great post. It's pretty clear that Hotchkiss got their money's worth by utilizing George and his wealth of knowledge not to mention the energy and enthusiasm of a man 1/3 his age.

It saddens me that the arrogant Yale administration could not see this resource.

As for Friar's Head- Its a great victory for all involved and the golf course will be a timeless treasure with articles and books written about it for generations.