Tom Simpson at Blackwell by Charles Ambrose

[Adam Lawrence]

I found this rather fabulous article by Charles Ambrose from the February 1923 issue of Motor Owner magazine (which had just merged with Car & Golf at the time) today. I haven't seen so good a description of Simpson's working methods before. In particular, the use of the 'floor plans' shown on the last page to give a cross section of a green complex is new to me.

I also like Ambrose's description of Herbert Fowler's method for getting to grips with a piece of land.

A very interesting find.

[Thomas Dai]

Terrific find and post Adam, well done.
As an aside the hole numbers mentioned are not as at present as the front/back-9’s later swopped over.
Interesting comment about the long 3rd hole, now the par-5 12th, and the conversion of a lengthways stream into a brook. Would this be later converted into the famous 'snake' bunker that runs lengthways along much of the right hand side of the (now 12th) hole?
Atb

[David_Tepper]

Sean A. did his usual fine job of a photo tour of Blackwell some time ago. Here it is:

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,35050.0.html

[Niall C]

Adam,


Great stuff. Ambrose and Simpson made a fine team and I'm still not sure if Simpson prompted Ambrose to write or whether Ambrose would think of something to say and then ask Simpson to illustrate it. Whatever, they did some fantastic articles together. In recent years we've seen books on Fowler, Simpson and MacKenzie, and indeed I understand some mad fool is writing a book on Colt. However I wonder if a collection of Ambrose's articles together with illustrations usually provided by Simpson and even his own character sketches might not prove as equally appealing.


Niall

[BCrosby]

Niall -


Agreed about Ambrose. Vastly under-appreciated as both an illustrator and a writer.


Bob

[Adam Lawrence]

Niall -

Agreed about Ambrose. Vastly under-appreciated as both an illustrator and a writer.

Bob

You should ask the Emperor what he thinks about Ambrose!

[Mike Bodo]

Great find and post, Adam! Is there any way I can download a PDF of the article so I can more easily read it? The type in the images posted is a bit too small for my eyes, unfortunately. Thanks for any guidance you can provide.

[Tommy Williamsen]

That's a great find. I sponsored two Blackwell members at my club. They invited me there but never could make it happen. I guess it is a well-heeled club but gets little recognition.