Travis Experts of 2022

[Ronald Montesano]

I know that Ian Andrew, Bruce Hepburn Hepner, and Brian Schneider are currently involved in restorative work for Walter J. Travis-designed courses. Are there any other practicing architects with Travis expertise/current work? Thank you for hollering back.

[Stewart Abramson]

I think you have a typo. It's Hepner

[Dan Boerger]

I have a couple of friends who are members at the Yahnundasis. They are considering some (sorely needed in my humble opinion) restoration work. I am 90% sure they have a proposal in hand. I hope they do so.

[Jaeger Kovich]

I have a couple of friends who are members at the Yahnundasis. They are considering some (sorely needed in my humble opinion) restoration work. I am 90% sure they have a proposal in hand. I hope they do so.

I'm happy to say that Yahnundasis has accepted my proposal for a restorative master plan! I will make my first official visit in this capacity in the next couple weeks, and have been helping them with some preliminary work since the summer, which has culminated in a massive tree removal project this winter... It's unbelievable the transformation that has begun!




Ron - While I love Travis' courses and have studied a bit about the man and his work, I prefer to think of myself as a restoration expert, and expert on Yahnundasis more-so than a Travis expert.

[Dan Boerger]

Congrats Jaeger!!!


There are some very special holes there, IMO. I also recall the first two or three holes were redone to accommodate some early/mid 60's road work.


I plan to play there later this Spring (Seven Oaks, Teugega and Yahnundasis Swing).

[Paul Jones]

Do we have any Camden CC members on this site?  Travis was reported to design the course, but the club posted on their website, "Camden Country Club golf course was re-designed in the late 1920's by the renowned golf course designer/architect, Donald Ross. "
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[MCirba]

Do we have any Camden CC members on this site?  Travis was reported to design the course, but the club posted on their website, "Camden Country Club golf course was re-designed in the late 1920's by the renowned golf course designer/architect, Donald Ross. "

Paul,

Donald Ross grassed the greens in 1938 but my understanding is that he left the routing Travis did in 1923 largely intact.   Whether he changed the contours of the unique undulating sand greens Travis built (Travis tried to get a patent on the concept) is unknown to me.   

[Ronald Montesano]

Jaeger: We'll make a Travis man out of you, yet. A great first step will be the Yahnundasis project (a course that I fell in love with when I visited...can only imagine what was lost when the road went through.) A great second step was joining the WJTS. Thank you for that.


Our goal in the Walter J. Travis Society is to build on the work done by the society founders. We are fortunate to have Mr. Cirba as our historian. We will add articles to the WJTS site from these restorative architects, on what they've learned about WJT and his work/philosopy. It is an exciting time to be a Travis devotee.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I read a Travis biography last summer. He certainly was an interesting guy. Warm and fuzzy he wasn’t. At the end of the book it listed his courses. It seems many of them have been redesigned or have closed.

[John Blain]

I have a couple of friends who are members at the Yahnundasis. They are considering some (sorely needed in my humble opinion) restoration work. I am 90% sure they have a proposal in hand. I hope they do so.

I'm happy to say that Yahnundasis has accepted my proposal for a restorative master plan! I will make my first official visit in this capacity in the next couple weeks, and have been helping them with some preliminary work since the summer, which has culminated in a massive tree removal project this winter... It's unbelievable the transformation that has begun!




Ron - While I love Travis' courses and have studied a bit about the man and his work, I prefer to think of myself as a restoration expert, and expert on Yahnundasis more-so than a Travis expert.

I saw a copy of the letter that went out to the membership explaining what the plan is going forward. I have to say the letter was very impressive!  It basically explained what Travis envisioned for the course, what it has morphed into today and what it will hopefully look like going forward. It is an impressive plan and long overdue. I Look forward to seeing the work as it progresses.   

[Ronald Montesano]

Tommy: Was it the Bob Labbance book "The Old Man"?


JP: The founders of the WJTS are a spectacular tribe. It is both exciting and daunting to pick up the torch and continue the path. It reminds us of our own mortality, and of our duty to the arriving generations. There is much potential for the society and the site.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Tommy: Was it the Bob Labbance book "The Old Man"?

It was indeed.

[Ed Homsey]

Architect Kevin Hargrave was involved in work at Louisville CC with Keith Foster, and later they were consulting architects at Garden City Country Club.  Architect Kris Spence did extensive work at Camden CC, and in his plans for the course, he gave considerable attention and credit to Travis for the original design.  And, of course, Tom Doak's name should be on that list.  He has been the consulting architect for Garden City Golf Club for several years.

[Ed Homsey]

I read a Travis biography last summer. He certainly was an interesting guy. Warm and fuzzy he wasn’t. At the end of the book it listed his courses. It seems many of them have been redesigned or have closed.

The listing in "The Old Man" is outdated, and was somewhat flawed at the start.  I worked with Bob in gathering that list, so have some familiarity with it.  For Travis course listings, best to refer to the listing on the Travis Society's website.