Mike, I'm well aware of what is on their website. It is incorrect. Tilly was never there in the 1930s and, after his visit in December 1916, he never returned.
On December 9th, 1916, the New York Times reported, “A. W. Tillinghast, the Philadelphia golf architect, is a busy person these days in which the cold wind keeps most of the courses practically idle. He [Tillinghast] has also drawn plans for nine-hole courses at Charlotte, N. C., and Rock Hill S. C., and will go south shortly to start the construction.”
On December 21st, the Charlotte News announced, “GOLF COURSE OF ROCK HILL CLUB TO BE EXCELLENT. The Rock Hill Country Club will have one of the best courses in the country when it is completed, according to architect A. W. Tillinghast, of New York City, who has just completed the work of laying out the course. The course will have a distance of around 3,200 yards from beginning to end and runs over hill and dale, across brooks and through woods. The local club is enthusiastic over the prospects for a golfing club and they are hoping to have the course completed within the next few months. After hearing Mr. Tillinghast’s opinion they are congratulating themselves on securing this property.”
On that same day, the Charlotte Observer reported, “A. W. Tillinghast, a noted golf architect of New York City, who is in the city laying off the course for the Rock Hill Country Club, states that he is more than pleased with the natural conditions and expresses the opinion that the course should soon become notable. The entire course is being surveyed and marked off and the work on the course will be commenced at an early date.
“The course will be to the northeast of the club home, the celebrated Mt. Gallant property, located a couple of miles north of the city. The club home will be remodeled and developed into a building especially adapted to the purpose for which it is intended. Tennis courts will also be laid off and provision made for other games, but especial interest will attach to golfing.”
The next day, December 22nd, The News and Courier also published a story regarding Tilly’s visit to Rock Hill, providing more specific information regarding the golf course. It stated, “The plans for the Rock Hill Country Club, which was organized here recently, are beginning to assume shape. For some days past a competent golf course architect, A. W. Tillinghast, has been here laying off the course. He has finished his work and returned to his home. His remarks on the natural lay of the land were extremely favorable and, in his opinion, the links of the Rock Hill Country Club should become notable.
"His conclusion is that the property is unusually suitable for the purposes for an up-to-date club and in every way meets the requirements of a modern golf course. Mr. Tillinghast has laid out a nine-hole course, with the following approximate distances: 326, 525, 390, 450, 115, 275, 376, 310, totaling about 3,200 yards and equaling the most noted championship test courses of the country."
Tilly never returned to the course. In his January, 1926 advertising brochure he listed the Rock Hill Golf Club as being a nine-hole original design.
On April 15th, 1936, the Rock Hill Evening Herald, under the heading, “New Golf Course Is One Of Best In Area,” reported: “What has been described as one of the best golf courses in this section of the south today, will give way for a while Friday evening and take second place among the attractions of the Rock Hill Country Club as the new club house, which will be formally opened at that time, draws all attention.
“Even those who know nothing of golf will appreciate that there is something very definitely good about the greens and fairways of this country club course. Else why should so many followers of the ancient Scottish art of batting little rubber balls into holes in the ground say such nice things about it, they might ask? Golfers don’t just drop in for a round and remark: ‘Right nice little place yu’ got here.’
“No, indeed, some good golfers, used to the finest of golf courses, have paid Rock Hill’s golf links some pretty high compliments…So with Arthur Ham golf course architect of Charlotte, planning the entire layout, and with Charlie Reynolds, who is now in charge, laying out the course, things were changed on the Roddy place on Saluda Road. The course as it stands is 3,330 yards-nine holes- with a par36.”
There can be no doubt that it was Arthur Ham who designed the first nine holes (and possibly the second nine as well years later) of the new Rock Hill Country Club and not Tilly.