The difference between Donald Ross and A. W. Tillinghast

[Phil Young]

An article in the March 11th, 1924 issue about the new golf course for the San Francisco Golf Club that was under construction, included the following: "To the uninitiated in the science of golf architecture the difference in the work of Donald Ross and Tillinghast is that the former presents from each tee a spectacular problem to be solved with a small army of white-capped bunkers on route to the green, while the Easterner gives you a picture of a hole that can be played easily, only to discover your troubles as you play your shots wrong. Both of them are great architects. Tillinghast impresses me because of his daring franknes."
      Any thoughts? By the way, Tilly was a huge fan of Ross' work...

[Mark_Fine]

Phil,
Who wrote the article?  Very simplistic way of describing the vast and complicated work of two great architects which varied dramatically over their careers as well as from site to site. 

[Phil Young]

Now you force me to look into my archives. If I remember correctly, it was an unnamed staff writer, but I'll see what I can find. And I agree with your comment. I think this provides an opportunity to compare subtleties of design philosophies put into practice without it having to be: Who was better than Whom.

[Joel_Stewart]

An article in the March 11th, 1924 issue about the new golf course for the San Francisco Golf Club that was under construction, included the following: "To the uninitiated in the science of golf architecture the difference in the work of Donald Ross and Tillinghast is that the former presents from each tee a spectacular problem to be solved with a small army of white-capped bunkers on route to the green, while the Easterner gives you a picture of a hole that can be played easily, only to discover your troubles as you play your shots wrong. Both of them are great architects. Tillinghast impresses me because of his daring franknes."
      Any thoughts? By the way, Tilly was a huge fan of Ross' work...

Some people consider SFGC to be Tillinghast best course. 


It's ironic that both Ross and Tillinghast only built one course each in California. It will be interesting to see what the renovation at Peninsula CC will bring.

[Chris Mavros]

You could almost reverse the characterizations if you wanted to.  I think that has more to do with the broad variety of their work than anything else. 

[Jim_Coleman]

   To me, Tillie’s most striking talent is his bunkering. Thomas too. Ross’s are his green complexes.

[Joe Bausch]

Here is the article Phil is talking about (from the March 11, 1924 issue of the San Francisco Examiner):

[Dan_Callahan]

Less an obvious aesthetic proclivity than it is routing genius, but has any architect ever been better at designing great courses on small pieces of property than Ross?

[Phil Young]

Joe, Thanks for posting that. I forgot it was "Bobs" and I have his real name in my notes somewhere as well.


Another difference between the two is that Ross appeared to have designed his holes from tee to green, whereas Tilly designed his from green back to tee, which is why he was a firm believer in a "master trap" that would control both the design of the entire green complex as well as his preferred location for the shot into the green and this would then allow him to create his challenges to reaching are from the tee by the accomplished player.



 

[Joe Bausch]

Joe, Thanks for posting that. I forgot it was "Bobs" and I have his real name in my notes somewhere as well.


Another difference between the two is that Ross appeared to have designed his holes from tee to green, whereas Tilly designed his from green back to tee, which is why he was a firm believer in a "master trap" that would control both the design of the entire green complex as well as his preferred location for the shot into the green and this would then allow him to create his challenges to reaching are from the tee by the accomplished player.

Please pass along his real name when you come across it again. And please don't tell me it was Robert Roberts!