Military Golf Courses

[Chris_Clouser]

If someone was going to just do some beginning research on the history of military golf courses does anyone have an idea where would be a good place to start?  

[Craig Disher]

Chris,
Do you plan to researchthe design and construction of individual courses at military bases or the overall phenomenon of golf at military bases?

The development of recreational facilities on bases is usually the responsibility of the commander so if you're looking for information on specific courses, the base is the place to start. Most have a website. Also, the military tends to document everything so something might have been written in the past 20 years that compiles the info you're looking for. The Lib of Congress would have it if it exists.

[wsmorrison]

Chris,
I have information (and have Craig to thank for a good deal) on two Flynn courses that are military courses.  One is the US Naval Academy course that Flynn completely revised (I do not have the plans).  Flynn also designed the Norfolk CC course that was taken over by the military and is now known as Sewell's Point.  The club thinks it is a Ross course; they are members of the Ross Society and have DR's picture hanging up.  I assure you it is and always was Flynn.  I have the detailed hole drawings and a routing map that shows the course was built as designed.  If you require any assistance on these two courses, of course I would be happy to oblige.  

I second Craig's suggestions that the LOC and the individual bases are the best place to start.

See you next month!
Best,
Wayne  

[Chris_Clouser]

Thanks guys.  

I've talked to the people at the bases of the courses that I'm looking at and had no luck from them or the base historian offices.  

I'll try the library of congress and see where that gets me.

Chris

[RJ_Daley]

I'm guessing about 1993-4 the government had a listing of dozens of military golf facilities world wide that were for sale.  I don't know if that will help you much, but it might be a lead on those not on current lists of military courses due to them having now been sold into private interests.

[Doug Wright]

Chris,

There was a brief thread on this topic about a year ago. Click here to view it:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/YaBB.cgi?board=GD1&action=display&num=1018023666&start=10

On the post I made to this thread, I refer to a good article in Travel Golf.com on military courses. There's a decent list in the article, which you can find here:

http://www.travelgolf.com/departments/travelfeatures/ontheroad/military-golf-courses.htm

All The Best,

[Doug Wright]

Chris,

Further to your inquiry each branch has a website that lists their courses. For some reason the Army's website link doesn't work for me but maybe you can figure it out.

Air Force Military Golf Course Guide:
http://www-p.afsv.af.mil/Golf/.

Army Military Golf Course Guide: http://trol.redstone.army.mil/mwr/golf/mwr_golf.html.

Navy Military Golf Course Guide: http://mwr.navy.mil/mwrprgms/golflist.htm.

God Bless America,

[Chris_Clouser]

Thanks guys.  I already have the article, but didn't have those websites.  I had to mess around with the army and navy sites but got them to work somehow.  I also noticed in the earlier thread some comments by Lester George.  I am going to try and get in contact with him as well.

[wsmorrison]

Chris,
I also have plans for the Army and Navy Golf Couse by William and David Gordon for your reference (future or otherwise).
Best,
Wayne

[Craig Disher]

Wayne,
There are two Army Navy sites. The older one (I have a partial aerial of it from the early 40s) is in Arlington about a mile from the Pentagon. A second course was built in the 50s or 60s in Fairfax County. Do you know which one is the Gordon's? Let me know if you want me to send you the aerial or post it here.

[wsmorrison]

Craig,

I have 2 sets of drawings for the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia.  The earliest one is an incomplete routing map dated May 1948 and shows JBMcGovern's proposal for the relocation of the 15th hole due to the relocation of South Glebe Road as well as its intersection with S. Army-Navy Drive.  There were 27 holes depicted on this tight and undulating property.  The redesign called for moving the 16th tee, the 26th tee, and the 23rd green.

I also have a routing map of all 27 holes on the Arlington site by William Gordon in 1949.  It would appear that he proposed changes to the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 13th, 15th, 16th, and 17th holes as these are shown in detail while the other 18 holes are stick routed.  Old Camp Road and Old Georgetown Road are shown at the top of the map.  There are no compass points indicated.   Using the McGovern map it would appear that those roads are on the south side of the property.

If you like, you can email me the aerial and I can take a look and see if either proposal was implemented.

[Craig Disher]

Wayne,
My aerial is from 1940. I'll send you a copy.