[Ran Morrissett]

...is now posted under Architecture Timeline and In My Opinion.

First it was Tillinghast as the most overlooked architect but Frank Hannigan's article changed that. Then it was Seth Raynor but too many excellent designs of his remain today for that to last long. Then William Flynn was put forward as the most overlooked architect but the attention from Shinnecock's U.S. Opens helped reduce that oversight.

Now leave it to Tom MacWood to turn the spotlight in the direction where attention is most sorely needed. The fact of the matter is that Charles Hugh Alison ranks up there with the best at building great holes and then linking those holes together one after another with the end result being - by definition - great courses.  A look at MacWood's 1939 world ranking found in the In My Opinion section of this site shows that Alison was involved in ~10% of the then world top 100 courses. Not too bad for an architect that doesn't even have a society to lionize his work, eh?

Like his Arts & Crafts treatise (which I consider the single greatest read and asset of this web site), Tom uses quotes to brilliant effect and places the development of golf in Japan within the historical context of that nation's astonishing ability to perfect that which they see elsewhere.

Those who subscribe to Neil Crafter's Australian magazine Golf Architecture (and EVERYBODY certainly should) will recognize much of the text from issue no. 6. The version now up on GolfClubAtlas.com is Tom's full length, unedited one as there are no space constraints here.

Tom's writing is fresh and his thought process original. Posting something of this scholarly magnitude is another hallmark event for this site and fills a gaping hole on one of the game's greatest architects.

Next up for Tom is a ten pager on Tom Simpson, another of the game's wildly under appreciated design talents and it will also appear in Neil's magazine.

GolfClubAtlas.com hopes to be a free access repository for great writing on architecture and Gliding Past Fuji is a superlative example.

Cheers,

[Jeff_Mingay]

Another brilliantly unique piece of research and writing, Tom. And an important contribution to the history of golf architecture.

I look very much forward to the next on Tom Simpson. And then the next...  

[NAF]

Tom-

All I can say is WELL DONE!  I wish I would have had this piece before my trip to Japan in 2001, I would have learned so much more and have had a better trip.  My Japanese Intl Affairs prof- Lawrence Beer-- would be extremely impressed with your Japanese history.

I know the Tom Simpson piece will be very informational as well.. I wonder if you'll ever do a piece on Sir Guy Campbell or JSF Morrison, two gents no body talks about either.

[mark chalfant]

Thanks Tom, its a fine piece and I certainly look forward to
learning about  Tom Simpson. With Milwaukee, Century, Colony, and Kirtland to his credit I feel  Alisons American work
is underappreciated.  Mark

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I too loved Tom's Arts and Crafts piece. I enjoyed this as well. Tom my hat is off to you. Great work!!!

[Jeff_Lewis]

The best of GCA.com.  Well done.

[BCrosby]

Well done Tom.

[Bill_McBride]

I particularly enjoyed the Japanese-style painting of the 5th at Hirono paired with the actual photo of that beautiful hole. Thanks to Tom for a really terrific piece, which must have required a great deal of effort.

This type of work offsets a lot of the squabbling that goes on around here!  Great balance.

[BCrosby]

Tom -

I just saw your picture of the 7th (the old Seaside 9) at Sea Island. From boyhood (and that's a long time ago) it has been one of my favorite holes. It was the hole I was most upset about after Fazio's recent changes.

Your theory about his diagonal use of water makes sense. Though not as dramatic as the 7th, Alison also used water diagonally on the 4th hole, a good short par 4.

Bob  


 

[George Pazin]

Wonderful piece, Tom - never ceases to amaze me what you're able to accomplish while trapped up in your ivory tower.

 

[TEPaul]

That's a most interesting and detailed article of the early evoltution of golf on the other side of the world. And I've always felt like Ran does that the "Arts and Crafts Movement" five part piece is probably the most fascinating of all on this website.

The little I know about Alison, particularly his part in Pine Valley in 1921 which is more significant, in my opinion, than most seem to realize, makes him one who hopefully more can be found out about. His interesting multi-page pre-construction "design review" of Shinnecock before Flynn built there is so interesting too. I love Alison's drawing and the ultra logical and interesting text on strategy and concept that goes with many of them.

Colt and Alison's drawing style was very unique, in my opinion, very similar too. Their hole sketches seems sort of slanted as if they're wind-blown.

Great piece here Tom---and I love the title "Gliding by Fuji".

[Jeff_Mingay]

Just noticed Tom's piece linked at GeoffShackelford.com and at GolfObserver.com, which is great!

I'd have it linked at my site too, but I'm waiting for some new software to arrive

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Terrific!

[T_MacWood]

Thanks for the kind words. It helps when you have such an interesting subject. I was also blessed with significant assistance in Japan, and else where.  

[SL_Solow]

Let me add my kudos and thanks.  As a member of an Alison built in the 20's I am always eager to learn more about the man and when the source is both stylish and informative it adds to the pleasure.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()