Joe Mayo---Architect???

[Sean_Tully]

Yesterday, I found a reference to Joe Mayo designing and supervising the construction of a golf course in Hawaii for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in 1927.  There was no mention of a name for the course.  I understand his background as being the Supt. at Pebble during this time period. The following is speculation on my part; this could be one of the bones of contention between Mackenzie and Mayo. Mayo could of felt that he can do what Mackenzie was doing and Mackenzie saw him as a startup with little experience. I can’t recall the date on the letter between Mackenzie and Morse, could that fit into this time period?  It makes some sense, but everything in hindsight does. Is anyone familiar with Mayo’s involvement in Hawaii I checked a website for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and could find no mention of a golf course, maybe its NLE or under a different owner?

Tully

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Sean,
There was also a Charlie Mayo that worked for Willie Watson, and he is the one that oversaw and helped Watson build Hacienda Country Club in La Habra Heights in 1921. You might want to check out some of those possibilities.

I don't know if there is any relation or not to Joe Mayo from PB.

[Bob_Huntley]

I believe I provided the letter from MacKenzie to Morse, that highlighted the visceral dislike that they had from each other.

Morse always sided with Mayo. In fact Morse's affection for some of his long term employees was quite unusual. I believe it was Ray Parga, Pebble's caddie-master and starter, that had a sinecure for life, this being a clause in SFB's will.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Bob, I think I know what sinecure means, but I'm still going to look it up!

Bravo!

[Sean_Tully]

Bob
I could not recall who sent that to me. Thanks again. I have it at work and will have to wait till tommorrow and see what it all says.  For some reason I want to say you are affialiated with MPCC, if so I might have some information for you.
Tully

[T_MacWood]

I believe Royal Hawaiian is Raynor's Waialea.

[Sean_Tully]

Tom
You are right. I just got off the phone with the consierge(SP) at the Royal Hawaiian and she said the same. Joe must of written that article himself.

[Nigel Islam]

   Joseph Mayo is someone I would like to know a touch more about. He was in charge of construction at Monterey Peninsula as well as Waialae Golf Club for the Territorial Hotel Company. According to this thread of course it seems he was the superintendent at Pebble as well? Additionally it seemed that he and Dr. MacKenzie did not seem to get along. It was Mayo who actually went to Hawaii in aftermath of Raynor’s death rather than Banks (unless Banks flew there, because he does not appear to have gone by ship.)
    I am curious to know if he has any affiliation with any other courses?

[Tom_Doak]

I missed this thread in 2004, but of course it was short and I was pretty busy myself then!


Indeed the "Royal Hawaiian Golf Course" was the name for Waialae C.C. which was built as part of the hotel development down the road at Waikiki.  It became a private club later, sometime between the Depression and the end of the war.  It was the club who, ironically, sold off part of Raynor's oceanfront front nine for some housing and a newer hotel, the Kahala.


I have not seen Joe Mayo's name in any of the materials the club has given me, but surely someone must have come to watch over the construction after Seth Raynor's death, and it well could have been Joe Mayo.  [I haven't seen Banks' name involved, either, and I doubt they would have brought him all the way from the East in 1926.  Mayo was probably sold to them as the guy who supervised Raynor's work at MPCC.]

[Nigel Islam]

Mayo was originally from Barcelona and indeed went to Hawaii in April of 1926 on behalf of Territorial
 Hotel Company which was of course building the course. He also listed his occupation as “Golf Course Construction” I think despite a conflicting birthdate on the ship manifest he went again in 1927. His wife was apparently an accomplished amateur player only referred to in articles as “Mrs. Joseph Mayo of Pebble Beach.” Mayo lists his residence as both Flushing and White Plains on the ship manifests, but clearly was living in California. I will keep digging a little more.


Would love to hear more about the MacKenzie-Mayo feud.


As an aside, despite the fact I don’t think Banks went to Hawaii, he sure described the course as if he had.