Franklin Hills

[Jeff Goldman]

Does anyone have any info on how the restoration went at Franklin Hills?  I know Ron Prichard was out there, but haven't heard anything lately, and it would be nice to get a report on what was done and how the Ross layout is doing (did they do anything to 17?).  Thanks!

Jeff Goldman

[Jeff_Mingay]

Jeff,

I visited Franklin Hills last fall, shortly after work on the course was completed.

A lot of fairway and green surface expansion took place; lobes of putting surface and corner hole locations have been restored. And, a number of trees have been taken down.  

Most dramatic is the change of bunker style. Previously, Franklin Hills featured flashed sand. Now the bunker faces are grassed down, in similar style to Skokie, Beverly, Aronimink, et. al.

Not much changed at 17. There are still trees blocking the option of taking the tee shot over the pond at right. It's still one of the most awkward Ross-designed holes I've seen. The tee shot is forced straight out to a 90-degree turn to the right.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Sean,

I do have a couple photos of the new look bunkers, but I don't know how to post them?!

If someone does, I can email a photo or two to post.

[Jonathan Cummings]

Teeth of the Dog Jeff!

I have heard that Franklin Hills is in dire straits for members.  I have heard that they were so exclusive that the oct(+)genarians didn't want the young whipper snappers in there so they basically had no recruiting for years.  Now with the old guard dying off they are realizing that they neglected repopulating the forest and are facing BIG finincially issues.

Is this your understanding?

jaycee

[Jeff Goldman]

Jon,

Cajuiles!!    Actually, I don't know anything.  I was a law clerk in Detroit for a year, and must have had lunch or dinner at Franklin Hills 20 times, but I didn't golf then.  Boy, am I kicking myself now!  
 
Jeff

[Scott Witter]

For those who knew what the bunkers looked like before restoration/renovation...were the sand flashes even original? and if they were, how does the group feel about the change in style?

[T_MacWood]

Franklin Hills is a wonderful course. I'm a little surprised the club is undertaking a full scale restoration, I thought it was one of the best preserved Ross courses I've run across.

The flashed bunkers at Franklin Hills are original. Ross's Oakland Hills had flashed bunkers as well.

[Scott Witter]

Sean & Tom,

Thanks, for now I will accept Tom's answer on the bunkers until someone else chimes in and wishes debate this.  I've been on this site long enough not to challenge Tom Mac when it comes to Ross & Flynn.  Hey Tom, if Franklin Hills is "underataking a full scale restoration", then wouldn't the new restored bunkers be flashed?

Your answers, however, don't tell me anything about your position on the style change.  I'm sure Tom Paul loves them since he favors Ron Prichard.

[Will E]

Michigan Links magazine arrived today with story about the restoration of Franklin Hills.
I'm not sure that "restoration" is the right word to use.
That said I don't think anyone would disagree that Franklin Hills is much better off now after Ron Prichard's work. The bunkers are much deeper now and very severe in places.
Would a, "full scale restoration" require an adjustment to the irrigation system and mowing heights?
I find #17 much different now. Many trees have been removed and bunkers added. Going right over the pond is now a very possible play depending on wind.
I can't think of a better place to play in the Detroit area.
 

[Jeff_Mingay]

Tom MacWood,

Knowing Ross' Essex and Roseland (across the river in Windsor, Ont.) intimately, and also that Detroit GC and Oakland Hills' bunkers featured flashed sand originally, my suspicion is that the bunker faces at Franklin Hills were similar, originally.

Roseland and Franklin Hills were designed the same year (about 1925-26); Essex was three years later. I have Ross' detailed notes and sketches for Essex which clearly indicate that he intended the sand to be flashed up the bunker face and framed with a "turf ribbon".

In the ground, as they were, Franklin Hills' bunkers exhibited a similar character to those at Essex.

I don't know this for sure though, 'cause I haven't seen any historic photos of Franklin Hills.

[Paul Richards]

Looking forward to seeing Ron's work there.

It was already a special place (except for #17!), so I'm sure it is really awesome now!

 

[Brad Klein]

I've been out to Franklin Hills 2x this summer, and was stunned at how well the course came out - expanded greens, deep-faced bunkers with bony faces and low-lying sand, and lots of new fairway options. A wonderful set of par-3s, from the short-iron 9th to the fairway-wood 16th.

Jeff Mingay, I don't know what you're referring to. The trees on 17 on the right side have all been taken out and it's an easy carry from the middle/back tees, about 210-240 in the air across the pond and the bunkers, depending on your line. From about 390 on the card I hit driver/PW both times. The options are great there. Actually, it's only high handicappers who go safely left off the tee who get stuck, with two awkward trees on the inside of the elbow blocking the 2nd shot, but that will surely change this winter. It's now easily the best, purest Ross course in the state, and among the 5 best Ross restorations in the entire Midwest.

[T_MacWood]

"...deep-faced bunkers with bony faces and low-lying sand..."

Brad
That seems to be the trend with the majority Ross restorations. What gives?

Sean
Were you aware that RTJ remodeled Oakland Hills in 1950 or '51?

[Scott Witter]

This discussion is all interesting, but it still doesn't address why at least the bunker style was changed.  Clearly, and aside from countless other issues which comprise a "true restoration" which apparently this is not, such as trees, irrigation, etc., why change styles when as Jeff Mingay points out there are other great Ross courses nearby that were built to a similar bunker styling.

Brad, I have no doubt the course looks great and the project was a big success from a project development point of view, however, being aware of your extensive knowledge with Ross, what are your thoughts regarding the change? or don't you think it actually was a change?

From your post, it seems you completely believe this is now the purest Ross course in the state, so does this mean IYO that the bunkers were restored?

[Brad Klein]

Scott,

I have argued for years that all restoration is a form of adaptation that incorporates elements of modernism. It's always a matter of judgment and interpretation. Maybe there are ideologues who think that pure restoration is possible, whatever that means. Surely, you want to bring back the shapes of greens, the location of bunkers, the openness of space. But when it comes to turf coverage, today's "restored" bunkers are always more densely turfed than those of the classic era.

I have not seen the original Franklin Hills bunkers. I doubt they were flashed up, as they would have washed down, and they aren't now. I did play FH in 1996 and it is infinitely more diverse now, the playing width brought back, the alignment of elements more in conformity with Ross' design plan, which I have seen in map form.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Brad,

Glad to hear the trees have come down at 17. I either missed it, or those trees hadn't been cut yet as of my visit last fall.

As you know, that particular hole was very awkward as a 90-degree dogleg with all of those trees blocking the direct line to the green.

Bottom line is, Franklin Hills is an excellent golf course.  

[Tommy Williamsen]

I played there today and was thrilled. The bunkering is just shy of excellent. I can't comment on the original style, but the grass faces were just terrific. The course played fast and firm and was a delight to play. As for 17, I played the white tees. It was about a 210 carry to the right of the trees on the inside corner of the the dogleg. I made it, whew. I don't know if they took down any trees, but there was an openness about it that was refreshing. Holes 7 & 8 were tree lined but the trees were beautiful, didn't interfere with play, and were limbed up.

[Tom Bacsanyi]

I played there today and was thrilled. The bunkering is just shy of excellent. I can't comment on the original style, but the grass faces were just terrific. The course played fast and firm and was a delight to play. As for 17, I played the white tees. It was about a 210 carry to the right of the trees on the inside corner of the the dogleg. I made it, whew. I don't know if they took down any trees, but there was an openness about it that was refreshing. Holes 7 & 8 were tree lined but the trees were beautiful, didn't interfere with play, and were limbed up.

Between this post and the previous post a child was born that now has their driver's license.


I grew up less than a mile from the club, but as a gentile I only got as far as Bar Mitzvah parties in the fabulous clubhouse and a solitary range session

[Tommy Williamsen]

As for the bunkers, the club has "walking notes" from Ross and feel that he intended the bunkers to be grass faced.