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Paul Richards

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Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« on: December 11, 2006, 09:16:34 PM »

As 2006 winds down, we edge ever closer to the Beverly Centennial in 2008.  One hundred years of a great club is quite an achievement and should be celebrated appropriately.  Along those lines, Beverly has engaged the services of Tim Cronin, renowned sportswriter and author (Medinah’s 75th Anniversary book, and the Western Golf Association’s 100th book to name just two) to put Beverly’s history into print.

Tim has been devoting a lot of his time to research and has scored an amazing find.  As most know, I have been doing research as historian for many years, but it was Tim who finally was able to find the articles that prove Donald Ross was actually here at Beverly!

This fact is significant.  Besides being one of the most famous golf course architects of all time, he was also one of the most proficient, with some 400 to his credit.  Many of his courses were ‘designed’ in his office with topographical maps as his guide, but now we have proof that Ross was actually here at Beverly!  This lends credence to the proud architectural history that was resurrected by the work of Ron Prichard in Ross’ honor.

The following articles highlight some of Ross’ visits to Beverly.  Pay particular attention to some of the descriptions – they still match those that we see today!  Finally, when you reach the part about the ‘old No. 2’, next time you are on the course, notice a tree in the midst of some humps behind the ladies’ tee on #2 – this is the ‘old No. 2 green’ that is mentioned.

Ross ‘assured’ the members that his would be one of the best courses in Chicago.  He was correct.  Additionally, he talked about the ‘great possibilities in what is now the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth, and with new greens and other alterations he thought Beverly would have the four finest finishing holes in Chicago.”

On that point, Mr. Ross was absolutely correct.  In fact, I would argue that Beverly has perhaps the best four finishing holes in all of golf that don’t play along an ocean!!


Cheers!










   Saturday, May 18, 1918

CHICAGO EVENING POST

ROSS PROMISES BEVERLY BOYS A FINE COURSE
   Noted Architect Finds Topography Ideal
      By Jack Hoag
Just what the new Beverly Country Club course will be like no one knows, but we have Donald Ross’ assurance that it will be one of the best courses in Chicago when it is completed.
The ground south of the clubhouse, where the second nine holes are situated, is ideal for golf, and some remarkably fine holes will be developed along these ridges.  Take the eleventh hole, for instance.  The tee shot here, where the carry is over the two hills, was always weak.  It was impossible to see anything of the fairway from the tee, but with the second hill lowered, Ross saw possibilities for a fine hole, and it was somewhat amusing to hear his comments on the position of some of the greens.
With wonderful possibilities for a good green all around the present eleventh, Ross plaintively asked: “Why did they go out of their way to select the worst possible spot and then construct a green which sloped away from the play?”  Again, on the 400-yard fifteenth, Ross liked the present fairway very much, but eh green will be moved back into what is now the garden back of the sixteenth tee, where he discovered an ideal spot for it.  This will lengthen the hole forty or fifty yards and make a sporty hole out of it.
Pond to God
Ross has not decided what he is going to do with the hill on the eleventh, but he will probably dump it into the pond in front of the sixteenth tee, and then move the tee back toward the clubhouse.  The old eighteenth hole will be abandoned, and the present seventeenth will be the finishing hole.  Ross said that there were great possibilities in what is now the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth, and with new greens and other alterations he thought that Beverly would have the four finest finishing holes in Chicago.
Nothing definite has been decided, and Ross may change his mind several times before the final plans are drawn, but with the alterations in the last holes as he sketched them yesterday, Beverly will certainly have some grand golf holes at a point where they usually figure most in a match.  The old No. 2 Punch Bowl hole brought a smile to his face and the comment that most anybody ought to get his 3 when there was a bank in every direction to deflect that ball toward the flag.  This is one of the holes which is scheduled for the discard.
Ross will devote most of his time for the next two days to the north half of the property, and he sees some fine possibilities fro good holes in the low ground north of the ridge.  Trees will have to be removed to some extent and new greens and hazards constructed, but Ross says that the alterations will cost surprisingly little in comparison with most reconstruction work, and when finished, Beverly will be a grand test of golf.






   Tuesday, May 21, 1918
DONALD ROSS GIVES BEVERLY FINE GETAWAY
By Jack Hoag
What is Donald Ross going to do to Beverly?  This question is ever first in the minds of Beverly members.  To answer this question in detail is impossible at present, for Mr. Ross does not know himself how he is going to alter some of the holes, but it is certain the members won’t be able to kick a golf ball around in 78 when the work is finished.
Mr. Ross will follow the same principle at Beverly which is characteristic of all his work and provide two or more ways in which each hole can be played.  His fairways all have a swing to the right or left and the short line to the flag will bristle with traps and bunkers of the most formidable variety.  This means that the crack player who is trying for his par will have to play perfect shots or he will find his ball in a nest of trouble, but the player who is content to take the long way home and play in bogey will find little to trouble him until he approaches the green.
First Hole Much Improved
Take the 385-yard first hole, for instance.  Ross is removing the first line of trees along the right edge of the fairway so that it will allow a little more room for play, but he is locating a nice little cop bunker 150 yards from the tee on the left which will jut out into the fairway quite a distance, and we have a hunch that those topped drives which used to squirm along down that fairway for 175 yards are a thing of the past.  There will be another cop bunker located farther along the left edge of the fairway which will prove of considerable interest in the long hooker or to the man who has attempted to play a recovery from the first hazard.
These two hazards will naturally force the play up to the right and there is nothing along this edge of the fairway to interfere with the drive, but when it comes to the second shot there will be a great cop bunker which must be carried with your iron shot if you are to reach the green.  Every Chicago golfer will remember that there is a little slope to the left down near the green and the man who does not get quite home in 2 usually finds his ball over near the rough on the left.  “How nice!” says Ross, “a beautiful location for a trap,” and he designs a great big one which covers most of the left side and curves around so that it covers the left corner as well.
No. 8 a Fine Golf Hole
Not much of a change from the old hole, so far as the eye shows, but wait until you come to play it.  The addition of those four hazards will make a golf hole out of it and if you get your par 4, you’ll earn it.  No. 2 is slated for the discard and the No. 2 of the new course will consist in part of No. 3 of the old course.  the tee will be moved over to the left and back to the top of the ridge, so that the line of play will be somewhere near where the second tee is not located and you will drive out onto the fairway at an angle.
   You can be just as selfish as you like, but don’t bite off too much, for unless you make the carry the whole left edge of the fairway will bristle with hazards and you will probably take a 6 trying for a 4.  The new hole will measure 458 yards and will have a wonderfully designed green, which will be raised at the back and have an undulating surface that will present problems, which will require some study to master.  



This entire hole will be severely trapped along both edges of the fairway and on the sides and back of the green, and a 4 will be grand golf.





Chapter 37 –

Respectfully Submitted,
Paul L. Richards
Historian, Beverly Country Club
December 11, 2006
"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

T_MacWood

Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2006, 10:48:54 PM »
Paul
Interesting. Have you been able to figure out which holes were carried over from the old course, which holes were redesigned from the old course and which holes were brand new?

Paul Richards

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2006, 06:32:20 AM »
Tom


To answer your question, yes, we have been able to figure out much of the original routing versus what Ross did, but not quite all of it.

"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

michael j fay

Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2006, 08:45:58 AM »
Paul:

I cannot say with total assurance that Ross visited all of the courses that he designed before 1913 but I have not seen a drawing of any course prior to that year.

He established Donald Ross and Associates in 1913 and his drawings started to appear after that. Like all points of history that happened nearly 100 years ago things are murky at best. The evidence in the Tufts Archives leads me to believe that his earliest designs were done on site without the type of drawings that appeared after 1915.

T_MacWood

Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2006, 08:54:17 AM »
Paul
Have you been able to determine who designed the original course? George O'Neil?

Michael
Thats very interesting about the 1913 date. What date did Hatch join Ross?

michael j fay

Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2006, 08:56:54 AM »
Tom:

I really don't know but he is listed as one of the original Associates in 1913.

RSLivingston_III

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2006, 11:59:28 AM »
Paul,
Great find on those Ross articles!
I have found a couple of other things you guys might be interested in. Who should I send them too?
One is about O'Neil setting the course record of 148 for four rounds over the nine hole course, surpassing Willie Anderson's 151 he shot during the Western.
"You need to start with the hickories as I truly believe it is hard to get inside the mind of the great architects from days gone by if one doesn't have any sense of how the equipment played way back when!"  
       Our Fearless Leader

John Shimp

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2006, 12:04:55 PM »
Paul,
When did Prichard do his work?  Has the membership become more or less enamored of the work Prichard did as time has gone by?

I'm interested as Mr. Prichard has drawn plans and work may begin soon on a course I am familiar with in the southeast.  

RSLivingston_III

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #8 on: December 12, 2006, 12:24:24 PM »
John,
You should definitely see Beverly, but should also see Franklin Hills. Those two should answer any questions you have about Prichards work.
"You need to start with the hickories as I truly believe it is hard to get inside the mind of the great architects from days gone by if one doesn't have any sense of how the equipment played way back when!"  
       Our Fearless Leader

michael j fay

Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #9 on: December 12, 2006, 03:56:43 PM »
Copies of those articles belong in the Beverly folder at the Tufts Archive, 150 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Thanks.

michael j fay

Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2006, 03:59:03 PM »
John:

You should take a ride out to Highlands CC in Highlands, NC to get a good look at Prichards' work.

I've seen the plan for the course in the southeast to which you refer and it is rather exciting.

John Shimp

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #11 on: December 12, 2006, 04:10:42 PM »
Michael,
I did not know he had worked on Highlands CC.  I've never played but have seen it.  

Hopefully the plans in question will be fully approved and work will begin in a few months.

Ralph,
I've unfortunately never been close to Beverly or Franklin Hills but have heard good things on each. Thanks.

PThomas

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #12 on: December 12, 2006, 04:20:45 PM »
congrats Paul

and if Tim's book is anything like his Western Open hsitory, it will be great...I look forward to getting a copy
199 played, only Augusta National left to play!

Paul Richards

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #13 on: December 12, 2006, 08:52:21 PM »
Tom

The original routing and course were done by George O'Neil, a couple members and one article cited Tom Bendelow as a contributor.


John

Beverly was restored by Ron Prichard and opened in May of 2004.  The work has been met with overwhelming acceptance by members and visitors alike!

FYI  Beverly was on the original first 6 Golf Digest lists, dropped  off and resurfaced as #100 in 2005 on Golfweek's list, and climbed to #87 on the 2006 Golfweek list.


Ralph

Please send me a copy of the articles you cited as well as sending them to the Tufts.  Thanks!


Also, I will add that Prichards' work at Franklin Hills was almost as special as his work at Beverly!



"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Tim_Cronin

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #14 on: December 13, 2006, 12:28:31 AM »
Now that Paul has let the cat out of the bag, here's what we know about Beverly course history in brief:
The original 18 was designed by pro George O'Neil, George Janes (influential in getting Beverly off the ground) and John A. Middleton, like Janes a founding member, beginning in late January 1908. Bendelow had no hand in the routing, but appears to have been consulted on green complexes (if we can even call them that).
Several of the first nine holes (now the back nine, with alterations) were ready with temporary greens by March 25, 1908. All nine were open with temps by April 9, 1908. The formal opening was May 30, 1908.
The north nine opened formally May 30, 1909, and became the front nine.
O'Neil scored his 148 on June 6, 1909, surpassing Anderson, but neither score was made in connection with the Western Open. The first Western was held at Beverly in 1910, at match play after one 18-hole qualifying round.
Donald Ross' visit (the first of an as-yet undetermined number) was on May 17-19, 1918, part of one of several visits to Chicago. The club was recovering from a clubhouse fire and trying to raise funds for a new clubhouse (which still stands) and didn't begin to implement his changes until the 1920s. It appears the first changes were made in 1922.
The search for more new old news continues...

And to Paul Richards and Paul Thomas, thanks for the kind words!
« Last Edit: December 13, 2006, 12:29:55 AM by Tim_Cronin »
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Dan Moore

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Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #15 on: December 13, 2006, 11:52:38 AM »
Congrats Tim and Paul on uncovering some significant new information.  

I'm also very curious as to the roles of Chick Evans and William Langford who I understand also did some work there later on after Ross.  
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

tlavin

Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #16 on: December 13, 2006, 03:42:13 PM »
As a Beverly member and as an admirer of Tim Cronin's journalistic skills, I'm thrilled with the results of his scholarship about our great course!

T_MacWood

Re:Donald Ross visits The Beverly Country Club
« Reply #17 on: December 13, 2006, 10:21:24 PM »
Its strange the plan was made in 1918 but not implemented until the 20s. What was the reason for the delay? Did Ross or one of his associates come back to do the work?