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Neil_Crafter

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Banks and Mackenzie + Mac Courses on Long Island?
« on: December 28, 2009, 07:56:43 PM »
This letter is from the Olmsted Archives and was written by J F Dawson to Frederick Law Olmsted regarding Dr Mackenzie, and dated May 7 1931. I think it was written in regards to Mackenzie's possible involvement at Augusta.

Towards the end it indicates that Banks asked Mackenzie to take over his work when Banks had taken sick. Possible projects he may have been involved in were in Florida and Connecticut. Does anyone know anything further about this? Love to hear anything that might give further evidence of this.

Additionally, Dawson indicates that he had had conversations with Mr Truax of Wendell Miller & Associates  who also represented the Buckner Sprinkler System, about projects he was involved in with Dr Mackenzie. He writes that "They have just build (sic) two golf courses which Dr Mackenzie laid out, one at Glen Head and one at Babylon, Long Island, New York, and have used the Buckner Sprinkler in connection with them."

What courses could these possibly be I wonder? The only confirmed Mackenzie new course in New York was the Bayside Links at Queens which is a NLE. Interested in any views or thoughts.

Neil

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Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: Banks and Mackenzie + Mac Courses on Long Island? New
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2009, 08:16:13 PM »
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« Last Edit: December 29, 2009, 08:29:42 AM by Steve_ Shaffer »
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George_Bahto

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Re: Banks and Mackenzie + Mac Courses on Long Island?
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2009, 08:43:06 PM »
Interesting article Neil - nice find.

A few years ago I interviewed the only superintendent that worked at the Links Club on Long Island (NLE). He told me at one point, Dr Mackenzie visited the course to “look at the bunkering.” He was 92 at the time and could not elaborate beyond that.

Neil, your article about Banks and Dr. Mac is dated May 7, 1931.  Banks had just returned from Castle Harbour, very ill and died shortly thereafter .......  June 3, 1931


The reference about a course in CT was Silver Spring CC, Richfield, CT. Banks had drawn up the plans for the course but and it ended up being built somewhat according to Banks’ plans by Robert White. It opened in 1933.

I think the reference to the Florida course by Banks was the Winter Club (became North Palm Beach CC later). That was Raynor last design just before he died in at the opening of the last nine at the Everglades Club.

"In addition, the splendid new layout designed by the late Seth Raynor and constructed by Charles H. Banks as Kelsey City for Paris Singer, creator of the Everglades Club. ..... Kelsey City became Lake Park - this turned out to be N Palm CC muni”
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Michael Blake

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Re: Banks and Mackenzie + Mac Courses on Long Island?
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2009, 09:04:28 PM »
The Architects of Golf  book has lists MacKenzie as remodeling Bayside Links 1932, NLE.
George, is that the same 'Links Club' you are referring to?  I assume Bayside Links was in Queens?


This timeline is also interesting (with some GCA'ers as sources and contributers)
http://www.alistermackenzie.co.uk/Timeline.pdf

« Last Edit: December 28, 2009, 09:12:42 PM by Michael Blake »
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Neil_Crafter

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Re: Banks and Mackenzie + Mac Courses on Long Island?
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2009, 09:22:58 PM »
Michael
The Architects of Golf listing is incorrect as Mac did not remodel this course, it was a new public course designed by Mackenzie and was built by Wendell Miller. It was called Bayside Links and no longer exists.

George
Thanks. That is interesting about the Links Club and the visit by Mac to look at the bunkering.

I assume from what you are saying that Mac did not finish off any of Banks' projects.

Glen Head was a Dev Emmett course designed for Marion Hollins as the Womens National. I wonder whether Marion might have asked Mac to take a look at it for a redesign?

Can anyone tell me where Babylon, Long Island is?
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Michael Blake

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Re: Banks and Mackenzie + Mac Courses on Long Island?
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2009, 09:35:25 PM »
map: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=40.695573203265674~-73.32652442157268&lvl=11&sty=r&where1=Babylon%2C%20NY

 'The Architects' lists Tom Wells as the designer of Bayside Links.  Incorrect also?
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George_Bahto

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Re: Banks and Mackenzie + Mac Courses on Long Island?
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2009, 10:47:00 PM »
Michael: The Links was a totally different course than the Bayside course

Links was a tight-knit group of (basically) Macdonald’s close friends and National founders. No guests were allowed - no pictures could be taken. The clubhouse was in NY City and on the course was just an old building for a pro shop. The pro was the only pro for the course as was Bennie Zukosky, the only super. The pro died before I found out who he was, so unfortunately, no interview. However, Bennie was a wealth of information as was one of the men on the work force at Nassau CC.

Another great source for the Links course was one, Augie Savello, now owner of a major maintenance company in our area. Augie was on the local police force early on and played the course, perhaps, more than anyone else than the pro, Joe Phillips, and of course Tom D was kind enough to lend me hisphotos of the Links course he took just before the course got plowed under ........ nice story about that in his Confidential Guide

Neil, I don't know of any course of plans of Banks that Dr Mac ever worked on.
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If a player insists on playing his maximum power on his tee-shot, it is not the architect's intention to allow him an overly wide target to hit to but rather should be allowed this privilege of maximum power except under conditions of exceptional skill.
   Wethered & Simpson

Neil_Crafter

  • Total Karma: 7
Re: Banks and Mackenzie + Mac Courses on Long Island?
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2009, 04:17:10 AM »
George
Thanks for that, I've never heard of any either, just this reference.

I see from the map link that Michael provided that there are a couple of courses close to babylon - Bergen Point and Sumpwams Creek. Anyone know of any NLEs in this area?
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