Seth Raynor

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Gib, I have confermation that Metairie CC in New Orleans was a Raynor design. It is a great story and some of the support data ie old newpaper articles etc are being mailed to me today. I am going back down this weekend to look at the aerials.  I found out this over the weekend playing there and talked to the club historian today. Ron Forse is doing the restoration.

[Paul Richards]

I have always appreciated Seth Raynor courses, but I guess
I'm starting to appreciate them even more after having played
Lookout Mountain and Black Creek last week.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Paul, I am very excited for this will be a major find for the golf starved New Orleans area. One has to go to Mobile or Houston to find a Ross course much less a Raynor. I will do all i can to encorage the club to make as complete a resoration as possible. There are some land issues in that the club has sold some since 1921.

[Craig Rokke]

I'd be curious to hear how much involvement Raynor had. I
know a Chicago-area club pro who designed courses on the side (Jack Daray) was credited with the layout by C&W.
Raynor's style seems as distinctive as any. Are there any tell-tale signs remaining?

If Forse is doing a restoration, has this revelation influenced the plans?

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Daray it seems did the redo on the course. I am looking forward to getting some more information on what is left and what needs to be totally restored. I play at Metairie 3 or 4 times a year and frankly do not feel alot of pure Raynor is there, but i am being told there is a good bit. I look forward to the facts on this.

[R.S. Barker]

Mr. Bernhardt,

I would be very interested to hear or see any of those newspaper clippings and information that you find out about this Raynor design.

Being a huge Raynor fan, and since I run a website on classic golf holes like the Redan and Alps, i would love to know what plans the restoration crew has IF any of the holes there fall under the classic design regime.

My appreciation to you for posting this thread..I'll be sure to look for your follow-up.

Thank you,

R.S. Barker

[Gib_Papazian]

John,
Got your e-mail. What terrific news. Oddly enough, I received a voice-mail from Ron Forse about an hour ago and will see him on Thursday afternoon out at Peninsula CC.

Maybe I'll drag him back to the house after we are done and get him to post what he is doing to the course.

You mentioned that some plasticine models were made in your e-mail of the proposed holes. Do they still exist?

It would be worth it for me to come out there on my upcoming Miami trip for a close look.

It still astounds me how prolific Seth-man was. It is no surprise he literally worked himself to death. I doubt we will ever know the full extent of his body of work due to the depression and WWII . . . . . . but what an exciting find for you down there in New Orleans.  -Gib  

[Jeff Mingay]

What about Joe Bartholomew? I was under the impression that he, an Afro-American, laid-out Metairie after having work for Seth Raynor elsewhere.

Gib? Geo. Bahto?

[George Bahto]

I found this out over a year ago and have been in contact with the club and local newspaper folks ever since.

Joe Bartholmew had been working with Raynor for a while learning the trade and he was the construction foreman at Metairie. Raynor visited there a few times after he laid out the course for he was also doing an estate course from a friend of CB's in New Orleans at the same time.

Ron and I have spoken about Metairie a few times and I do believe he has gotten the restoration.

Bartholemew left the Raynor firm at that point and went out on his own building a number of courses in the area and became a big-timer local hero. He sort of did he own thing  rather than following the Raynor /Macdonald philosophies. I think there is a statue of him in town also.

Metairie is among the more than 20 courses i uncdovered that Raynor never got credit for building. Found three more this year.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Gib, George, R.S. et al, It is great how this was discovered over a year ago and now much more information is found and the project has life. The Club President just called and a real effort will be made to convince the membership of what they have and the need to go the extra mile. I am going to assist in this even though I am only a friend of a number of members and not one myself. I hope at some point soon to request from some of the GCA crowd to write to the club supporting the significance of what they have. This is an incredible discovery for this part of the country and i am committed to doing all possible. Gib, I hope we can talk by phone and I also look forward to talking to Ron about his findings and feelings about how complete a restoration is possible.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Gib, it does not seem the old plaster models are to be found.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

George, do you feel enough information has been found to call this a Raynor design and will it make your book. Also, the club historian seemed to feel they had a little more information since your conversations with them. Gib, I will chat with you after this weekend and your visit with Ron on whether to meet there on your Miami trip. I hope there is enough left to merit it, if for no other reason than to dust you after the humidity gets to you about 14.lol GCA, watch out for Gib is near unbeatable at Olympic.

[George Bahto]

John - it is already include along with the other new discoveries

would you e mail me the historians name and # please - I'd like to speak

[John_D._Bernhardt]

George, His name is  Bill Wegmann Jr. and his number is 504 833 3800.

[George Bahto]

ok - that's the man i've benn communicating with anyhow - thank you

[John_D._Bernhardt]

It seems that 2 holes may have survived mostly intact. the par 3  150 12th is a copy from NGL and the par 5 18th is from a club on Long island named Nassau GC in think. I am pleased to say the kid birdied the 18th on sat.

[George Bahto]

ok - that's the man i've benn communicating with anyhow - thank you