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Jeff_Brauer

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #25 on: February 10, 2012, 11:24:13 PM »
Sorry to hear this, but Geoff led a long, productive life.  Like Mike D and others, every memory of Geoff Cornish I have is one of true class.  I, too, got several "old school" letters of congrats from Geoff.  He was the kind of guy you wanted your kids to hang around to get an idea of the civility of a previous generation, just hoping some would rub off.
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Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Pete Blaisdell

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #26 on: February 11, 2012, 03:21:05 AM »
  Mr. Cornish designed my home course (Bretwood) in Keene, NH in the 60's and while I was a member of Keene CC (Wayne Stiles) my Committee hired Geoff to take a look at our course for possible tweaking of some holes. It was cold and wet the day we went for a walk around Keene CC. Geoff had his boots on, we had to walk at least 10 miles. His stamina was amazing almost as amazing as his passion for his craft. I learned more about course architecture that day than I could muster from any book. Just a true gentleman in golf and life in general. He had a gentle spirit about him that reminds me of Lord Byron and is rare. I wish I could go back in time to that day. There are questions I wished I had asked.

  Sad to hear of his passing. He will be sorely missed. Just a great man.
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' Golf courses are like wives and the prom queen doesn't always make for the best wife "

Kris Shreiner

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #27 on: February 11, 2012, 07:54:15 AM »
Thank you all for sharing and posting your fond recollections and influences of a man who obviously led a life VERY well lived. I certainly was moved to reflect on my own life thus far... we can all take some of the qualities Geoffrey Cornish embodied and try to incorporate them a bit more in our own daily efforts.

To all of those touched by his wonderful spirit, remember the good times spent...I'm sure he gave plenty every moment.

Respectfully,

Kris
« Last Edit: February 11, 2012, 07:55:51 AM by Kris Shreiner »
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"I said in a talk at the Dunhill Tournament in St. Andrews a few years back that I thought any of the caddies I'd had that week would probably make a good golf course architect. We all want to ask golfers of all abilities to get more out of their games -caddies do that for a living." T.Doak

Tom_Doak

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #28 on: February 11, 2012, 10:14:06 AM »
Quote from: Sam Morrow on February 10, 2012, 09:57:25 PM
I've never played a Cornish did he have a particular style in his designs?

Sam:

It is probably not true of ALL his designs, but Geoff's base in New England meant that many projects were built on top of rocky soils.  To counter this, he often built all of the features of the golf course [greens, bunkers, tees] using fill material, so that even the floors of the fairway bunkers were above the natural grade.  The course I grew up on, Sterling Farms, is an example of this.  I assume the fill came from digging 3-4 ponds on the site, which was also a common feature of his designs.
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Ian Andrew

Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #29 on: February 11, 2012, 10:33:43 AM »
I was lucky to have shared quite a few conversations with Geoff. He was such an encouraging man and was great for suggesting a fresh angle on research. He once compared Stanley Thompson to Sir John A MacDonald setting off a most wonderful day.

He spent a great deal of time helping me understand Thompson and I was only able to finish My Opinion Piece through his clarification on questions I still had.

One of my favourite books on architecture is the eclectic 18 Stakes on a Sunday. It reminded me of conversations I had with Geoff ...

His encouragements made many of us reach higher than we dared the day before …
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RJ_Daley

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #30 on: February 11, 2012, 11:36:48 AM »
In 1992 when I was first interested in GCA and GCM, I attended the New Orlean's GCSAA conference and took several of their continuing ed classes.  One was GC renovation and remodelling, put on by Graves and Cornish.  On one of the days (luncheons were part of the programs) I filed in to the dining room and we were just random seating at round tables, and when I sat down, not really knowing anyone in particular, I found myself seated next to Mr. Cornish, whose seminar I had just concluded attending.  I was actually surprised that is the way it worked out for the seating.  He then spent the entire lunch extending a very pleasant conversation with me about my interests in Bendelow, and that I was neighbors and friends with Art Johnson, who would not cooperate with Mr. Cornish in the compilation of the 'Architects bio's. (Art was a bit of a crumudgeon in that way)  I was amazed that in the midst of the conference and demands for his time, that Mr Cornish would be so sociably conversant with someone who wasn't even actually in the business officially.  As we dined, many folks came by his table seat to offer greetings, yet he continued his questions and conversation with me and really made me feel like I belonged, despite that I was only a hobbiest aspiring to develop a golf course project at that point.  His curiosity and love of people, kind manner and talent as a natural educator,  and most particularly one who was ever an ambassador for the profession of GCA, was truly outstanding.   
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Carl Nichols

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #31 on: February 11, 2012, 12:41:26 PM »
Quote from: Tom_Doak on February 11, 2012, 10:14:06 AM
Quote from: Sam Morrow on February 10, 2012, 09:57:25 PM
I've never played a Cornish did he have a particular style in his designs?

Sam:

It is probably not true of ALL his designs, but Geoff's base in New England meant that many projects were built on top of rocky soils.  To counter this, he often built all of the features of the golf course [greens, bunkers, tees] using fill material, so that even the floors of the fairway bunkers were above the natural grade.  The course I grew up on, Sterling Farms, is an example of this.  I assume the fill came from digging 3-4 ponds on the site, which was also a common feature of his designs.

This also seems to describe the courses where I grew up playing (Simsbury Farms) and working (Hopmeadow). 
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Mike_Trenham

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #32 on: February 11, 2012, 05:42:54 PM »
Wow nobody has mentioned his book The Golf Course.  This was my introduction to GCA.

I would caddy at or play a course and immediately want to know what else that architect had built.

When I got older my father and I would take a trip each year and often base it around one architect and use Cornish's book to plan the trip, those were great trips.  Looking at my copy of that book now it's cover is beyond well worn.  One of my prized possessions.
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David Harshbarger

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #33 on: February 11, 2012, 06:47:46 PM »
Sounds like a plan for a trip with my sons...the Geoffrey Cornish tour.  All respects to the family.
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The trouble with modern equipment and distance—and I don't see anyone pointing this out—is that it robs from the player's experience. - Mickey Wright

Yancey_Beamer

Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #34 on: February 12, 2012, 10:16:45 AM »
I met Geoff in Anaheim,CA when the GCSSA met at Disneylaand and he and Bob Graves gave their GCA course.
Both became friends.I learned quite a lot after the meetings having dinner with Bob.Geoff did not eat dinner and preferred to
go for a walk.As I live close to Anaheim I was welcome at future lectures if there was space.When the ASGCA met at Riviera
Geoff made me his guest.Teriffic meeting.The above and a number of phone calls and letters are why I enjoy and take part in this site.
He will be missed.
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Forrest Richardson

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #35 on: February 12, 2012, 01:56:01 PM »
Mr. Cornish was a true gentleman. As with others who have posted here, he was encouraging to me and I have a file of letters he wrote over the years...each very thoughtful, wonderfully composed. I did my best to reciprocate this past May when I first heard he was not doing well. While he did not respond personally, his assistant emailed me that Geoff appreciated my writing. I regret not sending him a note or two more often.

Jack Snyder related many great stories. His favorite memory of Geoff seemed to be the many times the two (sometimes with BobGraves and Bill Amick) would walk courses during the ASGCA meetings. While the majority of the members would be busy playing, Jack and Geoff would take long strolls through the woods, look back at fairways from greens and enjoy the routing without the bother of clubs and balls   :)

The last time I spoke with Geoff the conversation somehow got to Hautain's book, The Mystery of Golf. Geoff said how much he enjoyed the writing, made a few comments about some of the particulars he recalled, and then dropped an amazing bit of trivia..."I knew Haultain and his son," he told me! Wow, amazing, because, somehow I had always associated Haultain with an era long over and gone. And, here to think, Mr. Cornish actually met the man! I am sure he had more great stories and recollections of some of the celebrated designers in our world. Hopefully the ASGCA has a good record in our Living History archive. I cannot imagine that Mr. Cornish was not among the first to be videotaped and interviewed as part of that project.
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— Forrest Richardson, Golf Course Architect/ASGCA
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Bruce Katona

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #36 on: February 12, 2012, 09:57:23 PM »
As told to me, Mr Cornish was an adjunct professor in the late 40's/early 50's @ UMass where my Dad was studying for his Masters Degress in LA.  Dad had Mr. Cornisha an instructor. 

As Dad has told me, one of the courses projects was to solve a drainage problem Yale University was having @ The Yale Bowl, which may have been constructed on impervious fill.  Dad's solution to the drainage issue "Blast - to break up the imprevious layer and encourage runoff perculation.  Dad was  the only one to receieve an A on the project as, at the time, that was the best solution to solve the issue.

Mr. Cornish wanted dad to join him upon graduation, but the pay was so poor (Mr. Cornish had to teach to make ends meet) Dad passed on the job and came back to live in NJ.

I will tell him of Mr. Cornish's passing when I see him next.

BK
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Cliff Hamm

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #37 on: February 12, 2012, 10:14:52 PM »
Mr. Cornish is the one architect I admire the most.  Not because of his great designs.  No in the big picture that is secondary.  His dedication to designing courses for the masses is unsurpassed. 

But more importantly read the comments on this thread.  They are not about his great courses or about his great Redans or for that matter about golf architecture in general.  No, they are about Mr. Cornish as a man.  We should all be so fortunate as to be admired as Mr. Cornish was as a wonderful human being. There is no greater tribute.

My condolences to his loved ones.
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Tim_Weiman

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #38 on: February 12, 2012, 11:03:03 PM »
Mike DeVries,

Very nice post. His book was a classic and one of the first in my collection.
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Tim Weiman

Shane Wright

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #39 on: February 12, 2012, 11:30:25 PM »
Another example of a golf architect living a long life. I've enjoyed reading the posts here about Mr. Cornish, RIP.
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SBendelow

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #40 on: February 14, 2012, 07:55:49 PM »
Sorry to learn of the passing of Geoffrey Cornish.  He was the source of considerable support and encouragement to me in my efforts to document my grandfather's contributions to American golf.  I will miss his occasional letters and words of inspiration.  May his memory and body of work continue to inspire us to keep the rich history of golf alive.
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Jaeger Kovich

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #41 on: February 14, 2012, 08:29:02 PM »
Like many here, I got my start in the golf course business thanks to Mr. Cornish. I was lucky enough to intern in the office that still bears his name Mungeam Cornish Golf Design. At the end of my first day I had a copy of The Golf Course and knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Reading all these stories about Mr Cornish makes me smile,

Jaeger
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Daniel_Wexler

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #42 on: February 15, 2012, 07:26:45 AM »
To echo a million other comments....

Mr. Cornish was just a wonderfully nice man.  I met him briefly when I was in college, then, upon trying my hand as a writer some years later, was also the recipient of one of his ever-supportive letters.  Just a very fine gentleman who will genuinely be missed.

DW
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Lester George

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #43 on: February 15, 2012, 12:07:00 PM »
I was fortunate to have Geoff as one of my sponsors into the ASGCA.  He was one of the finest gentlemen I heve ever met, not just in golf, but in life.  He wrote me encouraging letters and always took an interest in what I was up to. 

One of the lesser known things about Geoff was that he participated in the D-Day invasion as member of the  Canadian Airborne.  It is my recollection that he was awarded a battlefield promotion for his gallantry and rose to the rank of Major before leaving the service. I specifically remember him trying to convince Mike Hurdzan and me that his efforts on D-Day weren't especially meritorious as "the Americans really had it rough".  I sure will miss him.

Lester
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Howard Riefs

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #44 on: February 20, 2012, 10:38:52 PM »
Ron Whitten wrote a nice tribute to Cornish, "a true gentleman of golf architecture and golf history," who he partnered with on two books. It finishes with a few sound bites from one of Cornish's 1990s lectures on the evolution of design.


http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/blogs/wheres-matty-g/2012/02/whittens-tribute-geoffrey-corn.html#entry-more
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"Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: Taking long walks and hitting things with a stick."  ~P.J. O'Rourke

Tom Yost

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #45 on: February 21, 2012, 08:55:35 AM »
Quote from: Mike_Trenham on February 11, 2012, 05:42:54 PM
Wow nobody has mentioned his book The Golf Course.  This was my introduction to GCA.

I would caddy at or play a course and immediately want to know what else that architect had built.

When I got older my father and I would take a trip each year and often base it around one architect and use Cornish's book to plan the trip, those were great trips.  Looking at my copy of that book now it's cover is beyond well worn.  One of my prized possessions.


Indeed, "The Golf Course" can probably be credited for sparking my interest in course design.  I don't even recall when or where I picked it up, but it was long ago and knowing my spending habits at the time, would have certainly been found on the closeout/sale table.



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