The Real Donald in Florida - Belleair CC

[Jim_Kennedy]

Belleair seems to be the first course in Florida, and perhaps most of the south, to have successfully built grass greens in an era when sand was the medium of choice. Some time ago I read a short four paragraph history of BCC that's found on their website and hoped that sooner or later I'd find a photo of their grassed greens and the 4th hole.  

http://www.belleaircc.com/belleair-country-club-about-main.php

"Today’s layouts are essentially as Ross designed them, although the sequence of holes has changed. #4 West was elevated and entirely surrounded by a sand moat, with the putting surface accessible by stepladder. Although the fairways and greens have been sculpted and refined, #4 West remains as it was originally designed by Donald J. Ross, without the use of a stepladder."


Finally came across one. I'm outside the lines, but the photo looks better at this size:

[Sven Nilsen]

Jim:

A postcard of the 11th:



Sven

[Jim_Kennedy]

AHHH, green!  

Thanks Sven.

[Sven Nilsen]

Off on a tangent, but here are a few other old Florida relics:

Routing map of Nassau Golf Links:



Routing map of Miami Golf Links:



Tee box at St. Augustine:

[Eric Morrison]

Here is the Ross sketch of 4

[Bill_McBride]

I wonder when that marvel was blown up?   I played Bellaire a few years back and there was nothing remotely interesting left there. 

[Jim_Kennedy]

I wonder when that marvel was blown up?   I played Bellaire a few years back and there was nothing remotely interesting left there. 

This guy?
http://www.golfflorida.com/departments/coursereviews/belleair-country-club.htm

[Jim_Kennedy]

This snip from a 12/23/1900 NYT article suggests Kissimmee as the first course in Florida to have grass greens, with Bellair, Tampa, and Ocala following suit the next year. John Duncan Dunn held sway over these  courses during the 1900 Florida golf season.

[Jim_Kennedy]

...and even though it isn't about grass, here's a list of the 50 courses in Florida from a 12/17/1916 New York Herald article.