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Mike Mosely

Williamsport Country Club?
« on: June 02, 2008, 12:46:58 PM »
In Williamsport...pennsylvania...where they have the Little League World Series...I know it's a Tillie.

Anybody played it?  My buddy from there invited me to the LLWS and to play it, so I wanted to see if you guys had written up any analysis of the holes...

here's the website and some pics:

http://www.wcc1909.com/golf_course2.html

« Last Edit: June 02, 2008, 12:49:14 PM by Mike Mosely »

Phil McDade

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2008, 03:47:08 PM »
Mike:

I used to live fairly close by, but never had a chance to play it. Says it's a Tillinghast; the Tillie crowd on GCA can probably verify and update. Some interesting courses in those parts; a restored Flynn in Eagle's Mere?


Kyle Harris

Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2008, 03:56:22 PM »
Definitely worth it, played it a bunch of times in 2003 while I was the starter at the PSUGC. In the line with the quirkier Tillies of NE PA like Valley and Fox Hill.

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2019, 11:14:43 AM »
First I've heard of McCarthy at Williamsport.  And Travis?


April 13, 1930 Nashville Banner -








"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Jim Sherma

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2019, 05:54:01 PM »
McCarthy was finished with building the Hershey courses around this time. He certainly would have been in the general area and a known name.

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2019, 04:25:50 PM »
First I've heard of either McCarhy or, especially Travis associated with Williamsport.


Then again I haven't really seen anything much that links Tillinghast and have always just assumed probably from the club's records.


I'll ask around.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2019, 11:06:50 AM »
Sven,
Not finding much to support the Travis mention, but was surprised to learn that the original nine holes at Williamsport were Herbert Barker, 1910.   This was around the same time he also did the first nine at Pocono Manor.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2019, 12:43:17 PM »
Sven,


Looking at the Annual Golf Guides it appears that Williamport didn't expand to 18 holes until the mid 1920s, which would rule out the Travis in 1919 attribution.


Hope that helps, thanks.


***Edit***  just reread your article...see it is 19 years ago, not 1919.  Now I'm very intrigued given the Barker Travis connection.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2019, 12:45:32 PM by MCirba »
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2019, 01:05:46 PM »
Mike:


I have a bunch of information on Bendelow in 1898 (on an earlier site) and James Watson and Joseph Mosser extending the course to 18 holes in 1923.


The club history notes Barker in 1910 with a new course, but makes no mention of Travis. 


It also notes Tillinghast was paid over $2,000 for his work in 1923 (which is how the Tillinghast Association covers his work).  I haven't found anything to confirm any involvement by HBB or AWT.


Sven

"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2019, 02:22:59 PM »
Sven,


Interesting.  I'm sure you saw the following from their website and I'm thinking they likely have Club minutes as the source. 


Still, for how close Travis was to Barker (and Americsn Golfer magazine) and for how much of a self-promoter Tillinghast was it's odd so little contemporaneous published information is available.


Williamsport Country Club was founded in 1909 with the original 9-hole course located in the city of Williamsport, just north of the present day hospital. At the annual meeting in 1910, the Board of Directors approved the purchase of the Hepburn Farm located east of the city in Loyalsock for $25,000.

On April 11, 1910, HH Barker, the winner of the 1908 Irish Open turned course architect, was paid a sum of $74.50 to lay out the original nine holes. These holes consisted of what are now our #1, #2, and #12 through #18. In the years to follow, membership grew and the demands to play increased. As a result, the Board of Directors devised a long range plan to purchase land northeast of the original property to create another nine holes. The Neece farm was purchased for $5,511 and the Rothfuss land was purchased for $2,220 to accomplish this development.

The Board then set its eyes on finding the right person to build their new course. Recognized as one of the premier course architects of the time, AW Tillinghast was contracted in 1923 to redesign the original nine holes and build the “new” nine which consisted of present day holes #3 through #11. He was paid a sum of $2,286.08 up front and a daily wage of $25 while he was on site throughout construction. His design utilized the natural terrain to present challenges and created greens that demanded the utmost focus with their simple complexities.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2019, 02:24:37 PM by MCirba »
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Williamsport Country Club?
« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2019, 09:43:48 AM »
This one got sent along to me from April 1921 related to Eric CC, Williamsport, and Sunnehanna.   



"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

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