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Joel_Stewart

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African American architects or superintendents
« on: March 07, 2009, 01:53:11 PM »
Are there any?  Do any participate on GCA?

Bill Powell built Clearview in the late 1940's but I don't know of any others.

Mike_Cirba

Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2009, 02:34:39 PM »
Joel,

The first African-American architect was a protege of Seth Raynor named Joe Bartholemew.

Here's some info from the Lexington Swingers Golf Club; 

http://www.lsgolfclub.org/about.html

Previous Roots and Heritage tournament honorees have been African Americans such as Ted Rhodes, Charlie Sifford, Pete Brown and others who excelled at playing the game in spite of racial and economic barriers.  Others such as George Grant, the inventor of the first wooded tee, contributed to the evolution of the game by way of creative genius and inventions. Such is the case for Joseph M. Bartholomew, player extraordinaire, architect, and entrepreneur.  We are proud to tell his story.

 Joseph Bartholomew was born August 1, 1881, in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Like many other African Americans, Bartholomew began his golfing journey at the early age of 7 as a caddie at nearby Audubon Golf Course.  Through caddying, he developed a growing interest in the game and began copying the swings of those for whom he caddied. His reputation as a hard worker and one who did not make waves, landed him other positions at the exclusive club.  He worked on the course maintenance crew, repaired golf clubs, and became an excellent player and reportedly once shot a 62 at Audubon.  Club members recognized his playing ability and responded by backed him and arranging matches.  Joe played against golfing legends such as Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, and Audubon Head Pro, Fred McLeod who won the 1908 U.S. Open. 

Bartholomew’s talents in greens keeping became very noticeable to other wealthy club members. One such member,  H.T. Cottam, extended a helping hand across racial lines and persuaded the club to send Bartholomew to New York to obtain knowledge and experience in golf course architecture.  Bartholomew studied under the tutelage of architect extraordinaire, Seth Raynor and returned to New Orleans in 1922 where he began construction of Metairie’s new course.  Many times, he would work through the night to protect his project from those who might attempt to steal his ideas.  When the course was complete, the members were so impressed that they raised his salary.  The payment for his work however, was limited to only monetary value and not human equality.  After months of physical labor and mental anguish to see the project to fruition, he was not allowed to hit one golf ball on the course that his mind and hands had shaped.

Despite this kind of treatment, Joe remained at Metairie for a time, worked in various capacities and plotted his strategy.  After a few years, he moved on to New Orleans Country Club, where he served as head greens keeper.  Over the next decade he built a number of courses in Louisiana, including City Park No1, City Park No.2, and Ponchartrain Park in New Orleans.  He also designed and constructed courses in Covington, Hammond, Abita, Algiers Springs and Baton Rouge, among other cities.  Unfortunately, the public courses, like the city park playgrounds, were segregated.  Though he built the courses, he could not play them. 

Joe stopped playing competitively at age 40 and devoted his energies to building golf courses.  He started a construction company and expanded his business into other areas, including landscaping.  As the years went by his wealth grew, derived from successful real estate investments and diversified assets.  He owned insurance and ice cream companies and gave generously to many New Orleans civic organizations.  He was active in his church and contributed to educational institutions such as Dillard and Xavier University.  He became the first African to be inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1972.  Seven years later, Pontchartrain Park Golf Course, now integrated, was renamed in his honor.

The Lexington Swingers Golf Club is proud to honor the memory of Joseph M. Bartholomew, golfer, Architect, entrepreneur.  His creative genius enabled him to create a paradox that makes us all proud. He tore down while building up.  Stated another way, his pioneering excellence in designing and building golf courses at a time that most African Americans could not play on them uplifts our spirits and makes us proud.  At the same time, it is one more stone removed from the negative perceptive foundation in the minds of those who’d rather believe that African Americans were only caddies in the early years.  Not only did we possess the strength and endurance to carry the bags of others, but also the knowledge and expertise to create the designs and blueprints for building the very courses on which they caddied.       

« Last Edit: March 07, 2009, 02:39:05 PM by MikeCirba »

Jim Thompson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2009, 03:10:24 PM »
Don't rightly know how to properly site this, but it is taken from Black Enterprise Magazine

The editors of BLACK ENTERPRISE decided to acknowledge the African American design community as a growing force in America We surveyed the overall landscape, drawing on the resources of industry insiders, design schools, and associations. The goal: to identify those who best represent both style and substance.

In a game where every stroke counts, all elements--trees, grass, water, sand--affect playability. When it comes to African American visibility in golf, Tiger Woods  may be a rare breed but Steve McLeod belongs to a more exclusive club--that of landscape architects. The 38-year-old draftsman has more than 12 years experience. Previously, me was a design associate at the Matthews Group, headed by third-generation golf course architect W. Bruce Matthews IIIW. Bruce Matthews III is a third generation member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects [1] who's #1 objective in design, according to Michigan Golf 2007 (pg 34), is...

...Time  master planner has mapped out 150- to 200-plus acre, 18-hole sites with budgets ranging from $2 million to $10 million. "You may nave a site that is flat, has no contours on it. So you have to build features into it." Golf course architecture is divergent in that it offers aesthetic appeal for spectators and golfers but it's beset with grueling conditions to test each player. McLeod was lift junior high school when his father introduced him to the game So how's this architect's form? He jests: "That's why I design o for handicappers and not just the better golfers."

Steve is a great guy and at one time was even featured in an American Express commercial.  Wish I could find a screen shot.
Jim Thompson

Jeff_Mingay

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2009, 03:56:21 PM »
Mike,

Thanks for the info. on Joe Bartholomew. I knew a bit about his history, but the blurb you've posted above added a lot. Thanks again. Very interesting.

In this category, don't forget Tiger  ;D
jeffmingay.com

Joel_Stewart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2009, 12:43:16 PM »
There has to be more?

I tried to google Steve Mcleod.  Seems like he has left W. Bruce Matthews and possibly set up shop on his own.  Does anyone know where he is?

Ian Larson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2009, 02:38:39 PM »
Not African American but the late Pete Smith was the long time Shinnecock Indian superintendent at Shinnecock Hills. He was a really great guy.

Mike Nuzzo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2009, 06:03:28 PM »
Thinking of Bob, Rihc, Bill, George, Neil, Dr. Childs, & Tiger.

Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2020, 04:37:26 PM »

More on Joseph Bartholomew from the NY Times Black History Month series...
Overlooked No More: Joseph Bartholomew.

He designed and built some of the best-known courses in segregated Louisiana. But though he loved the game, he was never permitted to play those courses.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/obituaries/joseph-bartholomew-overlooked-black-history-month.html
« Last Edit: February 06, 2020, 04:40:29 PM by Steve_ Shaffer »
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2020, 07:49:17 PM »
Steve,


I played Joe Bartholemew Golf Course in New Orleans a few years back.  Very nice place.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

mark chalfant

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2020, 11:12:57 PM »
Trapper Vandunk was the head super at Leewood for a few years, I believe he is working in the same role at another Met section  golf course now.

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2020, 05:48:25 AM »
Trapper Vandunk was the head super at Leewood for a few years, I believe he is working in the same role at another Met section  golf course now.



He is now the Supt at Tamarack Golf Course.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Jim_Kennedy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2020, 03:02:11 PM »
"Golf-industry workers–every one from caddies to greenkeepers– are 90 percent male and 88 percent white." - Steve Mona, Ebony Magazine, Nov. 15, 2016.
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"I never beat a well man in my life" - Harry Vardon

Bret Lawrence

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: African American architects or superintendents
« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2020, 08:57:05 PM »
John Shippen Jr. designed Stafford Springs Country Club, Stafford, CT in 1898 (NLE). He also played in some of the earliest US Opens. He may have designed others prior to 1900 as well.



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