[Jeff Zugelter]

Hi All,


Does anyone have any documentation about this golf course? I am aware of what is in the Donald Ross Society, as well as the books that have been written that include it. I am looking for any newspaper articles, publications, design documentation etc... What is claimed does not appear to be accurate based off of my research.

[Will Spivey]

Jeff,


I don't have any "documentation," but I have played the course (actually, 3 nines) a couple of times, and I likely could dig out a scorecard if that would help you.


I'm curious to learn more about your research/findings.

[Brad Engel]

Played a lot of golf there growing up, but that was well before my GCA days. From what I recall, the Red & White nines were the original Ross course/routing and the Blue nine was added later at some point. Interested to see what you can dig up!


-Brad

[Bret Lawrence]

Jeff,


What did you find in regards to Hamilton Elks Golf Course? 


The Ross Society mentions that both Maketewah and Hamilton Elks were listed in the 1930 booklet.  However, after looking at a copy of this booklet, the only course listed is Hamilton Country Club in Hamilton, Ohio.  Maketewah is not listed nor is Butler County Country Club, at least by those names.


Maketewah was formerly known as Hamilton County Golf Club, so there is likely some confusion regarding this Hamilton Country Club listing.  Was Ross talking about Maketewah or was he referring to Butler County Country Club?  It’s more likely he was referring to Maketewah before they changed their name.  Which means Butler County Country Club was never actually listed in the 1930 Ross booklet.


Who designed Hamilton Elks Golf Course?


Bret

[Jason Thurman]

I don't know anything, but I'm very interested to follow where this goes. I've played Maketewah many times. Never made it up to Hamilton Elks, but I'd like to see it.


Bret/anyone, are you aware of any record of a Hamilton Country Club having existed?


Also, what does "listing in the 1930 booklet" actually mean? Asking just to clarify my own understanding. I'm assuming it's just a record of courses where work was performed that year, published by Ross/his firm, but that's just an assumption I'd like to confirm as I follow the development of this thread.

[Jeff Zugelter]

I’ve been researching this for months, every newspaper article I’ve found, and there are numerous from 1923 - 1926, identify the architect and it’s not Donald Ross. I have been in contact with The Ross Society, Mr. Whitten and Mr. Klein looking for their opinion and assistance checking facts and newspaper articles.  This course started as a 9 hole facility in 1915, was expanded to 18 holes with the new 9 construction in 1923.  It was dedicated with 18 hole play beginning in 1926.


You are correct, the 1930 book does not list The Butler County Country Club nor does it list Maketewah. What is listed is “The Hamilton Country Club Hamilton, OH 18 Holes”. I cannot find any historical documents that identify a golf course by that name in Hamilton Ohio. There was a Hamilton Country Club in Hamilton, but since they couldn’t purchase land and build a golf course, it was disbanded in 1914.  The members bought land between Hamilton and Middletown and formed The Butler County Country Club in 1914.  This was 16 years before the 1930 Ross Book, which claimed the design credit of a course with a name that never existed in Hamilton, OH. Neither the BCCC or The Hamilton Elks are in the Cornish Whitten book The Golf Course.


The Donald Ross Society listing for Ohio, lists 19 courses as “confirmed by the 1930 book”, only 18 are listed in the book, I’ve counted it multiple times. The Maketewah Historian has told me that the Hamilton Country Club listing in the 1930 book is Maketewah.  This follows the documented, multiple names associated with that facility. Ross was hired to build The Hamilton County Club, often referred to as The Hamilton Country Club, this replaced Bendelows Hamilton County Golf Club. If you look at the Tufts Archives record A020084, Maketewah is listed as Cincinnati, OH and Hamilton, OH. Another piece that adds to the confusion, Maketewah is in Cincinnati, OH which is in Hamilton County.
https://giventufts.pastperfectonline.com/archive/5574CF06-3A01-46D9-A783-053170315122

I have a complete timeline work up on this with all the newspaper articles. I have asked if anyone has anything, to help me identify if there is a missing link that someone may have. I have distributed this info to a few people to have them double check and verify my info, when they get back to me I will be posting all of it.  The Butler County Country Club was a facility with a fascinating history including Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen as well as an architect with a storied history, it just appears history has forgotten him. The Hamilton Elks purchased it in 1932, their clubhouse burned down in 1961 and any possible documents went with it. I do know that the Donald Ross connection only started up in the early 90’s, none of the older members I’ve spoken to ever recall having heard of a Donald Ross connection, “that was something that came about years later” they said. I will have all of this posted hopefully by the end of this month.


Thank you for you interest and patience as I verify my findings.  If anyone has any questions or wish to discuss this please email me. Thank you

[Bret Lawrence]

Thanks for the information Jeff.


Was the pro/greenkeeper W.C. (Bill) Jackson involved with the construction of the course?  The old golf guides from 1924 and 1925 list Jackson as the pro.  Jackson was also responsible for constructing one of the courses at Olympia Fields as well as Camargo (for Raynor).  He may have had ties to Carter Tested Seeds while building Olympia Fields.


Jason, the Ross booklet appears to have been for potential clients who wanted to see Ross’ work prior to 1930.  There really isn’t much of an explanation in the booklet itself.  There is a cover page with Ross and his associates names. The second page notes that this booklet contains: “A Partial List of Prominent Golf Courses designed by Donald J. Ross Golf Course Architect”. Below this caption is a list of addresses you can get in touch with Ross, Hatch or McGovern. After that page, they list a bunch of courses by each state with just the name, city and number of holes.  No further explanation is given. There are some curious entries in this book.  Some courses are mentioned as remodeled while other courses that we know have been remodeled (like Metacomet) were not listed as remodeled.  He lists East Lake in Atlanta as 36 holes although Bob Crosby has told us for many years, the club has no record of Ross doing work on the original 18.  Even if he did do work on the original, that too should have been a remodel. Therefore, I think this booklet is a neat resource, but it’s hard to rely on, if this is the only information tying Ross to a particular course.


In the case of Hamilton Elks it sounds like a modern misinterpretation of this list, which would explain why the Ross connection appeared in the 1990’s.  Maketewah changed their name around 1922 (according to the Annual Golf Guides) so if Ross was there prior he may have not known the course changed names by 1930.  “Country” also could have been a typo for “County” in the “Hamilton Country Club” listing.  It is certainly confusing trying to interpret this and if the Society did make an error in the 1990’s it doesn’t seem to be on purpose.  Seems like a pretty common mistake to make. Hopefully Jeff’s information will clear up all of this confusion.

[Jeff Zugelter]

Yes Bret, WC Jackson was the Golf Pro at the Butler County Country Club after being hired as the architect in 1923 to design the new 9 holes, as well as redesigning the old 9 holes in 1924. He did work for the Carter Seed Company, was a Captain in WWI and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute. He has a very storied life in the golf industry, for example he managed an exhibition in 1920 for Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.  He was involved with Olympia Fields, opened his own golf architectural firm, designing and built many courses in the Midwest. Butte des Morts is one course that openly names him as the architect, celebrating his achievement building their golf course.

http://www.buttedesmortscc.org

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54333552/wc-jackson-golf-course-architect-and/


https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54333919/hamilton-evening-journal/

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