Women's National Golf & Tennis Club

[Michael Chadwick]

Michael:


You can point out the changes between the 1926 and the 1940 aerial:
- the new 8th green has been built. (old 8th green is still visible!)
- new tees for the 9th.
- the new 17th green (the old green was inside the fairway)
- new tees for the 18th.
- there are definitely some big differences in bunkering added on many holes (1,2,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18)

Resized Angela's notes above.

Below is my estimation of the routing. Correct?

[Stewart Abramson]

The photo bucket links at the beginning of this thread are no longer working. Here's a link to photos of the back nine at Glen Head from 2018  https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72157697369505501/

[Simon Barrington]

Not to go too far off on a tangent, but there is a notable footnote in these articles, which I had picked up on a while back before seeing this thread, was contained within the study visit with Cecil Leitch to "find" holes to mimic.

Cecil was Ladies' President (c.1920-26) of my home club, Henley GC (designed by James Braid 1907, as discussed in my recent podcast if this interests anyone) and was a very keen student/protogee of James Braid (it is claimed she was once disciplined at school for reading Braid's "Advanced Golf" under her desk during lessons!)

As per the article Hollins met and played 36 holes around Walton Heath with Braid and Leitch, and no doubt they discussed both Fowler's designs there (as noted in the article) and Braid's own thoughts on Golf Architecture for Women.

Braid himself was a huge champion of the Women's game and wrote in 1907 a hard-to-get book "The Ladies' Field Golf Book" the first book specifically written by a leading Professional of the day for Women.

It also includes a chapter on Golf Architecture for Ladies' courses, which may be the first of such.

Notably given his partnering two highy capable women on that tour it is relevant that he thought back in 1907 the desired length for a nine-hole course (as most Ladies' courses were at that time) was 2600 yards (or more), that was probably in response to some really very short attempts by others on such courses attached to Men's clubs back in the day (perceptions needed to be changed from "The Himalayas" upwards you might say)

To a James Braid researcher the small influence Braid may have given Hollins in her project is really notable, as he only has one design credit anywhere in the US at St Andrews GC of NY (where he designed 4-holes and gave advice on bunkering & trees, from afar using topographical maps, as per his peer Donald Ross).

I concur a Moser-led restoration would be absolutely the best way forward, but as in all such things the Club and its members need to understand what they have and get a vision for what a uniquely special place it could be (once again)...

[Brett Hochstein]

Very cool stuff, and thanks everyone for sharing.


First thing that stands out to me with those old photos and aerials--those features are BOLD and not of a pushover type. That probably speaks to a few things: certainly a more "sporting" nature of golf pleasantly present at the time but also insights into Hollins's thinking of what the game for women really should have been, in her opinion. Maybe holes aren't quite as long and greens have some more open fronts, but the challenges and thrills overall should be much the same as it is for the better male players.  It's one thing to speak that, but cooler to actually see that.


Hopefully this eventually gets some momentum and that someday Angela can do her thing. Would be really neat to see. (also, the older course just looks cool, outside of the great story and history)

[Colin Sheehan]

Here is an early scorecard with a grand total of 5,914.


https://photos.app.goo.gl/LYoki9m69siBVPuA7


Isn't that about the distance of Sedge Valley?