News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.


Dan Moore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Ross & Langford Calumet CC Homewood, Illinois
« on: April 11, 2006, 09:59:45 AM »
C&W, the Donald Ross Society and the Calumet's website list this course as a Donald Ross design.  

However, there are two listings in the April and May 1917 American Golfer Magazine which state William Langford was hired to design Calumet's new course in Homewood.  27 holes were planned.

Anyone know what if any role Langford may have had on the Calumet course?  Was he hired then replaced?  Did he collaborate?  Involved in construction?  Did Langford design 9 and Ross 18?  

Langford later worked on Ross' design at Skokie CC when new land was obtained.  They both attended the first meeting of the ASGCA in 1947 so they clearly crossed paths.  Did they have an ongoing relationship?
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

Brad Klein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Ross & Langford Calumet CC Homewood, Illinois
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2006, 10:43:39 AM »
Ongoing relationship between Ross and Langford? Not at all, hardly more than a passing, casual professional one, and no remaining evidence of any correspondence between them.

Dan Moore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Ross & Langford Calumet CC Homewood, Illinois
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2006, 08:01:48 PM »
Is there anything definitive to show this is a Ross course and what if anything Langford's involvement might have been.  
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

Brad Klein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Ross & Langford Calumet CC Homewood, Illinois
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2006, 08:39:28 PM »
Does a Ross plan of the entire Calumet golf course in a 3 X 4  foot large routing map count for anything? I recall seeing it in the superintendent's office at Calumet about 6 years ago. If I remember right, the courser was rather heavily compromised in the post-WWII era by highway construction at the north end of the property.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2006, 08:40:53 PM by Brad Klein »

Dan Moore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Ross & Langford Calumet CC Homewood, Illinois
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2006, 08:50:58 PM »
Does a Ross plan of the entire Calumet golf course in a 3 X 4  foot large routing map count for anything?

I would take that as definitive. Thanks.

The news reports make me wonder what the story is about Langford's involvement though.  
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

Tim_Cronin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Ross & Langford Calumet CC Homewood, Illinois
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2006, 10:27:59 PM »
Dan,
I'm beginning to do research on this era of golf in Chicago. Given that five years passed between Calumet eyeing the land and the course opening in 1922, I'd say the club passed on Langford and went with Ross instead. Architect switching was not uncommon then (or now).
At that same time, Langford (and Moreau) were revising Glen Oak and Ridgemoor, plus designing Butterfield and Bryn Mawr, with Acacia to come.
Brad,
The 1957 routing of the Twi-State Tollway (I-294) clipped the north end of the site, just enough to force the rerouting of 12 holes, as I understand it. Larry Packard and Brent Wadsworth did the remodeling, supposedly in the Ross style.
The website: www.illinoisgolfer.net
On Twitter: @illinoisgolfer

PThomas

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Ross & Langford Calumet CC Homewood, Illinois
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2006, 12:20:54 AM »
I was told, I'm not 100% sure, that current tollway work is also affecting the course
199 played, only Augusta National left to play!