Tilly examined the new Spring Mill course of the Philadelphia CC on his PGA course consulting tour in September of 1935.

I have been intrigued by Tilly's relationship with Flynn.  As evidenced in his letter to PGA President George Jacobus, Tilly must have had a high level of respect for his capabilities, as he clearly recommends the club hire Flynn.

Now I don't know if there is more to read in this letter between the lines.  I understand the Spring Mill course was designed and built by Flynn, but I have also heard that Maxwell may have been brought in to do the greens.  Was there some change of the leadership at this club, which put Flynn on the outside?  Was Tilly helping Flynn get back in with the club?

Incidently, Ed Dudley would follow George Jacobus and become a president of the PGA.

Here is the letter:

Harrington Park, N.J. September 21st 1935

President of the P.G.A.

Dear Sir:

Arrived home tonight after a week in Philadelphia, reports of which have been mailed you each evening.

Today was spent with the president of the Philadelphia section of the P.G.A. – Ed Dudley.  First I met him at his headquarters, - the old course of the Philadelphia Country Club at Bala.  There I met the superintendent of both the old and new courses, M.E. Farnham, who afterwards accompanied Dudley and myself to the new course at Spring Mill, where we were met later by the chairman of the green committee, - D.W. Bell.  I was requested to select the better of two routes and design of the first hole, which I did.  I examined all parts of the new course, where any problems existed and gave them opinions.  Where several problems, involving major construction, were evident I suggested that they retain William Flynn, a local golf course architect and construction man.  However I gave them suggestions and told the committee that I would be glad to confer with Flynn at any time, being as helpful as possible as is consistent with the aims and operation of our P.G.A. service.

There are several more requests from P.G.A. members in the Philadelphia district (made to Ed Dudley, sectional president) notably Lanarch and Concord, - as well as three from Reading.  The Reading service will be given next week, after the close of the Ryder Cup Matches.

Very truly yours

A.W. Tillinghast

Wayne,

I have no idea how Flynn ended up at Sunnehanna in 1937. One theory that I have was that Flynn was one of the few architects  left after the Depression of any major consequence. Raynor, Emmett, Park,and MacKenzie were dead. Tillinghast would have ended his two-year tour on behalf of the PGA. Who else would they have considered?  
Flynn may very well have gotten the work by default. Bethlehem Steel was the major employer and Flynn's work at Lehigh may of contributed to him getting the job. It's pure conjecture but it certainly seems reasonable and plausible.

I'm not sure it should be a surprise that Maxwell was hired to work on the greens.  He already had quite the rep in the area at that time as a greens expert, including his work at Pine Valley on some greens there.

Could it have been as simple as Flynn being out of town at the time and Maxwell being in the region?

This is all supposition and I'd love to hear the real scoop, as well as Tilly's recommendations, but with travel being what it was at the time, I'm not sure I'd leap to the conclusion that the club was somehow dissatisfied with Flynn.  With the amount of collaboration and the fact that Tilly, Flynn, and Maxwell were probably all pretty good friends (they all were at PV, for instance), I wouldn't even be surprised if we learned that Flynn recommended Maxwell to PCC.

"If Maxwell was in the Philadelphia area, he would surely have been acceptable to Flynn as Maxwell's work at Pine Valley was well known and highly regarded and ... "  - Wayne M.

Put yourself in Flynn's place for a moment.  Philadelphia Country Club is one of his favorite works, and he lives close by.  The club decides to "get with the times" and hire Maxwell to tinker around with a couple of greens.  You're not going to be bothered by that?

I can tell you if they had ever hired another architect to tinker around with the greens at High Pointe, even if they brought Perry Maxwell back from the dead, I would have told him to go back where he came from!  Either Flynn was a saint or his falling out with the club is entirely understandable, and it seems pretty nice of Mr. Tillinghast to recommend him in language as if the club had never heard of him.  I suspect that is nothing more than a subtle dig at the club.

Perhaps I'm wrong but my recollection and undestanding is that the two year country-wide "tour" by Tillinghast where he visited so many golf clubs and so quickly was almost entirely conceived of and designed to promote the PGA.

Clearly the PGA back then was in dire need of something to sustain it and this "tour" they created by Tillinghast offering architectural advice all over America was designed to promote a "service" from the PGA which would give them better local recognition and obviously promote the strength of the organization.

The PGA paid Tillinghast for this "tour", correct? What was the fee to clubs for his quick advice before he was on to another course? It was extremely minimal to almost gratis to the clubs, correct?

If so I sure wouldn't make that much of Tillinghast's competitiveness against other architects. For God's Sake, he was in and out of every club so fast most all architects probably knew he wasn't going to do any more than recommend some local architect to do what he recommended to the club. That's probably the nature of that letter above regarding Flynn.

Obviously the local PGA representatives or local PGA presidents lined up the local consulting jobs for Tillinghast on his way through and towns. Who better than the local "pros" (PGA members) would know what was going on at their club?

But back in that day it seems to me from so much of the redesign work in that depression era I'm aware of around here when an architect came to town most in the town were aware of it, and they just tended to network and use that architect. There's no question when Maxwell came to my club in three separate redesign phases he didn't just come to town to do GMGC---he had a lot of others lined up. Back then one did not just fly in and fly out. If you came to another town you generally lined up as much as possible before moving on.

Back then I doubt many had the type of respect or reference either for any architect they do today.

Perry Maxwell may've been something of an exception because there's little question his greens had become really noteworthy and somewhat famous---the famous so-called "Maxwell Rolls".

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts.

These early architects competed against one another for jobs.  In my opinion, they had their enemies, their friends and perhaps their alliances.  Tilly was in a position to recommend work to local architects and course constructors.  This put him a position to choose based on his views.  It also put him in a position to do what he may have loved best, to preach and practice his views of good design, giving his PGA clients his recommendations, his design sketches, and his recommendation on who he thought would be best for the job.

Here is another example from Tilly, when he wrote PGA President George Jacobus from Oklahoma City on January 13th, 1936,

"....Afterwards, at the request of P.G.A. member Paul Elakeny, I went to the public course, Edgemere, which he owns and operates.  He is close to the oil fields, which may encroach eventually, but he rather anticipates an entire reconstruction of the present lay-out.  I gave him such advice as he requested and advised him to have a definite plan prepared (in the event of reconstruction) that proper estimates of cost might be made intelligently and assured him of our cooperation in checking them with further advice.  I recommended a course architect and constructor of these parts, John Bredemus, whom I know to be entirely capable and moderate in his fees. I have been familiar with his work in the south-west for some time.  It so happens that there is a another course architect, who has planned in the south-west for some time, but from several unimpeachable sources (reliable P.G.A. members) I have heard that he, for what reasons I cannot fathom) has spoken slurringly of the golf professionasl and his estimate of their ability and value.  Under these conditions I certainly cannot recommend him.  In any event I regard Bredemus as the sounder and more practical man.

Very Truly yours

A.W. Tillinghast"


I think we can agree to the fact that there was another architect that Tilly did not want to name in writing who he felt should not get the work.

I think we are all entitled to an opinion on who this other architect may have been.  I think that one can opine that Jacobus knew, or would soon know, the name of this other architect directly from Tilly or the other PGA members.


 

Not sure why Ron Pritchard would think that the older era was less competitive or less "bitchy".  That's most certainly not true.

Mike, you asked, "I guess the question in my mind, if things were really a bit acrimonious and under-handed between the men involved, is why Tillinghast wouldn't have offered to do the work for PCC himself?"

Tily would not have been able to do the work. First of all, the parameters of his duties with the Course Consultation tiour precluded it and the rules that they had set up, specifically that tehre would be no charge to the clubs and that Tilly would be giving free advisory help only prevented him from taking it on.

Wayne, you mentioned that, "I don't know what Tillinghast was talking about selecting the better of two routes and designs for the 1st hole (today's 14th). " Remember, these were RECOMMENDATIONS that he was making. There are many examples of times he did this while doing this tour and nothing was done by the clubs.  

Rick, You mentioned that, "What were the detailed recommendations that Tilly made in 1935? Perhaps we will soon find Tilly's detailed report that went with the Letter.  Were any of the detailed recommendations requiring construction work part of the changes that Flynn constructed to prepare for the US Open?"

As you are aware, as most are not, just a few months after he began his tour that Tilly's correspondence back to the PGA & Jacobus had grown voluminous and needed to be reorganized. His first sets of letters containes great details of his recommendations to the courses. He would change that to a letter that dealt with a general outline of his visits and key points of his recommendations and then enclose a second and separate report that went into details and specifics about these recommendations. WE are earnestly seeking these and feel that we know where they might be found and soon hope to see them.

Eckstein, you stated that, "Oh my god, Tillie had bi-polar?? That is an amazing discovery. That is why Phillip is probably the top researcher working today, in my opinion."

While both points MAY be true  , it is your question to Tom, "What are some of the symptoms of bi-polar?" that is more important.

Let me start by stating that my oldest son who is 26 has been diagnosed and suffers from BiPolar disorder for more than 10 years now. In his case it is VERY severe and he has been hospitalized for it on numerous occasions including just two weeks ago.

BiPolar gets its name from Psychiatry's belief that there are 2 basic "poles" to the human psyche; one happy and active, one depressed. All people experience times of joy and sadness, an ability to concentrate and work hard and other times where doing normal activities are at least a bother or something to be avoided. A person who is BiPolar experiences these "mood shifts" with greater frequency and potency and for longer durations.

In the more severe cases they may become suicidally depressed or manically active and obsessive in their interests. Sometimes they hear voices, though this is of a different nature than when schizophrenics hear voices (and for purpose of disclosure, my youngest son, aged 22, has been diagnosed with severe schizophrenia for more than 8 years now), BiPolars can be both delusional and even see phyical manifestations of their delusions.

People who suffer from this disorder may lead lives of quiet desparation or be phenomenally accomplished or both. They may also learn to live with their disorders and lead happy and near-normal lives.

The reason that I believe, and it is only a belief, that Tilly was probably BiPolar, is because of the way he lived his life. BiPolars who manifest their illnes in early life (mid-teens onward) tend to have a problem in school and rarely succeed there. Tilly flunked out of every school that he attended.

They many times have a difficult time focusing or finding things that interest them. Tilly failed miserably at his father's business simply because he never applied himself to it.

Most BiPolars are remarkably talented and find an avenue to concentrate their manic side on, many times leading to remarkable accomplishments. Tilly was introduced to golf by his father in the early 1890's and one might say that he involved himself in every aspect of the game right away. By the turn of the century he was already writing articles for a number of papers and journals. His game progressed where he was a seriously good amateur player.

Many BiPolars have an innate sense of the greatness within themselves even if others can't see it. As a result they are often times apt to attempt things that the average person wouldn't consider. When asked if he could design a golf course Tilly told CC Worthington, Absolutely! Though he had never done so before.

It is because of this self-confidence and the fact that many BiPolars self-educate that they do succeed  and in ways that others don't. From Shawnee to Bethpage by a man who couldn't graduate school or do his job...

Because of the actual pain felt during their bouts of extreme depression, many BiPolars "self-medicate." They do this today with prescription and illegal drugs and have always done it, especially back then, with alcohol. Tilly having an alcohol problem is well-known; how it manifested itself and why it afflicted him has often been misreported. He was not a man to get drunk daily, rather he was binge drinker, and as such even went so far as having "lost weekends" or longer where his family, and he, had no idea where he was.

There aremany other details that also come into play, but the most important aspect for this discussion and how it has headed is that despite my belief that he suffered from BiPolar disorder, I am of the opinion that during the 1920-30's his manifestations were no longer severely acute. For example, he took the last drink in his life around 1927. We know this because of access to certain medical records. It was at this time that his heart condition and high blood pressure was diagnosed and he stopped for health reasons. Someone whose Bipolar was manifesting in a need to self-medicate would have found that near impossible to accomplish.

During these years he would have presented himself as "normal" to all but family (if he was BiPolar which can never be stated for a certainty as he was never diagnosed nor treated for it during his lifetime).

I bring all of this up because some may have taken my stated opinion on this to suggest that his illness was far more severe and/or manifested than how I meant.
 
 

 
 

Paul Turner;

Who said Ron Prichard said the old architects were less "bitchy"?

Tom, I was the one who said that Ron Prichard thought that the classic era guys were not so combative.  Here is a transcript of an email Ron sent me and which I posted with his permission:

"Interestingly, when I first visited and walked the club my interest was in examining the traces of Willie Park Jr's. work.
I've been involved with restoration work on a couple of his golf courses, and indeed there should be signifigant pride accompanying possession of his work.

People too often confuse the combative relationships between the marquee architects of our day, with the spirit of that time, (Park jr., Flynn, Ross, Tillinghast, Thomas). From my studies, my feeling is that they  held kinder thoughts of one another, had worked together under various circumstances; and were less protective of their efforts.

In our day when we rate everything including the brands of toilet paper, we create this state of competition which bleeds into every aspect of our lives.

Fortunately, as I read the comments on GolfClubAtlas, about and by some of the architects such as Bill Coore, Tom Doak, and Gil Hanse; I sense what I hope is more tolerance and appreciation for one another's skill and efforts."

A quick thumb through "The Spirit of St Andrews" and you have the contrast of Mackenzie's respect for guys like Abercrombie and Colt and on the other hand his criticism of Gleneagles where he missed out on the job to Braid and Hutchison.  

Or how about the private letters written during the slow years (late 30s and 40s) in "Colt and Co"... where Morrison goes after Tom Simpson and Guy Campbell.  And Alison writes that Americans shouldn't be let near a sand dune  

Paul,
I tend to agree with Ron and Wayne about the Philly area architects.  I do think there was a decent amount of cooperation and mutual respect for each other.  But as the depression hit and times got tough, some of that surely changed.  

Wayne,
I think it is more a logical assumption then anything.  If pushed to find some examples, I think we could both find that some exist.  There had to be more competition for the limited work and that usually helps strain relationships (at least it does in every other business I've been a part of).  

But I do think as stated earlier that the Philly guys seemed to get along.  We did a lot of research on a lot of different architects for our book (again it was mostly looking for design philosophies, etc.) but I don't recall coming across too much negative stuff between those guys.  There were digs about other architects but ususally they were general digs and not specific.  

Just curious, did you find anything negative between Ross and Flynn on the York project?