Yes, they have deffinately been mentioned here before, years ago too.

Paul

"Sky Summonte" (sic) still exists and you might get him for a caddy if you visit Dornoch.  What I can't remember is the name of his travelling companion on that Odyssey which included St. Patrick's.  I'll ask him next time I see him.

Tom P

You must realise by now that things come to Philadelphia anywhere from 5-25 years after they happen in the rest of the world.

"If a photo's worth a thousand words then he's miles behind!"

Paul:

Wrong again! It's books that're worth thousands of words, or at the very least one of my standard posts---definitely not a photo!

Yes Tom - that luncheon with Jim was a true "HIDDEN gem".

It was also fun to hear Jim tell of his membership at Llanerch in the early 50's, where he won the club championship in '53.

I was reading Wilbur Germain's history of Llanerch, which was originally Delaware County Country Club.  In January 1902 an invitation was sent to a number of golfers in the city to enlist their support "in the maintenance of a semi-public course on West Chester Pike, within easy access to the city by rail and trolly."  In 1908 the club name was changed to Delaware County Field Club, thence in 1911 it combined with The Athletic Club of Philadelphia, and operated under that name.  This merger was terminated on September 14, 1914, and the name changed to Bon Air Country Club when they changed the greens from sand to grass.

Dr. Thomas M. Fitzgerald bought land between 1915 and 1918 at which time he owned the entire club and surrounding property.  May 18,1919 he chartered Llanerch, and expanded the property by leasing another 50 acres.  He hired Alex H. Findlay to redesign the entire course and expand it to 27 holes.  All nines finished at the clubhouse.  This opened in 1928, a year before Dr. Fitzgerald died.  His wife inherited the club and kept it going until she died in 1938, and the proceeds of the estate established Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital.

Mr. James A. Devine purchased the entire 27-hole course in 1941, leasing it all to the club for five years.  When the club decided to buy in 1946, they only kept enough land for 18 holes. 119 acres were put in the hands of Mr. J. B. McGovern, a local golf architect and an associate of Donald Ross, operating Ross's Wynnewood, PA office beginning in 1916.  According to the 1949 Collection of Ron Whidden, McGovern is credited with remodeling Gulph Mills (R. 1946 solo).  Gulph Mills was later changed by William and David Gordon (R.7 1958)
and Robert Trent Jones (R.4 1966).

RJ,
Ms. O'Haire was an assistant pro at Royal Co, Down. She is mentioned in this link along w/more photos: http://www.stpatricksgolflinks.com/history.htm
I don't know if she is related to the O'hara you mentioned.

Some one ought to rename one of his own, Brother Eddie's Golf Club...

He'd probably be offended if we called him St. Eddie the Minimalist.

Mike,
Really  

The view from the 17th tee on the Maheramagorgan course is quite spectacular.

You're welcome

What an amazing place!  Thanks for the last link.

I don't particularly care whether the courses make the best of the land.  There are clearly some cool holes and they look worth a visit just for the time warp appeal.  I think you would feel a bit like old Bernardo D when he visited Narin and Portnoo about a century ago.  

Of course, I'm sure one day a modern architect will totally redo the courses and we'll have a truly great course or two.  But until then, I like the way it looks now;  courses that will test how much of a "purist" you really are!

PS

What about that digger in the pond?  

It would appear that John McPhee is a considerably more HIDDEN gem than St. Patrick's is!

I think McPhee would've liked Mr. Hackett. Might have made for a helluva profile.

"Tom

I just took umbrage to your assertion:

"So one should probably assume that over the years in those locales there’s probably almost nothing of any worth that Jim hasn’t seen or is unaware of in the way of golf courses."

Paul:

Why would you take umbrage about that? Finegan has been over there perhaps three score times over the decades  scowering for all kinds of golf courses to write about. The golf world would probably be an even better place if we had about three score more Jim Finegans!    

As for the food critic of the NY Times back even in the 1970s I would've thought it was the famous Craig Claiborne even back then.

If I remember correctly, the famous Craig Claiborne was the Times's famous food writer; the famous Mimi Sheraton was the Times's famous restaurant critic.

"If I remember correctly, the famous Craig Claiborne was the Times's famous food writer; the famous Mimi Sheraton was the Times's famous restaurant critic."

Dan:

Really? Do you think maybe Craig and Mimi had a bit of an on-going turf warfare situation at he offices of "All the News that's fit to print"? (or is that the London Times?).

Mimi;
Look Craig, you encroaching bastard, you can write about Oysters Rockefeller but if you dare write where you ate them you're going to see some cat's claws you didn't bargained for.

Craig:
Mimi, you hustling slut, get out of my office and back in some roach infested kitchen where you belong!

Sulzberger:
Now, now, children, get back to work!

Willie Dow:

Unfortunately, all the copies of my Gulph Mills G.C. Design Evolution 1919-1999 book are gone now or I'd give you one but I'd be glad to show you specifically what McGovern, Gordon and RTJ did there, when and why.