"Perhaps it isn’t Finegan’s theory, maybe it is your theory, I don’t know. You cited that one of the reason’s the course was not completed during Crump's lifetime (12 thru 15) was because Crump built himself into a design box. I have read many of the articles from that time, I have not read anyone making that observation. My question is: Is that explanation based on some written information Crump, Carr, Smith, Tillinghast, the Wilson’s or someone else left?"
Tom MacW:
The theory that Crump constructed himself into somewhat of a "design box" is definitely not the theory of anyone I've ever heard of. I've never seen that written anywhere, by anyone or heard of anyone who's offered that as even one of the explanations of why Crump struggled with finalizing the last four holes (#12-#15).
That theory, and it is a theory, is completely my own. I've already mentioned that there were obviously a number of OTHER contributing reasons why those four remaining holes were so long in getting constructed.
Again, those other contributing reasons (which are documented);
1. WW1 and the fact that most everything in construction architecture slowed down at that point. The USA went to war April 6 1917 and an armistice was signed Nov 11 1918. That was approximately 19 months and that hiatus clearly slowed down PVGC too.
2. George Crump died in Jan 1918. I sure hope I don’t need to convince you of that fact or the significance to PVGC of it!
3. As has been mentioned the course played very nicely as an 18 hole course with 14 holes in play obviously owing to the way they could be played and resulting in golfers being back next to the clubhouse at #4 after playing 18 holes! This certainly was mentioned from documentation within the archives and other sources.
But the idea or theory that Crump constructed himself into a “design box” is, again, my own theory or idea. Here’s why I said it and why I believe it.
Firstly, we know that when Crump began the project at PVGC he was a rank amateur architect and we sure know when it all ended for him he had extraordinary respect from the entire architectural community. This could hardly be other than a true exhibition of both talent and a remarkable learning curve Second, we know without question that he threw himself into the project in an architectural sense in every imaginable way. We know he basically lived at PVGC, first in a tent and later in a bungalow. Everyone connected to Crump confirms that his mission at PVGC was basically a daily one there. We know from Crump’s closest friends that he went into the project of PVGC with a number of very definite and unique ideas of what the golf course should be—and that very much meant what may be referred to as somewhat of a “design prescription”. Why did he feel that way and why did he develop that “design prescription”? Much of that may have just been Crump’s own makeup, his personality, the fact that he was a good player who believed strongly in various things regarding golf, architecture etc. He clearly was a golfer who strongly believed in the heroic shot, the maximum high demand drive, for instance—and that aspect apparently was a personal preference. So we know the driver was a significant interest and concern (in an architectural sense) to him. But primarily he developed that golf course to be a place, a laboratory, a training ground, if you will, for the best in the Philadelphia district, primarily the competitive set, or competition set, to improve themselves to compete more successfully on the regional and national level. This is undeniable and the evidence is everywhere regarding it. The fact is Crump’s ideas apparently morphed very quickly with PVGC as basically being a course that offered winter golf to that of a high demand design course for basically just the good player is really well known and frankly undeniable!
What is known, but perhaps less so, is that from Crump’s own known remarks as well as what he told his closest friends privately, certainly Carr and Smith--that he went into the PVGC project not only with very definite ideas of the demands of various holes but also almost exactly where they should be on the course and in the routing! Remember that last aspect because it’s really important in the theory that eventually he basically “designed himself into a bit of a box”. We also know that Crump clearly had a few other strong preferences (“design prescriptions”) that he wanted and meant to have. A few would include no more than two holes in the same direction, that the holes should “box the compass” well, that the holes should be individualized to be as visually separated from each other as possible! That there should be only two par 5s and they should be completely unreachable in two shots. Basically, he wanted all his design demands and prescriptions in very definite spots and in a definite order!
Did Crump come up with this “design prescription” on his own or did someone or others influence him on it? That’s probably unknowable now. Did Colt influence him on that? Perhaps, but it’s far more likely to me that Crump influenced Colt’s contribution at PVGC alone on that aspect by simply telling him that’s what he wanted to do at PVGC in this “design prescription” sense and that clearly Colt bought into that “design prescription” to some degree, probably a very large degree. And if for some reason Colt did not buy into that “design prescription” or to the satisfaction or degree Crump wanted then Crump intended to add that degree himself! That, to me, is very likely, as Crump clearly kept working on the “design” of the course, bunkering, placement, shot values, whatever, continuously and long after Colt left town! That is to me the clear reason Crump did all that continuously instead of simply constructing the golf course completely to Colt’s routing and to Colt’s hole by hole design booklet! This to me is so patently obvious as to be beyond question. Crump definitely had the resources and he had the time and the desire to construct all of PVGC to Colt’s plans within the year if he wanted to. But we know beyond any doubt that that’s not what he did---he continued to work on the course with the input of others for the next five years!
So back to that “design box” theory. Crump knew what he wanted throughout the course and exactly where, in the way of a “design prescription” but to get that on the land, that land, in that day and age, isn’t so simple. Crump constructed up to 14 holes by 1916, three years after Colt left. But even those holes although perhaps in the same routing form as Colt recommended, left, collaborated on, whatever, were changed by Crump in many ways in design and in the manner of bunkering, placement, whatever, and also probably in the manner of the famous “island” landing areas. The greens too were probably almost uniquely Crump’s influence, alteration, whatever. We certainly know some worked beautifully but not all and some were redesigned later almost had to be redesigned. Some greens were redone when Crump was alive! But we know that the holes #12-15 with Colt’s routing lines are not what they are now. #12 was one Crump was known to struggle with. #13 was far different in the Colt iteration. It appears Colt had a par 4 for #14 if he had much at all there. #15 by Colt was basically the same landform use but this one clearly Crump struggled with until the day he died (Carr’s sad remark that that was the last words he had with Crump before he died.
Crump had four holes to go and clearly he couldn’t decide how to get them done to fit into his “design prescription”. This is clear evidence to me that Crump had essentially constructed himself into a design box. How could he have over-come that from the git-go? Simply by completely finalizing his design before he began constructing the golf course and certainly before constructing 14 holes which left him with limited space to do some very definite hole requirements. As far as I can see Colt may have only designed three par 3s on that golf course and certainly that alone was not going to satisfy Crump’s well known four par 3 design requirement (design prescription) of four very different par 3s. If the famous #13 fell into place early and really wasn’t the reason that basically turned the key to make the rest fall into place then perhaps it was #14 or his final dissatisfaction with #15. Those holes were not in play until two and a half years after Crump died and they happen to be magnificent holes but obviously they concerned him. So that’s a “design box” to me—you’re locked in with 14 holes in play, you’re down to limited space and not able to figure out how to get exactly what you want on those remaining four in that limited space. It’s really no different than trying to fit four remaining lengths of posts and rails into a fence line when the rest of the fence line is done on either side!