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Paul Richards

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Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« on: March 09, 2004, 06:59:15 AM »
Here are the photos of the before/after of the 14th hole at Beverly CC.

As you can see, much tree management was accomplished, the bunkers all done in classic Ross style, the green was expanded back to its original style, and the far back right bunker was put back in after having been removed in the '50's.


Kudos to Ron Prichard for a job well-done.



before





after






(PS thanks to Tommy Naccarato for helping with the posting of these photos!)
« Last Edit: March 09, 2004, 06:59:44 AM by Paul Richards »
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James Edwards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2004, 07:37:04 AM »
Paul,

I haven't been to Beverly GC, but I would like to add my congratulations to RP for this restoration..  I would say this is one of the finer restorations I have seen in a long time..  Look how the green suddenly has a defined left side once again with roll off areas.
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Tony Ristola

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2004, 07:54:19 AM »
Nice chainsaw work too.
Without foliage it will look more open, but knocking out those trees on the right makes the hole a lot more spacious.
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Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2004, 07:59:14 AM »
Tony:

Actually, this photo was taken last year.  This winter a few more trees were removed, as per Ron's plan, including the two willows you can see on the left-hand side.

So the fairway will look even more spacious and inviting - as Ross would have it - but the penalty will lie with the misplayed approach or unsure putt.

This is a great example of a Ross short four-par hole - 332 yards to a very difficult green.

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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2004, 08:00:11 AM »
Additionally, the tees were squared up and the cart path you see in the background-right will be asphalt covered by the crushed-granite composite.

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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Dunlop_White

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2004, 09:14:30 AM »
Paul,

Thanks for sharing. It looks great! I'm sure it looks even better now with those last couple of willows down on the left and perhaps the sapling on the right.

Also, look at how Ron created the visual appearance of "depth" with the greenside bunkers by simply bringing the grass faces down to grade.  I love it!

Congratulations!

Dunlop
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Mike_Cirba

Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2004, 09:20:17 AM »
Paul;

Glad to hear that things are going so well at Beverly.

Just a quick question, however.  Is the bunker work based on old pics of the course?  In other words, does the historical record show them having grass faces?

Thanks, and nice to hear the sound of chainsaws in the morning.
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Mike Hendren

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2004, 10:07:27 AM »
Paul,

Hooray!  I love this green and since I played solo I had the opportunity to putt around it for some ten minutes and STILL could come to no consensus on the general slope - another ingenious Ross green!

The 11th through 18th at Beverly is as good as it gets in my book.  Can't wait to see the changes at the 4th.  Keep the pics coming, Paul.  

Paul,

Was/is there an alternate tee on this hole?  

Mike

« Last Edit: March 09, 2004, 10:09:39 AM by Mike_Hendren »
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Brian_Gracely

Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2004, 10:12:10 AM »
Quote from: Mike_Hendren on March 09, 2004, 10:07:27 AM

Hooray!  I love this green and since I played solo I had the opportunity to putt around it for some ten minutes and STILL could come to no consensus on the general slope - another ingenious Ross green!


What a great observation!!  I find myself with that same dilemma at Raleigh CC all the time, and it was even more obvious at Pinehurst #2 a few weeks ago.  This is the aspect of Ross greens that never seems to be written about, why?
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RJ_Daley

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2004, 10:57:41 AM »
Paul, could you characterize what the sales pitch was like that Mr. Pritchard had to make to the club to buy into the notion of cutting out some of the specimen trees?  Was it a matter of pushing them to their limits of acceptance, or not that big of a deal?  The removal of the maple behind the left part of that green reminds me of the removal of two such specimens that were always thought of a integral to the look of the hole at the 6th at Lawsonia.  But, once they were gone, the merit for their removal was not so hard to understand.  Do any of you think that it would be going too far to also take out the largest oak that is behind the tip of backstop back right portion of that green?

The new definition of the fall aways from the front left and right shoulders, and the skyline fallaway to the left middle of the back side is a great visual.  Whoa to anyone in that back right bunker no matter where the pin is... ::)
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Jeff Goldman

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2004, 11:30:44 AM »
Paul, it looks terrific but you are shortchanging people by not describing the green, which, as Mike Hendren mentions, has terrific contours I still remember from one playing last summer.  Isn't this one of the best short 4s in Chicago?  This is one place where Beverly has it over Olympia Fields, which really doesn't have a really short par-4 on the North Course (5 is 350, and not that exciting), and 11 on the South is fun, but nothing like this.

Jeff Goldman  
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Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2004, 04:33:27 PM »
Mike:

you asked:
>Is the bunker work based on old pics of the course?  In other words, does the historical record show them having grass faces?


The answer is yes.  We have some great photos of Francis Ouimet playing out of the traps at Beverly in the 1931 Amateur.  You should see these things!  Long and unkempt grasses and even 2-foot dandelions!

Over all, Ron Prichard designed his bunkers to be in the classic Ross style, which, obviously, Beverly had at one time.

If you'd like to see for yourself, look at the book "Golf Has Never Failed Me" - there are two photos of Beverly from long ago, and I think Prichard's bunkering job does Ross justice!
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Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #12 on: March 09, 2004, 04:37:37 PM »
Mike Hendren:

You said:
> I love this green and since I played solo I had the opportunity to putt around it for some ten minutes and STILL could come to no consensus on the general slope - another ingenious Ross green!



This is one of the great, deceptive Ross greens around.  It has subtle little slopes and if you are in the back 1/2 of the green putting to the front half, you SWEAR you are putting downhill.  However, this is just an optical illusion and it is really a level putt.  So almost everyone blows it by the hole, where it really DOES slope down.


>The 11th through 18th at Beverly is as good as it gets in my book.  Can't wait to see the changes at the 4th.  Keep the pics coming, Paul.  

Good observation.  In fact, I'll add that I have posted to this website that I'd take the last four holes against just about ANY course that doesn't play along a beach or ocean!


>Was/is there an alternate tee on this hole?  

Yes, about 40 yards to the north of the regular tee is an alternate tee that makes the hole play as a dog-leg right to left hole.
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Mike_Cirba

Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #13 on: March 09, 2004, 04:38:14 PM »
Paul;

Thanks!  Great to hear.

I have the book and will check it out tonight!

Had the pleasure of talking quite a bit with Ron at the Baltusrol get-together as well as listening to him speak.  He's quite the guy and very passionate about his work.
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Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #14 on: March 09, 2004, 04:43:10 PM »
RJ:

you said;
>could you characterize what the sales pitch was like that Mr. Pritchard had to make to the club to buy into the notion of cutting out some of the specimen trees?  

We actually cut down only a couple of real "speciman" trees.  For instance, an oak that grew across the front of the tenth green on an angle was taken as were a few oaks around the seventh green, which had had growing issues because of the lack of sunlight.

Outside of those, all the rest of the tree removal was done on trees that were not speciman trees.  Many were planted too close to speciman oaks or elms, many were evergreens, a few too many were willows, river birch, maples and other undesireable golf course trees.


>Was it a matter of pushing them to their limits of acceptance, or not that big of a deal?  


If you knew how much Beverly members loved their trees, nothing about this project would be deemed as "not that big a deal"!!
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #15 on: March 09, 2004, 04:43:47 PM »
Jeff:

>Isn't this one of the best short 4s in Chicago?


Yes, IMHO, it is!
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

T_MacWood

Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #16 on: March 09, 2004, 05:12:54 PM »
In looking at Ross’s portfolio, IMO Beverly’s bunkers were among his most unique and unusual. It is difficult to judge all the bunkering based on this single photo, but it appears to me the restored bunkering has the proto-typical Ross look.

The old photos I have seen exhibit an unusual wavy outline, not grass faced or sand splashed for that matter, but a wavy combination of the two—not unlike some of Tillinghast’s bunkering with fairly soft capes and bays. There were also a few bunkers at Beverly that I would characterize as pretty wild and eccentric in outline, if I’m not mistaken on the front nine, I’d be curious if they were restored.

Also the original 14th—from what I have seen—the fairway bunkering was different. The 14th had two staggered fairway bunkers, the right bunker closer to the green, the left hand bunkering much closer to the tee.
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Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #17 on: March 09, 2004, 06:24:34 PM »
Tom:

you said:
>There were also a few bunkers at Beverly that I would characterize as pretty wild and eccentric in outline, if I’m not mistaken on the front nine, I’d be curious if they were restored.

The one that I am sure you are referring to used to exist in front of the 9th green - which was, as you say, quite wild and eccentric.

Unfortunately, in 1932, 87th Street was expanded and BCC's first hole got shortened a bit, as did the ninth hole.  The ninth green used to be located at about what is now the median of the Street.  So, sadly, that bunker was lost then.
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #18 on: March 09, 2004, 10:37:30 PM »
Also, I'd like to add that these photos were taken by Bradley Klein and I'd like to personally thank him for sharing them with Beverly and with GCA!

 ;)
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Gerry B

Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #19 on: March 10, 2004, 01:18:54 AM »
To:Paul R and  Jeff G:

Re: Great Short Par 4's in Chicago

The 11th at Shoreacres is a short par 4 for the ages and 13 is a classic as well.The recently re-designed 15th at Medinah (the shortest par 4 on the course) is pretty special as well - great green complex and surrounding bunkers.

I don't live in Chicago -so i might be missing some other gems
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brad_miller

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #20 on: March 10, 2004, 06:17:17 AM »
The golf world really could use a great book on golf course restoration. Was it Jeff Mingay that was working on such. Pictures sometimes are worth a thousand words. This work could be so important, before and after with discription on why after is better, then quotes from some of the right people.
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T_MacWood

Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #21 on: March 10, 2004, 06:37:24 AM »
The tree clearing is spectacular - I'd be interested in seeing how the rest of the course compares to the course's 20's/30's style and configuration.

Was there a particular year or era that they were going for....or was a traditional Ross look the goal? Or maybe a combination of Beverly's historic look and the traditional Ross look?
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ForkaB

Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #22 on: March 10, 2004, 06:49:15 AM »
Very interesting, Paul.

Can we get an "after" picture with leaves on the remaining trees?  As it is, comparing autumn to mid-summer is not that easy.  I think I can make out 4 signifcant trees which were removed, two each in front of the right and left hand side foozle/cross bunkers.  Have I missed any?  Will the "look" (photo wise, and/or in reality) be very different this June?  I sorta like the concept of adding width to a short "par" 4, but such architecture needs a great green complex to pull it off, IMO  Does your restored green complex do this, and if so, how?

Thanks.
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Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #23 on: March 10, 2004, 09:19:47 PM »
Tom:

>I'd be interested in seeing how the rest of the course compares to the course's 20's/30's style and configuration.

Obviously, there are still a LOT more trees on the property than there had been in 1930.  In fact, in the main hallway I have placed aerials from about 1930, from the 1960's and from 1995 so that you can compare.


>Was there a particular year or era that they were going for....or was a traditional Ross look the goal? Or maybe a combination of Beverly's historic look and the traditional Ross look?

You'll have to get that real answer from Ron Prichard.  My opinion is that he combined the best of what he could find from all our old photos and added his take on tradtional Ross.  So I would describe it as a combination of historic and traditional.
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Paul Richards

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Re:Beverly CC - restoration - before/after - 14th
« Reply #24 on: March 10, 2004, 09:28:11 PM »
Rich:

>Can we get an "after" picture with leaves on the remaining trees?  

I'm sure that sometime this summer we can rephotograph this hole, while the trees are in bloom.  Unfortunately, we have had a nasty winter and those buds won't be coming out for awhile....


>Have I missed any?  

My guess is that there were a few more removed.


>Will the "look" (photo wise, and/or in reality) be very different this June?  

If you think the after looks better than the before, I think the hole will look at least that much better by June.


>I sorta like the concept of adding width to a short "par" 4, but such architecture needs a great green complex to pull it off, IMO  Does your restored green complex do this, and if so, how?

Absolutely!  As I mentioned above, the green is very, very deceiving.  There's a little hog-back in the front left corner and everyone swears the hole putts downhill from back to front - although they are tricked by this optical illusion.  The back right corner has been restored and will add a great deal of interest.  The back-right bunker was put back in and all the other bunkers are now deeper than they were, especially the left-side bunker.  You won't want to miss this green!

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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG
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