There is no doubt that Merion was inspired by what Macdonald had done at NGLA and wanted to also model holes with the principles and playing characteristics of the great holes abroad, but had to do so in a way that made sense with their inland setting. As David points out, they stated that intent before Wilson's trip abroad;
Quit playing games Mike. They did not state their "intent" to do so. They stated
it had already been done. There is a big difference. In the Spring of 1912 - before Wilson had even returned from abroad - it had already been reported that Merion had been modeled after the great holes abroad. For example, from the April 14, 1912 Philadelphia Inquirer:
"Many of the holes at Merion are patterned after the famous holes abroad . . .." The Inquirer reported similarly on September 15, 1912,
"Merion has a course in which nearly every hole is patterned after some famous hole abroad." It had already been done. The course had already been planned, the tees and greens built, and key features created. Yes they left some bunkers and "finishing touches" to be added later, just as CBM had done at NGLA, but
just like at NGLA, the holes had been planned based on the great holes abroad from the beginning.
That Merion would make revisions to the course after Wilson's return from abroad in the spring of 1912 prior to a soft opening in the fall of that year wasn't just some anomaly but the entire intent of the trip.
There is nothing in the record about "revisions" in the summer of 1912 before the opening. Sure, finishing touches were added, and bunkers may have been added. But the greens were there. The tees were there. The hole concepts were there. And as had already been reported, much of the course was based on the great holes abroad; holes Wilson had never seen at the time the course was built.
Why doubt Francis who was there and tells us why they did it, when it happened, and exactly what they did?
I don't doubt Francis. He said the hole was the hole "was copied from the Redan at North Berwick," and it was copied from the Redan at North Berwick when it was built in the Spring and Summer of 1911, before Wilson traveled abroad. He also said that the hole "benefited" from Wilson's (later) trip abroad, but he DOES NOT explain what this benefit was. It could have been putting the finishing touches on the proper look of the Redan bunker for all we know, but whatever it was, the hole had already been designed and build as a Redan
before Wilson's trip.
It's also important to note here the direct connection between Merion and North Berwick.
As for TEPaul's oft repeated and extremely attenuated attempt to link design elements at Merion to Griscom through his sister, it is sort of funny just how far you guys will go to avoid admitting the obvious. Merion was originally built with an Alps, a Redan, an attempt at an Eden green, a Road Hole, a Double Plateau, and a number of other features and holes straight out of the CBM playbook. Not only that but had been working with Merion's Committees on the purchase and the plans throughout the entire planning process, and his suggestions were said to be of the greatest help and value. The board minutes even note that Merion determined to lay out the course based on the plan as approved by CBM and Whigham!
So the two of you (and others) can pretend that the influences for the course came from elsewhere, but at this point, based on what we know, that is a complete joke.
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As for the topo of the 3rd, it shows the hole as I remember it. There is a flat area in the front right behind, and there is a little plateau in the back left which filters running balls to the right. A left handed draw will work its way from left to right off of the plateau in the back left. You keep saying that the high point of the green is back right, but this just isn't the case. It is back left.
Here is how the hole was described in the Walker Cup guide:
Hole No. 3
“The ‘Redan’ Fortress”
Hugh Wilson’s design of the East Course was deeply influenced by his observations of many of the great courses of Great Britain. As one views the third hole, it looks like an old fortress perched on a hill, and it patterns itself after the famous “Redan” hole (15th hole) at North Berwick in Scotland with its sloping green from left to right.
Once again, Wilson injects deception into his design, as the player has difficulty from the tee determining the hole location. It can be hidden in so many places behind the large right bunker, or distorted due to the uphill shot and raised front portion of the green.
The length of the green, which is the deepest of all of the holes on the course, also requires the golfer to choose either to hit a high soft shot and fly the ball to the hole, or hit a low shot onto the front of the green and have the ball roll to the hole. As Merion’s Director of Golf Course Operations Matt Shaffer remarks, “The third green is very diabolical with many subtle breaks. It is the most distinctive green on the course.” Compounding this challenge is a teeing ground that points the golfer to the right of the hole, and a subtle, swirling breeze that is often underestimated.The stuff about Wilson's observations is pretty funny, since the hole was designed and built before he traveled abroad, but note that it says the hole was patterned after the Redan, and that the green slopes from left to right. Note also that one option is to
"hit a low shot onto the front of the green and roll the ball to the hole." This is the position you just called "just silly, frankly."