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T_MacWood

CC of Virginia (James River)
« on: June 24, 2004, 06:08:27 AM »
The boyhood home of golf's most beloved figure (self proclaimed), who is the architect (or architects) of this course?  It appears to have a complicated lineage or history (the golf course, not Ran).
« Last Edit: June 24, 2004, 06:10:12 AM by Tom MacWood »

wsmorrison

Re:CC of Virginia (James River)
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2004, 07:24:07 AM »
More work is required, but it appears we are starting to figure out the history of the James River Course (1928), one of 3 courses at the Country Club of Virginia (Tuckahoe and Westampton are the other two, I think).  Ran has studied the Flynn hole drawings as has Bruce Matson who is writing a history of golf in Virgina that is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.  Both are very familiar with the course and have contributed to our understanding.  Flynn designed 2 18-hole courses for CCV, the Valley Course and the Hill Course.  Nine holes from each of these 2 designs were used to make the present 18-hole course.  As of now, we think designs for the Valley course make up the front 9.  Flynn's Valley hole drawings 1,2,3,4,5,15,16,17, and 18 are holes 1 thru 9.  Flynn's Hill hole drawings 1,2,5,15,16,17, and 18 are holes 10,11,12,15,16,17, and 18.  The present holes 13 and 14 seem to be a mystery.  They may have been redesigns by some of the many architects that have been there since Flynn.  These include Fred Findlay, George O'Neil, Buddy Loving, and most recently Lester George.  Unfortunately, Lester George did not have the drawings available to him prior to his plans and I don't know what the results are of his recent efforts.

Tom, is there anything specific you are looking into?  I'd be happy to help out, but we don't have much info to go on.  If you have any information, please consider sharing as this course has proven difficult to get a handle on.

T_MacWood

Re:CC of Virginia (James River)
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2004, 12:58:32 PM »
Wayne
I've never quite figured out who exactly did what at James River (and when). Flynn supposedly designed the course in 1928, but from what I recall Ran said only about half the holes (of the course he grew up on) match Flynn's plan. According to Cornish & Whitten in 1931 Fred Findlay (Alex's brother) worked on the course...odd that he would be called upon so soon after Flynn. And C&W claim George O'Neil was called in 1938...I was under the impression O'Neil retired in the late 20's.

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