Architects' Clay Models

[Adam_F_Collins]

In the book, The Toronto Terror (By James Barclay(?) There is a photo of Stanley Thompson painting the bunkers on a clay model of a green complex.

MacKenzie also advocated the use of models.

Do any of the architects still use clay models?

Do we know of classic architects' models being preserved?

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Adam,
The clay or plasticine model for The National Golf Links of America is mounted on the wall of the National's maintenance building. When looking at it, thinking of the possibilities of Seth Raynor molding and  shaping it sent shivers down my spinal column.

I could look at that model all day and die a happy man.

[George_Bahto]

Tommy - there were models of individual greens down in the basement of the c/hs that were thrown out in the 50's (cleaning ou the basement!!)

same at Yale

[A_Clay_Man]

Adam, At the 2003 gca land of enchantment get together, Baxter Spann told a great a story of how the first year he interned for Joe Finger, he worked on the model for the 8th green at Augusta Nat'l.

Shortly after Roberts death they searched for someone who remembered that original MacKenzie green. When they asked Byron Nelson, he said he remebered every inch of it. He told them that he didn't do design work with anybody but Joe Finger. So, that's how Baxter got to aide in the design of the 8th green at Angc.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Reportedly, Vernon Macan used clay models at most of his projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. Sadly, I don't think any are left.  

There's a funny story about one of his models for a green at Marine Drive in Vancouver being left out in the sun too long. The clay dramatically changed shape and resulted in the creation of a wildly contoured putting surface!

Although, I've long had a suspicsion that Macan made that one up after complaints about the contouoring of that particular green! Golfers frequently complained about "Macan greens"!

These days, I figure a golf architect would have to charge higher fee to make clay models of all 18 greens. I suspect it's a time-consuming process. In fact, I recall Macan mentions that in some writing he did. When the fee was low, no clay models were made.

[T_MacWood]

I'm not sure MacKenzie advocated them, I don't believe he did, in fact he wrote about the short comings of using models. Simpson and Fowler were well known for their use of models, in fact it was part of their advertisement campaign. Colt was also known to use them.

[Adam_F_Collins]

"In this connection pasticine is frequently used for making models of undulations. Plasticine is useful to teach the green-keeper points in construction he would not other wise understand - in fact, I believe, I was the first designer of golf courses to use it for this purpose. The 14th green at Alwoodley...was constructed from a model in plasticine. It has its disadvantages, however, as a course constructed entirely from models in plasticine has always an artificial appearance."

From MacKenzie's "Golf Architecture" page 30.

[T_MacWood]

Adam
See the Spirit of St. Andrews for MacKenzie's later opinion of models.

[Adam_F_Collins]

Tom,

I don't have that book yet. We can see at this point that he is split on them - I'm just pointing out that he and other excellent architects did employ them at times and they seem like they might be quite instructive to study - if any exist.

3D models before the computer.

[Phil_the_Author]

Tillinghast would often create plasticine models of his designs for the proper construction of the courses.

An example of this is the following excerpts from the contract letter he sent to the club:

“Gentleman,
      “This will confirm the verbal agreement which I made with your committee on Monday, June 9th, 1924. It is agreed that the Baltimore Country Club retains my services to perform the following duties:
      “The Baltimore Country Club agrees to pay me a total fee of Four Thousand ($4,000) Dollars, (Two Hundred ($200) Dollars of which already was paid when the preliminary examination was made in February) and this $4,000 covers the planning of the 36 holes and specifications, models, etc. for the first 18 holes to be constructed. It is agreed that this fee is to be paid as follows:
1.   A retainer of Five Hundred ($500) Dollars to be paid upon your confirmation of this agreement.
2.   One Thousand ($1,000) dollars upon the delivery of the plans, specifications and models, and your approval of them.

      On August 11th he telegrammed the club that his visit would be postponed, “Until next week. Arrive Tuesday morning… badly sprained wrist will prevent my manipulating Plasticine for models until that time…”
      Two weeks later he wrote the club about the results of his recent visit, stating that, “I find that he [Robert Scott] has followed my directions faithfully and well…”

[Don_Mahaffey]

Not a clay model story but along the same line...when I was in TX we were building 4 new greens and retained Neal Meagher to help us get them done. Neal was under the gun as we had to get them built in late fall in order to open them up in the spring and Neal didn't even see the property until Oct. Neal just didn't have time to go back to the office and draw something up nor was he available to be onsite during construction. He ended up asking us to leave him alone for awhile. He went over to our topdressing sand pile and made sand models of the greens as he designed them. He then took pictures of the models from a few angles and used some type of program like photo shop to give the pictures a 3-D look. He emailed me the pics and we were off and building. For me, the models were a lot easier to follow then a set of plans.

[Neal_Meagher]

Here are the "models" Don was referring to showing several views of two different holes:


 

 

 

[Jeff_Mingay]

How frickin' cool is that  

Very cool, Neal! I'll have to borrow that trick sometime in the future. Quick thinking!

[Steve Curry]

Neal,

That is awesome!  I am amazed!  

Steve

[TEPaul]

Many of the good earlier architects used what they called plasticine models of holes. The technique did seem to become unpopular later with some architects, MacKenzie and some others---as they later wrote.

But it seemed to me what was crticized later about plasticine models was only their use in copies of holes that didn't fit well on various landforms.

[Don_Mahaffey]

Hey Neal,
The most fun I had in TX was working with you building those greens. Both those greens came out great!
Don

[Adam_F_Collins]

It seems to me that models would be quite useful for refining a plan or testing an idea.

Of course, there's no real substitute for the actual land forms, but modeling is used effectively in many forms of design (building architecture, sculpture, etc.)

Seeing the model in the photo of Thompson allows one to get a good sense of his 'style' of bunkering as well - he's painted them and shaped them the way he envisioned them. It could be instructive to one who's working in restoration.

[Peter Galea]

Hey Neal. Keep August 30th open for the Capitola Sand Castle Contest. With you as a partner, we're a shoe in!