Club Histories

« **on:** January 23, 2005, 01:52:01 PM »

In another thread TEPaul mentioned a book detailing the history of Maidstone.

Inverness, Montclair, Baltusrol, Pine Valley, GCGC, Prairie Dunes and other clubs have compiled and published their histories as well.

I would be helpful to get a listing of clubs that have written their histories. Following up on that, it would be helpful to find out how one could obtain a copy of a club's history.
While many of these books don't detail the architectural history of the club, they are interesting and informative.
Here's the start of the list, can you add to it, and can you tell us how to go about obtaining copies ?

Alloa
Atlantic Contact the MGA
Atlantic City
Ardsley CC
Augusta National
Bald Peak
Baltusrol
Bel-Air
Blue Mound
Bristol/Henbury
Brighton & Hove
Burning Tree
Butler National
Capilano
Carmargo
Charlotte
Cherry Hills
Chevy Chase
Chicago Golf Club
Congressional
Colonial
The Country Club
The Creek
Cruden Bay
Cypress Point
Desert Forest Brad Klein
East Lake
Essex Fells
Essex Golf & CC Jeff Mingay
Essex County (MA)
Essex County (NJ) Dr Bill Quirin
Fall River
Fisher's Island
Garden City Golf Club
Glen View
Greenbriar
Gulph Mills Tom Paul
Huntercombe GC
Huntington GC (NY)
Inverness
Kingston Heath
Kittansett
The Knoll George Bahto
Lancaster
Log Cabin GC
Los Angeles CC
Low Laithes
Maidstone
Merion
Mid Pacific
Minn Valley
Montclair
Morris County
Mountain Lakes
Muirfield
Myopia Hunt
New South Wales
Newington
Oakmont
Olympic
Palmetto
Pasatiempo
Philadelphia CC
Pine Valley
Prairie Dunes
Ridgewood (NJ)
Riviera Riviera or Geoff Shackelford
Royal Aberdeen
Royal County Down
Royal Dornoch
Royal Melbourne
Royal Portrush
Royal Troon
Sakonnet
Saucon Valley
Shadow Creek Contact the club
Shinnecock
St Andrews
St George's Contact the club
St Louis
Somerset Hills
Southern Hills
Sunnehanna
Quaker Ridge
Wannamoisett
Washington G & CC
Winged Foot
Wollaston GC
Woodcrest
Woodhall Spa
Woodmont
Wyantenuck

I'll update the list as the information comes in.

« **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2005, 01:58:57 PM »

I know Oakmont had one for sale in the pro shop during the US Am, don't know if it's still available.

Re: Atlantic, I'd think most GCA types would be best served by reading the book Patrick recommended, Miracle at Breeze Hill. I wish more clubs had books like this, I found it fascinating.

« **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:02:17 PM »

"One Hundred Years, A History of Essex G&CC: 1902-2002" by Jeff Mingay

Contact me!

Shackelford's Riviera history is very good as well. You can obtain it by contacting Riviera directly.

As is Jim Barclay's new St. George's (Toronto) history. I suggest contacting the club to obtain it.

All three of the above mentioned histories are anomalies, containing detailed sections on the respective design history and evolution of each course.

Oh yeah, there's Brad Klein's latest on Desert Forest too. I believe this book can also be obtained through the club.

« **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:10:17 PM »

Merion is redoing their club history, an update of the 1989 Tolhurst book "Golf At Merion." A few errors may be ammended but one of the main purposes is to bring update the tournament history, particularly national tournaments.

Can anyone give me a contact at the appropriate Australian golfing society or golf historical society that the Club can contact to arrange delivery of the new book?

Of the club histories that I have, many are associated with Flynn. Here's a list of my histories:

Sunnehanna by John Yerger III
The Creek
Glen View Club
Kittansett Club
Woodmont Country Club
Atlantic City CC
Gulph Mills 1916-1976 by Patterson and Tom Paul's architectural history
The Country Club, Brookline 1964 Arthur and 1982 Cappers
Pine Valley 1982 Shelly and 2000 Finegan
Merion 1965 Casey, Wister and Evans, 1976 Heilman and 1989 Tolhurst
Cherry Hills
Royal Dornoch 1999 Macleod
Philadelphia Country Club 1965 Alles 1990 Beever
Woodcrest
Washington Golf and Country Club
Lancaster CC
Cypress Point

« **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:16:25 PM »

Wayne,

Who's in charge of updating the Merion history? Just curious.

I second Tom Paul's architectural history of Gulph Mills. It's a must read for anyone interested in documenting the design history and evolution of a golf course - as a good model.

John Smith put together a similar boooklet on the design history and evolution of Cataraqui golf course in Kingston, Ontario. Stanley Thompson lent a significant hand at Cataraqui.

« **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:22:53 PM »

Without question, the two most amazingly detailed histories of older clubs with good design histories and local lore are:

Where Stone Walls Meet the Sea: Sakonnet Golf Club (Rhode Island), 1899-1999 by Chris Rawson

History of the Essex County Club (Massachusetts), 1893-1993 by George C. Caner Jr.

« **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:27:52 PM »

The library at Golf House (USGA Headquarters) has copies of just about every club history there is. I don't know if they can or will provide a list, and I doubt if they will offer him assistance in obtaining copies.

« **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:28:24 PM »

Chevy Chase Club has a nice history.

« **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:41:24 PM »

Palmetto GC in Aiken, SC has one.

« **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:45:27 PM »

Jeff,

I believe it is being done by committee, I don't have any details on that but I know that John Capers III is intimately involved with the project and is the gentleman I am in contact with.
Best,
Wayne

« **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2005, 02:58:03 PM »

I have quite a few and will make a list but ....

Shinny has 2
Maidstone - David Goddard
Camargo (I was involved)
Blue mound (same) has 2
Fishers Island has 2 (worked with them on both) (have a few around if interested - send e mail)

* we're scheduled for NGLA

Mid Pacific
Essex County CC (NJ) by Dr Bill Quirin
Garden City (B Quirin)

* BTW: Bill has probably done at least 10 in our Met area
spring Lake (NJ and is working om 2 right now (Westchester CC?)

Morris County CC
Creek (Quirin) real good
St Louis (good)
Chicago (excellent)
Essex Fells CC
Minn Valley CC
Baltusrol
Greenbrier (has 2)
Wyantenuck
Riv

have more .... stay tuned - actually Patrick I'll call Bill Quirin and get his list if you'd like

gb

« **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2005, 03:01:39 PM »

As Jim said, if you want a fairly comprehensive list, go to The Golf House. I have my own collection probably totally 50 including a bunch from the British Isles but that pales in comparison to what they have (hundreds)!
Mark

« **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2005, 03:03:18 PM »

Mark is right on - I've spent a lot of time there and there are way too may to list

wadda place ....

« **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2005, 03:08:11 PM »

George,

I also enjoy your booklet on the history of The Knoll, which includes very interesting and informative sketches of each Charles Banks-designed hole, hand-drawn by Mr. Bahto!

« **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2005, 04:20:40 PM »

Jeff - thanks - would like to that over - lots of mistakes but the story is interesting

my first effort (not very good) .... and the sketches got better

I'm trying to talk them into doing it over

« **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2005, 05:23:44 PM »

« **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2005, 08:49:23 PM »

Myopia Hunt Club also has a nice "Club History" book

« **Reply #17 on:** January 23, 2005, 10:10:44 PM »

We still have some copies of the Riviera book, which is excellent I must add. If anyone is interested in owning a copy I could probably arrange it. Instant message me if you are interested. I think the book costs about $60 and there would be tax and shipping costs added. I'll take a look at our inventory tomorrow.

Jeff F.

« **Reply #18 on:** January 23, 2005, 10:10:58 PM »

George B:

Could it be possible that I bought my copy of History of Fisher's Island Club Directly from you at a Golf Colector's Society meeting about ten years ago?

For some reason an old brain synapse fired when I read your post and I believe it was you at that meeting.

Correct or not?

« **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2005, 10:13:19 PM »

negative, Gene

« **Reply #20 on:** January 24, 2005, 06:33:20 AM »

A few to add:

Somerset Hills...quite rare, less than 200 in print
Bel-Air (Very Entertaining)
Kingston Heath
Royal Melbourne (Excellent)
New South Wales
Butler National (Excellent)
Winged Foot

Projects in the works:

LACC
Quaker Ridge
A New Oakland Hills

« **Reply #21 on:** January 24, 2005, 06:44:15 AM »

Huntercombe Golf Club has a history - I would be happy to try and get a copy, otherwise you could go via the club website at www.huntercombegolfclub.co.uk.

I am pretty sure Hoylake also has a history. You could try the club secretary Chris Moore at sec@royal-liverpool-golf.com

« **Reply #22 on:** January 24, 2005, 03:02:16 PM »

http://www.olfgolfauctions.com usually have a good number of club (UK & overseas) histories in every auction, as well as everything else.

One of your own US Golf Collectors should be able to help with more info. Perhaps try Bob Labbance (if he's fit and well again ?)

Mark Fine is right. There are hundreds of club histories in the UK. Mostly centennial issues and unfortunately, most are not as informative as you might think. Especially re - the architecture ! Of course, most of them are voluntary committments from amateur writers like myself. eg., Biggar Golf Club. A History - 1895 - 1995. I noticed a copy for sale a year past - if I only knew who the bugger was that was parting with it

There is also a book specialist in the States. sorry, can't find / remember the website.

Alfie

« **Reply #23 on:** January 24, 2005, 03:07:53 PM »

4. Antiquarian and Elusive Golf Books by Rhod McEwan Golf Books
Antiquarian and Elusive Golf Books by Rhod McEwan Golf Books
www.aberdeenshire.com

recommended !

Alfie

« **Reply #24 on:** January 24, 2005, 03:12:12 PM »

Grant books has a fine and extensive selection of USA and UK club histories.

http://www.grantbooks.co.uk

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