I have this from the Old Elm Club Report of Board of Governors dated October 17, 1914. The document below has Colt at Old Elm in April 1913 for "many days". Two full days were spent determining the location of the clubhouse. It is interesting to note that this may have been more of a true collaboration of Ross and Colt.
In January, 1913, Old Elm Club was organized and plans for commencing construction of the course as early in the spring as the weather would permit were made. Donald Ross was engaged to lay out -the course, and later, H. S. Colt, the famous English golf architect, who was in this country, was secured, and Old Elm represents the best ideas and skill of two recognized experts in this work. The results obtained have been very gratifying and experts who have played on prominent courses of the world pronounce Old Elm superior to a great majority of the inland courses and equal to many of the seaside courses. The topography of our grounds astonishes nearly everyone who visits Old Elm.
Our original purchase of land comprised 140 acres. In April, 1913, after spending many days trying to adapt the 140 acres to the kind of golf course we wanted, Messrs' Colt and Ross recommended the purchase of twenty acres additional land. We finally bought the twenty acres which now comprise our southwest twenty, and the purchase of these twenty acres helped create our deficit, as our calculations as to the cost of constructing the course were made before the necessity for this additional land was known. The Club owns 160 acres of land, and competent appraisers value this land at prices much higher than the club paid for it.
As the result of most vigorous and efficient work the course was ready for seed September 15 1913. When one considers the number of trees that had to be removed, stumps grubbed out, thorough treatment of the soil, intelligent draining of the land, etc., this was a great accomplishment. Seed planted September 15, 1913; Club opened to members June 20, 1914; Clubhouse and grounds in excellent condition.
This is the history of Old Elm, and those who did not see the course in September, 1913, and who have not watched the progress of the work, will find it difficult to comprehend just what this statement means,- that last September the fairways and putting greensthat are now so beautifully green were absolutely devoid of grass; last September, in fact last December, where your Clubhouse stands was a forbidding looking knoll of land.
Sixty thousand feet of drain tile should provide first class drainage and make the course available for play early in the spring. The fairways are piped so that during a long dry spell it will be possible to sprinkle the fairways as well as the putting greens. The Clubhouse needs no comment. It has been most highly praised by all who have visited Old Elm. It is fireproof, and was designed to provide all the comforts and conveniences which should be present in a golf club. Numerous inquiries have been made as to why the Clubhouse
was located so near the roadway. Messrs. Ross and Colt devoted two days to an effort to locate this Clubhouse farther back in the grounds without interfering with the golf course, but the of shape of the land is such that this could not be accomplished and all hands agreed, after many conferences, that the knoll upon which the Clubhouse is now located was the only place in which it could be constructed without detriment to the golf course.
The Clubhouse was constructed during a period when prices were depressed and during most of the time it was possible to secure plenty of labor for work on the course as well as on the Clubhouse, so that the work could be rushed, and in that way the work done on Old Elm practically stands the Club at cost. We have been favored by the weather, and in fact we feel we have been extremely fortunate in carrying out this work.
While the course is in excellent condition, it is not finished and there are many refinements to be added. A suitable house for our caddies must be built, and we must sink a well to supply water for the caretaker's cottage and the barn during the winter months when the main water supply is shut off. To preserve the contour of many of our bunkers, it will be necessary to sod the sharp
slopes of the bunkers. In short, there remains considerable work to be done, and experts tell us that the condition of the course next year will astonish those who are delighted with it today.