Here is a bit of what "Far and Sure" said about Merion in 1913 in the American Golfer . . .
Note the reference MacDonald's involement as an advisor, as well as the attempt to reproduce the Eden green . . .
Ever since golf was introduced in
Philadelphia, the city has been in great
need of a course such as Merion has
produced, or, I should say, is producing,
for the work is still in its early
stages. I had heard much of the plans
and reports of the progressing work,
but not until a. month ago did I find
the opportunity of seeing it. Two
years ago, Mr. Chas. B. Macdonald,
who had been of great assistance in an
advisory way, told me that Merion
would have one of the best inland
courses he had ever seen, but every
new course is "one of the best in the
country" and one must see to believe
after trying it out. I had hoped that
it was as good as reported, for it appeared
to be the one great chance to
provide Philadelphia with a real championship
course.
. . .
It required but a glance and
a few steps on the turf to convince
me that the quality was there and the
putting greens were excellent, considering
their age. Everything indicated
careful, intelligent preparation and
painstaking development.
. . .
Mr. Wilson visited
many prominent British courses last
summer, searching for ideas, many of
which have been used. For example,
an attempt to reproduce the Eden
green at St. Andrews has been made
on the fifteenth and, in my opinion, it
has resulted in one of the few failures
The hole in question is a two-shotter
and the sloping green is so keen and
barren of undulations that the player
is practically forced to "skittle" his
approach in fear of getting above the
hole. Many of the imported ideas of
hazard formation are good, and the
grassy hollows of Mid Surrey have
been well introduced. On some of the
sand mounds I noticed the growing of
something which looked suspiciously
like the bents of Le Touquet.
. . .