As 2006 winds down, we edge ever closer to the Beverly Centennial in 2008. One hundred years of a great club is quite an achievement and should be celebrated appropriately. Along those lines, Beverly has engaged the services of Tim Cronin, renowned sportswriter and author (Medinah’s 75th Anniversary book, and the Western Golf Association’s 100th book to name just two) to put Beverly’s history into print.
Tim has been devoting a lot of his time to research and has scored an amazing find. As most know, I have been doing research as historian for many years, but it was Tim who finally was able to find the articles that prove Donald Ross was actually here at Beverly!
This fact is significant. Besides being one of the most famous golf course architects of all time, he was also one of the most proficient, with some 400 to his credit. Many of his courses were ‘designed’ in his office with topographical maps as his guide, but now we have proof that Ross was actually here at Beverly! This lends credence to the proud architectural history that was resurrected by the work of Ron Prichard in Ross’ honor.
The following articles highlight some of Ross’ visits to Beverly. Pay particular attention to some of the descriptions – they still match those that we see today! Finally, when you reach the part about the ‘old No. 2’, next time you are on the course, notice a tree in the midst of some humps behind the ladies’ tee on #2 – this is the ‘old No. 2 green’ that is mentioned.
Ross ‘assured’ the members that his would be one of the best courses in Chicago. He was correct. Additionally, he talked about the ‘great possibilities in what is now the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth, and with new greens and other alterations he thought Beverly would have the four finest finishing holes in Chicago.”
On that point, Mr. Ross was absolutely correct. In fact, I would argue that Beverly has perhaps the best four finishing holes in all of golf that don’t play along an ocean!!
Cheers!
Saturday, May 18, 1918
CHICAGO EVENING POST
ROSS PROMISES BEVERLY BOYS A FINE COURSE
Noted Architect Finds Topography Ideal
By Jack Hoag
Just what the new Beverly Country Club course will be like no one knows, but we have Donald Ross’ assurance that it will be one of the best courses in Chicago when it is completed.
The ground south of the clubhouse, where the second nine holes are situated, is ideal for golf, and some remarkably fine holes will be developed along these ridges. Take the eleventh hole, for instance. The tee shot here, where the carry is over the two hills, was always weak. It was impossible to see anything of the fairway from the tee, but with the second hill lowered, Ross saw possibilities for a fine hole, and it was somewhat amusing to hear his comments on the position of some of the greens.
With wonderful possibilities for a good green all around the present eleventh, Ross plaintively asked: “Why did they go out of their way to select the worst possible spot and then construct a green which sloped away from the play?” Again, on the 400-yard fifteenth, Ross liked the present fairway very much, but eh green will be moved back into what is now the garden back of the sixteenth tee, where he discovered an ideal spot for it. This will lengthen the hole forty or fifty yards and make a sporty hole out of it.
Pond to God
Ross has not decided what he is going to do with the hill on the eleventh, but he will probably dump it into the pond in front of the sixteenth tee, and then move the tee back toward the clubhouse. The old eighteenth hole will be abandoned, and the present seventeenth will be the finishing hole. Ross said that there were great possibilities in what is now the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth, and with new greens and other alterations he thought that Beverly would have the four finest finishing holes in Chicago.
Nothing definite has been decided, and Ross may change his mind several times before the final plans are drawn, but with the alterations in the last holes as he sketched them yesterday, Beverly will certainly have some grand golf holes at a point where they usually figure most in a match. The old No. 2 Punch Bowl hole brought a smile to his face and the comment that most anybody ought to get his 3 when there was a bank in every direction to deflect that ball toward the flag. This is one of the holes which is scheduled for the discard.
Ross will devote most of his time for the next two days to the north half of the property, and he sees some fine possibilities fro good holes in the low ground north of the ridge. Trees will have to be removed to some extent and new greens and hazards constructed, but Ross says that the alterations will cost surprisingly little in comparison with most reconstruction work, and when finished, Beverly will be a grand test of golf.
Tuesday, May 21, 1918
DONALD ROSS GIVES BEVERLY FINE GETAWAY
By Jack Hoag
What is Donald Ross going to do to Beverly? This question is ever first in the minds of Beverly members. To answer this question in detail is impossible at present, for Mr. Ross does not know himself how he is going to alter some of the holes, but it is certain the members won’t be able to kick a golf ball around in 78 when the work is finished.
Mr. Ross will follow the same principle at Beverly which is characteristic of all his work and provide two or more ways in which each hole can be played. His fairways all have a swing to the right or left and the short line to the flag will bristle with traps and bunkers of the most formidable variety. This means that the crack player who is trying for his par will have to play perfect shots or he will find his ball in a nest of trouble, but the player who is content to take the long way home and play in bogey will find little to trouble him until he approaches the green.
First Hole Much Improved
Take the 385-yard first hole, for instance. Ross is removing the first line of trees along the right edge of the fairway so that it will allow a little more room for play, but he is locating a nice little cop bunker 150 yards from the tee on the left which will jut out into the fairway quite a distance, and we have a hunch that those topped drives which used to squirm along down that fairway for 175 yards are a thing of the past. There will be another cop bunker located farther along the left edge of the fairway which will prove of considerable interest in the long hooker or to the man who has attempted to play a recovery from the first hazard.
These two hazards will naturally force the play up to the right and there is nothing along this edge of the fairway to interfere with the drive, but when it comes to the second shot there will be a great cop bunker which must be carried with your iron shot if you are to reach the green. Every Chicago golfer will remember that there is a little slope to the left down near the green and the man who does not get quite home in 2 usually finds his ball over near the rough on the left. “How nice!” says Ross, “a beautiful location for a trap,” and he designs a great big one which covers most of the left side and curves around so that it covers the left corner as well.
No. 8 a Fine Golf Hole
Not much of a change from the old hole, so far as the eye shows, but wait until you come to play it. The addition of those four hazards will make a golf hole out of it and if you get your par 4, you’ll earn it. No. 2 is slated for the discard and the No. 2 of the new course will consist in part of No. 3 of the old course. the tee will be moved over to the left and back to the top of the ridge, so that the line of play will be somewhere near where the second tee is not located and you will drive out onto the fairway at an angle.
You can be just as selfish as you like, but don’t bite off too much, for unless you make the carry the whole left edge of the fairway will bristle with hazards and you will probably take a 6 trying for a 4. The new hole will measure 458 yards and will have a wonderfully designed green, which will be raised at the back and have an undulating surface that will present problems, which will require some study to master.
This entire hole will be severely trapped along both edges of the fairway and on the sides and back of the green, and a 4 will be grand golf.
Chapter 37 –
Respectfully Submitted,
Paul L. Richards
Historian, Beverly Country Club
December 11, 2006