Stanley Thompson’s Definative List of Designs

[Ian Andrew]

I’ve been meaning to do this for some time. What I would like to do is produce a definitive list of his work and when it was done.

I do not want to list projects like York Downs where he was the contractor and Charles Alison actually designed the course. I want all these courses removed from his list of design credits for accuracy.

I also don’t want to list courses that are mislabeled like Brantford or Waskesiu where Thompson did not design the course. I have serious suspicions about Summit and a few others particularly when you look at the dates. I would like proof, one way or the other, to decide whether they should go on. I’m not interested in bunker projects like Beaconsfield or courses where he did plans only like Onondaga. I want new projects or complete rebuilds, where he is clearly the architect of record.

I would also like to clear up the lists where courses are listed twice under both names, ie Waterloo and Galt are in fact the same course. Essex and St. Thomas are likely too.

There are holes in my list, because many of the clubs I have no familiarity with, and I'm sure I flat out missed quite a few. The list I have offered are the Stanley Thompson courses I’m familiar with through research. I ask for your assistance on my definitive list. The starting point is below.

Chronology of Stanley Thompson’s New Course

Owen Sound Golf & Country Club 1921
Bigwin Island Golf Course 1921
Sarnia Golf & Country Club 1921
Glen Stewart Golf & Country Club 1921
Highland Country Club 1922
Niakwa Golf & Country Club 1922
Shoreacres Golf Course 1922
Cedar Brook Golf & Country Club 1922
St. Thomas Golf & Country Club 1922
Uplands Golf & Country Club 1922
Thornhill Golf & Country Club 1922
Islington Golf & Country Club 1923
Bayview Golf & Country Club 1923
Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club 1923
Burlington Golf & Country Club 1923
Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course 1924
Big Bay Point Golf Course 1924
The Toronto Ladies Golf Course 1924
St. Andrew’s Golf Course 1925
Oakdale Golf & Country Club 1926
Mayfair Golf & Country Club 1927
Banff Springs Hotel Golf Course 1927
Allandale Golf Course 1928
St. Georges Golf & Country Club 1928
Waterloo Golf & Country Club 1929
Digby Pines Resort 1929
Waterloo (now Galt) Golf & Country Club 1929
Brampton Golf & Country Club 1929
Dundas Valley Golf & Country Club 1929
Oshawa Golf & Country Club 1929
Seigniory Club (at Chateau Montebello) 1929
Peterborough Golf & Country Club 1930
Brockville Golf & Country Club 1930
Constant Springs Golf Course 1930
Catarqui Golf & Country Club 1930
Westmount Golf & Country Club 1931
Kawartha Golf & Country Club 1931
Sunningdale Golf & Country Club 1933
Credit Valley Golf & Country Club 1934
Capilano Golf & Country Club 1937
Cape Breton Highlands 1938
Anne of Green Gables 1938
St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 1946
Glendale Golf & Country Club 1946
Lockport Golf & Country Club 1946
Whirlpool Golf Course 1951
North Oaks Golf Course 1951

[Jeff_Mingay]

Ian,

Sarnia - I've always thought Geo. Cumming originally designed the course.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Ian,
I can't help your cause, but I'm struck by his prolific start.  
4 courses in his first year of commissions.
How did he do that?
I haven't read Toronto Terror in part because you didn't give it a good review - if I recall correctly.  It is sitting just across the room.

2 other questions:
Did Canada have a depression?
What happened in 1938?

Cheers

[Jeff_Mingay]

Mike,

Stanley started in the business partnering with his older bro., Nicol, and Toronto Golf Club's very well know pro, George Cumming. The company was Thompson, Cumming and Thompson.  

The eldest Thompson (pro at Hamilton Golf and Country Club) and Cumming were Canadian golf celebrities during the 1910s and 20s. They were the top men at Canada's two best golf clubs, who had been involved with the development of Harry Colt courses at Toronto and Hamilton.

This partnership assisted Stanley Thompson in regard to landing jobs. With that push, he quickly made a name for himself.

Canada had a depression, just like the rest of the world. And, I'm guessing the gap in new work between 1938 and 46 illustrated by Ian's list is attributable to WWII.  

[Ian Andrew]

Jeff,

If you have something definative there regarding the original nine, please pass it along.

There were a couple of interesting original features like the old "big bertha" on #18 (before Steve renovated all the bunkering) that looked pretty damn good. Reminded me of the old work at St. Thomas.

Mike,

Canada went to war with England right away. The committment of the country was massive.

Read the Toronto Terror, lots of information, it's missing almost all of the great stories. Some, like the Capilano letters, are sitting there to be used.

[Chris_Blakely]

Ian Andrew :

Here are the ones in Ohio that I believe are original designs:

Sleepy Hollow GC (on the list)

Geneva-on-the Lake GC definetly Thompson, I have played it and have some photographs.  Is not kept up very well, but based on the greens and bunkering that remains - it appears Thompson and course is similar to Sleepy Hollow.  Some renovations happened on the back nine as their is a green that has been abandoned.

Chagrin Valley CC

Beechmont CC -not played, but have heard good things about.

Squaw Creek Country Club Vienna, OH

[Ian Andrew]

Jeff,

Construction of the new nine holes started in 1926 and was ready for play in 1927 on land that was secured on a long term lease from Grand Trunk.

Yes Cumming did the original nine, I had always thought Stanley did the next nine (turns out it's 26-27)
This is an interesting one.

Ian

[Greg Murphy]

Clear Lake Golf Course in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, touts its first nine as having been designed and built by Thompson in 1928. I believe it, if only because the front nine holes are so superior to the back, the contrast being a very good illustration that cutting a corridor through a beautiful forest does not alone make great golf.

[henrye]

Muskoka Lakes.

[Guy Nicholson]

Muskoka Lakes.

Beat me to the punch. My former employer.

[Ian Andrew]

Updated - Chronology of Stanley Thompson’s New Course

Muskoka lakes Golf & Country Club 1920
Owen Sound Golf & Country Club 1921
Bigwin Island Golf Course 1921
Glen Stewart Golf & Country Club 1921
Highland Country Club 1922
Niakwa Golf & Country Club 1922
Shoreacres Golf Course 1922
Cedar Brook Golf & Country Club 1922
St. Thomas Golf & Country Club 1922
Uplands Golf & Country Club 1922
Thornhill Golf & Country Club 1922
Islington Golf & Country Club 1923
Bayview Golf & Country Club 1923
Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club 1923
Burlington Golf & Country Club 1923
Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course 1924
Big Bay Point Golf Course 1924
The Toronto Ladies Golf Course 1924
St. Andrew’s Golf Course 1925
Oakdale Golf & Country Club 1926
Mayfair Golf & Country Club 1927
Banff Springs Hotel Golf Course 1927
Allandale Golf Course 1928
St. Georges Golf & Country Club 1928
Wasagaming (now Clear Lake) Golf Course 1928
Waterloo Golf & Country Club 1929
Digby Pines Resort 1929
Waterloo (now Galt) Golf & Country Club 1929
Brampton Golf & Country Club 1929
Dundas Valley Golf & Country Club 1929
Oshawa Golf & Country Club 1929
Seigniory Club (at Chateau Montebello) 1929
Peterborough Golf & Country Club 1930
Brockville Golf & Country Club 1930

[Ian Andrew]

Jeff,

Sarnia is back in, Canadian Golfer August 1921 talks about plastacine models.

[Dave Kemp]

Chris Blakely's  list of Ohio coourse pasted below with dates added per The Golf Course (Cornish and Whitten)

Here are the ones in Ohio that I believe are original designs:

Sleepy Hollow GC (on the list) (no date)

Geneva-on-the Lake GC definetly Thompson, I have played it and have some photographs.  Is not kept up very well, but based on the greens and bunkering that remains - it appears Thompson and course is similar to Sleepy Hollow.  Some renovations happened on the back nine as their is a green that has been abandoned.  (listed under Ontario with no date)

Chagrin Valley CC (1925)

Beechmont CC -not played, but have heard good things about. (no date)

Squaw Creek Country Club Vienna, OH (1924)

C&W also include Trumbull CC in Warren, OH

[Gary Slatter]

Fantastic Ian, your list made my day!!!
I notice Huntsville Downs did not make the list, not sure of the exact date the nine holes was built, sometime between 1922 and 1928.  The Anglo Canadian Tannery built it for its workers!My father worked on the construction of Royal York and then moved to Huntsville Downs as green keeper.
I've played 36 from the list, used to love Bigwin Inn.
For some reason I was unaware that Thompson did Owen Sound, and Big Bay Point.
Nice to see his Jamaican course on the list.
Is there anyone brave enough to put them in order? I think its too difficult, I have a six way tie for 1st!

[Robert Thompson]

Gary -- that's remarkable. I thought I'd played a lot and I'm only at 23. I'm missing some obvious ones -- like Oshawa, Brockville.

Ian -- how many have you a) seen b) worked on.

RT

[Tim MacEachern]

Not sure you want to include this, but I believe he redesigned the original 9 holes at Lingan G&CC outside Sydney, NS.  1922.  His nine holes seem to have survived the extension to 18 more or less intact.

He is also credited with the Ashburn Golf Course (now "Old Ashburn"), 1923 in Halifax, NS.  When built it was the "Halifax Golf Club", I believe.

[Ian Andrew]

Latest Chronology of Stanley Thompson’s New Course

Chronology of Stanley Thompson’s New Course

Muskoka lakes Golf & Country Club 1920
The Briars & Country Club 1921
Sarnia Golf & Country Club 1921
Owen Sound Golf & Country Club 1921
Bigwin Island Golf Course 1921 (NLE)
Glen Stewart Golf & Country Club 1921 (NLE)
Highland Country Club 1922
Niakwa Golf & Country Club 1922
Shoreacres Golf Course 1922 (NLE)
Cedar Brook Golf & Country Club 1922 (NLE)
St. Thomas Golf & Country Club 1922
Uplands Golf & Country Club 1922  (9 NLE)
Thornhill Golf & Country Club 1922
Islington Golf & Country Club 1923
Bayview Golf & Country Club 1923 (NLE)
Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club 1923
Muskoka Sands Golf Course 1923
Burlington Golf & Country Club 1923
Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course 1924
Big Bay Point Golf Course 1924
The Toronto Ladies Golf Course 1924
Squaw Valley (Squaw Creek) Country Club 1924
St. Andrew’s Golf Course 1925 (NLE)
Beachmont Country Club 1925
Geneva on the Lake Golf Course 1925
Chagrin Valley Country Club 1925
Oakdale Golf & Country Club 1926
Huntsville Downs 1926 (NLE)
Mayfair Golf & Country Club 1927
Banff Springs Hotel Golf Course 1927
Allandale Golf Course 1928
St. Georges Golf & Country Club 1928
Wasagaming (now Clear Lake) Golf Course 1928
Digby Pines Resort 1929
Waterloo (now Galt) Golf & Country Club 1929
Brampton Golf & Country Club 1929
Dundas Valley Golf & Country Club 1929
Oshawa Golf & Country Club 1929
Seigniory Club (at Chateau Montebello) 1929
Peterborough Golf & Country Club 1930
Brockville Golf & Country Club 1930
Constant Springs Golf Course 1930
Catarqui Golf & Country Club 1930
Westmount Golf & Country Club 1931
Kawartha Golf & Country Club 1931
Sunningdale Golf & Country Club 1933
Credit Valley Golf & Country Club 1934
Capilano Golf & Country Club 1937
Cape Breton Highlands 1938
Anne of Green Gables 1938 (soon to be NLE)
St. Catharines Golf & Country Club 1946
Glendale Golf & Country Club 1946
Lockport Golf & Country Club 1946
Fundy National Park Golf Course 1951
Niagara Falls Park (Whirlpool) Golf Course 1951
North Oaks Golf Club 1951


Dave,

Need more info on the last one to include it - dates for all the others were easy since they were all done together - go figure.

Robert,

worked on: 26 worked on this list (bayview too, but no Thompson)
seen: 37 from that list

worked on: 6 more that are listed "officially" but not listed above and seen 4 more that are listed officially but not listed above

[Ian Andrew]

Tim,

Can you confirm Lingan?

Halifax should be fairly easy to confirm.

[Tyler Kearns]

Ian,

I would not be so quick to add Clear Lake GC to the list. Their own website states that Stanley Thompson "may have played a part in designing the first nine holes". Further research in Manitoba Links by Alan Hackett lists George Bedell, an engineer sent from Ottawa, as being sent to lay-out a 9-hole golf course in 1926 for the soon-to-be Riding Mountain National Park. Vic Creed assisted Bedell in the process, which was completed in April 1929, with the course officially opening for play in 1931. Shortly thereafter, Creed and Park Superintendent James Smart designed the back nine, which opened in August of 1934.

TK

[Ian Andrew]

Tyler,

Thanks, this sounds so much like the story at Waskesiu, which is not included because he only wrote them letters.

(still worth seeing though)

Ian

[Dave Kemp]

Ian,

Here is a website on Trumbull CC.

http://www.trumbullcountryclub.net/golf.html

Given the 1915 opening it makes me wonder what he could have done?

Cornish and Whitten include Lingan in their list - 1922.  Same date for Halifax G&CC (Old Ashburn).  Apologies if using this reference as "the bible" is amateur historical research.


Dave

[Yannick Pilon]

Ian,

I beleive nine holes of the Saguenay-Arvida golf course up in Saguenay, Quebec were designed by Stanley Thompson.

Check the link below for a picture of one of the most distinctive features on that course.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=20240;start=msg361936#msg361936

I have another 9 or 10 pictures that could show you some kind of evidence that Thompson was there.  Let me know if you want me to send them to you or post them here.

YP

[Jeff_Mingay]

Jeff,

Sarnia is back in, Canadian Golfer August 1921 talks about plastacine models.

Ian,

Please elaborate. The use of plasticine models suggests to you that S. Thompson designed Sarnia, definitively? Or is there more in the Canadian Golfer?

[Tim MacEachern]

Tim,

Can you confirm Lingan?

Halifax should be fairly easy to confirm.

I think this source should be adequate confirmation:  
www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape15/PQDD_0007/MQ36471.pdf

page 56 for Lingan.  When you play the original holes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 17, 18 IIRC) you really feel like there was some inspiration at work.  Holes 3, 11 and 18 share that mystic quality that you never really know what the right line is off the tee.  The rest of the course by Robbie Robertson is not bad either.

Halifax Golf and Country Club (now called Old Ashburn) pages 58-59.  A few holes have since been removed (too close to traffic) and several redone.  But the dogleg par three remains!

[Dan Herrmann]

Here's a link to the description of #17 at Architects GC in NJ, which is designed in the style of Thompson:

http://www.thearchitectsclub.com/gallery/hole-17bdr.htm

Quoting, "Our 17th is designed to demonstrate how Stanley Thompson applied principles of art to golf architecture. The enormous asymmetrical bunker in front of the green provides both informal balance and emphasis. The curving capes of grass and bays of sand in all the bunkers achieve rhythm. The scale of the bunkers and the green are in proportion, with no single feature dwarfed by others. The mounding behind the green is in harmony with the mountain horizon beyond.  Stanley Thompson was an artist of the first order."


I found it interesting that his bio there says he got Robert Trent Jones started.  Didn't know that  

--------------

I've played 2 Thompson's - Whirlpool and Cape Breton Highlands.  Both are wonderful, although CBH is one of my top 10.

If you're ever in Niagara Falls, NY - visit Whirlpool State Park.  Take a short walk to the cliffs over the Niagara River, look across to the West, and you'll see Whirlpool Golf Course.