In search of Harry Collis ...

[Paul Richards]

I have come to understand from a fellow GCAer that Harry
Collis was a well-known and highly respected superintendent
in the 'teens or 'twenties.

As he is listed in the minutes at the Beverly CC as its superintendent during the era of the renovations to the course by Donald Ross, I am looking for more information on him than that which is listed in the Architects of Golf book.

Can anyone help?

[Craig Disher]

Paul,
From Manor CC's history -

"In 1927, when the Board of Governors was ready to complete the twenty-seven hole layout, they chose not to pursue Flynn's plans but instead contracted with Harry J. Collis and Associates of Chicago to complete the front nine (or "Woods nine"). Collis was originally from England, as were most of the active golf architects of the time. He worked primarily for Flossmoor Country Club near Chicago where he invented a turf cutter and patented grass seed named after that club. Despite the early work by Flynn, Collis is credited as Manor's course architect by the USGA."

Manor's 1931 annual report said that "the chairman of our Greens Committee has developed some very elaborate changes in connection with the woods nine which will add some 300 yards to its length."  By 1938, Collis' nine was gone. All we have left are two of his greens, #3, which we play as #2, and #9. The front nine greens that were built to satisfy the greens committee don't compare to them in interest or difficulty. As far as I know, no early photos of Collis' work exist. I have a 1929 housing plat which shows the routing of Collis' nine. If you're interested I'll email it to you.

[Paul Richards]

HARRY COLLIS (1878-1937)
BORN: London, England.
DIED: Chicago Heights, Illinois, at age 59.

Harry Collis was a talented soccer player in London in his youth. He emigrated to America in late 1889 and became greenkeeper at Indianapolis CC. In 1906 he moved to the Chicago area to work as pro-greenkeeper for Flossmoor CC.

While at Flossmoor, Collis remodeled the course into a popular tournament site, developed a turf cutter that was eventually patented and created a strain of bent grass named after the club.

The remodeling at Flossmoor led to other course design jobs, and after World War I Collis worked steadily on a part-time basis planning courses all across the United States. On occasion he collaborated with his friend Jack Daray, professional at nearby Olympia Fields CC. Collis also operated the Flossmoor Turf Nurseries of Chicago, specializing in Flossmoor bent grass.

In 1929 Collis resigned from Flossmoor to pursue his own activities full-time. But the Depression intervened, and he was never able to develop a prosperous business. He struggled through the 1930s to maintain his turf farm and other Chicago-area properties before ultimately losing them to bankers and tax men. Flossmoor CC then rehired Collis as its greenkeeper, but he died in 1937, just after his return to the club.

Courses by Harry Collis:
Arizona: La Palma CC (1919, NLE); Phoenix CC (1919); San Marcos Hotel &C (1922).
Florida: Homosassa CC (NLE).
Illinois: Cherry Hills CC (1932), with Jack Daray; Dundee CC, with Jack Crofee; Freeport CC; Glenwoodie GC (1923), with Jack Daray; Harlem Hills CC; Indian Wood G&CC; Laramie CC (NLE); Navajo Fields CC (NLE); Normandy CC; Park Forest GC (NLE); Pistakee Hills CC; Richton Park GC.
Indiana: Casa Del Mar CC; Long-wood CC.
Iowa: Newton CC (9).
Maryland: Manor CC (1923); U.S. Naval Academy GC (9 1928).
Michigan: Chickaming GC; Walled Lake CC (NLE).
Mississippi: Rainbow Bay GC IFKA Edge-water GC](1930), with Jack Daray.

Courses remodeled or expanded by Harry Collis:
Colorado: Denver CC (R.).
Illinois: Flossmoor CC (R.); Medinah CC
(CseNo. 3,R. A.5 1932). Michigan: Meadowbrook CC (R.6 A. 12
1921), with Jack Daray. Wisconsin: Rhinelander GC (A.9).

[Paul Richards]

Ron Whitten:

I think I've made a discovery here, thanks to Craig Disher, that will be an addition to your "Architects of Golf" book, if and when you and Mr. Cornish ever attempt to revise and update it!

Harry Collis was a super at Beverly CC.  Here's the list of all BCC supers:

SUPERINTENDENTS
1908-             George O’Neil, Golf Professional, who, along with Tom Bendelow, designed the original Beverly layout, also doubles as the Superintendent for his tenure.
1920-1921      Jacob Bauldorf      
1921-1922      Jack Croak
A fellow named Jack Baxter may have been here for the year of 1923, he was paid $200 per month.
1923-1925      Harry Collis
1925-1934       Mathew L. Bezek.  He was paid $150 per month in 1925.
1934-1935      Harry Hampton, Head Golf Pro/ Superintendent
1935-1947      John Darrah.  He was paid $150 per month in 1935.
1947-1958      Robert M. Williams.  Bob was paid $400 per month in 1948.
1959-1969      Ted Woerhle.  He was paid $750 per month in 1959.
1969-1981      Paul Frankowski
1981-1982      Brad Johnsen
1982-2001      Les Rutan
2001-                      Jon Sundvold

[Paul Richards]

from the minutes of the Board, during the implementation of the Donald Ross plan to the original course:


JULY 29, 1924      
      -President (Charles) Walgreen brought up for discussion the recommendation of Mr. Harry Collis for certain changes in the course.  The changes contemplate lengthening of our present 6th hole, shortening of our present 12th hole, lengthening of our present 13th, and lengthening of our present 15th hole.  The discussion developed the fact that these changes could be made without interfering with play and at a comparatively small expense to the Club.

[TEPaul]

This is very interesting! Was Harry Collis the original architectural "redesigner" who got his hands on clubs and plans before they could even originally construct designs and courses?

From what was mentioned about Manor G.C., he might have been.

Maybe Manor thought William Flynn was some half-assed amateur back then! Clearly time has proved that not to be the case.

Manor's lucky though because we've got Flynn's original Manor plans!

[TEPaul]

This architectural research today is getting very interesting. It wasn't that long ago that researchers at the USGA proved that Willie Dunn was not telling the truth about what he did (or didn't do) with the original Shinnecock course and now we've got the total evidence to prove that Dick Wilson was not telling the truth when he told Shinnecock (on a visit in the 1950s) that he built the present Shinnecock.

He did tell them he built the course but what he obviously did not tell the club (or they failed to understand) was that he worked on the crew that built the course exactly to William Flynn's plans, drawings and direction! And I do mean it was built EXACTLY to those Flynn plans and direction!

By the way, as good as Dick Wilson may have become, that was not the only time he tried to take credit for designs that were done by Flynn! On the other hand word is that Wilson's brother could not have been easier to work with in that regard!

[Chris_Letuli]

My friends and I usally go to Myrtle Beach, but we think it might be a time for a change. Is biloxi a nice change of pace from M.B ? Are there any standouts, or should we just stick to the 100 or so courses in M.B.? This is my first post, so I'm sorry if it's in the wrong place. Love the site and hope you guys have some info for me! Thanks again, Chris Letuli...

[Paul Richards]

Chris:

Actually this is NOT the correct place for that.

Instead, go to "start a new topic" for your thread.

Thanks.

Now, anyone else with info on Harry Collis?

[Craig Disher]

Paul,
A slight correction on your chronology:

Collis prepared his design for Manor CC's front nine after 1927. Until then, Manor was building according to Flynn's design but for some reason (I suspect real estate considerations) the club decided in mid-stream that it needed a different routing for the front even though trees had been cleared according to Flynn's specifications.

What information do you have that Collis worked on 9 of the holes at the USNA? It's widely assumed here that the course is Flynn's although he could have redesigned an existing course.

[Paul Richards]

Craig:

Thanks for the correction.

Anyone else ever heard of this guy?  Know anything else?

[Anthony Gholz]

To All:
I'm bumping this thread because I've recently met Paul Wellman.  He is a lurker on this site:)  Paul is a new member of the Michigan Seniors Golf Association of which I've been a member for 25 years (I know I'm old).  He is a west coaster, in Michigan that is, and a member of Muskegon CC.  Muskegon is a Bendelow original 9, added to and redone by Donald Ross.  One block off Lake Michigan the land is a product of the famous dunes made possible by the wind and the rain of thousands of years.  I suggest you add it your list of must plays on the west coast.
Mr Wellman has done a deep dive into Harry J Collis.  To share his findings he created the website www.harrycollisproject.golf.  Paul nominated Harry for the Illinois Golf HOF and he was inducted in November 2023.  See this site for these induction videos:  https://youtu.be/wjTum753cPo?si=8xrbFSwpnT-ph364
https://youtu.be/LHltPlcMsX4?si=7-FEo2DR6jJ8aLjL

For you Collis fans I suggest you take a look.
Anthony