I may be the only one who sees it this way but IMO Alan Wilson’s October 1926 report on the creation of the Merion golf courses entitled "Merion's East and West Courses" should be taken with a large grain of salt. (See the report at the bottom)
1. The account is second hand. Near the end of his description of how events unfolded he writes, “they [the committee members] have each told me that he is the person in the main responsible for the architecture both of this and of the West course.” Alan Wilson was not a member of either committee, and as far as I can tell was not involved in any way, so understandibly he would interview those on the committee who were involved. Unfortunately second hand accounts are prone to errors and misinterpretations. His biggest error was a doozy “The land for the East Course was found in 1910 and as a first step, Mr. Wilson was sent abroad to study the more famous links in Scotland and England.” I suspect he was told Hugh went abroad prior to designing the West, and confused the two events.
2. The title of the essay is ‘Merion East and West Courses’ and is written as if the creation of the two courses was more or less a single seamless process. There is a mention of the first course being so popular that they immediately decided to build a second course, but that’s it. One is led to assume the details of who and what are largely the same. That obviously was not the case ~ the circumstances surrounding their design and construction were quite different, as was the character of the two courses when they were completed. M&W were involved with the East but not the West and Wilson went abroad prior to designing and building the West ~ two major distinctions.
3. The account was written in 1926, yet there is no mention of the East course’s continual improvement, including a major redesign that resulted in five entirely new holes. For the committee to say that Wilson was in the main responsible for the architecture of both the East and West courses in 1926 would not be a stretch, however AW places this statement in a peculiar position within the account, which leads to a distortion of the early events.
4. Macdonald - the man, powerful golf figure and internationally acclaimed golf architect - was viewed in a very different light in 1926 as compared to 1911 or even 1916 (when Hugh Wilson wrote his account). He is religated to sportsman in this account. Merion and the Philadelphia's golf elite saw themselves in a very differfent light in 1926 as well, as compared to 1911 or 1916. It is only natural that change in perception would color the account.
5. Hugh Wilson died just prior to the report being written. One wonders if the loss of his brother affected Alan Wilson’s judgment.
IMO the report is suspect, and that may be why it never saw the light of day. It was never published or included in a book, magazine or newspaper.
"There were unusual and interesting features connected with the beginnings of these two courses which should not be forgotten. First of all, they were both "Homemade". When it was known that we must give up the old course, a "Special Committee on New Golf Grounds"--composed of the late Frederick L. Bailey, S.T. Bodine, E.C. Felton. H.G. Lloyd, and Robert Lesley, Chariman,--chose the sites; and a "Special Construction Committee" designed and buit the two courses without the help of a golf architect. Those two good and kindly sportsmen, Charles B. Macdonald and H.J. Whigam, the men who conceived the idea of and designed the National Links at Southampton, ---both ex-amateur champions and the latter a Scot who had learned his golf at Prestwick---twice came to Haverford, first to go over the grounds and later to consider and advise about our plans. They also had our Committee as their guests at the National and their advice and suggestions as to the lay-out of the East Course were of the greatest help and value. Except for this, the entire responsibility for the design and construction of the two courses rests upon the Special Construction Commitee, composed of R.S. Francis, R.E.Griscom, H.G. Lloyd, Dr, Harry Toulmin, and the late Hugh I. Wilson, Chairman.
The land for the East Course was found in 1910 and as a first step, Mr. Wilson was sent abroad to study the more famous links in Scotland and England. On his return the plan was gradually evolved and while largely helped by many excellent suggestions and much good advice from other members of the Committee, they have each told me that he is the person in the main responsible for the architecture both of this and of the West course. Work was started in 1911 and the East Course was open for play on September 14th, 1912. The course at once proved so popular and membership and play increased so rapidly that it was decided to secure more land and build the West Course which was done the following year."