Tom MacWood:
In my opinion, Myopia and Leeds are most significant in the history and evolution of golf and architecture in America. I’ve said that many times on here. Macdonald, and others, seemed to confirm that---eg Macdonald claimed Myopia was one of only three good courses in America that predated NGLA.
For those reasons, Myopia is slated to figure pretty prominently in the new USGA Architecture Archives and Leeds probably will too.
Most of my sources of information on the architectural history of Myopia G.C. is from Myopia, their records and archives, and including the club’s centennial history book which appears to reflect the club’s archives and records (financial and otherwise) and apparently including Leeds’ own record book of what he did with the course during his years there that began in 1896. That Leeds book is apparently now lost.
Again, for these reasons, I’m very interested in knowing anything that’s significant on the architectural history of Myopia. The club records, which appear from the beginning to be pretty specific do not mention that the original holes were laid out by Willie Campbell. The club records do mention that club members R.M. Appleton, “Squire” Merrill and A.P. Gardner laid out nine greens and tees and had the rudimentary course completed between March and June, 1924. This they did for a cost of $50.00. The club has a fair idea where those holes may’ve been and what they looked like including their lengths (including a few holes on club member, Dr. S.A. Hopkins contiguous property which is where the second half of hole #4, and holes #5, #6 and #7 are today).
The Myopia history points out that the beginning of golf at Myopia Hunt Club would probably not have happened when it did had it not been for the support for golf of R.M. Appleton who also was the Master of the Hunt. Golf at Myopia in the early days was most definitely looked down upon by the inveterate horse, hunt and polo interests of Myopia Hunt Club.
Therefore, if you have some information neither I nor the club knows about regarding their early architectural history I’m quite sure we all would just love to know about it. But I’m also sure neither I nor Myopia or the USGA Museum/Library is interested in outright speculation and conjecture (this new “Tautology” method
) regarding its architectural history any more than Merion is interested in the recent highly speculative and conjectural musings of you and David Moriarty on Merion’s early architectural history.
But if you have something really solid historically, why don’t you provide it now? As I said I’m going up there this week for four days.
“TE
Willie Campbell designed the first nine in 1894. It was considered the best course in Boston and the surrounding area. Brookline was #2; also designed by Willie. Both clubs were fortunate to have the services of such an accomplished architect. The 1898 US Open was held at Myopia on the original nine. At the time Myopia was said to be the longest course in the nation.”
If you have some good documentation or even some good evidence that Willie Campbell designed the original nine holes, then let’s see it because the club’s records and history do not reflect that. The so-called “Long Nine” was basically the work of Herbert Leeds and whatever he found there when he became a member in 1896 (he’d previously belonged to TCC). Leeds probably began working on the course as early as 1896 (the Long Nine) and following the 1898 US Open (held on the Long Nine), Leeds set about expanding the course to eighteen holes.
“Who was the pro at Myopia in 1898 (when the second nine was being formulated)?”
Robert White was the professional/greenkeeper at Myopia for a time and apparently left in 1897. He was followed as the professional/greenkeeper by John Jones who was there in that capacity for many years.
“TE
Are you certain Leeds went abroad in 1903?”
Leeds apparently went abroad in 1902 to look at golf courses in England. The history book said that trip convinced him his Myopia was solid architecturally.
“What year was the 1st hole added...as well the holes on the ridge and 17th and 18th?”
Those holes were added following the US Open in 1898. The entire eighteen that we basically know today were in play for the 1901 U.S. Open. The 1905 and 1908 U.S. Opens were also held at Myopia.
“From all the info at your disposal have you been able to formulate personal profile of Leeds?”
I have. He was a most interesting guy----quite unusual. He was some kind of athlete, that’s for sure---eg a star baseball player and football player at Harvard (the first man to score on Yale) and an America Cup yachtsman. He was also pretty damn stern in numerous ways; He never married and was apparently a true misogynist. He had a very prominent birthmark on one side of his face he was very sensitive about (probably a “Port Wine” condition). He was considered to be one of the best golfers around in those early days (club champion at TCC and Myopia in the beginning and before and around the turn of the century. He was the low amateur in the 1898 US Open). He was the first vice president of the Massachusetts Golf Association that he apparently began in conjunction with Herbert WIndeler of TCC who was soon to be the President of the USGA.
“TE claimed Myopia was a rudimentary golf course in 1894 - that it may have only been 5 or 6 holes. His characterization is off the mark.”
The first layout was apparently nine holes even though the club is not totally sure where all of them were at that time (1894), primarily the holes that were apparently on Dr. S.A. Hopkins’ land. They are sure that some iteration of holes #2, #8, #9, a different iteration of #10 (The "Alps" from the present #10th tee over the hill to the present 11th green), a shorter #12 and a slightly different iteration of the 13th over a pond that is now hidden in the woods to the left of present #13.
Again, if you have something to add or subtract from this history and these records of very early golf and architecture at Myopia that is not highly speculative and conjectural, I’m certain the club and some other entities would love to know about it. It may be pretty important to very early Massachusetts golf and architecture.
So, try not to just beat around the bush as you usually do by just claiming something is factual when not even close to that---eg merely highly speculative and conjectural on your part. If you have some real proof of Willie Campbell’s architectural involvement with Myopia why don't you just show it to us all right now? Is there any reason for you to just continue your litany of endless questions that you seem to pass off as some kind of evidence of something you think you have? If you have something solid on Campbell and Myopia in 1894, again, let's see it and it will definitely be considered at least.