Golden Age Golf Hideaways

[John Shimp]

Labor Day seems to mark the end of the season for those lucky enough to have a summer golf hideaway to visit.  What US golden age hideaways provide the best golf or are most unique in terms of history, etc., ?  I'm sure there are some for snowbirds as well. 

Fisher's Island and some others are well known to most.  I'd be particularly interested in hearing about smaller lesser known places that have a real sporty golf course, or unique architectural story, great clubhouse, etc.

[Dan Herrmann]

One that I've always liked is Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

"Starting in the spring of 2007, the Mount Washington Course, originally designed by Donald Ross (1915), was caringly restored by Brian Silva, using Donald Ross’ original plans. The Mount Washington Course reopened on August 1, 2008"

[Doug Spets]

Aiken SC - Palmetto Club and Aiken Golf Club both boomed in the 20's and 30's before Florida was Florida.

Camden SC - Winter retreat for the ultra-rich in that same time period.  Camden CC is a wonderful Walter Travis/Donald Ross course.

Both Camden CC and Aiken GC are located next to the railroad tracks...both formerly had large wooden hotels attached to the courses, as well.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Clarence Geist's Seaview,, near the beaches of Atlantic City, was THE Augusta National of the summer.

Founded as the exclusive Seaview Country Club in 1914 , Seaview was the place to be back in the day.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Bedford Springs Resort in western PA:

Golf at Bedford Springs Resort spans a history of over 100 years. In fact, the resort is home to one of the oldest golf courses in North America. The original course was designed in 1895 by Spencer Oldham.  In 1923, Donald Ross created a course that was both challenging and yet one with the natural landscape, which was hailed as one of the best in Pennsylvania upon its opening.

Today, our impeccably restored course preserves the historic holes and features designed by its three famous golf architects. It is something of a golf architectural museum—encompassing three distinct eras of golf course design that occurred from the 1890’s to the 1920’s.
The Bedford Springs layout is a true masterpiece with a wide range of classic historic features not commonly found today. These include five par fives and five par threes. Small greens, “serpentine” and “doughnut” bunkers, the “Volcano Hole” and “Tiny Tim”—a Tillinghast designed Par Three that has come to be known as one of the most celebrated holes in all of golf architecture—offer players an unparalleled golf experience.

    * 2007 – The Bedford Springs Old Course Reopens
      A new generation of golfers experience three eras of American golf at the Bedford Springs course, skillfully harmonized into a restored and expanded classic course like no other.
    * 1984 – Bedford Springs Resort and Donald Ross Golf Course
      Designated a National  Register Historic District, recognized as “one of the best remaining examples of springs resort architecture.”
    * 1923 – Donald Ross Redesigns Course
      In 1923, the most prolific year for golf course construction in the 20th Century, Ross redesigned and expanded the course back to its 18 hole layout. He created a masterpiece of classic “springs course” architecture and his influence is still seen throughout the course with its small greens.
    * 1912 - A.W. Tillinghast Redesigns Course
      The redesign changes the course from 18 holes to 9 holes, and Tillinghast designs “Tiny Tim,” one of the most famous holes in all of golf architecture.
    * 1895 – Spencer Oldham designs the original 18-hole, 6,000-yard course.
      Features including chocolate drops, geometric S-curve and donut bunkers remain today.

www.bedfordspringsresort.com

[Tim Gavrich]

Taconic?  Wyantenuck?  Cranwell?  Cape Arundel?  Samoset?  Ekwanok?  Sagamore?  Linville?