Did Tillinghast have an epiphany early on? Somerset Hills is just too different

[ChipOat]

With apologies to those who've not played Somerset Hills and/or Baltusrol, Winged Foot, Quaker Ridge, Ridgewood, etc.

Pat Mucci mentioned something on another thread that has struck me for years - one of Tillinghast's earliest courses, Somerset Hills in Bernardsville, NJ, is absolutely different than the subsequent work for which he is so well known and regarded.

Somerset Hills (1918-ish) is a marvelous golf course but not at all similar to WFGC, et al mentioned above (1923-1930-ish).

SH is charming, quirky in spots, old fashioned in spots (especially the front nine) and not nearly as demanding as AWT's subsequent work.  The green complexes are excellent, but sort of junior sized compared to the others.  Not really an East Coast San Francisco GC which reminds me more of MacKenzie in the bunkering.  More like a grown up Myopia Hunt.  Not so demanding, but good shots are definitely required.

Also, SH has a bona fide Redan (2nd hole), a mini-Biarritz green on #13, a bunch of chocolate drop mounds (#6), a green with an elephant buried in the middle of it (#5, I think) and, as Steve Lapper noted below before I modified my original post, the remnants of a steeplechase racetrack cutting across the front nine.

Kind of feels like a little Macdonald on the front and Hugh Wilson on the back.  I could play it for the rest of my life.

All of a sudden (like 3-5 years later), Tillie starts building these big, brawny, tough, non-charming courses like WF and B'rol that bear zero resemblance to Somerset Hills and where Jones is winning majors.  No mounds, no replica holes, no elephant graves and no quaint charm.  And it's not just a function of the extra property he started getting.  Where did this new style come from?  Were there any transition courses in the pre-Winged Foot years?

The difference is just so striking.

Tom Paul has a hypothesis that he might share from the previous Somerset Hills Biarritz thread.

[Mike_Cirba]

Does anyone know if a golf course existed on the Somerset site prior to Tillinghast's arrival, or did he build it from scratch?

I ask because in some of the early writings I've seen, there has a been mention fo a course in Somerset Hills.   If Tilly had an existing nine-holer or more to work with, it might explain some of the "vintage" architecture on site there, much like the situation at LuLu, where Donald Ross kept 7 holes of an existing Frank Meehan course in his new 18 around the same time Somerset Hills opened.

[mark chalfant]

Im pretty sure that  some of  Somerset's charm derives from Peter Lees. Its my impression that Lees was  very involved with  on site construction at Somerset Hills, including the remarkable putting surfaces.

[Steve Lapper]

Does anyone know if a golf course existed on the Somerset site prior to Tillinghast's arrival, or did he build it from scratch?

I ask because in some of the early writings I've seen, there has a been mention fo a course in Somerset Hills.   If Tilly had an existing nine-holer or more to work with, it might explain some of the "vintage" architecture on site there, much like the situation at LuLu, where Donald Ross kept 7 holes of an existing Frank Meehan course in his new 18 around the same time Somerset Hills opened.

Mike:

   I'm pretty sure not really much in the way of a golf course existed there prior to AWT showing up. Maybe Phil Young could pipe in with further detail?

  What was there and the land's most prominent use prior to golf was a steeplechase horse track. It wound around the property that the front nine sits on and was a destination for wealthy country families seeking an equestrian thrill. The trough running through #6's fairway (making the fairway a semi-biarritz!) still remains intact.

   The place oozes a sort-of "shabby chic" charm and like Chip said, is eminently interesting and playable for every level golfer endlessly. It is the very definition of what Pat Mucci and I would define as "sporty." Walking off the eighteenth green usually inspires thoughts of heading straight back to one and starting anew.

Mark:

   I believe old documentation that still exists at the club gives evidence to Lee's influence.

[Mike_Cirba]

A GCA "guest" sent me some info that indicates Somerset Hills had a nine hole course laid out in 1899 although there is no mention of an archie.

I'm not sure if it was the same location or not...I can try to post the blurb later.

Does anyone know any info about this original SHCC course or its exact location?

[TEPaul]

"Did Tillinghast have and epiphany early on? Somerset Hills is just too different?

chip:

Do you really think so? I don't. We need to recognize that Tillinghast may've had a penchant for architectural diversity and was as good at that aspect as practically anyone ever. I don't see Somerset Hills as too different other than a few pretty unique features such as that mound on #5 green and the swale on #13 and of course that old fashioned mounding (alpinization, dolemites ?) around #6 green which he was known for early on anyway.

[Mike_Cirba]

Here's the information on the original course I mentioned earlier from a 1901 article;

[TEPaul]

AH-HAH!

I hereby recommend that Somerset Hills strenuously consider restoring their original 1901 clubhouse!!

It looks like a lovely conversion of a basic rural Eastern (Pennsylvania or New Jersey) "bank" barn.

Matter of fact, I think this proves that whomever the building architect was who converted that bank barn into a clubhouse for Somerset Hills had to have been the person from whence the inspiration for Merion's 3rd hole design came because that particular "Redan" sits on the bank foundation of an original bank barn that existed on that property previous to MCC's move from Haverford to Ardmore.

This means that both Tilly and Hugh Wilson as young men must have been aware of that Somerset Hills bank barn conversion clubhouse and it also means this establishes clear and irrefutable PROOF that Tilly wrote under the pen name "Far and Sure", at least some of the time, and including all the articles "Far and Sure" wrote about Merion or Wilson.

It also PROVES that Macdonald and Whigam came down here for a day each on two trips over close to a year, talked about a few natural features, the soil conditions, made a few suggestions, looked over around five of MCC's "plans", recommended one was not only the best but the best last seven holes on any INLAND course in the Universe, had a bunch of drinks and perhaps dinner and entertainment in downtown Philly with about a half dozen show girls and went home the next morning after a restful romp at the Ritz; even THOUGH, at this point, I'm not ruling out the possibility that one of those show girls with an architectural or artistic bent may've been the pile-driving creative force behind the design of Merion East---if we could just find her whip--I'm sorry I mean stick---drat, I must be overwrought--I mean her "STICK-routing", we could very likely tell more. (how's that for a "run-on", compound sentence, Kimmosabe?).

Mike Cirba, in the hands of an expert architectural analyst like me it's just amazing what a photo of one building can reveal about golf course architectural history.

[Mike_Cirba]

Nice job, Tom...very observant. 

[TEPaul]

"Nice job, Tom...very observant."


That's me Michael. If I'm anything it's OBSERVANT. In my younger days when I occassionally sold real estate, more often than not on the way out some yuppy wife would ask me; "Where was the kitchen?" and I'd have to answer: "Do you mean we missed that?

And if any of them actually had enough Chutzpah to respond: "Yes, we certainly did!" I would allow that if they had the money to buy a house like that then they damn well should have enough money to eat every meal out!

[DBE]

One of the major perks of my job as Sr. Director, Rules and Competitions was a membership at The Somerset Hills CC.  I chose there over Baltusrol and Plainfield as it was much closer to Golf House and my house, had virtually no play and was a lot more fun to play than any where else around.

Here's what I know about the place.  It was as the photo and facts show, originally a nine hole course.  The only architectural change has been moving the 10th green back about 50 yards, making it a par five (and reducing the 1st hole's par to four) in the 1970's.  In the mid 1990's, John Tedtman (sp.?), chairman of the Green Committee, resurrected the back tee on #8 (making it about 230 yards) and on #13 (changing the angle slightly and adding about 15 yards).  When the Curtis Cup was played there (I think about 1990) PJ Boatwright (who I replaced) (unfortunately) altered (narrowed) many fairways so that tee shots are now more diagonal than desired. 

The green complexes are as good as any I've ever seen.  The only real downer is the finishing hole (a short, uphill par four).  During my five years there the Board reversed nines a couple of times to finish on a par five though ultimately, members preferred to watch from the clubhouse patio so now the routing is back to Tillinghast's design.

It is one of the most enjoyable places to play golf I've ever experienced.  As a side note, I didn't know the club had carts until the second year I was a member!  The fleet of 12 were kept in a small building behind the pro shop.

[TEPaul]

"Here's what I know about the place.  It was as the photo and facts show, originally a nine hole course."

David:

Are you saying that you believe up to nine of the holes on Somerset Hills are from the 1899-1900 nine hole course and that Tillinghast added nine other holes in some order and fashion to up the course to eighteen? 

I believe Tillinghast's first golf architecture effort was Shawnee somewhere around 1908.

[ChipOat]

David Eger:

To expand on what Tom Paul asked, are you saying that Tillinghast only did the BACK NINE at Somerset Hills or he only did the FRONT NINE???

I suspect it's neither one, but the two "nine's" are so completely different that knowing AWT's contribution would be most interesting.

[DBE]

I think that there were nine holes in a different location.

I asked the question about the present day two nines being built at different times as the topography is so different.  The answer was "NO."  The hills on the back nine will force you to catch your breath before playing from the 13th and 17th tees...and the walk up to the 18th fairway will make that post round beer taste a lot better.

[TEPaul]

"I think that there were nine holes in a different location."

David:

So, are you saying you feel the original 1899-1900 Somerset Hills nine was in another location (another site) than the present SH eighteen hole course and all the holes of the present course were routed and designed by Tillinghast?

Somerset Hills I believe is on this new USGA Architecture Archive list of the approximately fifty most significant courses and if so this is some pretty fundamental stuff that will need to be known for sure. I would imagine that the club and its archives and history must reflect this or I sure hope so.

[DBE]

If there ever were nine holes back in the late 1890's belonging to The Somerset Hills CC, I don't think they were at the present location on Mine Mount Road.  Tillinghast was given credit for all 18 holes of the course that was opened around 1918.

[DBE]

The club is presently in Bernardsville, NJ.  It is no more than one mile from the Bernardsville train station and about five miles from the Far Hills train station.  The Bernardsville site the club sits on would seem to indicate the information in the news article from 1899 or 1900 would place it at a different location than the present.

[TEPaul]

"The club is presently in Bernardsville, NJ.  It is no more than one mile from the Bernardsville train station and about five miles from the Far Hills train station.  The Bernardsville site the club sits on would seem to indicate the information in the news article from 1899 or 1900 would place it at a different location than the present."


I've certainly been to Golf House and the USGA enough in my life to know my way around that area well but the fact is I probably don't. I'm one of those guys who could travel the same road a hundred times and not know its name.

David, since you worked at the USGA obviously you know all those roads around there. What is the name of the road coming up out of Bernardsville and doesn't it go past the USGA to Far Hills?

If that's so, and you say the present SH is a mile from the Bernardsville train station and five miles from the Far Hills train station and that article says that old nine hole course was about three miles from the Far Hills train station, isn't it possible that might put that old nine hole SH course on or very close to the property of the USGA? (You do know, don't you, that Max Behr lived about a mile and a half down the USGA's road on the way to Far Hills but before the USGA moved to Far Hills? ).

Golf House is a beautiful old house but just looking at it and its architecture something tells me that building (Golf House) was not built in 1900.

On the other hand, it would not surprise me if that building in that photo above that was the 1899-1900 clubhouse for the SH nine hole course is still there. If it is, I can find it!  

[Steve D]

Ironic that I found this post this morning as I just updated my website with my SHCC post earlier this morning.  Having played Winged Foot, Baltusrol and Somerset Hills all in the last 3 months (SHCC & BGC on the same day) I noticed the exact same thing that Chipoat did.  SHCC has a whole lot of charm and doesnt feel at all like the other Tillinghast courses I've played.

One thing that really stood out to me was the par 3 12th hole which is essentially a peninsula green.  This seemed completely out of character for Tillinghast.  This must have been one of the earliest par 3 water holes around.  I cant think of many others from courses designed in this time period.  Was this hole possibly the genesis for other par 3s where water is one of the primary defenses of a hole?

Steve

[DBE]

The road leading from the Far Hills train station to Bernardsville is Mine Brook/Rt. 202.

The estate on which the USGA has Golf House and its offices, etc., was owned by the Pyne family.  Originally a 69 acre estate, there were at least three homes on it.  Percy (either Jr. or III) recently sold his home to the USGA and the intention was to use it as sleeping rooms for guests of the USGA.  One of the Pyne daughters occupied the second home (with her husband Cyrus Vance) and the big home must have been where Percy and his sister's parents lived (not Golf House).  I'm unaware of there ever being a golf course there but will ask Frank Hannigan.  He'll also probably be able to answer a lot of questions about the existing course.

BTW, the USGA headquarters is just about a mile from the Far Hills train station.

[Phil_the_Author]

Steve wrote, "I played Winged Foot, Baltusrol and Somerset Hills all in the last 3 months (SHCC & BGC on the same day) I noticed the exact same thing that Chipoat did.  SHCC has a whole lot of charm and doesnt feel at all like the other Tillinghast courses I've played..."

One of the important aspects to understanding the differences in how Tilly designed individual courses is to appreciate that they were done, not only years apart, but also in different eras of equipment types. As much as we complain about equipment advances in the past twenty years, look at the twenty year period frokm 1911 (Shawnee) to 1931 (Alpine) and one will find remarkable advances in distances hit by drives and overall control of host and accuracy.

The result of this can be seen in the length of holes and courses jumping in increments. A 6,300 yard course was very long in 1915, 6,700 huge in 1920 and 7,000 monstrously big yet built in 1925.

Much of the character of "charm" that you see in the much shorter Somerset Hills course is also due to the clientle it was built for. Baltusrol was designed in 1918 and built over the next 4+ years to create two courses each of which could host the national championship, and they did. Winged Foot was designed in 1922 to open in 1925 with the matching orders given to "create us a man-sized course!" Both were and are.

When Tilly was designing Somerset hills he was still enough of a newcomer that regardless of his ego he may have held back in insisting on features and hole lengths that would have been more difficult than what was built. An example of another course where this happened and was built in the same time period was his Aronomink course. Tilly even wrote of the suggestions he received during the building of it and how he listened to them.

A good understanding of a Tilly design needs to have a good grasp on both who he designed for and the point in time of both the game as it was played and his evolution as an architect...

[Mike_Cirba]

Phil,

Thanks for the additional perspective.

From what you've learned about Somerset Hills, any idea of there was an existing nine-holer on the site prior?

[TEPaul]

Steve DeW:

As to the 12th hole at Somerset Hills, I wouldn't wonder too much about the apparent uniqueness of it as a "Water" hole. That kind of thing is basically a function of routing in Tilly's time (walking golf only) and even in our own time to some extent. The fact is that hole pretty much dictates itself as some kind of "water" hole. If he is going to bring a hole and green down to where he brought #11 then #12 is pretty much a given considering the lake there and the slope to the right of #12 green. In that day it wasn't that acceptable to have to walk about 250-300 yards to where the next hole tee was after #11 green.

[Steve D]

Thanks for responding to my question TEPaul.   I understand the practicality of the hole from a routing stand point, but I guess what I was really curious about is if it would it have been considered unusual or innovative for its time?  I have not played a ton of the best courses from this era, but I've played a dozen or so and I can't think of any other inland courses from this time period that have a par 3 with this much water surrounding the green.  Are there any other similar holes at inland courses from this era?

Steve

[Mike_Cirba]

Steve,

There were already island greens previous to SH at Baltusrol, Aronimink, Olde York Road, Galen Hall, Cobb's Creek, Shackamaxon, and possibly others.   I believe the one at Baltusrol came first, around 1910.    Tillinghast had some direct input in most of the other early ones.

In each of these cases, they were streams diverted to surround landforms (greens), making an island.    Tillinghast seemed particularly fond of them, and also built them at later at Old Orchard and Suneagles, and probably others.