"The following represent my findings concerning attribution of the golf course from the Minutes of North Shore CC (hereinafter “the Club”) from May 13, 1914 onward:
1. On November 5, 1914, the Club authorized the sum of $400.00 to hire Seth Raynor in an advisory capacity for possible improvement of the existing course on the property.
2. On November 12, 1914, the Club hired Robert White, at $1200.00 per year, to begin on December 1, 1914, with an option to terminate after 6 months with 30 days notice. His duties were: To take charge of the present golf course and to superintend the building of a new one, if undertaken, and to perform such other duties as the Board may direct.
3. On December 23, 1914, the Club noted that a contract with White, pursuant to the action of the previous meeting of the Board, had been made, that progress had been made on the plan for a new golf course, taking the sense of the Board as to the possible use of the woods at the easterly end of the club property as part of such course. An estimate for the upkeep of the course was made in the amount of $12,00.00 per year.
4. On January 26, 1915, the Club approved plans by Raynor for a new golf course with $37,500.00 to be expended under supervision of the Greens Committee, subject to the approval of the President. Raynor was to be paid a fee of $1800.00 for carrying out this work.
5. On March 13, 1915, at the Club’s Annual meeting, it was reported that the original course was under 5000 yards and that Raynor was hired, with the active and intelligent cooperation of White, and have laid out a course, the nature of which can be seen on the diagram in the office of the Harmonie Club. This course will measure about 6400 yards, will take 15 acres of woodland and take full advantage of the vantages offered by the rolling ground, which we own.
6. On May 25, 1915, the Greens Committee reported to the Board that progress is being made on the course construction.
7. On June 22, 1915, the Greens Committee reported that favorable progress has been made on the rebuilding of the course showing a considerable saving as the work so far completed as compared with the original estimates.
8. On December 28, 1915, it was noted that golf course should be playable by Decoration Day 1916.
9. On February 29, 1916, it was noted that a letter from Raynor was referred to the Building Committee.
10. On March 12, 1916, at the Club’s Annual Meeting, the President, Henry Calman, noted that the links were now complete with the exception of some bunkers and traps and that the course should be opening by Decoration Day. He said the results are the product of the deep thought of Robert White, our greens expert, Seth Raynor, the leading golf architect in the United States and Charles B. Macdonald, the recognized authority among amateurs on golf course construction and the well considered work of our Greens Committee. He went on to state that although the Board appropriated $37,00.00 for the work, the work will not exceed $32,000.00.
11. On June 27, 1916, the Greens Committee was authorized to invite newspapermen to play the course during the summer if the course was in good condition.
12. On February 18, 1918, at a Special Meeting of the Board, the Greens Committee was authorized to engage Robert White as Consulting Expert at $50 monthly for not less than 4 visits. It was noted that this motion was carried with 4 negative votes
Here is the timeline Steve gave us from his transcription of the club records, and based on what he has given it seems indisputable that Raynor was hired to design the golf course, and among White's primary responsibilities was the superintending the construction of the golf course. That is very clear to me.
What isn't so clear is how the process actually unfolded. On January 26, 1915 Steve wrote the club approved plans by Raynor (with a budget of $37,500), but then goes to say the plan is subject to the approval of the president. That doesn't make a lot of sense from a couple of angles. If they are still waiting on the approval of the president, are the plans really approved by the club? And who is "the club," is that entire membership or a committee of some sort. Who is the president, and does he normally hold the ultimate power in all major decisions?
Also on this date (1/26) when they approved the budget they approved Raynor's fee ($1800). Perhaps this situation was different at NS, but wouldn't Raynor present his final plan after being hired and not before? Isn't that normally how the process works? I'm wondering if we are misreading what took place on 1/26.
The next entry (3/15) is the most interesting to me, because this is the only entry that actually discusses the process of laying out (or designing) the golf course, and based on what Steve wrote it seems pretty clear it was a collaboration between White and Raynor.
Saying all that I'm wondering if CBM was more involved than what is reflected in Steve's notes, or the minutes. CBM did not accept a fee for his services, but obviously Raynor did. Has anyone seen the minutes of other CBM/Raynor designs, and how CBM's engagement is characterized, and likewise how Raynor's hire is characterized. And what was Raynor's fee on those other projects? $1800 was a lot of money back then, especially for a design only (in this case a redesign). That is a fee commanded by the top of the architects of the day (Raynor had yet to design a golf course), and that fee would included supervision of construction. Do we know if Raynor supervised construction? One should also remember this was a redesign of an existing golf course, and normally the fee is reduced for redesigns.