From Fields to Fairways: Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota

[Rick Shefchik]

I agree that Minneapolis does not feel like a Ross from start to finish, but I think the green contours on holes 1, 9 and 10, for example, are a bit severe. I wouldn't want to putt them if they were stimping at 12.

[Morgan Clawson]

18 is sneaky quick too!

[PCCraig]

Just a year later Rick's book on Minnesota Golf has been (mostly) completed and has been scheduled for a late March release! After speaking to Rick about the book and hearing about a few of his findings. It's shaping up to be an incredible read. For those that are interested, I'll throw a link to the book's Amazon page (where it's current price is discounted to a very reasonable $27.



Here are the contents:

Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction: Farms to Fairways

1. The Wellspring

The Town & Country Club (1893)
2. Cradle of Championships

The Minikahda Club (1898)

The Godfather: C. T. Jaffray (1865–1956)
3. Lake Superior Gem

Northland Country Club (1899)
4. Crossroads of History

Interlachen Country Club (1911)
5. Sailors and Golfers

White Bear Yacht Club (1912)

The Unsung Hero: Tom Vardon

Minnesota’s Bobby Jones: Harrison R. “Jimmy” Johnston
6. Ross Shows His Stuff

Woodhill Country Club (1915)
7. The Players’ Club

Minneapolis Golf Club (1916)
8. Rising from the Ashes

Golden Valley Golf and Country Club (1916)
9. Tillie’s Gift

Rochester Golf & Country Club (1915)
10. Raynor Comes to Minnesota

Somerset Country Club (1920)
11. The Professors’ Legacy

Midland Hills Country Club (1921)

University of Minnesota Golf Course (1916)
12. No Longer a Rich Man’s Game

Municipal Golf (1916–34)

The Mayor of Bronzeville: Jimmie Slemmons
13. Jewish Golf

Oak Ridge Country Club (1920)

Hillcrest Country Club (1921)
14. Bring the Family

Edina Country Club (1923)
15 Spreading the Game

Southview Country Club (1921)

Stillwater Country Club (1925)

Minnesota Valley Country Club (1925)

Mendakota Country Club (1926)
16. The PGA Arrives

Keller Golf Course (1929)
17. James J. Hill’s Retreat

North Oaks Golf Club (1951)
18. Golf’s World Stage

Hazeltine National Golf Club (1962)

Afterword. The Modern Classics: Golf’s Last Building Boom

National Tournaments in Minnesota
Illustration Credits
Index

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Fields-Fairways-Classic-Clubs-Minnesota/dp/0816677328

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Rick congratulations. Northland was one of the true surprises for me in my golf travels. I thought it would be good but it was great.

[Rick Shefchik]

Thanks, Tiger. If you're ever up this way again, I'd enjoy playing Northland with you.

[PCCraig]

A very nice excerpt from Rick's book From Fields to Fairways: Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota was included in the Minnesota Golf Association's monthly magazine. The excerpt is an interesting look into the very beginning of golf in Minnesota at T&C and Minnikahda. A soft copy can be found at the following link for those interested:

http://msp.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vmga12/i1/p28

[Niall Hay]

Rick,

Here's a start. The following are the clubs Tilly visited in Minnesota and the dates he was there on his PGA Course Consultation Tour.

May 1-3, 1936 – Rochester, MN
On the 1st, Tilly was very ill and checked into the Mayo Clinic.
Rochester G&CC – CE. Tilly planned course.

May 5, 1936 – Minneapolis, MN
Golden Valley CC – CE; planned course 10 years before.
Westwood Hills CC* - CE; new 13th green.
Superior Golf Course* - New 15th green & “forking” for greens.

May 6, 1936 – Madison, WI
Black Hawk CC – CE; new 1st green.

May 7, 1936 – Sheboygan, WI
Jamesville CC – CE.
Sheboygan CC – CE.

May 8, 1936 – Racine, WI
Herbert Fisk Johnson Park – CE.

October 10-17, 1936 – Minneapolis, MN
Hillcrest GC – CE.
Keller GC – CE, “quite unique.”
CC of Minneapolis – CE.
South View CC – CE.

October 18, 1936 – Rochester, MN
Rochester CC – CE.
Had another physical examination at the Mayo Clinic.

If you go to the Tillinghast Association website, www.tillinghast.net, you can look up the actual letters that refer to each visit. If you need actual copies of them email me and I'll send them toy ou.

A Mayo Clinic physician married the daughter of noted golf course architect Albert Warren Tillinghast he designed the course in part as a gift to the city as well as a wedding present.

[Niall Hay]

9. Tillie’s Gift

Rochester Golf & Country Club (1915)

Can't wait to hear this!

[Rick Shefchik]

9. Tillie’s Gift

Rochester Golf & Country Club (1915)

Can't wait to hear this!

Niall,

Regarding that date, the 9-hole original Rochester Golf & Country club course was designed in 1915 by Harry Turpie, who was pro at the nearby Red Wing Country Club at the time (he would move on to New Orleans with his brother George Turpie, both of whom designed some highly-regarded courses there in the '20s.) Tillinghast began his 18-hole redesign of RGCG in 1926, and returned to visit the course -- and his daughter -- many times.

[PCCraig]

9. Tillie’s Gift

Rochester Golf & Country Club (1915)

Can't wait to hear this!

Niall,

Regarding that date, the 9-hole original Rochester Golf & Country club course was designed in 1915 by Harry Turpie, who was pro at the nearby Red Wing Country Club at the time (he would move on to New Orleans with his brother George Turpie, both of whom designed some highly-regarded courses there in the '20s.) Tillinghast began his 18-hole redesign of RGCG in 1926, and returned to visit the course -- and his daughter -- many times.

Rick,

Did you happen to find any documented truth to the rumor I heard that Tillinghast purposefully designed Rochester to be more playable as he knew his daughter was a member and would be playing the course often?

I was told when I visited the club last summer that one of Tillinghast's direct descendants was still a member until he passed away a couple years ago.

[Rick Shefchik]

I didn't hear from the members I spoke to about any intended ease of playability, but it is true that Dr. Philip Brown, Jr. -- Tillie's grandson -- remained a member up through recent times. He was alive when I visited the course in the fall of 2010, but no longer an active golfer. Phil Young would probably know if Dr. Brown is still with us.

[PCCraig]

Just a bump as Rick's book was officially released on 3/24 and is now in stock at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0816677328/ref=oh_o00_s00_i01_details

I pre-ordered a couple copies and am very much looking forward to receiving it later this week!

[Niall Hay]

I didn't hear from the members I spoke to about any intended ease of playability, but it is true that Dr. Philip Brown, Jr. -- Tillie's grandson -- remained a member up through recent times. He was alive when I visited the course in the fall of 2010, but no longer an active golfer. Phil Young would probably know if Dr. Brown is still with us.
[/quote


Philip Brown is still alive. My parents saw him last week.