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Tim Gavrich

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R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« on: February 10, 2012, 11:38:29 AM »
Per a Ron Whitten tweet I just read, Cornish passed on at the age of 97 at home this morning.  Cornish designed the course I learned the game on (Hop Meadow CC in Simsbury, CT) and many others I've played.  If you live in the northeast, you've definitely played at least one of his courses.
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Joel Zuckerman

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2012, 11:41:12 AM »
Sorry to hear that....I also played a zillion rounds at a Cornish GC not far from Hop Meadow...Crestview CC across the state line in Agawam MA.  Like Hop Meadow, another fine "everyday" golf course.
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Tim Gavrich

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2012, 11:50:12 AM »
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Adrian_Stiff

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2012, 11:57:51 AM »
Sorry to hear that.
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Mike_DeVries

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2012, 12:23:48 PM »
Tim,
Thanks for the notice.

Mr. (Geoffrey) Cornish was the dean of golf course architecture, the last direct connection to the game's Golden Age architects.  He was a gentleman first and always respectful of his fellow practitioners; in this regard, he reminded me of my grandfathers, passing on information without stern judgment and always upbeat about the game, its roots, and design.  I was fortunate to spend time with him at St. Charles CC in Winnipeg in 2004, when he was honored by them on the 100th anniversary of the club.  Mr. Cornish had been the superintendent at St. Charles in the late 30’s for a year, maybe two, and he had fond memories of the club.  I was amazed by his youthfulness in his late 80’s and know that his positive attitude and insistence on always walking a course (whether for work or pleasure) certainly had an impact on his vigorous health.  Although not very familiar with his course designs directly, I will always be impressed by him as a person and his passion for the history of the game. 

My sincere condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time. 

Mike DeVries      
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Mike Tanner

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2012, 01:03:02 PM »
I've never played one of his courses, but The Architects of Golf has been in my golf library for a long time. Thank you for that, Geoffrey.
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Life's too short to waste on bad golf courses or bad wine.

Jeff_Mingay

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2012, 01:22:21 PM »
Nice post, Mike.

I was fortunate to meet Mr. Cornish a few times as well; once out at Cape Breton Highlands Links, where he told some great stories about building that course and his boss there, Stanley Thompson.

Maybe it's because I'm a fellow Canadian, I don't know... but, for whatever reasons, Mr. Cornish was always very encouraging. On numerous occasions, after an article I'd written appeared in a magazine, a very complimentary and encouraging letter from Mr. Cornish showed up at my house. What an incredibly thoughtful gesture, which speaks to the man's character. 
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Don Hyslop

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2012, 01:43:40 PM »
Here is a link to a story by Robert Thompson on the death of Mr. Cornish.


http://canadiangolfer.com/g4g/2012/02/10/the-passing-of-geoff-cornish/

Read the obit from the Society of Golf Course Architects, it certainly sums up well the contributions he made to golf. Also note, he was a W.W. II vet as well.
Link to a nice story on Mr. Cornish that appeared in the magazine Golf Course Architecture.


http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/Geoffrey-Cornish-the-educator/1950/Default.aspx













« Last Edit: February 10, 2012, 01:58:39 PM by Don Hyslop »
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PCCraig

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2012, 02:07:23 PM »
That's sad to hear. He certainly did a lot for golf course architecture and lived a very full life.
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Tim_Cronin

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2012, 02:53:06 PM »
Sad news indeed. His quest, aided by Whitten, to document the history of golf architecture is enough to put him in the pantheon of great contributors to the game.
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Tom Dunne

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2012, 03:13:37 PM »
I posted this link on Geoff's site a few minutes ago, figured I'd also put it up here. It's not about getting traffic--that Mr. Cornish would take the time out for this little email interview meant a lot to me, and I wanted to share it.

http://www.out-and-back.net/?p=2589

I remember what a crazy feeling it was to be sitting at my desk in 2011, reading the thoughts of the man who had some SEVENTY years ago carved Canada's greatest golf course out of the wilderness with Stanley Thompson himself. Amazing life. Rest in peace, Mr. Cornish.
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Terry Lavin

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2012, 03:30:09 PM »
Quote from: Tim_Cronin on February 10, 2012, 02:53:06 PM
Sad news indeed. His quest, aided by Whitten, to document the history of golf architecture is enough to put him in the pantheon of great contributors to the game.

True that. He and Brian Silva were quite accomplished in the faithful restoration movement as well.
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Randy Thompson

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2012, 03:43:47 PM »
Sad news, Bummer! He certainly influenced many of us and lived a full life, my condolences to the family.
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Peter Pallotta

Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2012, 03:47:10 PM »
May we all be so blessed - to work at something we love, to share our knowledge and experience with others, to live with grace and kindness, to be loved and respected until the end, and to pass away peacefully in our 90s, at home.  

I don't know what hardships and struggles and disappointments Mr. Cornish had to face during his long life (there must have been many) -- but he seems to have transmuted them all into wisdom and a fine character.

I somehow feel certain that he will indeed rest in peace after a life so well lived.

Peter
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ANTHONYPIOPPI

Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2012, 04:02:43 PM »
I was lucky enough to call Mr. Cornish a friend. It was a delight the times I spent with him talking architecture. I corresponded by mail with him over the last few years and his insight and knowledge of the design world and of some of its most heralded practitioners was amazing.

This is what I put up on my website with quotes from Cornish's former partner Brian Silva, Cornish's quotes to me about Ross, Tillinghast and MacKenzie, along with the ASGCA press release.

http://anthonypioppi.com/golf/golf/personalities/364/geoffrey-cornish-oldest-living-golf-architect-dies-at-97

Anthony
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George_Williams

Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #15 on: February 10, 2012, 04:25:22 PM »
Jeff- it was NOT because you're Canadian.  Mr. Cornish (I'm 64, but, I still called him that out of respect) was always encouraging to me in my GCA career.  He and Bob Graves, in fact, were the only ones who offered any kind words when I was starting out in 1976- and I always tried to remind them of that at the ASGCA meetings.

George Williams

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Peter Pallotta

Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #16 on: February 10, 2012, 04:30:53 PM »
Thanks, Anthony.  Brian Silva is spot on with: “In this era of endless top this and top that lists ad nauseum, we forget about the folks who produced golf for functional budgets and allowed the lifeblood of the game to take up the game."

Peter
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Brad Tufts

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2012, 04:35:29 PM »
As a young guy growing up in New England, probably every other course I played had some work done on it by Geoffrey Cornish at one time or another.  He made his mark throughout the area with modest courses that fit the land without imposing too much on it, which is why close to 100 towns in New England contain one of his layouts.

Cornish never seemed to be a hot name, but his influence in my region runs very deep.  I'm glad I have played many of his courses, and hope that I see many more.

RIP G. Cornish!
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Tim Martin

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #18 on: February 10, 2012, 04:40:28 PM »
Sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Cornish. I have played quite a few of his courses living in New England and enjoyed his work. He was certainly a great man in the game of golf.
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Tiger_Bernhardt

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #19 on: February 10, 2012, 06:15:04 PM »
He lived a long incredibly productive and successful life. We are all better off for what brought to our game. I am deeply sorry for his family, friends and loved ones. Yet, he is one who life should be celebrated by lovers of architecture. I am a little troubled by getting a tweet from Ron Whitten????
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Tom Dunne

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #20 on: February 10, 2012, 06:54:30 PM »
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Tom_Doak

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #21 on: February 10, 2012, 07:15:40 PM »
Quote from: George_Williams on February 10, 2012, 04:25:22 PM
Jeff- it was NOT because you're Canadian.  Mr. Cornish (I'm 64, but, I still called him that out of respect) was always encouraging to me in my GCA career.  He and Bob Graves, in fact, were the only ones who offered any kind words when I was starting out in 1976- and I always tried to remind them of that at the ASGCA meetings.

George Williams

George:

Indeed, that was Mr. Cornish in a nutshell.  When I was a freshman at M.I.T., long ago, and looking for advice on how to pursue a career in golf course architecture, the only two architects who were encouraging at all were Pete Dye and Geoffrey Cornish.  I still have his letter somewhere ... all I can remember now is his concluding sentence:  "There is always room in the profession for people with REAL talent."

He was a class act in all respects, and he always took time to show us young folks how to be real professionals.
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Dick Kirkpatrick

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #22 on: February 10, 2012, 07:45:50 PM »
The world has lost a wonderful person. There are many architects working in the business that trained under and or worked with Geoff.
 
I met Geoff in 1963 at the University of Massachusets where I was taking a short course and he was one of the instructors and a speaker at our graduation.
 
Geoff was an honourary member of the Stanley Thompson Society as well as being a benefactor to them.
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Mac Plumart

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Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #23 on: February 10, 2012, 09:49:12 PM »
Quote from: PPallotta on February 10, 2012, 04:30:53 PM
Thanks, Anthony.  Brian Silva is spot on with: “In this era of endless top this and top that lists ad nauseum, we forget about the folks who produced golf for functional budgets and allowed the lifeblood of the game to take up the game."

Peter

Along these lines, I wonder if Mr. Cornish was the most underappreciated golf course architect of all time.  And that is not to say he wasn't appreciated greatly.

I know Mr. Doak says we should rate courses, not architects...but Mr. Cornish sure seems to rate/rank very, very highly any way you slice it.

I know all of you who were friends (and family) of his will be missing him, but I can't help but feel that your lives were greatly enhanced by having known him.

RIP.
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Sam Morrow

Re: R.I.P., Geoffrey Cornish
« Reply #24 on: February 10, 2012, 09:57:25 PM »
I've never played a Cornish did he have a particular style in his designs?
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