Bill
This is what we have on B&B
Not listed by DSH, Hawtree or C&W. Listed in AM 1923 advertisement. Club history book indicates Mackenzie was invited to give his opinions on the course in 1922 and to suggest further improvements and produced a report. He was asked to give his views on the construction of the new 9th and 10th holes but went further and produced a report on every hole. The report has not survived. It is possible that some of his recommendations were incorporated over the next few years. Primarily a Colt and Alison course.
Duncan
Timperley was redesigned by Mackenzie in the immediate post WW1 period of 1919-21, which was the time he was in partnership with Colt and Alison. Here is what we have:
Not listed by DSH, Hawtree or C&W. Listed in AM 1923 advertisement, original course founded in 1893. Darwin (The Golf Courses of Great Britain-1925) confirms course as a Mackenzie, saying "Then there is the Timperley course, where Duncan was once professional, near Altrincham. It has been remodelled by Dr Mackenzie, who has made some good short holes there, notably the third, the thirteenth and the fifth, where he has piously imitated the eleventh at St Andrews." The date of Darwin's book and the advertisement would give a likely date of the early 1920's for AM's work at Timperley. The course was sold in 1934 and the Timperley club moved after the course was made municipal. The Altrincham GC were formed in 1935 and still play over the original course.
The Guardian of 12 September 1919 indicated that, “Extensive alterations to the Timperley course have been begun. That the round was always a good test of golf has been demonstrated by the scores returned at the long series of open meetings, but its lay-out, with its numerous cross-bunkers, was admittedly antiquated. Dr. Mackenzie, of Leeds, is responsible for the scheme of improvements, and in the general plan he has produced some cunning punishments on his usual lines—sand scrapes and grass hummocks. Another excellent result of the alterations is the addition of 600 yards to the length of the course, making the total measurement over six thousand yards, the modern ideal distance. This will be brought about not by taking in more land, but by rearrangement of that already possessed. The rearrangement will bring, too, a convenience which is considerable to any club—it will place the ninth green near the clubhouse, so that on crowded days players may start at the tenth and yet finish their complete round near what is sometimes called ‘the nineteenth hole.’ Altogether the scheme is an admirable one.”
The Guardian of 20 April 1920 decribed changes to 2nd hole and the “short 3rd hole.” “Dr. Mackenzie, of Leeds, and Mr. H.S. Colt, of Sunningdale, who are responsible for the scheme, express themselves satisfied with the work already completed, and the Council of the club feel convinced that, when the alterations are complete, the Timperley course will compare favourably with any inland links in the country as a test of golf. Mr. T. G. Armstrong, one of Manchester’s best-known players, who is one of the few who have gained success at the game in spite of unorthodox methods, has undertaken supervision of the scheme to considerable advantage.”
The Guardian of 27 September 1921 reports on the changes at Timperley, "Since the war ended the Timperley club have spent about £2000 on their links, and so many changes have been made that players who have not visited the course since 1919 will be surprised when they again accept the hospitality of a Timperley member. The advice of a well known links architect has been taken...." The report then goes on to detail the changes in some depth. The Guardian of 31 March 1924 reported that the 17th green had been redesigned as it had "aroused much criticism after the completion of the scheme of reconstruction." As it was designed, "the green offered an almost impossible second to the best players, and a haphazard third to the longer handicap men. Now it has been made a little longer, and there is a gradual rise instead of a bank at the front." Mackenzie listed Timperley in a letter to Bury GC listing some of the courses he had built, "Timperley Golf Club (re-construction) £2,000 to £3,000."
From Mark Rowlinson: Timperley Golf Club members were forced out when the owner died and the Borough of Altrincham outbid them for rent on the course. Some of the members learned that a new country club was to be formed a few miles away at Mere. They approached the directors with a view to having golf among the activities on offer. As first proposed, golf was not on the Mere agenda – riding, swimming, tennis and an airstrip, but not golf. James Braid was called in to design the new Mere course and George Duncan (who some of Timperley members knew) was approached to be the inaugural professional. So Timperley members who could no longer afford to play on their course became members of one of the most expensive clubs for miles around! The Altrincham Municipal website mentions that the Timperley members first went to Baguley. That course no longer exists.
Duncan, as for the claim of 300 courses, I am fairly sceptical about that number too. We haven't got to 300 courses over the total length of Mackenzie's career, let alone up until 1923.But the ones he listed in that brochure all seem to check out.