Donald Ross - Torresdale-Frankford

[Stephen Kay]

This is a portion of a press release that was handed out at pre-restoration day at the newly named Union League Golf Club at Torresdale.


The scope of work will include a new practice facility and a short game area.  Of the 18 holes the putting surfaces will be restored to their original sizes (they became smaller over the years), the fairways will be widened, over 250 trees removed, and all sand bunker will be restored, as well as all the tees.  A few new back tees will be built,  adding over 200 yards to the golf course.   

Master Planning started in early 2014.  Noted golf course architectural critic Brad Klein, an authority on Donald Ross and author of “Discovering Donald Ross," was brought in to consult in the spring and will continue to lend his expertise as the project moves forward.   The project is scheduled to be completed in May of 2015, depending upon the winter weather.

As of now we have 99% of  new range completed and have just started the sand bunkers.

Once I figure out how to install photos here I will insert an 1939 bird's eye photo and then photos of construction.

[Joe Bausch]

In a thread from weeks ago, Stephen, I posted that awesome 1939 aerial you sent me.  Grin! 

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58105.msg1405134.html#msg1405134

[Stephen Kay]

Joe - thanks.

I just skimmed the post you started a few weeks ago.  To address a few points the 1st green does have a little contour with a large internal mound coming in from the left edge of the green but yes it is a basic disk unlike #3 green which does have some interesting movement.  We are planning of softening the 1st green but not #3.  Number 3 we plan on restoring the original size of the green, which will add about 600 to 700 s.f.

Please note in the 1939 aerial the very small pot bunkers behind the green.  I always questioned them because I never saw small pot bunkers behind a Ross green.  Then about two months ago a 1925 bird's eye was found, very poor quality but the pot bunkers were not there.  So someone added them but not a Ross original.  I wanted to totally remove them but my committee insists on one longer Ross like bunker in the back.  Anyone out there have any good photos of a Ross bunker behind a green?

[Mark McKeever]

Re: Ross pot bunkers behind green

Stephen, the home hole at Schuylkill CC (Ross) used to have pot bunkers behind the green a long time ago.  They no longer exist today, but it's an example none the less.

Sorry for the grainy picture, but you get the idea..

[Kyle Harris]

Mark,

18 at Schuylkill CC was a part of the original nine-hole routing we think Willie Park, Jr. did. The 1937 aerial on Penn Pilot shows those bunkers existed prior to Ross and I believe the photo you posted is still of the nine-hole course, correct?

A latter aerial then shows the bunkers removed in the late forties, after Ross added the second nine.

[Mark McKeever]

Kyle, I don't remember what year this was.  I have the image saved on my phone.

[Stephen Kay]

We just recontoured (softened) the first green at Torresdale this week.  It will still be three putted but hopefully not four putted.  The average slope was over 5% now just under 4%.  It took two days to do the project.  Here are a few photos of work and an article that was written a few years ago in the national superintendent magazine about the process Dr. Norm Hummel and I came up.

Here are a few photos of range tee, short game area and softening of 1st green and article. (I hope this works)

http://imageshack.com/a/img746/4334/OgZvg3.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/8155/54E5Oq.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/467/kvyKKO.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/6424/YbGtGP.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img674/2092/r7ToXD.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/2727/RqpP0n.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/5135/1chspc.jpg

[John Burnes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ql6_hIc2WKg

[Ronald Montesano]

[img width =800]http://imageshack.com/a/img673/5135/1chspc.jpg[/img]

[mike_malone]

I suggest seriously thinking of restoring #8 green to its original location with the creek at its back. At least that is what I saw in the early aerial.