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Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
What Might Have Been
« on: January 22, 2020, 09:33:09 PM »
Perhaps this should have been the last piece of Wexler's trilogy, a compendium of projects that never got off the ground. 

Please feel free to chime in with any information you might have about the projects, the locations or the parties involved or any other esoteric musings that comes to mind.

I may have highlighted several of these elsewhere, but thought putting them in one place might generate some insights.

First up, a Langford & Moreau project near Kenosha, WI, to be built in connection with a massive development called Shoreland.

There's an old thread that briefly discussed the course -

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,31820.msg623320.html#msg623320

Nov. 27, 1923 Kenosha Evening News -






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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2020, 09:38:29 PM »
Another Wisconsin project, this one a private course for the Du Rocher family in Centerville with the course to be designed by John McElhatton.

Oct. 12, 1926 Sheboygan Press -





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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

David_Tepper

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Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2020, 09:42:19 PM »
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Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2020, 09:45:57 PM »
Moving on to Vermont, here's a 6 hole course (a number that somehow seems to perfectly fit the scale of small town New England).

The course was to be designed by Joseph Mitchell for the Higgins Tavern at Lake Dunmore. 

July 11, 1924 Middlebury Register -

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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2020, 09:53:52 PM »
Today, Mount Vernon comprises 500 acres.  When our first president lived there, it totaled over 8,000.  In 1927 there plans to use part of what was known as the Mount Vernon farm to form a Yacht and Golf Club and to have Harry Collis construct a golf course.

Dec. 12, 1927 Arizona Republic -










Jan. 21, 1928 Evening Star -



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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2020, 09:59:02 PM »
Even municipal projects sometimes were nipped in the bud.  In 1929 the city of Provo engaged D. A. MacMillan to plan a new course at the county fairgrounds.  This wasn't the only project to get going just prior to onset of the Depression that seemingly never got off the ground.

May 8, 1929 Daily Herald -

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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2020, 10:07:11 PM »
We think of Willie Dunn for his early work in the United States, but he was still practicing his art well into the Golden Age.

Here's he was called in to work on plans for two 18 hole courses at the Rosborough Springs resort in East Texas, as well as a pay-as-you-play course he designed in Tyler.

Aug. 29, 1926 Marshall News Messenger -




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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2020, 10:26:56 PM »
In 1940, the small town of Lenoir City, TN decided to build a course.  The construction of the course would have predated the onset of the US's involvement in World War II.

Aug. 11, 1940 Knoxville News-Sentinel -


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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2020, 10:37:07 PM »
The original idea for a municipal course in Philadelphia to be located in Fairmount Park has been detailed on this site by others in great detail.


Here's an article discussing the efforts of Heebner, Fowle and Griscom to get the project off the ground.  As we know, Philadelphia wouldn't get its municipal course for a few more years.


May 27, 1900 The Times -


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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

archie_struthers

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2020, 07:49:18 AM »
 ;D :'(




Prior to purchasing Geate Bay with a group in 1998 I had plans to build a golf course in Dennis Township in 1990. Don't know what motivated me to do so other than the 50,000 rounds Avalon was playing and the dearth of good good golf in the area at the time. Even had a name for it, Olde Forest. It was a 330 acre piece right along the Great Cedar Swamp and had some fabulous trees and just the right amount of fall to make it interesting.


My partners decided to sell it to the Wildlife guys once the permits were in place, keeping me from hanging a shingle until Twisted Dune came to fruition. I would have loved to see how this one would have turned out given the soils and topo. Just a stones throw to where Sand Barrens / now Union League was built.
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Thomas Dai

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2020, 08:14:27 AM »
There used to be a nice area of dunes etc not far from Balmedie a few miles north of Aberdeen (sic).
Atb
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Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2020, 08:21:38 AM »
Any architect will tell you (I doubt my experiences are unique) that we do at least 5 preliminary plans for projects that never get off the ground for every one we actually get to design and build.  This could be a long thread......
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Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +3/-1
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2020, 09:07:14 AM »
Quote from: Jeff_Brauer on January 23, 2020, 08:21:38 AM
Any architect will tell you (I doubt my experiences are unique) that we do at least 5 preliminary plans for projects that never get off the ground for every one we actually get to design and build.  This could be a long thread......


Five?  For me it's more like two or three, because I don't chase projects if I don't think I have a decent chance of getting them, or if I don't think I really want the job.


In the back of my routing book, I'm going to print a few routings of projects that never happened, for instructional purposes.


There was also this thread a few years back: 


https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,47017.msg1046167.html#msg1046167
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Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2020, 09:49:22 AM »
Two courses from Oklahoma. 

First, a project in Checotah.

Aug. 26, 1922 Muskogee Times-Democrat -



And a course in Stratford.

April 5, 1928 Pauls Valley Democrat.

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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Ronald Montesano

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2020, 06:22:34 PM »
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Coming in 2024
~Elmira Country Club
~Soaring Eagles
~Bonavista
~Indian Hills
~Maybe some more!!

Pete_Pittock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #15 on: January 25, 2020, 10:00:30 PM »

In Oregon
Desert Falls             near Hermiston     Gary Browning
Remington Ranch   near Grants Pass    Nicklaus
Wicked Pony           near Redmond       Doak
Pacific Gales           near Port Orford    Esler
Bandon Muni          near Bandon

a golf course near Warrenton Jacobsen/Hardy
a golf course near Camp Rilea
a golf course near Cape Lookout (goggle earth for sand dune http://www.oregoncoastalliance.org/victories/boy-scouts-invite-keiser-to-consider-a-golf-course-at-camp-meriwether/
a golf course next to Tillamook airport
a golf course at Sixes
a golf course at Pistol River
a golf course at Coburg


ground was broken for sure at Remington Ranch and Wicked Pony, and judging from aerials I think Desert Falls
« Last Edit: January 25, 2020, 10:20:36 PM by Pete_Pittock »
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Lou_Duran

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #16 on: January 27, 2020, 09:29:08 AM »
Quote from: Jeff_Brauer on January 23, 2020, 08:21:38 AM
Any architect will tell you (I doubt my experiences are unique) that we do at least 5 preliminary plans for projects that never get off the ground for every one we actually get to design and build.  This could be a long thread......


A lesson I learned very quickly in selling commercial real estate.   Some professions require doing a lot of free work on the come.  Blessed are those who get paid for most of their efforts.


As for many of the projects that didn't get built (golf courses and commercial), maybe Garth Brook's "Thank God For Unanswered Prayers" is apropos.
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Jeff_Brauer

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Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #17 on: January 27, 2020, 04:26:47 PM »
I have a list of best projects we didn't get.


Not good ones we wish we would have gotten. Ones that turned out so bad, money, floods, permit problems, etc. ,that I thank the Stars someone else got it.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2020, 04:29:30 PM by Jeff_Brauer »
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Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #18 on: January 28, 2020, 11:57:56 PM »
A 36 hole Tom Bendelow project in Akron, OH.

Aug. 19, 1927 Akron Beacon Journal -



Sept. 10, 1927 Akron Beacon Journal -

« Last Edit: January 29, 2020, 01:18:17 PM by Sven Nilsen »
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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #19 on: January 29, 2020, 12:07:44 AM »
Another Ohio project, this one from 1930 near Chippewa Lake.

April 29, 1930 Akron Beacon Journal -




« Last Edit: January 29, 2020, 01:18:27 PM by Sven Nilsen »
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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #20 on: January 29, 2020, 12:13:15 AM »
Another 36 hole project, this one in Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn.

April 2, 1916 New York Times -

« Last Edit: January 29, 2020, 09:59:20 AM by Sven Nilsen »
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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #21 on: January 29, 2020, 12:20:20 AM »
And again in Brooklyn.

June 14, 1934 Brooklyn Daily Eagle -

« Last Edit: January 29, 2020, 09:59:06 AM by Sven Nilsen »
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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #22 on: January 29, 2020, 12:23:53 AM »
Still in New York, this time near Huntington and involving Devereux Emmet.

Oct. 21, 1918 Brooklyn Times Union -


« Last Edit: January 29, 2020, 09:58:54 AM by Sven Nilsen »
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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #23 on: January 29, 2020, 09:57:30 AM »
Glen Acres CC (aka Mossy Springs CC) has been discussed before hereabouts.  It would have been the only Raynor near Buffalo.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48335.msg1087974.html#msg1087974

April 9, 1922 Buffalo Express -



April 15, 1922 Buffalo Times -



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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: What Might Have Been
« Reply #24 on: January 29, 2020, 10:03:27 AM »
The other Las Vegas.  A course would be built in the New Mexico town later in the 1920's.

March 1915 American Golfer -

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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross
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