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Sven Nilsen

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Mystery Aerial
« on: January 06, 2022, 11:46:31 AM »

Posted below is a 1937 image of a course built by a famous architect, but perhaps not in his usual environment.  I'd give more clues but I think there's enough detail in the image to give you all something to chew on.  Any guesses?

"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

MCirba

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Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2022, 02:28:15 PM »
Very intriguing pic, Sven.


I don't know the answer but would guess the archie is either Dev Emmet or Herb Strong.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2022, 02:29:22 PM »
Oh wait...is it East Potomac Park?
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Peter Flory

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2022, 02:35:23 PM »
Is it a Bell course?  Looks very ambitious in its bunkering scheme. 


Is it NLE?

Will Lozier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2022, 02:37:02 PM »
I assume it is NLE? I can only make out 6 or 7 greens. Is it a 9-holer?


Cheers

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +3/-1
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2022, 03:29:57 PM »
Oh wait...is it East Potomac Park?


No.  You'd see the river.


It looks like nine holes, with an alternate set of tees and several alternate fairways to boot.  But I don't recognize it.  There are surely a lot of bunkers for nine greens!
« Last Edit: January 06, 2022, 03:32:40 PM by Tom_Doak »

Michael Chadwick

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Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2022, 03:36:19 PM »

It looks like nine holes, with an alternate set of tees and several alternate fairways to boot.  But I don't recognize it.  There are surely a lot of bunkers for nine greens!


Which makes me wonder if it was an estate course. The amount of bunkers made me think of Hollywood, so I'll hazard a guess that it's a Travis design on someone's estate.
Instagram: mj_c_golf

Pete_Pittock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2022, 03:42:55 PM »
no idea. But "chew on", if that is a clue, leads me to Hollywood or Broadway.

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +3/-1
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2022, 04:01:24 PM »

It looks like nine holes, with an alternate set of tees and several alternate fairways to boot.  But I don't recognize it.  There are surely a lot of bunkers for nine greens!


Which makes me wonder if it was an estate course. The amount of bunkers made me think of Hollywood, so I'll hazard a guess that it's a Travis design on someone's estate.


Yes, the buildings to the right look like stables.

Mike Hendren

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2022, 04:17:24 PM »
Bunkering looks like the old aerial of Belvedere. Is it a William Watson design?


Bogey
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

Jeff Schley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2022, 04:28:26 PM »
Ok wild guess thinking it has estate roots.  Dupont Country Club.

"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."
- Steve Prefontaine

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #11 on: January 06, 2022, 04:34:33 PM »
Oh wait...is it East Potomac Park?


No.  You'd see the river.


It looks like nine holes, with an alternate set of tees and several alternate fairways to boot.  But I don't recognize it.  There are surely a lot of bunkers for nine greens!


Tom,


I was thinking that perhaps Sven only showed us a segment of the course.  I played there about 25 years ago and there is certainly a lot to recover and restore.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Mark Kiely

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2022, 04:36:57 PM »
The clustered bunkering stands out to me. However, I'm not learned enough to know whose style that might suggest.
My golf course photo albums on Flickr: https://goo.gl/dWPF9z

Jeff Schley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2022, 04:47:41 PM »
Culver Academy 9 holer by Langford & Moreau!???


« Last Edit: January 06, 2022, 04:56:30 PM by Jeff Schley »
"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."
- Steve Prefontaine

Jeff Schley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2022, 05:09:44 PM »
I'm finding more....... the photos below are 1951 and appear to show a remnant of a stable... which according to the Culver history fits!
1934 - Aug 8 -  Academy Directors  Formulate Plans.... The rebuilding of the Artillery  stables was discussed...  Golf Course to Benefit.  In any event the stables will probably be located in the area ajancet to the arsenal and cavalry stables... This will make possible the elminiation not only of the barn that burned, but also of both of the old paddocks, so that the golf course can be converted to the appearance and purpose for which it was originally laid out...
http://www.maxinkuckee.history.pasttracker.com/cef_cma_golf/cma_colf_course.htm
"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."
- Steve Prefontaine

Brian Finn

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #15 on: January 06, 2022, 05:51:09 PM »
I will guess that it was on property owned by the Whitney family - perhaps on the 5,000 acre estate built for William C. Whitney near Wheatley Hills / Westbury, on Long Island.
New for '24: Monifieth x2, Montrose x2, Panmure, Carnoustie x3, Scotscraig, Kingsbarns, Elie, Dumbarnie, Lundin, Belvedere, The Loop x2, Forest Dunes, Arcadia Bluffs x2, Kapalua Plantation, Windsong Farm, Minikahda...

Peter Flory

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #16 on: January 06, 2022, 05:54:43 PM »
Was this in Pasadena by chance?

Tal Oz

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #17 on: January 06, 2022, 05:55:38 PM »
My first instinct was also an estate course. Perhaps Pocantico Hills near Sleepy Hollow CC? What's left of the course also points to loads of bunkers
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kykuit,+the+Rockefeller+Estate/@41.090452,-73.8449531,700m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c2eaa46c9ca6e9:0x9b333ef31d3bb01!8m2!3d41.0896447!4d-73.8442915

Peter Flory

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #18 on: January 06, 2022, 06:21:19 PM »
no idea. But "chew on", if that is a clue, leads me to Hollywood or Broadway.


Something to chew on = Wrigley. 


What are the courses that Wrigley commissioned? 

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #19 on: January 06, 2022, 06:50:42 PM »
Seems like you all are getting a bit warmer.
"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

Peter Flory

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #20 on: January 06, 2022, 07:00:49 PM »
The only Wrigley course I know of is the Phoenix one (Adobe?).  That doesn't seem right. 

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #21 on: January 06, 2022, 07:02:55 PM »
It was pretty much in your backyard, Peter.
"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: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #22 on: January 06, 2022, 07:03:44 PM »
Is it a Bell course?  Looks very ambitious in its bunkering scheme. 


Is it NLE?


Yes to both questions.
"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

Pete_Pittock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #23 on: January 06, 2022, 07:14:53 PM »
Bringing back memories of the "Aerial of the Day" puzzlers by Scott Burroughs in the early days of GCA. 

Sven Nilsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Mystery Aerial
« Reply #24 on: January 06, 2022, 07:20:42 PM »
Bringing back memories of the "Aerial of the Day" puzzlers by Scott Burroughs in the early days of GCA.


Pete:


Maybe we'll reprise something similar this winter.  I do have around 800 images saved in my files.


Scott was probably much better at the clues.  I'll have to work on that.


Seems like we should have a thread dedicated to aerials like we do for plans.  There are a ton of great images floating around the back pages of the site that could use some cataloguing.


Sven
"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