Wisconsin Aerial Photographs - 1937 to 1940

[Sven Nilsen]

Maxcy's GC (Oshkosh)

1937 Aerial -



This was the city's second public course, only lasting into the late 1930's.

May 31, 1930 Oshkosh Northwestern -

[Sven Nilsen]

Maxwelton Braes CC (Bailey Harbor)

1938 Aerial -



An 18 hole course built by W. M. McArdle of Chicago who returned to his Bailey Harbor roots.

Joseph Roseman is noted as the architect, but I've seen George O'Neil's name thrown out here as well.

May 2, 1929 Green Bay Press-Gazette -



May 29, 1931 Green Bay Press-Gazette -

[Sven Nilsen]

Mayville GC (Mayville)

1940 Aerial -



A 9 hole course that was part of a larger recreational facility project.

Aug. 21, 1929 The Capital Times -

[Sven Nilsen]

McKenzie Lakes CC (McKenzie Lake)

1938 Aerial -



Other than one reference to a 9 hole course in a 1930 article, I can find no further information on a course here.  By the looks of it, it may have already been closed by the time of the aerial photograph.

[Sven Nilsen]

Meadow Springs GC a/k/a Jefferson County GC (Jefferson)

1937 Aerial -



Another course I have I have little information on other than a 1925 article noting it had 9 holes of 3,075 yards.  It was also noted in the Annual Guides at around the same length with a date of formation of 1920.

[Sven Nilsen]

Meadowbrook CC (Racine)

1937 Aerial -



Modern Aerial -



Starting with 9 holes, Meadowbrook was quickly expanded to 18 by Tod Sloan.

Sept. 24, 1926 The Journal Times -



Oct. 27, 1926 The Journal Times -



Nov. 16, 1927 The Journal Times -



Feb. 18, 1928 The Journal Times -

[Sven Nilsen]

Medford GC l/k/a Tee-Hi GC (Medford)

1939 Aerial -



Medford GC was noted in the 1938 Guide as a 9 hole 2,800 yard semi-private course started in 1931.  The course was reworked in the 1960's later becoming known as Tee-Hi.

[Sven Nilsen]

Mellen CC (Mellen)

1939 Aerial -



Another 9 hole course that seemingly has seen little done to it since its opening in 1924.

[Sven Nilsen]

Menomonie CC (Menomonie)

1938 Aerial -



A 1923 Alex Pirie 9 hole design that was built by Ray Hunt.

April 7, 1923 Leader-Telegram



April 12, 1923 Dunn County News -



May 20, 1923 Leader-Telegram -

[Sven Nilsen]

Merrill GC (Merrill)

1938 Aerial -



Designed by Tom Vardon and Charles Ramsdell of Minneapolis.

[Sven Nilsen]

Merrill Hills CC f/k/a Waukesha CC n/k/a The Legend at Merrill Hills (Waukesha)

1937 Aerial -



Laid out by Charles Harwood and Leonard Macomber in 1929, the club changed its name to Merrill Hills in 1934.

May 11, 1929 Wisconsin State Journal -

[Sven Nilsen]

Michiwaukee CC l/k/a North Shore CC (Milwaukee)

1937 Aerial -



Michiwaukee evolved out of an organization known as the Parks GC which played out of Lake Park GC and later Grant Park GC.  The club built its own 18 hole course in Bayside north of Milwaukee in 1923 opening in 1924.

Michiwaukee is probably most infamously known for a 1928 lawsuit by four Jewish members who sued after the club attempted to kick out all members of their religion.  They prevailed in the suit, but the actions of the club lead to the formation of the previously noted Brynnwood CC.

The club would change its name in 1935 before moving to a new site in the 1960's.

July 17, 1923 The Journal Times -



Plan -

[Bret Lawrence]

Great thread Sven!


I noticed Alex Pirie as the designer of Menomonie Country Club.  An interesting tidbit of information on Alex Pirie is that he was the brother-in-law of Robert White.  Both men served as presidents of the PGA.  Both men assisted Seth Raynor early in Raynor’s career.  Alex assisted Raynor at Sunningdale in New York while Robert White assisted Raynor at Mountain Lake, FL.  John Pirie, Alex’s brother also assisted Raynor at CC of Fairfield, where he served as a long time pro and later moved on to assist Banks while building Whippoorwill.  All three men were considered to be some of the earliest turf and construction experts in the United States. 

[Sven Nilsen]

Milwaukee CC (North Milwaukee)

1937 Aerial -



Modern Aerial -



Alison's 1929 layout.

[Sven Nilsen]

Minocqua Heights CC a/k/a Minocqua CC (Minocqua)

1937 Aerial -



Located in the heart of lake country in the northern part of the state, this was a resort 9 holer with some Chicago ties.

Aug. 3, 1922 Wausau Daily Herald -



Feb. 27, 1923 Chicago Tribune -

[Sven Nilsen]

Mondovi CC n/k/a The Valley GC (Mondovi)

1939 Aerial -



Another small town 9 hole course.

March 24, 1928 Leader-Telegram -

[Will Lozier]

Baraboo GC a/k/a Devils Lake CC (Baraboo)

1937 Aerial -


I don't have much on the origins of Baraboo, although it was noted as a 2,600 yard grass green course in the Annual Guides, a decent length for a course built on 20 acres.  From the sounds of the 1928 article below, the club operated on a fairly meager budget.

Oblique Aerial -



Two Photographs -





June 15, 1928 Wisconsin State Journal -

The slope in that near green looks severe even if the camera is tilted! And the land in that last photo seems interesting for sure. Wondering if the last two pics are almost in reverse?

[Sven Nilsen]

Monona GC a/k/a Monona Municipal GC (Madison)

1937 Aerial -



Starting with a temporary 9 hole course in 1923, the club purchased new land across the street and completed an 18 hole course in 1925.

Jan. 12, 1923 The Capital Times -



April 18, 1924 The Capital Times -



July 13, 1925 The Capital Times -



Sept. 27, 1925 Wisconsin State Journal -

[Sven Nilsen]

Monroe CC (Monroe)

1937 Aerial -



Monroe is one example of a course run on the semi-public plan.  Although these courses were organized with a membership, they were made available for visitor play for a fee.

Aug. 21, 1923 Kenosha News -



Sept. 12, 1923 Grant County Herald -



June 24, 1924 Wisconsin State Journal -



1927 Photo -

[Sven Nilsen]

Morse Hills GC (Beloit)

1937 Aerial -



Built by the Fairbanks Morse Company for the use of its employees.  The company was part of a large manufacturing concern, and if you've ever seen an old windmill on a golf course there's a chance it was a FM model.

Sept. 26, 1925 Belvidere Daily Republican -

[Sven Nilsen]

Mount Horeb GC n/k/a Norsk GC (Mount Horeb)

1937 Aerial -



Located in a small town a bit outside of Madison.  Any fans of trolls should give this town a visit as it is the "Troll Capital of the World."

Oct. 20, 1927 The Capital Times -



June 1, 1929 Wisconsin State Journal -



May 28, 1930 Wisconsin State Journal -

[Sven Nilsen]

Nakoma CC (Madison)

1937 Aerial -



An 18 hole Bendelow built when he was working for American Park Builders.  As noted earlier, the clubhouse was originally planned by Frank Lloyd Wright (and duplicated years later at a California course).

June 22, 1923 Wisconsin State Journal -



Aug. 10, 1923 The Capital Times -



Nov. 19, 1924 Wisconsin State Journal -



Plan -



General Development Plan -



Clubhouse Drawing -

[Sven Nilsen]

Nemadji Golf Course (Superior)

1938 Aerial -



Superior's first municipal course of 9 holes opened in 1929 and proved so popular that the city began work on a new 18 hole course almost immediately thereafter.  The new course was laid out by Sam Pelchar of U. S. Golf Architects.

June 18, 1931 The Capital Times -



July 29, 1931 Stevens Point Journal -



May 5, 1931 Irrigation Plan -

[Sven Nilsen]

New Richmond GC (New Richmond)

1939 Aerial -



The story of New Richmond mirrors that of many clubs that started with a rudimentary course, moved to a bigger site and expanded.  Here the roots were in a 6 hole course before the 9 holer with sand greens depicted above was built.  I don't have any contemporaneous accounts of the development of the course, but the 1990 article below provides a good summary.

June 29, 1930 The Capital Times -



July 15, 1990 Leader-Telegram -

[Sven Nilsen]

Nippersink Manor CC a/k/a Nippersink Lodge (Genoa City)

1937 Aerial -



1937 9 Hole Course Aerial -



A massive 750 acre project on the land of Chicago stockyards merchant E. G. Skinner, this was an American Park Builders project with Jim Foulis doing the layout.  A second 18 hole course was started under the direction of professional C. F. McGinnis who also made a number of changes to the Foulis course.  Only 9 additional holes were built, and from the 1937 Aerial above it appears they were already being left unmaintained.

Dec. 12, 1921 Kenosha Evening News -



Feb. 23, 1922 Kenosha Evening News -



May 28, 1922 Kenosha News -



May 3, 1923 Kenosha Evening News -



April 25, 1925 Kenosha News -

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