Ernie Way - Golf Course Constructor

[Karl Jensen]

Below is information I collected on Ernie Way of the Detroit Golf Club.


Way supervised the construction of the second nine holes of the Pine Lake Country Club aka Automobile Country Club in Orchard Lake, Michigan. Both nines were designed by Willie Park Jr. The first nine in 1917 and the second nine in 1922.


Not bad for a man who lost his right eye.


Ernie Way photo, West Bloomfield and the Tri-Cities history book, Ronald K. Gay, 2015



Ernie Way passport photo, 18 Nov 1924 Wayne County, MI



Henry Ernest Way, Highland Park, MI WW1 Draft Registration Card



Ernie Way obituary, 13 Jun 1943 Detroit, MI Sunday Times newspaper



Ernie Way funeral article, 17 Jun 1943 Detroit, MI Evening Times newspaper

[Jeff_Mingay]

Ernie Way's story is very interesting, thanks for posting.


While he was pro/green-keeper at the Detroit Golf Club, Mr. Way also laid-out and constructed the first Essex Golf & Country Club course (NLE) across the river, near Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

[Karl Jensen]

A couple more images of Ernie Way. He was an early golf professional in the US serving at the Edgeworth Golf Club near Pittsburgh, PA when he played in the 1899 US Open at Baltimore, MD. Pictured below is Ernie with fellow English golf pro Wilfred Reid. You will remember Reid being punched out by Ted Ray in the movie The Greatest Game Ever Played, which was about the 1913 US Open.


Ernie Way photo, 24 May 1931 Detroit, MI Times newspaper



Ernie Way photo, 19 May 1932 Detroit, MI Times newspaper

[Jeff Zugelter]

Thank you for sharing. There are so many individuals from the golden age of design that have been forgotten, they definitely need to be brought out of the shadows. It’s a pleasure to become acquainted with them and have their accomplishments recognized.

[MCirba]

Karl,


Great stuff!


Was Ernie Way in any way related to William Herbert (Bert) Way who laid out first nine holes of the Washtenaw Country Club outside Detroit in July of 1899 and several others including the original Firestone?


Thanks!

[Jeff_Mingay]

Mike,


I'm pretty sure Bert and Ernie are brothers.


[Ha. This was not intended to be a Sesame Street joke! Too funny.]

[MCirba]

Mike,


I'm pretty sure Bert and Ernie are brothers.


[Ha. This was not intended to be a Sesame Street joke! Too funny.]

Jeff,


 

[Karl Jensen]

Karl,


Great stuff!


Was Ernie Way in any way related to William Herbert (Bert) Way who laid out first nine holes of the Washtenaw Country Club outside Detroit in July of 1899 and several others including the original Firestone?


Thanks!

Mike,


I believe the two are brothers. Bert Way, a pro in Cleveland, is mentioned in Ernie's obit. I have a 1919 Cleveland, OH passport application for William Herbert Way who is stated to be a professional golfer.


Karl

[Anthony Gholz]

Karl/Mike:


Bert was the architect for the first CC of Detroit course in Grosse Pointe, MI in 1897 (see Cornish & Whitten), followed by the first Port Huron Golf Club in 1899, followed by the Euclid Club in Cleveland (C&W), and the Mayfield Club following the Euclid's demise (C&W).


Ernie was so involved with the Detroit Golf Club (separate from The CCD) as architect of their first 18 holes partially on today's property, and builder of Ross's current 36 holes overlapping the original Way course property, and head pro and ...it goes on forever.


Someone needs to write a Way Brothers bio.


Anthony

[Kyle Harris]

The Way Brothers seem to be more victims of the Donald Ross Mythos. Bert Way designed the delightful Pine Crest Golf Course in Sebring, FL.

[Karl Jensen]

Some images of Bert Way I gathered from the Internet. Also his obituary.


William H. Way photo, 5 Jan 1900 Golf Illustrated magazine



William H. Way swing photo, 30 Sep 1899 Harper's Weekly magazine



William H. Way photo, Apr 1898 USGA Golf magazine



William H. Way advertisement, May 1898 USGA Golf magazine



William H. Way advertisement, 1906



William H. Way obituary, 13 Aug 1963 Akron, OH Beacon Journal newspaper

[MCirba]

Great stuff, thanks!


I thought Herert Barker designed Mayfield?

[Sven Nilsen]

A listing of courses for E. Way and W. H. Way.  Let me know if there are any updates, additions or corrections.


Indialantic GC (Melbourne, FL), Pre-1916 - E. Way
Pinecrest CC (Avon Park, FL), 1926 - W. H. Way, also credit to Ross and there is a 1945 report the course was designed by Alfred Kouwenhoven


Albion GC (Albion, MI), 1899 - W. H. Way
Belle Isle Municipal GC (Detroit, MI), 1922 - E. Way, also credit to Edward Heckel
Birch Hill GC (Detroit, MI), 1917 - E. Way
CC of Detroit (Detroit, MI), 1897 - W. H. Way completed the course laid out by James McMillan, Howie Mills and B. S. Warren
Detroit GC (Detroit, MI), 1904 - E. Way along with Ed Alexander and Joe Schlotman
Detroit GC North/South (Detroit, MI), 1914 - E. Way built the Ross course
Edgewood CC (Union Lakes, MI), 1932 - E. Way
Pine Lake CC (Orchard Lake, MI), 1921 - E. Way built a new 18 hole course that was conceived by Louis Pelouze and reworked the course in 1931
Pontiac CC (Pontiac, MI), 1920 - E. Way
Port Huron GC (Port Huron, MI), 1899 - W. H. Way
Washtenaw CC (Ypsilanti, MI), 1899 - W. H. Way
West Shore G&CC (Detroit, MI), 1919 - E. Way built the temporary 9 hole course before helping to build the 18 hole Ross/Hatch course


Aurora CC (Aurora, OH), 1922 - W. H. Way
Black Brook CC a/k/a Mentor Headlands CC (Mentor, OH), 1928 - W. H. Way designed 12 new holes
Canterbury CC (Shaker Heights, OH), 1928 - W. H. Way renovation
Chardon Lakes GC (Chardon, OH), 1932 - W. H. Way
Dover Bay GC (Cleveland, OH), Pre-1902 - W. H. Way
Euclid G&CC (Cleveland, OH), 1900 - W. H. Way
Firestone G&CC (Akron, OH), 1928 - W. H. Way
Firestone Public GC (Akron, OH), 1928 - W. H. Way
Highland Park Municipal GC (Cleveland, OH), 1920 - W. H. Way added 9 holes
J. E. Good Park GC (Akron, OH), 1924 - W. H. Way
Mahoning GC (Youngstown, OH), 1898 - W. H. Way
Mayfield CC (Cleveland, OH), 1911 - W. H. Way with H. H. Barker
Plum Brook CC (Sandusky, OH), 1916 - W. H. Way
Silver Lake CC (Cuyahoga Falls, OH), 1920 - W. H. Way


Jefferson-Lakeside CC (Richmond, VA), 1899 - E. Way renovated the course

[Karl Jensen]

A listing of courses for E. Way and W. H. Way.  Let me know if there are any updates, additions or corrections.


Indialantic GC (Melbourne, FL), Pre-1916 - E. Way
Pinecrest CC (Avon Park, FL), 1926 - W. H. Way, also credit to Ross and there is a 1945 report the course was designed by Alfred Kouwenhoven


Albion GC (Albion, MI), 1899 - W. H. Way
Belle Isle Municipal GC (Detroit, MI), 1922 - E. Way, also credit to Edward Heckel
Birch Hill GC (Detroit, MI), 1917 - E. Way
CC of Detroit (Detroit, MI), 1897 - W. H. Way completed the course laid out by James McMillan, Howie Mills and B. S. Warren
Detroit GC (Detroit, MI), 1904 - E. Way along with Ed Alexander and Joe Schlotman
Detroit GC North/South (Detroit, MI), 1914 - E. Way built the Ross course
Edgewood CC (Union Lakes, MI), 1932 - E. Way
Pine Lake CC (Orchard Lake, MI), 1921 - E. Way built a new 18 hole course that was conceived by Louis Pelouze and reworked the course in 1931
Pontiac CC (Pontiac, MI), 1920 - E. Way
Port Huron GC (Port Huron, MI), 1899 - W. H. Way
Washtenaw CC (Ypsilanti, MI), 1899 - W. H. Way
West Shore G&CC (Detroit, MI), 1919 - E. Way built the temporary 9 hole course before helping to build the 18 hole Ross/Hatch course


Aurora CC (Aurora, OH), 1922 - W. H. Way
Black Brook CC a/k/a Mentor Headlands CC (Mentor, OH), 1928 - W. H. Way designed 12 new holes
Canterbury CC (Shaker Heights, OH), 1928 - W. H. Way renovation
Chardon Lakes GC (Chardon, OH), 1932 - W. H. Way
Dover Bay GC (Cleveland, OH), Pre-1902 - W. H. Way
Euclid G&CC (Cleveland, OH), 1900 - W. H. Way
Firestone G&CC (Akron, OH), 1928 - W. H. Way
Firestone Public GC (Akron, OH), 1928 - W. H. Way
Highland Park Municipal GC (Cleveland, OH), 1920 - W. H. Way added 9 holes
J. E. Good Park GC (Akron, OH), 1924 - W. H. Way
Mahoning GC (Youngstown, OH), 1898 - W. H. Way
Mayfield CC (Cleveland, OH), 1911 - W. H. Way with H. H. Barker
Plum Brook CC (Sandusky, OH), 1916 - W. H. Way
Silver Lake CC (Cuyahoga Falls, OH), 1920 - W. H. Way


Jefferson-Lakeside CC (Richmond, VA), 1899 - E. Way renovated the course

Sven,


Did Ernie Way build a new eighteen hole course at Pine Lake CC that was designed by Willie Park or by a Club member named A. A. Moore who sketched it on an envelope? See the below two newspaper reports.


Karl


Pine Lake Country Club article, 14 Dec 1922 Washington, DC Times newspaper



Pine Lake Country Club article, 3 Jul 1938 Detroit, MI Free Press newspaper

[Sven Nilsen]

Karl:


I had the name of the member wrong in my list.  Pelouze sold the land, Moore was the enthusiastic member who the 1933 article credits.


That 1922 article about Park is pretty confusing.  The second reference of Park's name should probably have been Way.


Sven

[Karl Jensen]

Karl:


I had the name of the member wrong in my list.  Pelouze sold the land, Moore was the enthusiastic member who the 1933 article credits.


That 1922 article about Park is pretty confusing.  The second reference of Park's name should probably have been Way.


Sven

Wow,


This means that the Pine Lake CC website is not correct in stating that their course is a Willie Park Jr. design and will be renovated by architect J. Drew Rogers as a Park Jr. course in 2023. See links below.


Karl


https://www.pinelakecc.com/web/pages/history


https://www.jdrewrogers.com/153/pine-lake-country-club

[Bret Lawrence]

Here is an oblique aerial of Pine Lake CC. Golf Illustrated., August 1931:

[Anthony Gholz]

Karl: 


Great pic of Bert from GI 1900.  Thanks for your efforts with this thread.  There has to be more re Pine Lake. It's (currently) a mixed up course. 


And thanks Sven for the list.


Anthony

[Sean_A]

Washtenaw CC had a new Ross course built in the early 20s when more land was purchased. But I have seen very little evidence of this. Before that the club was a slow grower starting with a few holes to an eventual 9 before Ross stepped in. It would be nice to know if Ross used any of the original holes. The club went semi private after the 29 crash. Back to private in the late 50s to semi private again some time after the 08 crash. I think the chap who operates an academy at Miles of Golf and a few other local partners down the road from the club bought it a few years back. I believe the course is now fully public.

I wonder if other clubs followed this evolution due to crashes.

Ciao

[MCirba]

Sean,


I'm pretty sure Ross never worked at Washtenaw.   He apparently stopped by when the club was considering some land purchases and said the famous "God intended this for a golf course", but this article indicates the work was done by a local pro.   I'm hoping to play there in a few weeks, time and weather permitting.

[Karl Jensen]

Three newspaper articles below connecting Ernie Way to the early 1920s Pine Lake CC second nine holes and to the early 1930s Pine Lake reconstruction. In all three he is credited as supervising the construction when in other newspaper articles for other courses he is stated as having designed, laid out or staked the golf course. The newspaper semantics are a tough interpretation.


Pine Lake Country Club article, 21 Feb 1923 Detroit, MI Free Press newspaper



Pine Lake Country Club mention, 4 Jul 1924 Detroit, MI Free Press newspaper



Pine Lake Country Club mention, 12 Jan 1933 Detroit, MI Free Press newspaper

[Sean_A]

Sean,

I'm pretty sure Ross never worked at Washtenaw.   He apparently stopped by when the club was considering some land purchases and said the famous "God intended this for a golf course", but this article indicates the work was done by a local pro.   I'm hoping to play there in a few weeks, time and weather permitting.

I have never found anything print to suggest Ross built a new course other than a history by an old-time club member since 1921. Ross was in the area an awful lot during this general time so one would think there would be newspaper reports of such work. The course never felt very Ross like IMO. On the other hand, this guy was a member of the club at the time of the extension. Mind you, I expect he would have been a junior or very young member at the time.

Ciao

[Karl Jensen]

Photograph of Bert and Ernie Way among esteemed golf company.


Bert and Ernie Way group photo, Nov 1922 Chicago, Golfers Magazine, page 30

[MCirba]

Sean,


Evidently Sweeney designed Lochmoor, as well, with an assist from Walter J. Travis.

[Sven Nilsen]

Sean,


I'm pretty sure Ross never worked at Washtenaw.   He apparently stopped by when the club was considering some land purchases and said the famous "God intended this for a golf course", but this article indicates the work was done by a local pro.   I'm hoping to play there in a few weeks, time and weather permitting.

Mike:


It would be nice to have the citations for articles like this.


Thanks,


Sven