[Paul_Turner]

Colt wrote this around 1912.  An illuminating essay on the state-of-the-art in the early days of architecture.  Interesting how he categorised courses in those days; some are obvious, but others like Common land courses aren't really referred to anymore (Darwin wrote a wonderful essay on Common Land courses).  It also sheds some light on Colt's 10 year tenure at Sunningdale, where he nursed and modified Park's breakthrough design.

Architects out there:  are any of Colt's theories wrong, in terms of agronomy?

Everyone:  what do you think of Colt's writing?  He didn't write much, compared with someone like Tillie.

Brian Philips/ Anyone:  is this the same essay that's published in Sutton's book?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Paul, Where was it published (some US spellings and 25c. etc)?  It's interesting to read what he has to say about trees.  Didn't he prepare tree-planting schemes?  Certainly Sunningdale looks far more open in this photograph.  His good education shows through in the literary style - always to the point, yet it scans.

Mark.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Interesting also to note his dislike of sleepered-bunkers.  Do we know when or where sleepered bunkers first came in? Presumably mid-19th century when the railways were old enough to have started top replace old ones.

[Paul_Turner]

Mark

It's from GOLF which became Golf Illustrated (US).  

Colt and trees:  he is usually credited with being the first to implement tree planting schemes and as the one who planted the trees on Sunn Old.  But I think at Sunningdale, it was more about landscaping/isolating than using trees as hazards.  I need to check some other essays to see if he mentions his philosophy at Sunningdale.

I prefer the open look at Sunningdale.  And I doubt Colt would have liked the amount of trees on the Old course now.  They don't encroach much, but I think they should be cut back more to keep the heather thriving.

[T_MacWood]

Paul
Very close to the essay in Sutton's book...nearly identical word for word. There is mention of Croome and sunningdale when discussing irregular and rugged articifial features in the book. There is also catagory 'Clay courses'...other than that its the same.

I wonder if this article was a precursor to his American work, if he had an intention of stirring up work over here or if he had already visited.  

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Clay courses may be here too - I think page 172 is missing.

[Frank Pont]

Hi Paul,

Colt did not like trees as hazards on his fairways, only as background decor or seperation of holes.

If you find a tree on the fairway of a Colt hole you can be pretty sure its been planted since he left...

Two examples in the Netherlands on Colt courses, namely par 5 hole 17 of Eindhoven has a tree in the second shot landing area and par 5 hole 3 of Kennemer has a tree left in front of the green. Both were put in by a later architect (Pennink).
I can send you pics if you're interested.

Wentworth par 3 hole 2 also has a very large tree in between bunkers close to the green. Don't think Colt would have wanted that tree there.....

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