Some Interesting Facts About St. Andrew's

The entire complex has 60 full time employees and grows by another 20 in the summer months. They tend to have anywhere from 20 to 25 interns at one time. It takes 19 people 3 hours to mow the entire Old Course in the morning beginning usually in the summer at 5:30am. He pointed out that it takes 6 people 3 hours to mow all the greens by hand. He mentioned that due to the excessively long lines you have to graduate to walking greens on the Old Course. He joked about the fact they have a state of the art 4000 head sprinkler system as “insurance� – but the reality is that almost all watering is done by hand.

For the Turf Heads out there: They only need to core harvest two small areas of the property – and one is the right side of 18 - in that case due to the buildings and winter shade problem. There is no need to amend the rest of the soils since they are pure sand. The course is regularly aerated and occasionally verticut with thatch being a minimal concern. He has been using the hydroject on the greens but also points out that the key still remains the heavy topdressing program – which is still sometimes done by hand!

One of the things they do is a lot of scarifying to remove dead turf in the fairways, followed by topdressing and over-seeding. He pointed out that he over-seeds the greens with a mixture of 50% chewings and 50% slender red fescue 5 times a year hoping to strengthen the diversity over time. He talked about 1% each time + 1% the next time slowly adds up. He regularly over-seeds the fairways with 30% red, 30% chewings, 30% strong creeping red and 10% browntop bent. He told us that the 1st tee and 3rd tee receive 30% perennial rye due to the excessive wear.

There is a feeling at the Trust that the emergence of the metal iron and revetted bunkers occurred together. It is speculated that the new metal iron was the cause of damaged faces and the solution emerged to revett the faces to protect them. It was likely begun with the Hell bunker – since the first revetted bunker found in photo was the Hell bunker. The revetted bunkers tend to last around 4 or 5 years but the south facing ones last as little as two years – a problem we share. There are no burrowing animals on the old course due to a paid rabbit hunter and the aim of keeping everything very firm and dry. When the soils are damp or organic – they tend to get more burrowing.

They are currently experimenting with transplanting sea grass and Marram grass on the top of the bunkers in the rough to limit the drying out that seems to break down the tops. Although most get damaged at the base through play and begin to erode from the bottom up. He hates repairing the old course sod walls with anything but existing turf from on the course since all other sources are too organic and leading to new problems. There is a small nursery hidden between the holes – but it is very small and limits what he can do. The rest are done from a nursery two miles away – which has organics mixed in with the sand. A surprise to me was they also have enormous trouble with the wind relocating the sand on quite a few bunkers.

He stated that the course has not had any fungicide or pesticide applied to it for 17 years and uses cultural practices to maintain that fact. They do use herbicide to deal with weeds only in the fairways – and the greens and tees are “weeded� by hand. Speaking of greens, the speeds are all dictated by play on the 11th with 10 ½ being the maximum they will run the greens due to slope – and we are talking during tournaments too.

They are making changes to the course – but they are subtle and interesting. They have identified areas of gorse that were former areas of heather and have set out a long term program to control or eliminate some areas of gorse. After the 2010 Open they plan a major campaign in this area. More interestingly they have identified a series of bunkers that had rough around them in the past likely due to the complications of maintenance. They have cut the areas down so that a ball will be funneled to or run to these bunkers where the rough kept you out of them. The fairway bunkers on the 5th are now in fairway and the greenside bunkers left of 14 green are now surrounded by short grass and will funnel the ball in. They are looking currently at fairway bunkers on the 14th too.

Gordon summed it up well – he’s the 9th superintendent since Old Tom) - We are here to preserve the course and pass it along the best shape that we can.

 

Thoughts on the New Holes at Saskatoon

 

This week-end was spent in Saskatoon where I participated in the grand opening ceremony for the reconfigured course. This also gave me the opportunity to play the new layout on three different occasions. This is always an interesting time for me since it is the moment when theory meets reality. I don’t know how other architects approach the opportunity to play their own designs, but I feel as much dread as excitement. In three rounds I had a good answer to how all of the holes would play.

 

The opener worked well as a mid-length par four designed to draw you into the round. The second hole was intended to be a clear opportunity for aggressive play and I found that from the Blue tees it was very much reachable in two (birdied it the first time by reaching the green in two). I must admit that I was left wondering if the hole was a little too easy after playing the hole for the third time. It may be one that could use something more.

 

The third made me smile a lot as all of my playing companions struggled with the hole and yet by understanding the need to play to particular points on each of the three shots I walked away with three pars. My hint to the members is you must experiment with being “well� right on your second shot or learn that the roll in the green is always the target.

 

My first broad smile was for the hill on the 4^th hole. The new landform looked very natural and will be mistaken for existing in the near future. The green is the first of the original greens that was interpreted and recreated to keep some of the original charm, the upper plateau works much better than the original. The 5^th was always my favourite design and as it turns out was my favourite hole to play. I intentionally played it differently each day and found the green to be a great challenge regardless of distance and angle which is ideal for a short par four.

 

The 6^th for me was the one hole that I wondered the most about since it was heavily questioned during construction. I had designed a reverse Redan. The consensus from members on a walk around was that it will be too hard. After asking a lot of the same members about playing the hole, they all felt it was not as hard as it looked and many of them found that some of the options lead to far better results once they tried them.

 

In the first round playing the 7^th our group all hit four different clubs in four different directions from the tee. I was surprised that one player had found an alternative that even I hadn’t thought of by playing short of the pond and hitting a long club in from a good angle. Everyone talked about trying different shots depending on wind and their own confidence that day. I played right and over successfully and found the balance of risk and reward worked well.

 

The 8^th was designed to be the easiest hole, a traditional “short�, with a wicked little green based around the old 14^th. The hole is under 150 yards, designed to be fun, but as I also discovered fraught with subtle dangers exposed after a miss. I could not par the hole despite reaching the green once, but watched partners make birdies and bogies.

 

The 9th hole was my smartest decision in the routing. The obvious route was to play along the water the entire way, the old fashioned approach was to finish with the green on the highest point well away from the water. Players can flirt with the water from the tee to gain a great angle to this long four or play well left for safety and try hit the green from a tough angle. The hole may have missed out on the photographic potential, but it will be fun to play every day because of that.

 

I guess the 15^th would also be considered my hole despite the first landing being from the old 8^th and the green being from the original 2^nd. This unusual connection helped solve many issues on the remaining nine (was 10 holes) and gave me a way of making everything work. I had always felt this long five to an elevated green would be considered very difficult, but after playing the hole for a few days, the worries about it being too hard were gone and the membership seemed to really embrace the hole.

 

I’m very pleased at the way the holes played and that is what matters the most. The new holes are very restrained, they will never find their way to the cover of a magazine, but they are fun to play over and over again. None are overly hard and most of the lost strokes come from poor position or over-aggressive play rather from punishment. The course devises its strategy primarily from the landforms in the landing areas and the intricate green contour rather than bunkering. I don’t expect anyone who plays it once to be impressed, but I do expect those who play the course regularly to really enjoy the balance of opportunity and challenge.

 

I was really glad I went to the opening, not only for my impressions but to get the impressions of the members. The course was designed for them. I had a lot of members seek me out to share their impressions and tell me how much they enjoyed the new holes. They were happy and so was I.

 

I'm just back from a long trip, I'll share more on Saskatoon tomorrow. 

 

 

 

Knollwood History – Part 3

  

Charles Banks

 

 

February 10, 1926 - The Golf Architect’s Description of the New Course

Written by Charles Banks

 

• “As we proceeded with this work, Mr. Raynor became more and more enthusiastic over the possibilities, and when we had finally completed the layout he remarked to me, “We are going to make a real course out of this after all.â€� In other words, his final reaction was that there were fine possibilities in the holes which were still to be constructed, and that these holes could be linked up with the other new holes in an effective manner.â€�  (this appears to confirm that Raynor struggled to find a “newâ€� layout that incorporated Tillinghast’s holes but produced what he felt was a better course)

 

•  “Mr. Raynor feels that the topography of the property lends itself well to the building of some very effective holes from the golfing standpoint and that most of the holes will have the added attraction of a beautiful setting.â€�

 

• “The first hole will be an effective drive and pitch hole, to the present first green over the present second fairway.  This hole will have a large diagonal bunker running part way across the fairway in such a position as to place a premium on a good shot to the right of the fairway, giving the player easy entrance to the green.  A large face bunker will probably be placed below the green, so that a poorly placed drive will require a pitch shot from this bunker to the green.â€� (Tillie hole - Banks green)

 

• “Hole No.  2 will be a log-leg to a green up on the hillside below the present fourth green.  The main feature of this hole is that a good drive will give the player a clear shot around the corner to the green.  The green will be a large one dug into the hillside, and will have a double entrance and a large mound and bunker in front, between the two =entrances.  This green will be similar to one at the Creek Club, and to the 9^th green at Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh.â€� (Raynor routing – Banks Green)

 

• “The third hole will be a short one, ranging from 110 – 130 yards.  The green will have a large trap in front and traps to the left and rear and a steep bank to the right, thus requiring an accurate pitch shot.  In general type, this hole follows the sixth at the National.â€� (Raynor routing – Banks Green)

 

• “The fourth hole will be a very pretty drive and pitch hole, the distance being about 340 yards.  The green is the one placed on the tennis courts.  It will stand up, and as one approaches it he will have the attractive view down through the alley.  A large trap will be placed to the right of the green and will run well out to the front, thus placing a premium on an accurate shot down the centre of the course, or a little to the left.  In general type the green follows one on the Garden City course, which ahs been very much admired.â€� (Raynor routing – Banks Green)

 

• “The 5^th tee across the road, a little in advance of the present 3^rd tee, will link up well with this green.  This new 5^th hole will be a long three-shot hole up through the valley to a green upon the hillside bunker or around the corner near the end of the large face bunker.  The green will probably be most effective upon the hill and will be built there if the rock conditions permit.  In either position, the green will present a real test of golf, making it necessary for the player to secure two long shots and an accurate pitch to reach the green.â€� (Raynor routing lengthening Tillie’s old hole – Raynor Green)

 

• “Holes 6 and 7 are two of the new holes already built, 6 being a long two-shotter, and 7 being a very pretty drive and pitch hole to the green near the newly constructed little pond.â€� (Tillie’s holes – Raynor Green on 6^th – 7^th could be Tillie)

 

• “Hole No. 8 will be a one shot hole to a green placed upon the face of the hill near the present 4^th tee.  This probably will be a Redan Hole, 180-190 yards in length, and will be especially effective on account of the location of the green and the shot across the little valley which will lie between the tee and the green.â€� (Tillie’s routing – Raynor’s concept – Banks Green)

 

• “The 9^th hole from a tee on the hillside overlooking the present 8^th green will present a very attractive picture, and will be very effective long two-shot hole.  The present 9^th green will be utilized for this hole.â€� (Tillie’s routing – original Van Etten green)

 

• “The 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th holes are among the new holes which have been practically completed.  “

 

• “No. 10 will require two long, well placed shots.  The green is placed on the hillside and can be reached only by an accurately placed pitch shot or roll in.â€� (Tillie hole - Raynor green)

 

• “No. 11 is a long one-shot hole, with aside slope into the green.  This hole will be a delight to the players who can shoot straight, even though they may not be able to attain great distance.  The tee, placed as it is practically on top of the hill, commands a beautiful view for miles down the valley.â€� (Tillie hole - Raynor green)

 

• “No. 12 will require two long shots.  On account of the position of the green, a well placed drive to the right is necessary if one is seeking for a comfortable second shot.  The hole opens up well from the right, but will prove more difficult from the left of the fairway.â€� (Tillie hole - Raynor green)

 

• “Hole No. 13 is a right angle dog leg.  The drive is down a steep hill into a very attractive little valley in the woods.  The character of the hole is such as to make a good a very drive necessary if one is to have a clear second shot at the green.  The second shot will be a pitch shot of average length to a built up cape hole surrounded by traps.â€� (Tillie hole - Raynor green)

 

• “The 14^th hole is another round the corner hole, but is very different in type from No. 13.  The green is placed at an angle, like the Redan type of hole, in a pocket of trees.  To play this hole well one must secure a good drive, followed by a short pitch or roll in shot.â€� (Tillie hole - Raynor green)

 

• “No. 15 will be a drive and pitch hole up the hill along the road.  The tee shot will be over the brook and the steep bank which borders it.  The second shot will be a pitch shot to a green up on the hillside, which will stand up well and present an attractive target.â€� (Tillie hole - Banks green)

 

• “The 16^th hole will be one of the most attractive in the entire course from a scenic point of view.  This will be a one shot hole of the Eden type, about 160 yards in length.  The tee will be placed near the present 17^th tee, and the green will be down the hillside.  The view from this tee down the valley will be extremely attractive.â€� (Raynor routing – Banks Green)

 

• “The tee for the 17^th hole will be placed slightly down the hill in such a position as to make it necessary for one to carry the brow of the ridge which now runs along below the 16^th fairway.  Because of its diagonal position this ridge will enable the driver to “bite offâ€� as much of a carry as he feels he can make.  The longer tee shot will, of course, give a more direct line to the hole.  The green will probably be placed where the present 15^th green is, giving the very long hitter an opportunity to carry the gully on a second shot and giving the average player an opportunity for two long shots to the brow of the gully and a pitch shot across the gully to the green.  In length and hazards, this hole is similar to one of the famous holes at Lido.â€� (Tillie hole - Banks green)

 

• “The 18^th hole Mr. Raynor feels will probably be the finest hole on the course.  The tee shot will be from an elevated position on the brow of the ravine which now runs along below the 10^th fairway.  There will be ample fairway for any drive from 100 yards up, but an average drive will be necessary if one expects to have a clear shot up over the pond to the green, which will be placed near the present 18^th tee.  This hole has all the essentials of a fine natural layout for a perfect golf hole.  It will provide a real test of golfing skill, but will present no insurmountable difficulties for the average player.  Furthermore, it will be extremely attractive in the picture which it will present to the eye.  For the timid players who do not wish to hazard the attempt to carry to the pond up over the brow of the hill, it is suggested that the old 12^th green be continued, so that such players may have a comfortable and secure feeling when playing this final hole of the layout.  Mr. Raynor feels however, that this 18^th hole will be so interesting that scarcely anyone will wish to sacrifice the pleasure of playing it in its more difficult form.â€� (Raynor routing – Banks Green)

 

February 15, 1926 – Greens’ Committee

 

• The present No. 1 Green will be retained and altered to meet new conditions which, together with the new Nos. 2-3-4, will be completed and seeded next spring
• Of the final 18 holes, it is expected  that in July of August, 11 will be in condition for play …

 

 

February 23, 1926 - Report to Board of Governors

 

•   “It is with deep regret that we have to report the death of Mr. Seth J. Raynor, our golf architect … he was able to complete the layout in a way that solved the problem to his own satisfaction…â€�
• “Mr. Banks, his associate, who supervised the carrying out of Mr. Raynor’s ideas and was in active charge of the construction, has arranged to carry on the business and has expressed his desire to be permitted to complete the course in accordance with the plans of Mr. Raynor.â€�
• “From the beginning of his work at Knollwood, Mr. Banks has shown more than ordinary interest and has been most conscientious in looking after the Club’s interest.â€�
• “In view of the foregoing, your Committee feel that they are fortunate in having Mr. Banks to complete the work and strongly recommend that his services be retained.â€�

 

 

April 5, 1926 – Annual Meeting

 

• Mr. Brookmire reported for the Golf Committee.  He referred at the outset to the booklet which had been sent to all of the members explaining the layout of the new course.
• 11 of the final 18 holes would be in shape for use during the summer. 
• The total cost involved in the purchase of approximately 40 acres of new land, the building of practically a new course with a modern water system, improvements to the house and the erection of a garage and parking space, will, when completed, have cost the Club approximately $178,000. 
• The cost of completion of the golf course made by Mr. Raynor, and subsequently by Mr. Banks, who has succeeded him as Architect
• Summer of 1926 – two priorities for golf Committee – one of which is the “completion of the construction of the new course.
• Enclosed is a booklet called About the New Golf Course: An information booklet to the members of Knollwood Country Club
• “Knollwood was fortunate in getting Mr. Raynor’s interest in reconstructing its course and in having Mr. Banks, his associate, to carry out the plans they made together.  Mr. Banks succeeds Mr. Raynor and will go on with the profession with the same high ideals.â€�

 

 

 

May 26, 1926 - Board of Governors

 

• Mr. Breed and Mr. Brookmire reported as to the progress of the construction work on the new golf course.  They said that since the first of the year about $9,000 had been expended on further work, that the work was proceeding in accordance with the plans of the construction committee and that all was progressing favourably.

 

July 12, 1926 - Board of Governors

 

 

• … Mr. Banks was requested to make a new estimate from July 1^st for completion of the course and in a letter dated July 9^th he advises that his estimate is $14,650, but that he feels he can keep within the original estimate.  This figure exceeds the original estimate by $1,373.25. 
• The Committee feels that instead of remodelling the No. 1 and No. 15 greens, these two greens should be entirely rebuilt. 

 

 

September 17, 1927 - Green Committee

 

• “… a report of the state of construction, amount expended and estimate to complete the new golf course as of September 9^th.  All greens have been finished and seeded, all fairways have been finished and seeded, with some slight minor improvements to fairways, which largely will go under the head of Upkeep.â€�
• “On September 11^th the course was gone over for the special purpose of ascertaining just what remained to be finished and Mr. Banks was requested to submit his recommendation and give a detailed estimate of the cost of carrying out the remaining work.â€�
• “A number of tees still remain to be built, but as the detailed statement shows, the course is now almost finished. “

 

Charles Banks should be given full credit for all work completed after the death of Seth Raynor. I believe that Charles Banks adapted many of Raynor’s plans after his death to suit field conditions and also to reflect some of his own beliefs in golf architecture.

 

 

 

I still have a little more research left on the issue of field changes by Banks. I have the Raynor sketch, the written description above, the Raynor Plan and all the early aerials. All I need is time to compare and make notes.

 

 

Knollwood History – Part 2

 

Seth Raynor

 

 

Friday August 7, 1925 - Board of Governors

 

• “Mr. Brookmire spoke at length about the work that has already been done, the cost thereof, the plans for the future, the impossibility of working further with Mr. Tillinghast, and the desire of the Committee to engage the services of Mr. Seth. J. Raynor as the golf architect of the Club.â€�

 

• Resolved:   
•  
  • “That the action of the Golf Committee in discontinuing the services of Mr. Tillinghast as the golf architect of the Club is approved.â€�
  • “That the Golf Committee be authorized to proceed with its negotiations with Mr. Seth J. Raynor and to retain him as the golf architect of the Club.â€�
  • “That the Golf Committee proceed with the work now partially completed, of building the seven holes on the newly acquired property of the club under the direction of Mr. Raynor.â€�
  • “That the Golf Committee obtain from Mr. Raynor his definite program and recommendation for the complete course and submit them to this Board together with complete plans, recommendations, and estimates of cost.â€�

 

October 16, 1925

 

• “After carefully considering the plan for the new 18 hole course proposed by Mr. Raynor, both from a study of his drawing as submitted and also by going over the course itself, we are of the opinion that the course as now planned is far superior to the one originally outlined when construction was begun.â€�
• The yardage is approximately 6300 yards.

It is my opinion that Raynor routed his own course that had to incorporate the new holes.

 

 

Monday October 19, 1925

 

• Mr. Brookmire discussed at length the progress of the work on the new course, securing Mr. Raynor as golf architect, the cost of the work to date and estimates of the cost of future work. He submitted a report from the Golf Committee covering their recommendations to the adoption of the plan submitted by Mr. Raynor. 
• Mr. Raynor and his associate, Mr. Banks, were present at the meeting. 
• He estimates that the work on the course will be done up by October 18, involve an expenditure of $48,000, and that completing the seven holes on the property to be acquired would cost $1750. (small cost indicates that the remaining work was little more than seeding)
• Completing the course in accordance with Mr. Raynor’s plan would involve a further expenditure of $35,000
• Raynor’s fee will be $2,000
• a projected total (of entire project)  of about $133,000.

 

October 19, 1925 - Report to Board of Directors

 

Statement of Cost of Construction

 

• “The plans for the full 18 hole course have been finally worked out with Mr. Raynor, which plan is shown in the photographic drawing submitted herewith, together with his estimate for completing the 11 holes, being the remainder of the unfinished course.â€�
• The portion of the new course on the property lately acquired, consisting of 7 holes, is now nearly completed. 
• The original estimate for construction and its proportion of materials for the balance of the course, namely holes # 1-2-3-4-7-8-9-15-16-17-18 was $31,548.
• “With the exception of the 18^th holes, there is little to be done in the way of construction other than building the necessary greens…â€�
• Upon recommendation of Mr. Breed, the same offer of bonus which should have gone to Mr. Tillinghast has been made to Mr. Raynor.

 

Excerpts from Raynor’s Cost Estimate:

 

o       Hole No. 5 – Putting green.  This green had been completed entirely under             Mr. Tillinghast’s supervision… and later was condemned by Mr. Raynor….       necessary to change the character of this green and it was reshaped and made         larger. (Raynor green)

o       Hole No. 6 – This green was completed and seeded on Sept 18 … total cost of     $1804… In addition to the boulders which were used as a foundation for the          green, the two huge piles of rock between the 5^th and 6^th fairway give some         idea of the labor which has been spent for this part of the work.  (interestingly    no mention of Raynor changes – could still be Tillinghast’s green)

o       Holes 10-11-12 … when taken over by Mr. Raynor, the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th           greens were roughly graded but had no top soil on them.  They were finished            according to Mr. Raynor’s ideas and all seeded on September 12^th.  (all     Raynor greens)

o       Hole No. 13 – Green – The spot selected for the green was very low and wet.       Before work could be started it was necessary first to get in the necessary        drains.  (appears still to require work – likely a Raynor green)

o       Hole No. 14 – Green – The green had been entirely completed in the rough            before Mr. Raynor took charge but was finished according to his ideas and         was seeded on September 12^th…  (Raynor green)

 

In my opinion, Raynor routed the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 16^th and 18^th differently than Tillinghast. While he incorporated the same basic land for 8^th, 9^th, 15^th and 17^th; I believe it makes sense to give him routing credit for those holes too.

 

tommorrow Charles Banks....