The Life and Times of Donald Ross by Chris Buie by Classics of Golf

$75.00 US

The

—Michael J. Fay, Captain, The Donald Ross Society, Inc

“Chris Buie has ransacked golf ’s archives to produce a lovely, energetic and engaging biography of Donald Ross, America’s most influential course architect. With a plentitude of photos and drawings and ample samples from old letters and journals, Buie leads readers on a time trip back to an era of grace and civility when Ross and his colorful peers were inventing the American game.” —John Paul Newport, Wall Street Journal

—Ran Morrissett, Golf Club Atlas

“As a historian and student of golf history, I consider the publication of Chris Buie’s new Life & Times of Donald Ross a reason to rejoice. Before now, I thought I knew most of what there is to know about the somewhat enigmatic Patron Saint of American Golf course design but Chris has uncovered fantastic new archival material, wonderful photos, key documents and related details that bring Ross to life as never before. Most compelling of all, Buie brilliantly captures the “Times” as well as the “Life” of American golf ’s most celebrated architect, a beautiful rendering that presents the first and last word on Donald Ross. This is a book to savor!” —Jim Dodson, author of Hogan and Donald Ross Award Winner

Donald Ross

His place in history has essentially been that of a prolific architect who created some of the finest examples of the form. However, the true extent of his achievements goes well beyond the consensus view. With surpassing style and insight, The Life & Times of Donald Ross reconfigures his place in history and establishes the man as a notable figure in the broader field of American culture.

Chris Buie

Classics of Golf was founded by the Dean of American Sportswriters Herbert Warren Wind in 1982 and is the premiere publisher of golf books. It is known for high quality books with top authors and bestselling titles; including New York Times bestsellers and Amazon bestsellers. Its’ authors include Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Herbert Warren Wind, Bernard Darwin, and most recently Brandel Chamblee and Ted Bishop, 38th

“Pinehurst native Chris Buie has done that which no author has achieved to date: humanize the quietly impressive Scottish immigrant. The highly principled Donald Ross comes to life on these pages to the point where even non-golf course architecture fans will become engrossed in this all-American success story. A masterpiece.”

Life & Times

Donald Ross

Chris Buie is the author of The Early Days of Pinehurst. He has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal and many other golf publications. Buie is a Pinehurst native and continues his lifelong affair with the game to this day.

“I have been a huge fan of Donald Ross, so much so, that I founded the Donald Ross Society 27 years ago with a couple of friends. Chris Buie has painstakingly researched his subject with great result. This book flows well and is a tremendous insight into Donald Ross, his journey through life and his golf courses. Chris’s chapters capture the man in a manner not often read.”

Life & Times of

The 15th at Seminole – Tufts Archives

The

During the early years of the 20th Century, golf became a fundamental part of the American Dream. Perhaps more than any other individual, Donald Ross helped to establish the sport in his new country.

Chris Buie

“Buie’s biography of Donald Ross puts a human face on the legendary name, and puts his career and accomplishments into contemporary perspective, allowing the reader to understand how one Scottish immigrant could have had such a profound effect on American golf. You come away from this book with renewed amazement not just at the staggering number and quality of the courses that Ross designed, but the imprint of his personality and values on American golf culture. After reading The Life & Times of Donald Ross, you will wish you had lived during the years when it was possible to travel to Pinehurst and receive a warm greeting by the game’s foremost builder and ambassador.” — Rick Shefchik, author of From Fields to Fairways: Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota

President of the PGA of America. Please visit our website

www.classicsofgolf.com Printed In U.S.A.

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CHAPTER One......................Dornoch

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Two......................The Mentor

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Three...................The Apprentice

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Four......................The Professional

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Five.......................To The New World Six......................... The Golfer

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Seven...................The Architect

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Eight....................The Associates

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Nine.....................The Pinehurst School Ten....................... Wyandot CC

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Eleven ................The Business

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Twelve ................The Times

CONTENTS

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Thirteen.............The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Game Fourteen............The Family

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Fifteen................Eminence Grise Sixteen................The Man

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Seventeen.........Later Years

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Eighteen............Appendices

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John Sutherland by David Alison â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Courtesy of the Highland Council

Chapter Two The Mentor

ohn Sutherland was a highly regarded figure in the turnof-the-century British golfing world. For two decades, Sutherland wrote the weekly golf column for the London Daily News. He was also well known for being the Secretary (i.e. president) of Dornoch Golf Club for more than 50 years. As Secretary, he was involved in all aspects of the club. Although Old Tom Morris had reconfigured the ancient links, it was modified by Sutherland for so many decades that, to an extent, the course became identified with him. In addition to his club responsibilities, Sutherland was the town clerk and a successful financial agent for some of the prominent interests in the region. The Secretary of Dornoch was a scratch player who competed regularly in the Amateur. His wide ranging expertise with the national sport led to involvements with other courses, as well. At the seaside links of Brora, he extended their offerings to 18 holes. He also designed a full course at Skibo for Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Among the other notables who called on Sutherland was one of the key figures in American golf, Charles Blair MacDonald. In his prospectus for the National Golf Links of America, he personally thanked Sutherland for his help with the course. But, for all his varied activities, the Dornoch course remained his primary interest. His goal was to make it one of the premier courses. Few, if any, believe he missed the mark on that account.

Donald Ross

The elements of course architecture held a particular fascination for Sutherland. He spent a great deal of time examining the finer points of design during his regular evening walks. On many of these evenings, he was joined by one of the lads from town. The hours before the sun sets across this region possess an almost otherworldly beauty. It was within this setting that Sutherland’s contemplations sparked Ross’s initial interest in what would become his life’s work. A sharply analytical approach to design was not so common in those days. But, within that time and place, two of the games finer minds undoubtedly had wide ranging discussions on

the topic. As it turned out, the zeal they shared along the shores of the idyllic village would reverberate down through the ages. Donald so impressed the Secretary that he took it upon himself to groom the young man to become the club’s first professional. As Sutherland sought to make the club a first tier affair, he guided the young man toward the ideal apprenticeship. Ideal or not, the road to St. Andrews was not entirely smooth. In his twilight years, Ross told a journalist his parents were very “putout” with his decision to leave carpentry. They “thought little of golf as a profession”. It was not the last time he displeased them.

Sunset over Dornoch Firth – Courtesy of Timothy Hart

An early map of St. Andrews by John Ainslie

N Chapter Three The Apprentice

St. Andrews

o one knows exactly when the game started. However, there are records of it being played in the 1400’s. We know this because King James II of Scotland outlawed golf in 1457. Evidently, a number of his soldiers were more interested in keeping up with their golf than their military drills. There is evidence this royal decree was not exactly taken to heart and the games more or less continued as before. It was forbidden once again in 1471 by King James III and received the same general lack of regard the earlier ban did. In 1413, Scotland’s first university was established in St. Andrews. According to accounts, golf was played in the area prior to the arrival of academia. Documents related to the game in the 16th and 17th centuries have come primarily from the church. In 1599, it was noted that some individuals who missed sermons due to golfing activities were fined two times before being taken to “the repentance pillar”. The most well-known golfer of the 1500’s was Mary Stuart, also known as Mary, Queen of Scots. It was not a passing fancy for the queen. According to legend, Mary played the Old Course so frequently, she kept a cottage there in St. Andrews. Some found her enthusiasm for the sport to be excessive—even by Scottish standards. After her husband’s untimely demise, Mary went back to golfing before a suitable period of mourning had passed. She received a reprimand for the unseemly behavior but this did little to diminish her enthusiasm for what was becoming the national sport.

Donald Ross

A latter day depiction of Mary Queen of Scots at St Andrews – Tuck Postcards

Mary is considered to be the “Mother of Golf ”. Royal attitudes, at least, had lightened up by the 17th century. James VI, and Charles I, both golfers felt that Sunday golfing was fine, so long as the religious devotions had first been performed. The trouble was waiting for them to finish, particularly if you were a clergyman yourself. “Golfing Charlie” Robertson, a leading light in the King James VI club, was preaching a sermon in Caputh Parish Church but the effect of promised fire and brimstone was somewhat diminished by the sight of his scarlet golfing coat peeping through the black vestments.

Perth: Golf on Sundays – Douglas MacKenzie Clearly, any efforts to separate the Scots from their game were in vain. Consequently, it continued to thrive with St. Andrews being the epicenter of golfing affairs. The game as we know it grew to maturity in the ancient town. While St. Andrews set the agenda the golfing world continues to follow, the man who set the agenda at St. Andrews was a modest professional named Old Tom Morris. In addition to being a master clubmaker and greenskeeper, Morris won the Open four times. He also had a hand in designing some

75 courses all over Britain. These include some of the best ever created: Prestwick, Dornoch, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Cruden Bay, Nairn and the extraordinary Royal County Down in Northern Ireland. Although the Old Course in his hometown of St. Andrews had been in use long before Morris’s day, his work in consolidating the ancient links was essential. Old Tom was born the son of a weaver in 1821. He was an apprentice golf pro under Allan Robertson until the two had a falling out over the use of the gutta percha ball. Most of Robertson’s income was derived from the sale of the “feathery” balls and Old Tom was banished for his use of the newer “guttie” material. This took Old Tom to the links of Prestwick for the next 14 years. While there, he was a key influence in creating the Open championship. Although Old Tom did not win what is considered to be the inaugural event held by Prestwick in 1860, he won the next two. These were contested in Prestwick, as well. In fact, Old Tom’s course on the Ayrshire coast held the first dozen Opens.

The Apprentice

Royal County Down – Courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland

The rise of Prestwick led the Royal and Ancient golf society of St. Andrews to the realization that the sport was becoming centralized around Morris. Accordingly, they went to some lengths to lure him back to his hometown. In the fall of 1864, he returned as “Custodier of the Links”. This label belies the role he actually played for the next several decades. While directing the program at St. Andrews, Old Tom grew into the most influential figure in the history of the game. From equipment to course design to the ways tournaments were run, virtually all aspects of the game bore his imprimatur. It was in this manner that, over the years, he shaped the game into the form it has essentially followed ever since. The key to such an extraordinary accomplishment was technical mastery and amongst other attributes and acute sense of duty. There is something about the old man’s quiet, dignified bearing, always the same, whether brought face to face with a laird, a humble-born caddie or in dealing with his own workmen which com-

mands respect and calls forth personal attachment. —New York Herald – 1898

There are numerous accounts of the large personalities of the age paying homage to this rumpled and unassuming figure. Although he did not solicit the reverence, it was a key to what was achieved by his life’s work. “As St. Andrews became increasingly a mecca of golfers, so, too, did the sturdy patriarchal figure and bearing of Old Tom come to symbolize all that was finest in the Scottish character and in the ancient Scottish game. His kindly, yet capable and gentle nature, enshrined him a good many years before his death as the authentic Grand Old Man of Golf. To generations of people all over the world his name and his picture epitomized the game.”

—James K. Robertson, author of St. Andrews, Home of Golf

Old Tom’s blend of practical expertise with irreproachable character was not lost on Ross when he arrived, circa 1892, for his

The Apprentice

apprenticeship. possessed an inAlthough he violable belief in undoubtedly the sport, and acquired a great was the de facto deal of golfing guardian of its knowledge while integrity. interning with Ross and a Old Tom and number of othForgan’s clubers carried that making shop, the principled spirless tangible elit to the New ements came to World. The play an equally expertise they important role in brought to their Ross’s future. practical duties What Ross revolved around Forgan’s clubmaking shop in 1900 absorbed (and the strident belater emulated) was the way Morris generally lief that the game be conducted in the right presided over both St. Andrews as well as the and honorable way. Guided by Morris’s examgame of golf itself. It was, in fact, the template ple, these professionals rooted the early AmeriRoss used in his approach to Pinehurst and the can game in the Scottish traditions. development of American golf. Hindsight would come to show that Ross’s career came to resemble Morris’s multi-layered Carnoustie Just off the 18th of Carnoustie is a golf role far more closely than has been recognized. Along with their working relationship, shop called Simpson’s. It began operation in Donald got to spend a substantial amount of 1893 and is considered the second oldest continually running golf shop in the world. In that time with Morris off the course. era, there were six Simpson brothers and they “In St. Andrews, Donald met old Tom Morris, a patriarch of the game. Mr. Morris took a liking were the first family of that golfing region. Each to Donald and invited him to attend his kirk, es- of them had competed successfully in the Open, with brother Jack winning in 1884. pecially the Saturday night entertainment, where Although all were formidable players, they for a penny, he could enjoy a social time and a good dinner. As Donald’s salary at the time was were primarily known as exceptional club makseven and six (about $1.50) per week, the penny ers and teachers. One of their protégés, Stewfee was attractive. Mr. Ross states that later he was art Maiden, was the playing mentor of Bobby able to contribute thruppence to the kirk, when Jones. he went to the Saturday night parties.”

—Ross Interview with Robert E. Harlow (1945)

More than a half-century on, Ross could recall his time there in detail. For the rest of his life, the occasional Old Tom anecdote would make its way into Donald’s conversation. It was clear his personal and professional esteem for the golfing sage never left him. The old man

“Stewart had the finest and soundest style I have ever seen. Naturally I did not know this at the time, but I grew up swinging like him. I imitated his style, like a monkey I suppose.” —Bobby Jones

The Simpsons trained many of the pros who went on to successfully ply their trade in the United States. One of these was Donald Ross. As John Sutherland sought to develop young

Previous page: Old Tom Morris painting by Sir George Reid – Courtesy of the R & A

The Apprentice

Ross in the best manner possible, he thought it wise to continue his training with the Simpson’s of Carnoustie. Actually, Donald may have been familiar with one of the Simpsons prior to his Carnoustie internship. It was brother Archie who assisted Old Tom when he first visited Dornoch in 1886 to work on the links. Incidentally, Archie went on to design some of Scotland’s best links. Courses such as Balgownie and Murcar are not the most wellknown, but his work along the shores of Scotland continues to receive high regard. After working for many years around Britain, Archie immigrated to Detroit in 1911. Shortly thereafter, Donald’s brother Alec also became a professional in the Motor City. Despite the notoriety which some of the Simpsons garnered, the central character in the

training of pros at Carnoustie was brother Robert. He was a meticulous man, who personally inspected each and every one of the clubs that were sold there or shipped around the world. Quality was his hallmark, and the thoroughgoing approach was an influence on Ross’s work ethic. Robert had also interned with Old Tom. He absorbed Morris’s manner as well as anyone and reflected this during his tenure at Carnoustie. From Robert Simpson, Carnoustie author Jack Mishler:

While professional golfers in that long ago era were looked upon as second class citizens, Robert was able to gain the respect of his community and attain a lofty social stature. He not only excelled in the golf business but also enjoyed the arts, associated with royalty and political leaders, and was active in the community.

The Simpson brothers trained many professionals and Ross was one of them – Courtesy of Dundee Central Library Previous page: Carnoustie map – Reproduced by permission of the Great Britain Historical GIS/University of Portsmouth: www.visionofbritain.org.uk

Donald Ross

Robert Simpson provided Ross with another sterling example of how matters peripheral to the practical duties could elevate their careers, as well as the profession itself. By the time he crossed the Atlantic, Ross was thoroughly conversant in the personal dynamics his mentors brought to the field. All in all, the apprenticeship Ross received could hardly have been improved upon. There were no superior seats of learning the trade than St. Andrews and Carnoustie. It was the ideal foundation upon which to launch a golfing career. And, although it would have been evident that Ross would make a fine all around professional, no one, including himself, could have imagined the heights to which that career would rise. Archie Simpson – The Tatler (No. 65) – 1902

Teeing off at Carnoustie – Loh Collection

Ross playing “The Witch”, formerly the 17th hole, now the 18th hole on the struie Courtesy Royal Dornoch Historical Society

R Chapter Four The Professional

Head Pro of Dornoch

oss leaned back in a deep chair, lit a cigar and his bright eyes twinkled above his short-cropped snowy mustache. He seemed to be looking at a distant day, long ago and far away. “It’s very peculiar,” he said, his voice just touched with a hint of an accent. “You see when I got through my schooling I became a carpenter by trade and worked where I lived up in Dornoch in the Highlands. I belonged to the golf club and played there and finally the members came to feel that they needed a professional at Dornoch; someone to make clubs and give lessons. “In those days, you see golf clubs all were made by hand. Now they are modeled and turned out by machines but there were no machines for such things then. Anyway, they thought I would be the person for the job, being a carpenter, I suppose. So I went to St. Andrews for a year and Carnoustie for another to learn the trade and then I came home and took up the position. —Richard Vidmar – New York Tribune 1937

In modern times, the golfing profession consists of specialists. Greenkeeping, clubmaking, teaching, playing and course design are all handled by highly trained individuals whose responsibilities rarely move beyond their areas of expertise. Prior to the mid-20th Century, the golf pro was expected to be proficient in all of these areas. At Dornoch, Ross followed the established traditions of the profession.

The

Donald Ross Timeline 1872 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1948

Keys to Abbreviations AG = American Golfer Magazine GI = Golf Illustrated Magazine CW = Club Website Pilot = Pilot Newspaper (Southern Pines, NC) DJR = Donald Ross PO = Pinehurst Outlook DHM = Dornoch Historylinks Museum TA = Tufts Archives DRS = Donald Ross Society

Previous page: 1st hole at MedPines â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Photographed by author

Donald Ross

1872 • Donald Ross was born on November 23rd, 1872 in St Gilbert Street, Dornoch, County of Sutherland, Scotland. He was the son of Murdo Ross, a mason by trade, and Lilly (Campbell) Ross. Ross was one of six children.

1874 • A fourth brother John was born 1874. He died of Boer War injuries in London in 1902 leaving behind two children, John and Maudie. [DHM]

1883 • The Dornoch course was then only 9 holes long. In 1883 the annual subscription to the club was 2/6 and the annual income was £9.00. [CW]

1886 • Tom Morris visits Dornoch to redesign course. • Ross caddies and starts playing during his teen years. • Leaves school to become an apprentice carpenter for five years under Peter Murray.

1891 • In the 1891 census of Dornoch, Donald (age 18) is listed as an apprentice carpenter living with his parents, maternal grandmother (age 83), and younger brother John (listed as gardener). [Census]

1893 • Returns from St. Andrews/Carnoustie apprenticeship to become head pro at Dornoch around November 1893. [Multiple Sources] [Ed. Note: Some sources have golf apprenticeship beginning in ’92 and ending in ‘94]

1896 • Meets Janet Conchie and becomes engaged. • Workshop built for Donald Ross in 1896 Dornoch [DHM]

1898 • On Saturday, August 23, 1898, Harvard College astronomy professor Robert Wheeler Willson met Donald Ross at Dornoch GC while vacationing with Mrs. Willson. Professor Willson, a charter member of the new Oakley CC in Watertown, Massachusetts, suggested that Ross come to America, convincing him that he could make several times his rate in the United States. Dornoch Golf Club’s ledger entry of March 13, 1899 shows D.J. Ross’ final “salary to date £1 per week = 10”.

220

Timeline

1899 • Departure from the Port of Liverpool on March 13 (occupation was listed as ‘Club Maker’) arrives in New York Harbor on March 20 - takes train to Boston - walks to Willson’s house in Cambridge. • He began work the next morning at Oakley CC in Watertown, Mass. With the help of a civil engineer and a surveyor, Ross proceeded to design a virtually new course. He was a popular teacher and became an even more accomplished golfer, winning the inaugural Massachusetts Open. He made a salary of $60 a month and received 50 cents a lesson, but still managed in the first 2 years to save and send home, to his mother in Scotland, a total of $2,000. [John Purcell]

1900 • He received $2,000 for his redesign of Oakley, which he promptly wired back home to his mother in Scotland so she could expand her home. She renamed the family cottage, “Oakley.” • In the summer of 1900, James W. Tufts invited Ross to his Medford, Massachusetts, home. Tufts was looking for a winter professional for a resort he was developing in North Carolina. At this meeting, Tufts shook hands with Ross on a gentleman’s agreement that was to last for close to half a century under three generations of Tufts. • By June of 1900, Donald Ross was living at 231 Belmont Street in Watertown MA, just west of downtown Boston. One of nine ‘servants’ living with Gustave & Amy Jordan, Donald J. Ross was just 27 and his occupation was now listed as ‘Golf Instructor’. • Oct 16 - An early high point of Ross’s stay at Oakley was the exhibition round he played with golf professional Harry Vardon in the Fall of 1900. [Boston Evening Transcript] • Dec. 7 – “Mr. Donald Ross, the well known golf expert who will have charge of the Pinehurst links this season, arrived Wednesday evening [Dec 5]. At an early hour yesterday Mr. Ross was at the links and made his first trial of what are conceded by all to be the best 18-hole links in the South. Mr. Ross made the full course which resulted in the remarkably low score of 80.” [PO]

Ross’s First American resident at 231 Belmont, Watertown MA

221

Donald Ross

1901 • Pinehurst No. 2 begins as a nine hole course. [PO] • Nov. 22 – “The Pinehurst Links covers 150 acres of fenced land, is recognized as being among the finest in the country, and attracts critical players by the great variety of natural and artificial hazards. The well known professional, Donald Ross, is in charge of the links, and is assisted by his brother Alex, until recently professional at Dornoch, Scotland. Their services are available as instructors.” [PO]

1902 • Brother John, born 1874, died of Boer War injuries in London in 1902 [DHM] • October 10–11 – DJR finishes 8th in US Open at Garden City Golf Club in Garden City, N.Y.

1903 • • • •

Pinehurst No. 2 lengthened to 2,750 yards. [PO] April 1 – DJR wins North-South Open. [PO] June 26–29 – DJR finishes 5th in US Open at Baltusrol 1903. Alec finishes T-9. “In October of 1903 at his office in Boston, Tufts, Harry B. Emery, his brother-in-law, and Donald Ross, officially organized the Pinehurst Golf Club.” [Sport in America by David Wiggins] • Mid December Ross arrives back in Pinehurst. Alec is to join soon. [PO] • Piinehurst No. 2 lengthened to 2,750 yards. [PO]

1904 • Jan. 2 – [Pinehurst] – Walter J. Travis was an easy winner of the gold medal...with a card of 156, eleven strokes better than his nearest opponent, W.C. Fownes of the Highland Golf Club, Pittsburgh, PA. [PO] • Tin Whistles are organized. They remain America’s oldest golfing society. [PO]

Caddies at Baltusrol GC

222

Timeline

• • • •

Feb. – Pine Valley designer George Crump visits Pinehurst. [PO] July 8–9 – DJR finishes 10th in US Open at Glen View Club in Golf, Illinois. No. 2 “enlarged” to over 3,000 yards. [PO] Marries Janet Conchie (Kennedy), in her hometown Moniaive. They returned to America in December 1904.

1905 • Jan. 7 – “Professional Donald Ross and bride arrived Friday morning and is located at The Pine Grove House [55 Cherokee Rd.] for the winter. A rousing welcome was given him by friends and associates.” [PO] • Feb. – No. 2 improved with new bunkers [PO] • DJR Wins North-South Open. • April 1 – Pinehurst – “Of special golf events during the week past, there have literally been no end, one event crowding after the other. Among the most interesting and entertaining of these were matches among professionals. Willie Anderson, the Open champion, Bernard Nichols and George Low, and Donald and Alec Ross, of the local club, in which the visitors fared rather badly. The first of these was a thirty-six hole best ball event between Donald and Alec Ross, and Anderson and Nichols, which the Ross brothers won by 1 up, and medal-play scores of 143 and 145...The feature of the match was a 72 made by Donald Ross on the morning round, 35 out and 37 in. Another event of a similar character was a five ball match between the Ross brothers, Anderson, Low and Nichols, the Ross brothers tying for first at 74 each, Lowe finishing second in 78, Anderson third in 80, and Nichols fourth in 81.” [Brooklyn Daily Eagle] • DJR Wins the inaugural Massachusetts Open with a gutta-percha ball. • DJR Lives at 31 Bartlett Ave. in Boston suburb of Belmont.

1906 • DJR wins North-South Open • “When Merrimack Valley GC (MA) opened in 1906, it was only the second course the legendary golf course architect, Donald Ross, had designed in New England. [CW] • May 15 – “The Eastern Professional Golfers’ Association will vote on the following officers at the annual meeting in June: President, George Low; vice-president: Donald J. Ross; secretary: Charles Kirchner; treasurer: Stewart Gardner. [NY Evening Post] • Dec. 1 – “The golf situation here was tersely summed up by T. Pliny Moran of the Columbia GC, at the close of the annual midwinter tournament last season, in the following statement: I am confident that never before in the history of golf, has there been as much enthusiasm manifested, as many beautiful trophies offered, and as delightful weather throughout, as has been combined at Pinehurst this week. Pinehurst is certainly Queen of this country’s golf resorts; in all truth America’s St. Andrews.” • “The prominence of the game here led to the establishment of a second, or nine hole course, some years ago, its later lengthening, and during the past summer, has been responsible for the extension of this course to eighteen holes, giving Pinehurst two full length or Championship courses, and equipment equalled [sic] by no other resort in America and few in the world. [PO] [No. 2 extended to 18 holes]

223

Donald Ross

1907 • June 3 – DJR Attends annual meeting of the Eastern Professional Golfers Association at Brookline (MA). “Jack Hobens gained the vice-presidency, upsetting the nomination of Donald J. Ross.” – [NY Sun] • June 21 – Alec Ross wins U.S. Open at Philadelphia Cricket Club with a score of 302. DJR finishes 10th. • Nov. 30 – “OVER EIGHT MILES LONG – Pinehurst’s Golf Equipment is Unequalled in the World… Three distinct and separate courses, two of them of recognized championship length, and a long new nine-hole course, the latter an extension of the past summer, made in anticipation of the increasing demand…Since last May big gangs of workmen have been busy on all three golf courses, and the results are regarded little short of marvelous…” [PO] [Front 9 of Pinehurst No. 3 opens.]

1908 • George Willet brings Ross to Essex for redesign. [History of the Essex County Club, 1893-1993 – George C. Caner] • Pinehurst No. 2 lengthened to is 6,009. [PO] • Dec. 4 – Back nine of Pinehurst No. 3 designed by DJR. [PO]

1909 • “Evidence may suggest that Donald Ross was involved with Cohasset CC (MA) starting somewhere around 1909, making it one of his first independent designs and an important early step in his long and illustrious career that also included him expanding Cohasset from 9 to holes to 18 holes in 1920. The 18-hole layout opened in 1922 after two years of work. [mgalinks.com] • “In 1909 the golfing Shriners rented the farm from George Cox in order to build a nine-hole golf course. Ross had established his reputation on the strength of his outstanding layouts at Pinehurst. Now he was broadening his horizons, and LuLu Temple (PA) was among his earliest efforts outside Pinehurst. It was also his first course in Pennsylvania. – Ross designed 2nd 9 in 1918.” [CW]

Alec Ross – Library of Congress

224

Timeline

• Land cleared for back nine of Pinehurst No. 3. [PO] • Bethlehem CC (NH) – “By 1909, because of the tremendous success of the golf course, the Bethlehem Park Association commissioned a young Scottish architect, Donald Ross, to expand the layout. The Bethlehem course represented Ross’s first contract in New Hampshire. By 1910, the new layout was open. ” [CW] • June 30 – Alec Ross wins Massachusetts Open at Woodland GC in Auburndale. Alec is listed from Brae Burn. Donald is still listed at Oakley. [AG] • Sept. 12 – [Chevy Chase Club] (MD) – “Early in the summer Donald Ross...was here, and went over the links with the chairman of the greens committee...and gave some very practical advice as to their improvement and Travis, too, when he was here made some excellent suggestions as to how some changes could be easily and advantageously made. Donald Ross was subsequently engaged to aid the greens committee in making these changes. They provide for making the course about 6200 yards long, not very much more than the present course, but the holes are to be more equalized, making it much more standard than it is now...Some new holes will be made on land now not used, but the changes will be made that thirteen of the present eighteen greens will be used.” [Washington Sunday Star] • Oct. 18 – Donald and Janet Ross’s only child, Lillian Ross Pippitt, is born in Watertown, MA. • Oct. 26 – “That Columbia CC (MD) will have a golf course surpassed by no other in the country is the opinion of Walter Travis...At the invitation of the club managers he came to Washington Friday night and spent two days going over the course that was laid out by H.H. Barker, of the Garden City Club, and Donald Ross... ” [Washington Times] • Dec. – “Since then Donald J. Ross has visited the Wannamoisett CC (RI) and has made a tentative layout of the new 18-hole links, speaking highly of the country and the chance for fine links.” – [AG]

1910 • DJR Leaves for Scotland from New York on the steamer Columbia. Gone 3 months - returning to Boston on steamer ‘Canadian’ which leaves Liverpool Sept. 3. He intends to study the courses, construction, greenskeeping etc. He will spend a month in Dornoch and Mrs. Ross will have a long visit with her family. Eighth in the 1910 Open Championship at St. Andrews. Arrives Glasgow in June. Accompanied by George H. Crocker of Fitchburg. Headquarters at Ayr. In order plays: Troon – Prestwick - then to Prestwick St. Nicholas, a very easy short course. Then to Turnberry – After that to Edinburgh and some golfing at Gullane – North Berwick – St. Andrews (June 22nd to 24th) – After St. Andrews, I went to London and visited the Mid-surrey course – Dornoch – Leaves Liverpool Sept. 3 for USA on steamer “Canadian” [Compilation] • “Not everyone was favorably impressed with Ross. For example, he laid out the first course in the Canadian Rockies for the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1910. After providing initial plans, Ross requested something on the order of $35 per day for inspection visits. Cornelius Van Horne, the president of the railroad, had recently pushed steel through to Vancouver against insurmountable odds, resulting in a line spiraling upwards for thousands of feet and considered a great engineering feat. Informed of Ross’s request regarding inspection visits, Van Horne vetoed it, saying that none of his famous engineers received such an enormous fee. The Canadian Pacific then proceeded with course construction using its own engineers. Ross had used inches to express elevations for putting greens and bunkers. The Canadian Pacific engineers interpreted Ross’s grades as being feet when they built nine holes during the First World War with the help of the German POWs. Then the mistake was discovered. Yet with Van Horne’s stubbornness, the

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The

—Michael J. Fay, Captain, The Donald Ross Society, Inc

—Ran Morrissett, Golf Club Atlas

Donald Ross

Chris Buie

Life & Times

Donald Ross

Life & Times of

The 15th at Seminole – Tufts Archives

The

During the early years of the 20th Century, golf became a fundamental part of the American Dream. Perhaps more than any other individual, Donald Ross helped to establish the sport in his new country.

Chris Buie

President of the PGA of America. Please visit our website

www.classicsofgolf.com Printed In U.S.A.

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