The Course to Gulf Hills

Article and Photo Contribution by Ray Bellande

Clarence Wallace Gormly, (1882-1957) was an attorney, land developer and resort builder from New York. Gormly was married to Eleanor Meredith (1883-1962) probably a native of Larchmont, New York, and they had three children (pictured above). The Gormly’s never actually planned to stay for any notable timeframe, just long enough to develop a few areas on the Gulf Coast and move onward.

Between 1925 and 1930, Mr. and Mrs. Gormly worked diligently on Gulf Hills, Belle Fontaine and Pointe aux Chene, which are known landmark areas of Ocean Springs.

Gulf Hills is a resort and real estate development with an eighteen-hole golf course located just north of Ocean Springs, Miss. The area provides mesmerizing backdrops whilst the waters off Old Fort Bayou host a pleasant breeze and deliver uninterrupted sunsets to boast. The golf course contains several elevated tee shots that are as scenic as they are memorable.

In April 1925, The Jackson County Times related that “C.W. Gormley (sic) has acquired additional acreage across the bayou adjoining the Applegate (sic) place for the proposed country club and golf links.” Mr. Gormly also acquired about 16 acres from H.F. Russell and son across Old Fort Bayou adjacent to the Andrew Olson place. The vision was to elevate the surrounding area to the prominence of New Orleanians by establishing a resort community.

Prior to the incorporation of Gulf Hills, the Gormlys acquired several hundred acres in the area north of Old Fort bayou, which would become a part of the development. They appear to have been working with Allan B. Crowder to consolidate about 700-acres of rolling, pine lands bordered by Bayou Puerto on the west and Old Fort Bayou to the south.

Due in part to Gormly’s determination and development plan, Gulf Hills was incorporated in the State of Mississippi in mid-September 1925 by the following men: Allan B. Crowder of Pass Christian, Miss.; William E. Applegate of Ocean Springs; Clarence W. Gormly of Ocean Springs; Ralph R. Root of Chicago, Ill.; and Harvey W. Branigar (1875-1953) of Chicago.

Development

In October 1925, Gormly and W.E. Applegate Jr. (1876-1948) traveled to Chicago to meet with the other incorporators of Gulf Hills to perfect plans for development of the property. Construction at Gulf Hills began in May 1925. At this time, a labor crew was using dynamite to clear the topography so the construction of the clubhouse and golf course could commence. By late September of that year, over 100 workers were employed to construct the golf course, club house and other improvements.

The Golf Course

By June 1925, the first nine fairways of the planned 18-hole golf course at Gulf Hills had been cleared of trees and underbrush. Golf course architect, Jack Daray (1881-1958) of Olympia Fields, Chicago, oversaw the operation. Landscape architects Root & Hollister of Chicago planned the roads, parks and clubhouse grounds. In addition to the waterfront and golf course, residential lots were surveyed and platted. Building covenants were established regarding use and cost. Homeowners had golf course privileges for themselves, their families and houseguests.

OPENING DAY-JANUARY 15, 1927

Prior to and preceding the formal opening of The Gulf Hills Country Club on January 15, 1927, the Mississippi Gulf Coast was the scene of several other grand events that same month. The Edgewater Hotel opened on January 10, followed by the formal opening of the Biloxi-D’Iberville bridge on January 12. The Tivoli Hotel, designed by Carl Mathes, opened the following month on February 19.

At Gulf Hills, several thousand people were invited to the ceremony. A 36-hole medal play golf tournament was held.

Gormly Lauded

In March 1927, Clarence W. Gormly was praised as follows: “Most credit for the success of the Mississippi Gulf Coast is due to C.W. Gormly, the genius behind Pine Hills, Gulf Hills and other developments. And now Mr. Gormly is developing Point aux Chenes, which means Point of Oaks. This will soon be a development of first importance. No one appreciative of natural beauty and a sloping white sand beach overlooking the broad expanse of the waters of the Mississippi Sound, can doubt. Mr. Gormly, inspired by the vision of this 2,000 acres in Point aux Chenes future, is fired with a pioneer spirit that has built America, is creating an earthly paradise along the white beach shores and rolling land among the stately pines, oaks and magnolia trees.” (The Jackson County Times, March 5, 1927, p. 2)

Shell Beach

Shell Beach-on-the Bay was located on the north shore of St. Louis Bay about 2 and one-half miles as the crow flies from the town of Bay St. Louis, Harrison County, Miss. In 1923-1924, at Shell Beach on-the-Bay, Gormly’s company built the Mexican Gulf Country Club, an 18-hole course with country club, for about $125,000. Root & Hollister designed and landscaped the course and environs. They would later participate in the construction of Gulf Hills. This 2000-acre picturesque, elevated tract was sold to a New Orleans syndicate represented by Latter and Blum for a sum of more than $300,000. The Mexican Gulf Country Club, a 6,500-yard par 73 golf course was included in the sale. It was anticipated that a movie studio to rival Hollywood would be located on the premises.

1934-THE BILOXI COUNTRY CLUB

In January 1934, Gormly leased the Biloxi Golf Club and planned to incorporate it as the Biloxi Country Club. The Biloxi Golf Club had been founded in May 1918, by a group of wealthy Biloxi citizens led by Edward Brady (1867-1939), John J. Kennedy (1875-1949) and Elbert L. Dukate. Its membership included such local notables as: John W. Apperson (1862-1939), Byrd Enochs (1875-1940), Lyman Bradford (1863-1944), Walter E. White (1891-1940), Louis B. Joyner (1889-1926) and James C. Elmer (1888-1920). The Biloxi Golf Club had a capital stock of $30,000, which was increased to $50,000, in March 1925.

The Biloxi Golf Club was situated on a 110-acre tract acquired from Cora E. White (1864-1934) in northwest Biloxi. Construction of the golf course commenced in mid-March 1918, under the supervision of golf professional, Jack Daray of Grand Rapids, Mich. In 1941, the course and clubhouse became integrated into the new Army Air Corps training school, which was later named Keesler Air Force Base.

Closing

The development of sparsely inhabited land by Iberian and other pioneer settlers in the mid-19th century became the creation of a well-established, sought after, historic golfing and residential community. Men like C.W. Gormly and the Branigar brothers of Chicago envisioned and erected in the mid-1920s, a fine golf course with amenities and a unique Spanish Revival architectural community situated on Old Fort Bayou. The resort was ecofriendly and in complete harmony with the natural environment and has remained so for almost a century.

Caught in the calamity of the Depression, Clarence W. Gormly and family departed the Mississippi Gulf Coast circa 1935 for south Florida. He settled in Kendall, Fla., where he worked as a salesman for the Keys Realty Company and raised fruit trees as an avocation. C.W. Gormly died in October 1957. Mrs. Eleanor M. Gormly lived until February 1962.