An Architect's View of Minnesota's Great Heritage By Jeff McDowell Bonestroo Golf

The Roaring '20s he designed bunkers with intricate capes including. He had a style that combined and bays. In Minnesota, Tillinghast the best of strategic design and glitz. He The roaring '20s was an exceptional era seemed to use a style more reminiscent of forced golfers to take risks if they wanted for American golf course development. MacDonald and Raynor - flat bottom to score well. He was one of the first archi- Dubbed the "golden age" of golf course bunkers with steep turf faces. Despite the tects to incorporate the principles of art architecture, the country saw an into golf course architecture. This unprecedented number of courses translated into big, intricate bunkers developed. During this time many with large capes and bays. of America's greatest courses were built by architects whose ideas and The Future of our Classics philosophies have stood the test of time. We're still playing champi- These courses should be treated onship golf on some of these courses with the same respect given to - Augusta National, Bethpage Black buildings designed by Frank Lloyd and Pinehurst Number 2 to name a Wright. They are examples of what few. the most creative minds in golf have Minnesota is lucky to have a produced in our backyard. The number of courses designed by the membership of these clubs should same architects responsible for be mindful that they are the keepers America's masterpieces. of Minnesota's great golfing treas- Jeff McDowell at the Old Course We have courses designed by ures. Donald Ross - Minikahda, Northland, different bunker styles, Tillinghast holes But they have a difficult task. White Bear Yacht Club, Interlachen, always make you think. He understood Technology is taking the teeth out of these Woodhill. Rochester Country Club and the principles of strategic design, and was older courses. They play considerably Golden Valley CC were designed by A.W. a master at creating dramatic shots on shorter and easier than the original Tillinghast. Seth Raynor, who was men- average terrain. design. Remodeling to keep up with tech- tored by the great C.B. MacDonald, Seth Raynor's style is the easiest to nology while retaining the classic ele- designed Midland Hills, Somerset, the identify, since he never changed. He ments is a difficult balance. University of Minnesota golf course, and designed geometric features with sharp Green committees looking into remod- Minnesota Valley (with Ralph Barton). edges and steep slopes. His courses eling should work hard to understand the And we are very fortunate to have a looked built. This shouldn't come as a sur- styles of their architects. There are books Stanley Thompson designed course at prise since Raynor was an engineer by available on nearly every prolific architect North Oaks Golf Club. trade, and wasn't a golfer. He learned to that give insights into their tendencies. Each architect had his own style he design golf courses while working for C.B. The best way to understand specifics brought to Minnesota. Donald Ross, the MacDonald on the National Golf in about each course is to find and study old most prolific designer, has a reputation for New York. On this project, MacDonald photos. A little known resource for old consistency. Ross had a gift for routing taught Raynor many "classic" design fea- aerial photos is the Borchert Map Library golf holes over the terrain. He could look tures found on 's best courses. at the University of Minnesota. They have at a contour plan, find the ideal areas for When Raynor designed courses, he photos that date back to the early 1900s. tees and greens, and then connect the dots worked these designs into the land as best If a course is lucky, members may be into 18 holes of coherent golf. Ross was as he could. When he couldn't find the able to find the original drawings. These good as any architect at using angles of topography he needed, he built the fea- drawings should be studied carefully to approach to create subtle strategic choices. tures. An often duplicated design was the understand the design intention and the Many of his best holes look plain if not Redan - a par three with a green that intended effect. easy, but leave you wondering how you slopes away from the golfer. This hole Green Committees may also find help- just made double bogey. comes from the 15th hole at North ful information from the Donald Ross Tillinghast's style is the most difficult Berwick Golf Club in Scotland. Somerset's Society, the Tillinghast Society, or the Seth to define. His curious mind and his cre- fourth hole is the best example of a Redan Raynor Society. ativity never settled on a single look. At I've seen in Minnesota. Finally, work with an architect that Bethpage Black in New York he designed Including Stanley Thompson with the understands the importance of these a course that rivaled nearby Pine Valley above architects is a bit of a stretch, since courses, and who is willing to do the with forced carries and massive bunkers. he designed North Oaks in 1951. But he research necessary to preserve the original In where George Thomas and had such a great influence on the art of architect's style. Alister MacKenzie dominated the scene, golf course architecture, I think he's worth