The year was 1913. In the golf world, a former caddie named Francis Ouimet shockingly won the U.S. Open over the two top players in the world, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, essentially bringing the game to “everyman”. And 1913 was also the year that the Golf Association of Philadelphia decided to get serious about promoting public golf in the city, GAP President Robert Lesley appointed a committee of the best and brightest local golf enthusiasts who had golf course construction and design experience and charged them with first finding a suitable place for a public golf course in Fairmount Park, and then to design and build it. Although the course didn’t open for play until three years later in 1916, once opened, Cobb’s Creek Golf Course instantly became acknowledged as the best and most challenging public course in the country.
One hundred years later, in 2013, the eyes of the sporting world will turn towards Philadelphia as it hosts the United States Open Golf Championship at Merion Golf Club. While still five years away, it’s easy to begin excitedly speculating as to how Tiger Woods will fare playing a course where one can still palpably feel the ghosts of golfing history walking along; a course where Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and other greats left their profound, indelible marks on the game. But probably few know the strong linkages between the greatness that is Merion, and the greatness that was Cobb’s Creek. The same visionary men like Robert Lesley and Hugh Wilson who built Merion into the landmark course and club it is today were also directly responsible for the creation of what was once the greatest course in the country open to the public; available to regular citizens of all races and social standing. It’s ironic to consider that one-hundred years later, with Merion once again in the bright public spotlight hosting the nation’s top tournament, its sister course at Cobb’s Creek, which once had its own national historic prominence, champion heroes, and tales of golfing glory, now lies hidden somewhat embarrassingly in the shadows, its own flickering specters seemingly crying out to not to be forgotten.
It is against this backdrop that we will attempt to peel back the murky veils of time and dust off the long-lost details, and hopefully uncover a story whose time has come.
The story of golf in the Philadelphia region is a rich and vibrant one. Since the game took hold in the late 19th century, the rise of prominent and successful private golf clubs throughout the surrounding suburbs has been consistent and largely one of solid growth and distinguished reputation. Certainly, from a golf course perspective, the private courses of Philadelphia read like an honor roll of the game’s greatest and most historic venues; Merion, Pine Valley, Aronimink, Huntingdon Valley, Philadelphia Cricket Club, Rolling Green, Manufacturers, Philadelphia Country Club, and on and on goes the litany of legendary playing fields that form a wonderful local heritage that places the city firmly in the storied annals of the game.
The list of the local men who designed and built these courses also reads like a who’s who of great 20th century golf course architects. Men like A.W. Tillinghast, who designed artistic and challenging courses across the country from Bethpage on Long Island to San Francisco Golf Club; like George Thomas, who also spent a good deal of his creative energies on the West Coast and built timeless tests of the game like Riviera and Los Angeles Country Club, or William Flynn, perhaps the most overlooked of all the great ones, with his monumental Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, his brilliant Midwest and southeast efforts and his handful of wonderful courses in the Delaware Valley.
Yet, even in the midst of all of this local talent, two men stand out, and ironically, based on numbers of courses each built, they were by far the least prolific of all. In fact, it would not be stretching fact to state that each man is really known for exactly one course each; Hugh Wilson for Merion East, and George Crump for Pine Valley. In the case of Crump, before recent findings, it was believed that Pine Valley was the only golf course he ever worked on, and in the case of Wilson, it was known that he also built a second course at Merion. Largely anecdotal local lore also sometimes mentioned in passing that he designed a public course for the city of Philadelphia known as Cobb’s Creek.
This is noteworthy, because as renowned as the private golf courses and clubs of the Philadelphia area are today, and have been throughout their history, the public golf courses of Philadelphia are anything but. In particular, the municipal golf courses owned by the city of Philadelphia have had a reputation through most of our lifetimes as sad, rundown, woefully maintained, crime-ridden, uninteresting, and hardly worthy of play. National and local press stories, if they mention the public courses of Philadelphia at all, are often under headlines like “Eyesore”, or “Too bad”. It truly is a tale of two cities at present; a story of inspiring sporting grandeur on the private side and one of neglect and wonderment at what sometimes seems to be an irrecoverable mess on the public side.
However, it wasn’t always that way. In fact, there was a time when public golf in Philadelphia, particularly at Cobb’s Creek, was renowned nationally, and when people lined up overnight to play and major amateur and professional tournaments were held there. There was a time when Cobb’s Creek was acknowledged as the best public golf course in the country. There was a time when great players of all races and ethnic backgrounds were fostered and developed on our local public links. There was a time when great architects and great players and other leaders of the game in the region stepped forward and offered their services and commitment to growing the game for everyone in the region.
This is an attempt to tell some of that story.
In the fall of 2007, a group interested in the design origins and architectural history of Cobb’s Creek Golf Course began gathering and researching archival information from local museums and city offices. Although Cobb’s Creek was the first of the city public courses (1916) and has almost a century of history behind it, the particulars of the golf course evolution and the men who designed it seemed vague, confusing, and even contradictory.
Much of what was understood and believed about the course in modern times was largely through anecdotal information, and although everyone seemed to agree that the golf course had changed significantly over time from what was originally built, no one seemed to know exactly how. Some said that the apartment buildings off of today’s 11th tee were once part of the course. Others mentioned that the driving range was once a military installation, and before then part of the course. Others felt that some of the holes on the Karakung course, which was opened in stages between 1927 and 1939, were originally part of the Cobb’s Creek course. Generally everyone seemed to say that Hugh Wilson of Merion fame was the designer, but no one seemed to be able to prove that fact.
The first bits of information uncovered was the receipt of a series of aerial photographs of the Cobb’s Creek Golf Course from the Dallin Collection of the Hagley Museum (Wilmington, DE) taken between 1928 and 1939 that showed the course in close to its original form. While it was difficult to tell exactly how the course was routed originally just from the aerial photographs, one bit of very interesting, surprising, and encouraging information was the fact that every one of today’s green sites seemed to have been in existence back then. Better yet, all of the green sites apparent in the aerial pictures were still in existence today. In other words, the course may have played a bit differently in terms of orientation of the holes, but by and large most of the original course still seemed to be there.
Closer study of the aerial photos indicated that a significant portion of what used to be the golf course is now the public driving range on City Line Avenue. It was learned that during World War II, the US Army annexed this portion of the property to build an ant-aircraft battery as preparation for an anticipated foreign invasion. This loss of almost 15% of the original golf course not only eliminated the par five 13th hole at the time (which ran across the land utilized by the driving range), but because of its position on the course as well as its length, the newly constricted property ultimately required a significant rerouting that also eliminated original holes 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, and shortened the 14th by almost 100 yards (today’s 9th), and replaced them with today’s holes 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, and 16. Unfortunately, some of the most nationally-renowned and most dramatically challenging holes were lost in the process and even though the re-routing was cleverly done given the acreage constraints, it could be reasonably and fairly argued that every single original hole was far superior to its new replacement.
This recent research happily led to the realization that if targeted resources and efforts were directed towards a full “restoration” of what was once renowned as the best public golf course in the country up until the Depression years, designed by Philadelphia and golf architectural legends, there is absolutely nothing known at present that would make that infeasible.
Along with the realization that the famed course could be brought back to its original brilliance, and ultimately reflect the exceptionally rare artistry and genius of the creators of Merion and Pine Valley, the research group also uncovered the following;
• The original routing blueprint and topographical map, approved by Park Superintendent Jesse Vodges in April 1915
• The fact that the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) and specifically Robert Lesley of Merion were the primary drivers and antagonists for the creation of public golf in Philadelphia.
• The fact that local media, including famed golf architect and local hero A.W. Tillinghast led a print campaign to essentially attempt to embarrass the city into building a public course.
• The fact that Hugh Wilson, George Crump, Ab Smith from Huntingdon Valley (the first Philadelphia Amateur champion), and Joseph Slattery of Whitemarsh Valley were appointed by GAP in 1913 to find a suitable site for a golf course within the 4500 acres of Fairmount Park.
• The fact that Hugh Wilson, George Crump, Ab Smith, George Klauder (Aronimink), and J. Franklin Meehan (North Hills) were appointed as “experts” by GAP in 1914 to lay out a course on the site they had previously recommended in Cobb’s Creek. This design work and subsequent construction lasted into 1916.
• The fact that Hugh Wilson spent six months on the layout of Cobb’s Creek, and Ab Smith gave much of his personal time to help lead the construction effort.
• The fact that famed Amateur Champion and prolific early golf course architect Walter Travis helped to work on the course during its later construction refinement stages.
• The fact that once Cobb’s Creek opened in 1916, the course was universally hailed, immediately popular, tremendously vibrant, intensely challenging, and an affordable, accessible training ground for future champions of all races.
• The fact that legendary sports figures like Ty Cobb and Joe Louis were regulars at Cobb’s Creek, and it was once considered a “must play” spot for visitors to the city
• The fact that Cobb’s Creek was once compared to famed Pine Valley for degree of challenge.
• The fact that the course was a leader in permitting and promoting integrated sports activities in the country.
• The fact that Cobb’s Creek hosted an amazing 80,000 annual rounds of golf in 1921, which grew to an incredible 120,000 rounds of golf by 1929. Even as late as 1940, Cobb’s Creek had more rounds than any other public course in the country.
• The fact that 1922 USGA Public Links champion Joe Coble learned the game at Cobb’s Creek, where he spent almost every waking hour that he wasn’t working as a waiter in a center city restaurant.
• The fact that Hugh Wilson remained heavily involved with Philadelphia public golf until at least 1924, (he died early in 1925) and that he and Ab Smith were appointed to a city Committee in 1922 charged with recommending additional sites for public courses (they recommended the sites of today’s Franklin Roosevelt Golf Course and Juniata Golf Course).
• The fact that it is believed in 1924 that Hugh Wilson, Ab Smith, and J. Franklin Meehan would again provide expert assistance to Park Engineer Alan Corson in the layout of the second Philadelphia municipal course at Juniata (Tacony).
• The fact that Ab Smith was responsible (along with Park Engineer Alan Corson) for the layout and creation of the second course at Cobb’s Creek, known as Karakung GC in 1927.
• The fact that the first African-American touring professional Charlie Sifford learned the game at Cobb’s Creek where he developed into a top-level player under the tutelage of other African-American golf legends like Howard Wheeler.
• The fact that Cobb’s Creek hosted the National “Negro Open” in 1947.
• The fact that Cobb’s Creek hosted the PGA tour’s Daily News Open in 1955 and 1956, which were played in by legends like Arnold Palmer and Billy Casper.
• In modern times, business mogul Donald Trump learned the game playing at Cobb’s Creek while attending Wharton School of Business in the late 1960s.
A Short History: The Rise and Decline of Public Golf in Philadelphia
1895 – The first of many requests to come to open city parkland to the playing of golf is made of the Fairmount Park Commission. It falls on deaf ears.
1900-1910 – Various related initiatives and much debate and discussion ensue, but still no public golf course.
1910-1911 – Merion Golf Club purchases a 125-acre tract of land in Ardmore. Hugh Wilson and George Crump each make extended, separate visits to play and study the great golf courses of Great Britain and Europe. From anecdotal history, we understand the Wilson spent six or seven months and that Crump spent 3 months. The following account tells us a bit more about Crump’s visit;
Mr. George A. Crump has returned from an extended golfing tour in Europe and he was delighted with the courses in general. Mr. Crump is not only a very stubborn player—and a good one too when in form, but he is also a close student of the game. Unfortunately
business has prevented his appearance recently but the future will find him more often on the links.
During his pilgrimage he played with many of the British cracks, among them Mr. John Ball, Jr., whose work greatly impressed him—not by reason of its brilliancy but because of its uniform excellence. Mr. Crump considers the course at Sunningdale one of the very best in Great Britain.
1912 – In September, the Merion Golf Club opens its new course, designed by Hugh Wilson as head of the Construction Committee appointed by Club President Robert Lesley.
George Crump purchases 184 acres of sandy wasteland in southern New Jersey and begins clearing and looking for golf holes.
1913 – In January at the annual meeting of GAP, President Robert Lesley appoints a Committee of top golfers who have some golf course construction experience to survey Fairmount Park and suggest appropriate sites for a public golf course. The Committee includes Hugh Wilson, George Crump, A.H. Smith, and Joseph Slattery. Resolutions are passed and the issue is again raised with the city, this time with more fervor and detail.
George Crump and a group of friends that includes A.H. Smith, Robert Lesley, W.P. Smith, and George Thomas as Charter Members create Pine Valley Golf Club. H.S. Colt visits onsite with Crump for a week to explore the possibilities and work on the routing. Over time, virtually every prominent American architect practicing in the game ventured to Pine Valley to offer advice and suggestions including C.B. Macdonald, Walter Travis, William Fownes, Hugh Wilson, George Thomas, and A.W. Tillinghast.
With the rapid success of the first course, Merion Golf Club appoints Hugh Wilson to layout another course on a property further west.
After a more modest proposal for a nine-hole course in Belmont is rejected, The GAP Committee of Wilson, Crump, Smith, and Slattery recommend a 91-acre site in Cobb’s Creek Park for the building of a public golf course.
1914 – Eleven holes at Pine Valley open for play. In May of that year, Hugh Wilson’s Merion West opens, as well. Still no real progress is made on the GAP Committee’s recommendations for a public golf course in Cobb’s Creek. Hugh Wilson designs Seaview for financier and GAP executive committee member Clarence Geist.
In the meantime, the rest of the world stands at the brink of World War I and Britain declares war on Germany in August.
1915 – In January, Seaview opens for play. The Hugh Wilson routing is identical to today’s Bay course. Hugh Wilson also undertakes significant design renovation work at Philmont and North Hills Country Clubs, helping friends Ellis Gimbel and J. Franklyn Meehan.
In January, GAP releases the good news that the Cobb’s Creek tract has been approved and President Robert Lesley appoints a team of “experts”, top golfers with course design and construction experience, to layout the course for the city. The group included Hugh Wilson, A.H. (Ab) Smith, George Crump, and George Klauder. Their plan is approved in mid-April by Fairmount Park Chief Engineer Jesse T. Vodges.
Construction begins at Cobb’s Creek in April with plans for a fall opening. By accounts, both Hugh Wilson and Ab Smith are heavily involved in the detailed construction process, and seemingly George Klauder, as well. Plans for a fall opening are thwarted as the course is just not yet ready agronomically. At some point in the fall and up into the next year, Walter Travis gets involved with his Philadelphia friends at Cobb’s Creek, likely helping with final construction and agronomic details. His competitive playing days waning, he looks towards architecture. It is likely that George Crump is not heavily involved in the construction details of Cobb’s Creek at this point as his project in New Jersey has basically become his life and although 14 holes are now open, he is having serious agronomic problems of his own. Or, perhaps he travels up periodically with Walter Travis, giving him a break from the rigors and isolation of his Pine Valley efforts.
1916 – In January, Merion is awarded the country’s top tournament, the U.S. Amateur, which is a stunning achievement for a course just a few years old. Hugh Wilson and William Flynn begin working on a few holes to strengthen them for the top players.
At this time, it is also believed but never validated that Hugh Wilson designed a nine-hole course for Phoenixville Country Club.
In May, Cobb’s Creek opens for play to both critical and popular success. It is hailed as the finest public course in the country and it proves extremely challenging. Original ideas to create additional “artificial hazards” such as further bunkering are likely deemed unnecessary.
In what had been a glorious year for Philadelphia golf, Merion hosted the U.S. Amateur in September, won by Chick Evans. The architecture of the course was generally very well-received, even though several road crossings were questioned.
There is little word out of Pine Valley, and it is likely that agronomic problems continue.
1917 – A USGA proposal asserting that anyone doing golf design work for pay will lose their cherished amateur status causes uproar among the men who build courses either for pay or for love of game. A January Philadelphia Inquirer article happens to mention all of the men who were involved with the layout of the course at Cobb’s Creek including A.W. Tillinghast. It appears from his report in February that the Cobb’s Creek course was not without some growing pains of its own;
February 1917
A GREAT DEAL of criticism is being leveled at the public course of Philadelphia at Cobb's Creek. Some contend that while most of the holes are for a good test of the game, they nevertheless, are not open enough for the requirements of a public links.
But it is not the course itself which is proving unsatisfactory so much as its government. It is contended that the fees which are demanded are greatly in excess of those which the real public may afford. As it is now Cobb's Creek offers opportunities to those golfers of Philadelphia who have been members of other clubs but who take advantage of the privileges of the public courses because it is less expensive than the regular organizations. The chief argument which made Philadelphia's public course possible brought forth the fact that there were thousands of working people in the city, who would play golf if they might do it inexpensively.
At present, these very people seem to be quite remote from golf as ever before. Certainly the Park Commissioners have made a number of ignorant blunders. Such bungling is inexcusable for the Commission might have the advice of those who really know the game, but evidently they have resented too much poaching on their preserve.
The Quaker City was among the last of America's big cities to build a public course, and it is to be regretted that it seems to be the last to realize the true significance of one. For a number of years requests for the building of a public course were unheeded. Probably the ridicule and badgering of the press did more to secure the course than years of supplication.
Possibly a bit of the same medicine might be a good thing at this time.
April 1917
THE PUBLIC links at Cobb's Creek took a long while to build, principally because the Philadelphia Council and the Park Commissioners could not make up their minds to build them. Since the Municipal course was opened there have been many whisperings of displeasure and assertions that the real public was not being given due consideration. Charges for lockers and incidentals have been deemed excessive and ever since the opening of the course an unseemly number of players, already associated with club courses, crowded the course to the exclusion of the humble working man.
No public institution can be free of criticism, but undoubtedly the conduct of the Cobb's Creek Public Course has not been free from blunderings. This is unfortunate and it is to be hoped that the committee in charge will take proper steps to remedy the evils. Bickerings not only bring the public course before the public unfavorably, but certainly they do the game of golf no good. Unpleasant things may be written about golf and all other sports and all other happenings of life, for that matter, but certainly nothing can be gained by unnecessary publicity.
However, if the Cobb's Creek Public Course is not being governed and conducted as it should be, the Park Commission should be advised by the heads of Philadelphia golf and above all else no stone should be left unturned to provide a golf course for the people of Philadelphia who cannot afford a membership in a golf club and these public privileges should be offered with as little expense as may be possible.
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