The Grounds- Lesson 1: Old Tom Morris - Walker Simas
Introduction
Hello TIE loyalists, it’s good to be back. The last few months I have been largely on the execution side of our programming- focused on delivering visuals for Henry’s “Top 25 Courses of Christmas”, “Boxing Day Special” showcasing Old Barnwell vs. Tree Farm, Henry’s “Eclectic 18 of South Carolina”, and “Four for Twenty Four- The 4 Golf Courses I Most Want To Play This Year”.
First of all, I hope you enjoyed them. Since December, Henry gave us a look into 35+ golf courses, comparing them against each other and amongst their peers. So as I kicked around ideas for this series, it was clear that ranking or comparing courses is not additive to our product. It got me thinking… can we not add a layer that enriches it?
A New Series: The Grounds
The adept and the novice golfer perceive golf course design differently. Shouldn't they? It beckons a fundamental question: What defines a golf course as great if both savants and dabblers can discern its value?
Take the golfing pie, where most of us most of us carry inexperienced games. Golf, akin to any sport, shares this commonality. Yet, it stands apart; its stage is unique. Who, then, bears the responsibility of crafting this playing field? A dance begins, where a designer must either be an adept player or comprehend one intimately. They must also convince a team to help them do what cannot be done alone.
With this thought in mind, I embark on a journey to unveil the minds and stories behind golf course architecture. Our starting point? Those who laid the foundation – the architects who not only played the game with proficiency, but elevated it for others.
Now, golf, with its peculiar new board for every game, demands more than a solo savant. A solitary understanding of the game won't suffice. A team of skilled minds, united in their reverence for the elements, is imperative for excellence to take place- a challenge as pertinent today as it was in the eras we explore here.
For these reasons, we unveil a stellar lineup:
Old Tom Morris, James Braid, Willie Park Jr., Herbert Leeds, Walter Travis, John Henry Taylor, George Crump, Walter Harban, George Thomas, Bobby Jones, Donald Ross, and the living legend, Ben Crenshaw.
These are 12 minds that comprehended the essence of design – a pact with nature, challenges that both thrill and accommodate, a symphony of holes that squeezes the very essence from the land, and an enduring legacy that stands the test of time. They also happen to be great players.
Lesson 1: Old Tom Morris
Let’s rewind to the 19th century, where Scotland was undergoing a Victorian makeover—cobblestone streets giving way to industry, if you will. The middle and upper crusts were swapping tea sipping for leisure pursuits, and in this shuffle, golf shed its kilted past to become the people's sport.
If this painting is even half-realistic, it’s a masterpiece. Public sentiment around this time shifted away from public executions, but I’m sure somebody made a four footer to literally “stay alive”.
Enter St Andrews, the epicenter of this cultural tectonic shift. As the demand for leisure increased, golf, with its mix of skill and sociability became the darling of Victorian society. St Andrews, with its natural, gently undulating landscape, set the stage for this newfangled pastime, tapping into Victorian desires for health, camaraderie, and a better connection to nature.
* before the release of the iPhone
Now, picture this: 1821, a weaver's son named Old Tom Morris. He kicked off as a caddie (the unsung heroes of the links), and at 14, he hitched his future to Allan Robertson, the original golf pro, as a mentor. But Robertson, a ball maker and a bit of hard-ass, sacked (fired) Old Tom over a ball dispute when Tom abandoned the “featherie” for a “guttie”. No matter, Old Tom brushed it off and sauntered over to Prestwick, signaling the start of his golfing saga as a designer, mentor, and player.
The move to Prestwick wasn’t just a change of scenery. Old Tom took on a deeper role of a designer, groundskeeper, coach, and event host. He did more than that- from selling equipment to inventing topdressing, but the whole point of this article is to be quick and thrifty- so on we go.
His knack for creating experiences that resonated with players laid the foundation for what we now know as The Open Rota. He was, for lack of a better term, a tastemaker who could not only critique the juice but also grow the grapes, harvest them, crush, press, ferment, clarify, age, and bottle better than anyone in the land.
OT played a central role in creating and growing The Open Championship. His triumphs (wins) in 1864 and '67, coupled with the annual playing of the event till the age of 75, mirrored the number of his designs. It wasn’t just about personal victories; it was Old Tom stitching traditional Scottish golf into the fabric of the global game.
Conclusion
We’ve often talked about the ‘lead domino’ regarding the first course that peaks one's interest in golf course architecture and design. As the oldest in this series, Old Tom set the stage for a domino effect where he created the foundation which many would benefit from later down the road.
As we stand on the shoulders of giants like Old Tom Morris, we explore the culture, competition, and architecture that define our game and lives, stitching together the threads of tradition and innovation. This is not just a trip down memory lane—it's a nod to the roots of our passion for golf course architecture.
