News

April 2, 2013

HOLLYWOOD GOLF CLUB ANNOUNCES THAT THEY HAVE SELECTED TOM DOAK’S FIRM, RENAISSANCE GOLF, TO DIRECT EFFORTS TO RESTORE TRAVIS FEATURES TO THEIR GOLF COURSE.  THE WORK IS BEING DONE IN PREPARATION OF HGC’S HOSTING OF THE U.S. WOMEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2014

March 1, 2013

NEW COURSE DRAWINGS AND VISUAL TOUR PICTURES POSTED–AND NEW TRAVIS GOLF COURSE PROJECT?

Recently, our diligent researcher, Rudy Zocchi, came across a 1922 news item in The Daily Argus with the byline, “Walter J. Travis, Noted Golfer, Goes Over Grounds and Says Place is Ideal”.    The article goes on to describe plans to build a golf course at the Bailey Park Country Club, in Mount Vernon, NY.  Travis was asked to inspect the property’s suitability for a golf course.  Nothing has been found, subsequent to that announcement, to indicate that the golf course was constructed.  We are considering the addition of Bailey Park Country Club to the listing of “consults” by Travis.  If anyone has any information about the club, please let us know.

January 22, 2013

CHECK OUT NEW MATERIAL ADDED TO THE “WHO IS TRAVIS/GOLFER” PAGE.

January 14, 2013

NEW TRAVIS CONSULTATION ADDED TO THE GOLF COURSE PROJECTS LISTING–

Recently, we received a newspaper clipping from Travis Society friend, Jim Kennedy, reporting that “A new golf course of eighteen holes and facilities….are among the possibilities in the near future at Saratoga Springs as the result of plans announced which contemplate the purchase…..of Bonnie Brook farm…just west of the Saratoga Golf Club grounds….An option for $40,000 has been secured on the property, and a number of $1,000 subscriptions have already been made……..W. J. Travis, the golf course architect was called into consultation Saturday and pronounced the Bonnie Brook farm favorable for not only one but for several eighteen-hole courses.  Last season, there was a great demand at Saratoga for a place to play golf and the nine-hole course of the Saratoga Golf Club proved far too small.”   We will conduct further searches in an effort to determine the outcome of this proposed project.  Stay tuned.

November 12,2012

TRAVIS SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS–

The Travis Society’s annual meeting was held on Saturday, November 3rd, at Orchard Park CC, in Orchard Park,NY.

Representatives from Orchard Park CC, Lookout Point CC, Pennhills Club, and Stafford CC were in attendance.

The incoming slate of officers was unanimously elected to serve in the upcoming year.  Ralph Garnish continues as President, Kevin Kulp, Vice-President/Membership, Tom Snodgrass, Secretary, Ed Homsey, Treasurer/Archivist, and Dale Schaefer, Past-President.

A major highlight of the meeting was the approval to move forward in producing a second Travis book.  It was noted that Bob Labbance had sent us a Travis Book II proposal in 2003.
A small committee was formed to undertake steps necessary to create the book, i.e. identifying writer(s), content, costs, and timeline.  Stayed tune for further developments.

April 15, 2012

CHECK OUT NEW INFO ADDED TO “GOLFER” PAGE–

We found a very interesting it from the June 3, 1916 Syracuse Herald that adds some interesting flavor to the story of Travis as a golfer.  It was inserted into the Golfer page under “Who was Travis”.

April 7, 2012

INTERESTING ARTICLE ABOUT 1912 U.S. OPEN–

The April 5th Buffalo News carried a very nice article about the current Grover Cleveland Muni course that hosted the 1912 U.S. Open when it was the Country Club of Buffalo.  The article points out the role that Walter Travis played in offering several suggestions for improvement of the course, leading up to the Open.  Below is a link to the article.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/golf/article796504.ece

A layout of the course as it existed in 1913 and presumably, in 1912, is posted on the “Course Drawings…” page, under “Who was Travis”.  That map was not drawn by Travis.                  

December 2011

MAJOR UPDATES TO TRAVIS COURSE LISTINGS                   

Thanks to the incredible amount of research by Rudy Zocchi, Jim Kennedy, Mike Cirba, Joe Bausch, Tom MacWood, and others, there have been several changes to our Travis course listings.  Documentation has been provided for adding the following courses to the “consultations” list:  Atlanta Athletic Club, Columbia Country Club, Country Club of Springfield, and Forest Park Golf Club.

Jim Kennedy found solid documentation indicating the the current Valley View Golf Club in Utica, NY, was constructed using the plans created by Walter Travis in 1916.  We had suspected this was the case, but had been unable to document it.  Newspaper articles from as recent as April 4, 1941 confirm our suspicions.

Research is continuing, and we expect further changes to the listing in the future.

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
MAJOR RENOVATIONS TAKING PLACE AT COUNTRY CLUB OF SCRANTON

The most recent report indicates bunker renovation has been completed on 7 holes at CC of Scranton.  The planning and design is overseen by Fazio Design.  For more information, check the link below that was provided by Greg Boring, Golf Course Superintendent.

www.ccscrantongreen.blogspot.com/
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SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
EXCITING NEWS FROM JEKYLL ISLAND

Rudy Zocchi, year-round resident of Jekyll Island, has provided us with copies of the Great Dunes Golf Course Restoration Concept Plan Report recently produced by Russell Golf Design.  The report provides an interesting insight into the history of the Great Dunes course and highlights the importance of restoring and preserving the Travis characteristics as a valuable, historic landmark.

It will be very interesting to see what develops from this incredible plan.  Rudy will keep us posted.