Glencoe, ILLINIOS
On-going consultation
DESCRIPTION
JDR has been appointed as consulting golf course architect for this historic club on Chicago's North Shore. Founded in 1908, Lake Shore CC is really a one of kind when it comes to their golf pedigree. The original layout came at the hands of Frederick Law Olmsetad's firm with primary involvement by Olmsetad's son, Frederick Law Olmsetad, Jr. Although more known for their their park designs and treatment of open spaces, Olmstead, Jr. (his father was referred to as the Father of Landscape Architecture) was heavily involved here with the planned treatment of the overall property.
Initially, there was insufficient land area to accommodate and 18-hole course. Additional property was acquired and the Olmsteads went to work. History suggests that they may have had some help from golf architect Tom Bendelow in 1909. Bendelow, a.k.a. "The Johnny Appleseed of American Golf" was certainly skilled in the laying out of holes, with over 700 golf courses to his credit, but he rarely stayed around long enough to implement much detail or to see the course through construction. The course was initially crafted with great sensitivity to the site and uniquely positioned the clubhouse across Sheridan Road to face Lake Michigan and included an underground tunnel beneath the road to connect with the course. Lake Shore Country Club would open initially for play in 1912.
In or around 1918, the club appointed renowned golf course architect, Donald Ross, to fashion a plan to improve the layout. We are fortunate to have copies of those plans, which apparently received limited implementation at the time. The course would receive further influence in 1971 by Chicago-based golf architects Bob Lohmann and Dick Nugent. Then in 2004, the course received more of a historic facelift by noted golf course restorationist, Ron Prichard. Prichard's influence would continue until 2020 as he was winding up his professional career.
Our hope is to continue to advise the club going forward in its efforts for continued improvement and to preserve the innate simplicity of the site and it's Golden Age architectural qualities.
PEDIGREE
Architectural influence by F.L. Olmstead, Jr., T. Bendelow, D. Ross, B. Lohmann/D. Nugent and R. Prichard