JEFFERSON PARK GOLF COURSE
“First Muni west of Chicago celebrating 100 years May 12, 2015”
In the spring of 1903 the University of Washington regents hired the renowned landscaping firm – the Olmstead Brothers of Brookline Massachusetts to develop a comprehensive plan for the grounds. John Olmstead undertook the project on behalf of his famous father. His plan so impressed the Regents and the Seattle Park Commissioners the Seattle Parks Board hired him to create a comprehensive plan for Seattle’s parklands.
John followed his father’s philosophy. “ Parks should be a basic component of any urban development. The parks should be adapted to the local topography, utilize the area’s trees and shrubs, and be adapted to the entire community.”
The final draft of the Olmstead park report passed Seattle City Council on November 16th, 1903. This report formed the basic development for the City’s park system over the next several decades. The plan focused on Seattle’s beautiful lakes, ravines, waterways, and hills. In the report Olmstead set aside a tract of land and actually designed a municipal nine-hole golf course. The property became known as Jefferson Park. The Park Commissioners delegated the Municipal golf course idea to E.C.Cheasty and Sherwood Gillespy. Under their leadership and tenacity the two brought municipal golf to Seattle. To recognize Gillespy’s contribution to municipal golf in Seattle a fountain was dedicated to him on March 7, 1915.
By presenting bond issues to the Seattle electorate the Park Commissioners expand the number of acres and developed the existing property. In June 1912 the Park Commissioners purchased an additional forty acres to expand Jefferson Park to one hundred six acres. Immediately the Board searched for a qualified person to layout an eighteen-hole golf course. Following the standard method for laying out courses at this time in the Northwest the Commissioners turned to the local Scottish professional available, Robert Johnstone, from North Berwick Scotland and professional at the prestigious Seattle G&CC.
Left – Right : F.L.Fuller, Robert Johnstone, N.E.McGillis, J.W.Thompson
The Park Superintendent J W Thompson and Johnstone walked the property to create the new course. The City Engineer McGillis created the course drawing from Johnstone’s advise.
Note: The drawing shows no dog-leg holes because the concept had not been introduced yet. A.V.Macan used the first dog-leg hole at Royal Colwood, Victoria BC in 1913.
“The Board authorized the laying out of an eighteen hole golf course in Jefferson Park on the east side of Beacon Avenue. The land, over 100 acres in the area has practically all been cleared and grubbed and it is expected the course will be available for play May 1, 1913.” Seattle Daily Times October 9th, 1912
Clearly the Board wanted the course constructed but their plans exceeded realty. One obstacle became apparent immediately – the removal of the isolation hospital. This hindrance remained a problem until the fall of 1914 when the City Council finally approved the removal and construction of a new facility.
“ Seattle doing its share to popularize golf.”
“Spread the religion of golf say the Scotch. It is the noblest game in the world. Let it be known to the uttermost parts of the universe that golf is prejudice to nationality, creed, color, poverty, or riches. Thousands and tens of thousands who have embraced this religion are happy that they have come to knowledge of it. New converts are being added like the snowball that increases its size the farther it travels. Seattle is doing its share magnificently in this direction. More than 600 acres in these urban and suburban lands are now devoted to golf in this city. In addition to, two regularly organized clubs maintain links in the city has a public course well under way and the University of Washington has had a course laid out for it by the Seattle Board of Parks Commissioners.” Seattle Daily Times April 27, 1913.
On October 5, 1913 the Seattle Daily Times provided the first glimpse of the new muni course for “the first public links west of Chicago”. The Times report John H. Dreher, Park Superintendent Thompson and Seattle G&CC professional R Johnstone toured the property.
“The southern part of the course is devoted to the first nine and the northern end to the second nine holes of the links. The front nine will be the short nine – all told the total yardage of 6000. All but two of the fairways #2 and #3 have been cleared and seeded with a mixture of Kentucky Blue and white clover and Italian rye. All the putting greens with the exception of #’s 2,3,9,11,12,17, and 18 have been made and seeded in two fescues, a creeping bent and a protective seed. Over the cleared fairways and greens a half-ton roller has impressed the grass seed into the earth and straw covers the seedlings.
Over the course the party walked, and Johnstone suggested bunkers be placed to protect the greens. It was pathetic to see him ask for the removal of a number of dogwood, madrona and evergreen trees along the fairways but they had been left and would prove a penalty to perfect golf.
The ravine on the 6th will make this hole one of the best, if not the best hole on the course. The tee is placed up against the southern edge of the ravine, and across the opening a 180-yard drive will land one directly in the center of the fairway. The lesser the attempted the carry, of course, the father off direction, until, if one is temperamentally affected by the yawning ravine, he finds he must play a perfect dogleg with an extra 100 yards added to a 470-yard hole.
There are so many good holes that one hesitates to stop at describing # 6 only. For instance #11 is 450 yards along a side hill all the way; #’s 13,17,and 18 offer some the most beautiful drives imaginable, and the latter two holes are patterned greatly after the 18th hole of the Seattle GC.
In a word, the first nine holes are played on level ground mostly, but with plenty of natural hazards while the second nine is as rolling, if not more so, than the ground found on the 14th, 15th, and 18th hole of the Seattle GC.
To the golf enthusiast the new city links situated but fifteen minutes from Pioneer Place seems almost to good to be true. The opening date June 1, 1914 says Superintendent Thompson.” Seattle Daily Times October 5, 1913
As the opening date approached several contentious issues surfaced: the removal of the isolation hospital, whether to charge green fees or free golf, the need for a clubhouse, someone to oversee the daily operation of the course, the further widening of the fairways.
Green fees or free golf
The opponents of the green fee charge based their argument on the fact that tennis players paid no fees. Participants on the various teams utilizing the many playing fields paid no fees. Proponents of charging a fee argued the maintenance cost for a golf course exceeded the costs for playing fields. The turf for the golf course required a higher standard of care, for example, the greens.
A downturn in the economy in 1913 caused a reduction in tax revenues flowing to the Parks Board. These economic conditions forced the Commissioners to search for funding; they decided a green would be charged to pay for the maintenance costs.
Clubhouse
The original clubhouse was destroyed by fire on December 1, 1919.
The Commissioners decided the facility could not operate without a clubhouse. They voted to construct a structure that allowed for future expansion. Golfers would be charged a fee for the use of the building including locker rental fees.
“A club house combining beauty, serviceability, and completeness of detail will be erected at once at the municipal links. Work starts tomorrow on the clubhouse and the plans of Charles H. Bebb, one of the foremost architects of the Pacific Northwest are the lines along which the construction will proceed. The Park Commissioners adopted the Bebb plans, which were worked out in every detail. By Architect Bebb in person; for he is a golfer, being a member of the Seattle GC and he knew what was needed and applied this knowledge to his work.” Seattle Daily Times March 29, 1914.
As the planned opening date on Thanksgiving weekend neared further problems arose. The City still had not started construction on a replacement for the isolation hospital, Johnstone wanted additional fairways widened to make the course easier for beginning golfers, a watering system for the greens and fairways, and who would operate the course. On December 1, 1914 the City finally approved the construction of a new hospital in Firland. Finally construction could begin on the 2nd and 3rd holes.
The Parks Board advertised nationally for a professional/greenskeeper:
“A golf instructor, at least 30 years old, at a salary of $75 a month plus fees for private instruction is sought to fill a vacancy existing in the park department to take charge of the Jefferson Park Municipal Golf Course on Beacon Hill to be formally opened to the public on Thanksgiving Day. A written examination relating principally to the to the game of golf must be taken. In addition to being able to instruct novices in the game of golf, the instructor must be able to care for the course, construct bunkers and do a lot of the things that the average golfer is not required to do.” Seattle Daily Times October 18, 1914.
Finally on November 22, 1914 the Parks Commissioners announced the course would not open until spring 1915. In their haste to open the course to the eager public golfers the course still lacked several essentials: mats for the tees, a water hole, Johnstone wanted additional widening of some fairways, the grass was still too immature for play, a golf professional/greenskeeper, and a club to operate the tournaments for the players.
Jim Barnes and Robert Johnstone made their final tour of the course in December 1914 prior to Barnes’ departure for his eastern appointment.
“While the average golf course always looks too narrow as to the fairways when the course in the process of making and while the two architects recognize this tendency yet with the objective of having a good getaway they will have the 1st and 2nd widened even further. The 9th comes close to the 1st tee and the 9th fairway too will be widened to take play away from the 1st tee. Several other fairways were recommended for widening.”
At the close of the visit Barnes remarked with glowing compliments regarding the location of the course.
“There never was a golf course more beautifully positioned. Bob have you ever seen anything more beautiful in your life? Look at the panorama view of the Cascades, Lake Washington, the downtown buildings, and toward the Puget Sound and the Olympics. Many a golf club would give a million dollars for this location.”
After newly appointed Park Commissioner George Lamping visited the course for the first time he declared the links lacked a water hole. Upon his insistence the engineers designed a water hazard for unlucky # 13. About 100 yards from the tee the crews filled a deep depression in the fairway with water. A pulled ball would land in the drink and a sliced shot would land the ball on a sloping fairway causing the ball to roll into the hazard.
As the spring arrived in 1915 the Commissioners held tight on making any additional announcements for the official opening of the course. In April the Board appointed Joe Jefferson, the brother of Phil Jefferson professional at Everett G&CC, as their man in charge of the course. Also in April the Park Board approved the formation of the Jefferson Park Golf Club following the same set-up as the Jackson Park Golf Club in Chicago. Jackson Park’s long existence and successful operation encouraged the Commissioners to follow their model. Immediately the new club formed greens, handicap, and house committees to oversee the day-to-day operations. In May the Commissioners set the fee schedule for the course.
Annual fee to include green, locker and bath $12
Annual green fee privileges alone $6
Monthly green fee privileges $2
Daily green $.50
Single round $.25
Finally on May 2, 1915 the Board of Park Commissioners announced the Jefferson Park Golf Course would open to the public on Wednesday May 12th, 1915. Mayor Hiram Charles Gill, who had never hit a golf ball in his life, gave the dedicatory speech. The speech was a dandy but the half midiron shot left much to be desired. Commissioner George Lamping outlined the history of the course praising the late E.C. Cheastey for his dedication to the completion of the project. George Lamping, G.W. Fisher, Gerald Frink, and Howard Allen Jr. formed the first foursome to tee off at the course. The crowd followed the foursome that included a match between Robert Johnstone, the Seattle GC professional and partner local amateur Jack Ballinger against George Tilden, Seattle GC champion and Chester Horton, the University of Washington professional. The Johnstone-Ballinger team won 1-up in the best ball match.
The success of the course
YEAR # OF PLAYERS LARGEST DAY # OF DAYS OPEN
1916 49,118 April 22 418 players 312
1917 50,011 May 30 418 players 357
1918 50,865 May 26 427 players 361
1919 66,392 Sept 1 589 players 360
1920 43,342 Sept 6 509 players 263
The municipal links proved to be such a success that muni courses soon opened Upriver and Dpwnriver in Spokane and Eastmoreland in Portland. The success of the Jefferson Park Golf Club as a training ground for future champions is best shown with “The Big Four” or the “Jefferson Park Lads”. The group included Bon Stein, Clark Spiers, Claire Griswald and Lee Steil. In 1919 the Jefferson Park Gang showed their skills by winning the prestigious Davis Cup team championships at the PNGA Championships. During the championship week the group scooped the silverware. Griswald won the Men’s Championship defeating gang member Speirs. In the qualifying he defeated Portland star Rudie Wilhelm for the medal. By 1921 the local clubs had dismantled the gang with Bon Stein and Lee Steil joining Seattle GC, Clark Speirs adding credibility to the fledgling Inglewood Club, and Clair Griswald moving to the Portland GC.
Congratulations to the Jefferson Park Golf Course and Jefferson Park Golf Club on the 100th anniversary on May 12th, 2015
Course Scorecard 1936
Course description
Hole #1: The 1st tee is almost opposite the clubhouse across Beacon avenue, and the hole is due south a distance of 400 yards
Hole #2: Continues along Beacon avenue is 300 yards from the tee.
Hole #3: The shortest of the eighteen covers fifty yards and the drive is to the east over a slight uphill country
Hole #4: Bordered on both sides by the rough making it quite easy for players to find trouble without exerting much effort, and is in the northwest of the tee and is 370 yards in length,
Hole # 5:
Hole # 6: The most difficult of the lot, directly in front of the tee is a sloping ravine which seems to hold a perennial invitation to weak and wayward balls. The distance across is 100 yards. To circle the ravine will incur a loss of about eighty yards, but this course will undoubtedly prove the most popular with the beginners, as the prospect of clearing the rough does not appear very promising from the tee. The hole is the longest covering 500 yards on a parallel with the east line of the park.
Hole # 7: The seventh is one of the short holes on the course, but one of the most interesting to play. It is 200 yards in length.
Hole # 8: The player plays near the big turn on the Jefferson boulevard and is 430 yards from tee to green.
Hole # 9: Where the flag is invisible from the tee, the player will all be able to aim their balls at the same spot – the peak of the L.C. Smith building.
Hole # 10: Extends across the middle of the course from west to east a distance of 200 yards.
Hole # 11: Is another one of the long stretches affording ground for all kinds of golf. The length is 450 yards extending to the northeast corner of the tract.
Hole #12: Due west 300 yards is one of the most attractive on the course.
Hole # 13: Leads the player 350 yards to the southeast the green being on an elevation.
Hole #14: The green is just off the 12th fairway on an elevation and is 350 yards.
Hole # 15: Returning to the north a distance of 350 yards.
Hole # 16: A short 200 yards.
Hole # 17: Is 400 yards to the northeast, is on the downgrade, presenting the opportunity to secure lengthy drives, which is the player’s delight.
Hole #18: Is a little more than 400 yards has almost a level fairway and borders on Beacon Avenue returning the player to the starting point.