Inglewood Golf Club
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Inglewood – Seattle’s New Course
Pacific Golf and Motor Magazine - July 1922
By A. Vernon Macan
The
site
selected for the
Inglewood Golf Club of Seattle while as beautiful scenically as one could desire, scarcely looked promising from a golfing standpoint. The ground had been logged off many years ago. Unfortunately at that time no one stopped to consider that some day the ground would be converted into a golf course, or possibly they might have left a few of the better trees standing to add to the beauty of the course.
The contour of the ground, however, divides many of the fairways up into separate entities, which always seems to me so desirable a feature in any course. At the north and south ends of the ground there are still some fine clumps of timber and when more trees are planted through the course, the beauty of the ground will be considerably increased.
The work of laying out the course was entrusted to
Bob Johnstone, Seattle's veteran professional, and the writer. Like every piece of ground, which, as Bob explained, the Lord always intended for a golf course, the lie of many of the holes was there for all to see. I found it extremely difficult to get over the ground; indeed, at times I sat down wearily on a log while Bob went off on a tour of investigation through the brush, with difficulty climbing over the fallen timber in an endeavor to locate the path of some ravine or find out if there was a convenient knoll on which to place a green. After many days of this sort of thing, we finally had the general lay-out of the course visualized, but before it was possible to design our greens, or even decide on their exact location, it was necessary to await the completion of the clearing.
This was an enormous undertaking, and at times seemed almost impossible of accomplishment. A large camp was established on the ground. This was a most expensive but necessary process and very soon we found the treasury had been depleted to the extent of some $50,000, and our golf course seemed as far away as ever. Though the ground appeared like a shell-riddled portion of “No Man's Land”, the worst was, in fact, over. We then designed and located our greens, most of which required considerable grading. Here I would say that when much grading is required on greens, the continued personal supervision of an architect is desirable. There is not much wrong with the grading of the greens at Inglewood, but there are minor alterations and finishing touches I would have made if I had been continually with the work, or been able to spend more time on the ground. Grading, to be perfect, should present a natural appearance, and while it may be more expensive obtaining this result, as it entails the movement of more soil, it is an expense that is more than justified by results.
In the actual lie of the holes we have, of course, made mistakes; few courses are without them, but fortunately our mistakes can be easily rectified. The membership is enthusiastic to get the best that can be got out of the ground, and the management of the course has been entrusted to the care of
Dr. C. B. Ford. Its present condition is a fitting monument to his handiwork. Inglewood is hilly - some might consider too hilly - but it provides golf of a most romantic description. Some of the two- shotters are truly magnificent. I should pick out the first, sixth and ninth (10, 15 and 18) for special mention; the sixth especially being my favorite. When the bunkering is completed and the left-hand side of the raised green it will have no superior, if an equal, on the Pacific Coast, as a specimen of a long two-shotter. Slightly up hill, the tee shot is played across a ravine, which then runs along the left of the fairway. The shot is very slightly doglegged and the carry must be long if a flat lie is to be obtained for the second shot, for which a brassie 
will generally be necessary. The green is situated on a plateau. Trouble awaits slices or hooks, and tops have little chance of getting very far owing to the undulating nature of the ground. The green is beautifully situated, backed by some very fine timber. From the tee every portion of the fairway will be in view. Once the green, which is large, has been reached, the putting should present no great difficulty.
There are four one-shotters, varying in length from 150 to 220 yards, the fifteenth (6) is the especial joy of many. It is a somewhat alarming looking shot played to an island green and is naturally trapped in front by a ravine. The other one-shotters will, however, turn out thoroughly interesting when the bunkering scheme is completed,
There is but one three-shotter, the sixteenth (7), which is somewhat devoid of natural feature, and requires a lot of bunkering. Indeed there are few bunkers anywhere. The course is, however, by no means 'easy and will, I believe, in a few years' time, when it has reached a further state of development, prove a worthy test for any champion.
We have not yet in the Northwest reached a stage of development when we properly realize how difficult a course must be if it is to rank among the best, The Ingle wood directorate desire, however, to be the foremost in the field of advancement, and I consequently have hopes that they will, in time, possess a course trapped as severely as the best in the East. The possibilities are there. Of that there is no shadow of doubt. I have implicit faith that those possibilities will be realized to the full.
I give the approximate length of the holes. The permanent tees have not yet been laid down, but it is our intention to design several tees for each hole, so that the length of the shots to the green may be varied from time to time, or at the longer two-shotters their character, in the winter months, may be preserved by cutting down their length. I believe that with the possible exception of short holes, winter tees should be provided with this idea in view.
The funds available not being unlimited, Inglewood wisely decided to bring its course to perfection before indulging in an extravagant clubhouse. Such accommodation as there is admirably answers their purpose - locker rooms and showers, two large rooms available for dining, rooms or dances and a delightful veranda that is in great demand for teas and luncheons in the summer time,
Some fifty acres of surplus land, much of it on the waterfront of Lake Washington, has been divided up into community property, and has all been taken up by the members, some of whom have already erected summer cottages. Boating and bathing will add another attraction, tennis courts will, in due course, be laid down so that as a country club Inglewood will be complete. The distance by road from Seattle is twelve miles, but those fortunate enough to possess powerboats will be able to reach Inglewood from Seattle by water. While this may not appeal to the more enthusiastic golfers, as being too slow a method of reaching the happy hunting ground, it must add an additional charm to Inglewood as a country club.
With so fine a course and such an ideal location its future is assured. Next year the handicap section of the
Pacific Northwest Championship will be staged at Inglewood. Every effort will be made to bring the course up to as high, a state of development as possible. Many traps will be added, grass tees laid down and some few minor alterations effected. I look for a general chorus of approval of the course, its condition and location. Time is, of course, required to bring the course to maturity, but even now Inglewood will provide a fine test and must always be interesting, the latter two qualities by no means being synonymous. Even at the present it has no superior in the Northwest, and must always remain one of our courses that it is worth anyone’s visit.
The score card of the course reads as follows:
Length Par Bogey Length Par Bogey
1. 400 yds. 4 5 10 440 yds. 5 5
2. 350 yds. 4 4 11. 390 yds. 4 5
3. 150 yds. 3 3 12. 320 yds. 4 4
4. 400 yds. 4 4 13. 360 yds. 4 4
5. 420 yds. 4 5 14. 420 yds. 4 5
6. 450 yds. 5 5 15. 180 yds. 3 3
7. 170 yds. 3 3 16. 530 yds. 5 5
8. 360 yds. 4 4 17. 220 yds. 3 4
9. 450 yds. 5 5 18. 430 yds. 4 5
Total 3150 yds. 36 38 Total 3290 yds. 36 40
Total – 6440 yards Par 72.
(the current #2 was shorter and a par 4 in this July 1922 plan.)
Vision
Statement
Embracing its rich Northwest golf tradition, it is the vision of Inglewood Golf Club to instill and preserve the spirit of the game in each golfer, by providing an outstanding test of golf, superior course conditions, quality golf programs and services that resonate excellence