Donald Ross Documentary: "Discovering the Legend"

[mvmac]

I'd rather watch this than a lot of "Hollywood" golf movies.

 

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2015/12/13/review-discovering-the-legend-film-donald-ross.html

Quote

Cob Carlson wrote, produced, directed and edited Donald Ross: Discovering The Legend. This loving two-hour documentary is a combination of classic life story and architectural analysis accurately depicting the incredible journey made by the Dornoch-born Scotsman. 

Carlson's film surprises at key moments both early and late in the documentary with its telling of Ross's courageous journey to America, the tragic passing of his first wife and later, his fiance, followed by his late-in-life years of reflections. Aided by strong guest cameos (Nicklaus, Crenshaw) and the reading of letters from Ross's great grandson, Discovering The Legend manages to capture the magnitude of Ross's impact on American golf. More profound than his architectural career is his classic immigrant story and the powerful reminder that so many made courageous journeys to the United States with little more than the tools of their trade.

 

[vangator]

This sounds excellent!  I'll definitely check it out.

I have two Donald Ross courses about 10 - 15 minutes from my house.  Bellaire Country Club (oldest in Fla I believe)  and Belleview Biltmore Golf Club.  Both are semi-private, somewhat expensive course (except summers).  One of his trade marks are small, crowned, elevated greens.  Major pains in the a$$.  Will really test your short game.

[nevets88]

This is an extra scene available from the website. Thank you POTUS #32 for Bethpage.

It won't let you embed it here, so here's the link to it.

 

[caniac6]

Where can this be watched? When I was in the turf program at NC State, I worked at Raleigh Country Club, which was the last course Ross built. He actually died before it was completed, and Ellis Maples finished the course. Back in the early 90s it had fallen on some hard times, and it was in ok shape, but the layout was great. Very good par3s, and a great mix of long and short holes. It is now owned by Mc Connell Golf, and is in great shape. One of the most fun courses I've ever played.

[mcanadiens]

It's been said that Donald Ross designed our local muni, Miami Shores GC. I like it, but Shores seems like a far cry from Pinehurst No. 2. Oddly, the course's actual web page doesn't even mention it, but other web pages do. None the less, it would be neat if there is some kind of reference to it in the documentary.

 

[nevets88]

26 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

Where can this be watched? When I was in the turf program at NC State, I worked at Raleigh Country Club, which was the last course Ross built. He actually died before it was completed, and Ellis Maples finished the course. Back in the early 90s it had fallen on some hard times, and it was in ok shape, but the layout was great. Very good par3s, and a great mix of long and short holes. It is now owned by Mc Connell Golf, and is in great shape. One of the most fun courses I've ever played.

Buy the DVD.

[boogielicious]

18 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

It's been said that Donald Ross designed our local muni, Miami Shores GC. I like it, but Shores seems like a far cry from Pinehurst No. 2. Oddly, the course's actual web page doesn't even mention it, but other web pages do. None the less, it would be neat if there is some kind of reference to it in the documentary.

 

Donald Ross was like the Johnny Appleseed of course designers. His course are everywhere.

[mcanadiens]

57 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

Donald Ross was like the Johnny Appleseed of course designers. His course are everywhere.

Man. Now I'm thinking about how much of the original Ross design can actually be found today on Staunton Rd. I suppose if I had a crap ton of time I could go into the County archives and dig that up. Unfortunately, I don't. 

[caniac6]

1 hour ago, nevets88 said:

Buy the DVD.

I saw that right after I asked the question.

[nevets88]

1 minute ago, caniac6 said:

I saw that right after I asked the question.

I believe you. Been there. Done that. 

[natureboy]

Nice link. Why isn't there an architecture thread...or is there?

[iacas]

5 hours ago, natureboy said:

Nice link. Why isn't there an architecture thread...or is there?

It's in an entire sub-forum called "Golf Courses and Architecture."

[dak4n6]

One of my home courses is a Ross design, circa 1914. Not very long, very few trees, almost always windy, not tricked out, small undulating/inverted greens with runoff areas (I freaking hate those runoff areas!) and fescue everywhere. What a classic! IMO Ross captured that perfect balance between hard/playable/interesting. No such thing as a boring round on a Ross classic.

[MSchott]

I look forward to seeing this, need to buy the DVD. I've played a few Ross courses over the years although with most, all that remains is the routing. A favorite and accessible to anyone is the Donald Ross Memorial at Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs, MI. Faithfully reproduced holes from his most famous courses (Seminole, Oakland Hills South, Pinehurst, etc...). Great fun to play and a primer on Ross' general style. 

[natureboy]

There's lots of good extras on the director's Vimeo page.

[iacas]

8 hours ago, natureboy said:

There's lots of good extras on the director's Vimeo page.

https://vimeo.com/user3133553/videos