54 golf digest | issue 4. 2020jones: Kirby/Topicalpressagency/allsporT/HulTon/arcHiveJim NantzA new layerto Bobby JonesI
n the summer of 2018, after
a round of golf at The Country
Club in the Pepper Pike
suburb of Cleveland, I spent some
time perusing the numerous artifacts
on the walls of the cavernous locker
room. Not far from the original
match-play bracket of the 1935 U.S.
Amateur played at “Country” was a
reproduction of what appeared to be
an 18-hole scorecard. But looking
more closely, I saw it wasn’t a
scorecard at all, but a list titled,
“Bobby Jones’s ‘ideal’ course.”
Examining the list in more detail,
I noticed that the first hole on Jones’
course is the par-4 15th hole at The
Country Club, which explained why
a course-proud member posted
it. I then became curious as to the
list’s origins. One history-conscious
member suggested I reach out to
Sidney L. Matthew, the Tallahassee,
Fla., attorney who has written
several extraordinary books about
Jones. “Sid will know,” the member
said. “He knows more about Bobby
Jones than anyone.”
When I contacted Sid and emailed
him an image of Jones’ ideal course,
it turned out he hadn’t seen it before.
This was surprising, because over
the years Sid had amassed 22 linear
feet of file cabinets stuffed with the
most comprehensive Jones-related
material on the planet. In 2014,
he donated all of it to the library
at Emory University in Atlanta,
of which Jones was an alumnus.
What an incredible gesture that was.
Sid loves a challenge, and sure
enough, he found the original source
was the 1936 edition of an annual
publication called The National
Golf Review, long since defunct.
The list was accompanied by an
essay written by Jones.
As we peruse the list, we’re left to
wonder what might have percolated
in Jones’ heart and mind as he
formulated his course. Here’s my
hole-by-hole take:Play The View from Pebble Beach
no. 15
THE COUNTRY CLUB
CLEVELAND
par 4 ▶ Jones walked
the grounds in 1935 as
Lawson Little swept to
his second consecutive
U.S. Amateur title.
The hole must have
left a huge impression
on him.
no. 16
MERION (EAST)
par 4 ▶ Interesting
choice, as he closed
out his 1930 U.S.
Amateur—and
completed the Grand
Slam—on Merion’s
par-4 11th.
no. 6
AUGUSTA NATIONAL
par 3 ▶ A fine hole,
but who would include
it instead of the storied
12th?
no. 14
ST. ANDREWS (OLD)
par 5 ▶ The Elysian
Fields. Hell Bunker.
One of the strategic
masterpieces at Jones’
favorite course.no. 8
PEBBLE BEACH
par 4 ▶ A second
shot that spans part
of the Pacific Ocean
had to have taken
Bobby’s breath away.
no. 5
ROYAL ST. GEORGE’S
par 4 ▶ Every course
needs a breather,
a relatively easy hole
or two.
no. 8
OAKMONT
par 3 ▶ In 1935, it was
“only” 253 yards. But
given old equipment,
it might have been at
least as hard as its
current 288 yards.
no. 13
AUGUSTA NATIONAL
par 5 ▶ The course
was only a few years
old, but Jones knew it
was an instant classic.no. 4
PINE VALLEY
par 4 ▶ Not the most
spectacular par 4 at
Pine Valley, but the left-
to-right shape gives
Jones’ course balance.no. 15
ROYAL LIVERPOOL
par 4 ▶ No doubt a
sentimental choice, as
Hoylake was the scene
of Jones’ final Open
Championship victory,
in 1930.
no. 10
NATIONAL GOLF LINKS
par 4 ▶ No bells
and whistles, just a
straightforward test in
a gorgeous setting.
no. 8
ST. ANDREWS (OLD)
par 3 ▶ Most players
would opt for the par-3
11th. Jones clearly saw
something we do not.
no. 4
LIDO
par 5 ▶ The dual
fairway on C.B.
Macdonald’s spectacu-
lar course (now extinct)
probably was a
revelation to Jones.no. 13
ST. ANDREWS (OLD)
par 4 ▶ One of
the toughest holes
at St. Andrews.no. 16
ST. ANDREWS (OLD)
par 4 ▶ Jones in his
essay called it “the
finest [par 4] of less
than 400 yards in the
world.”
no. 16
CYPRESS POINT
par 3▶ Not long
after Jones played
this hole in 1929,
he enlisted Alister
Mackenzie—Cypress’
designer—to
apply his genius at
Augusta National.
no. 18
BALTUSROL (LOWER)
par 5▶ Jack’s 1-iron
second to the green
in the 1967 U.S.
Open proved why
the hole was made
for drama.
no. 14
AUGUSTA NATIONAL
par 4▶ With no
greenside bunkers
and with a feature
reminiscent of the
Valley of Sin on St.
Andrews’ 18th, it’s
clearly an homage to
the Home of Golf.▶ To me, Jones’
dream 18 is one of
the more exciting
modern Jones
discoveries. Thanks,
Sid. Thanks, Bobby.
And thanks to the
mystery Country
member who
posted the list
without knowing it
would enrich our
knowledge of the
immortal Bobby.