Page 60 - 2021 Western Amateur Championship at Glen View Club Program Book

WGA_Program_2021_V5_SoriaAlt__ 7/7/2021 3:58 PM Page 58
History of Glen View Club

Glen View course. Today’s elevated 17th that had grown larger and rounder over reconstructed, with a number of
green and slight dogleg are dramatically time were reshaped and rebuilt in a strategic fairway bunkers reintroduced
different than the flatter, straighter more natural, irregular fashion. from years past. The fairway bunkers
hole that preceded it, and this redesign Since 2013, Jim are more closely integrated into
probably stands as the signature change Urbina has been fairways that have cleaner rough lines.
Mr. Flynn made at Glen View Club. Greens have been expanded and green
consulting golf
During the ensuing 70 years, as golf architect to Glen surrounds have become more sweeping.
aficionados began paying closer View Club. A level of short fringe around the greens
attention to the body of work associated Running his own was removed. A new putting clock was
with the game’s most prolific architects, operation for built. Trees have been removed to
Glen View became labeled “a William the past decade, improve both the scenic vistas enjoyed
Flynn course” — probably because he Jim is recognized by golfers and the air flow needed for
had been retained Jim Urbina as one of the course conditioning. Tees have been
during the club’s game’s premier reshaped to a more classic look with
most recent architects and restoration experts. He new tees added selectively to offer more
overhaul. One trained under Pete Dye and then worked options for golfers. In fact, the most
could make an closely with Tom Doak for 17 years. He recent tee change was the completion
argument that a is listed with Doak as co-architect for of the new championship, or Mach, tee
number of earlier the Old Macdonald course at Bandon on the 18th hole, in time for this year’s
names were of Dunes and his restoration work includes Western Amateur.
equal or greater Pasatiempo and San Francisco Golf. Also completed in time for the Western
William S. Flynn influence. Amateur was the new practice range
A significant project was undertaken
From the 1930’s through the 1990’s, during the first year of Jim Urbina’s that, like the previous practice area, is
located where a polo field first stood in
various changes were made to the course Glen View relationship to begin
with most being directed by Glen View’s achieving his stated goal of restoring 1897. The hitting range and short game
practice areas are the result of a close
two long-time head golf professionals — the “golden age design” imparted by
Hall of Fame golfer Jock Huchison, who William Flynn and others. To that collaboration between Jim Urbina and
Glen View’s head golf professional,
served the membership for 36 years until end, there has been a steady flow of
1953, and Ed Oldfield, who led the golf improvements. All bunkers have been Kyle Bauer.
operation from 1965 through 1989.
Ed earned significant notoriety as the
swing coach for many of the LPGA’s
biggest stars.
Over this period, outside architects were
consulted from time to time on specific
projects. For example, in 1966, Pete Dye
spent time at Glen View helping with
alterations to the 8th and 15th holes.

In 1999, Chicago area architect, David
Esler, oversaw the first project in seven
decades that made comprehensive
changes to the golf course. Fairways
were expanded in numerous places with
extensive tree and buckthorn removal.
Most greens were enlarged and all were
resurfaced. The greenside sand bunkers
Strategic fairway bunkers on the 5th fairway

58 l History of Glen View Club Glen View Club