Unless you are a fan of golf course architecture, you might not know George Bahto’s name. After all, he’s never built a multi-million dollar major championship venue, he doesn’t have an enormous firm with projects world-wide, and he hasn’t been seen on network television talking to broadcasters about his latest course. Nevertheless, this unlikely hero has been hard at work restoring old Raynor/Macdonald/Charles Banks courses to their former glory, and helping craft a new masterpiece at the Bandon Dunes Resort with Tom Doak, Old Macdonald.
Part hard-boiled, no nonsense, Navy airman in the Korean War, part pragmatic humble-born, Assyrian-descent dry cleaning business owner, nothing outwardly indicated a gift for golf course architecture. But his skill at comparative analysis of golf holes led him to discover subtle similarities between three courses he called home, The Knoll Club (West Course), Hendricks Field Golf Club and Essex County Country Club. He discovered all three were designed by Charles Banks.
This led to a new career as a golf writer (he wrote a short history of The Knoll after researching Charles Banks) and as an expert in restoring Macdonald, Raynor and Banks courses. At the Knoll Club, Bahto has resisted the temptation to add improvements and has slowly, surely and accurately restored the course to the specifications found in the oldest known aerial photos of the course; there are no modifications or “enhancements.” “We put it back as it was built” Bahto says firmly.
As a result, the course can be spoken about in the same breath as fabled Bethpage Black when it comes to being a great American public golf value.
Next, Bahto finished a spectacular restoration of Sleepy Hollow Country Club, former stomping grounds of The Headless Horseman and the hapless Ichabod Crane. Spectacular views of the Hudson, rolling, undul;ating fairways, and fiendishly intricate greens are all restored to their former glory. The course, which also showcases a string of holes designed by A.W. Tillinghast, hosted the Met Golf Writers earlier this year, to rave reviews. We can’t wait to go back. The greens he designed at Stonebridge in Long Island make it ne of the best short game courses on the eastern seaboard and a great place to practice your money clubs.
Finally, even with expectations at an unbelievable level, Bahto and Tom Doak are poised to deliver a smashing success with Old Macdonald – “National West” as some are already bcalling it – a public-access collection of holes showcased at fabled National Golf Links of America. Upon it’s completion later this year, (a ten-hole loop is already completed), Old Macdonald will make a strong big not only for best new course, but the top 100 when it becomes eligible.
George accomplished all this – an entire second career in fields in which he never had formal training – through a sharp, observant eye, astute deductions, and an unswerving dedication to perfection. It took him years to restore the Knoll and Sleepy Hollow, but the precision was worth it. After all, the extra ingredient is care. With a future book on Raynor, and more opportunities certain to come on the heels of Old Macdonald, it might not be long before his star shines as brightly as architects whose names are already immortal.
Past Winners:
2007: Jim Engh
2006: Tom Doak
2005: Mike Strantz
