Butler County Country Club
now known as
Hamilton Elks Golf Club
William Congreve Jackson
William Congreve Jackson is a figure that appears to have been lost to history. Born May 21st, 1890, in Richmond, Virginia, William was the last of four children born to parents Henry Melville Jackson and Violet Lee Pace. His mother died in 1893 when he was three years old, his father died in 1900 when William was ten.
William entered the Virginia Military institute on September 6th, 1907, quickly becoming involved in many activities including the Gymnasium Team, school newspaper staff member, and class vice president. On June 21st, 1911, he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and returned to Richmond, Virginia, where on December 10th, 1912, William married Margarite Clay Woods. After the wedding they left for New York, where they sailed to England, traveling abroad for a year. The marriage ended in divorce, both remarrying years later.
William's uncle owned a theater in Richmond, VA, where "Stage-struck Bill" was hired by Frank Morgan as a member of his repertory company. Frank Morgan engaged Bill, who toured with the company along the Atlantic Seaboard for two years. Bill said that his fattest part was that of an innebriated gentleman in "The Witching Hour", Bill made his debut in that play in January of 1915. Bill bought a piece of the show and garnered a profit when it was sold to silent film actor, stage actor, and stage producer Raymond Hitchcock. Frank Morgan would later appear in the role of "The Wizard", as well as four other characters, in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz.
William received his draft notice on July 29th, 1917 and served during World War I as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. Upon his discharge in December of 1918, First Lieutenant William Congreve Jackson began his career with the Fleischmann Yeast Company as a Chemist. By 1920, William changed his career path, hired by Carters Tested Seeds Company, he became a golf course construction and turf engineer building golf courses.
In 1920, W.C. managed the exhibition tour of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. At the time, Harry was 50 years old, and Ted was 43. During the exhibition tour, which included a stop in Minnesota for an exhibition with Harry's brother Tom, Ted won the US Open at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. The exhibition tour was finished by November, and Harry returned to London. Harry and W.C. stayed in communication, writing to each other through the years.
Harry Vardon played his third and last U.S. Open at the Inverness Club, in Toledo, Ohio, finishing eight-over-par 296 (74-73-71-78). Harry was leading the tournament by five strokes when he came to the 12th tee, unfortunately he played the last seven holes, seven over par. On the last hole he missed a short putt, which if made, would have forced a playoff. Harry finished tied for second, one stroke behind the winner, Ted Ray.
On August 2nd, 1921, William married Helen Frank in Manhattan, New York, they resided in Chicago, Illinois. In December of 1921, Olympia Fields Country Club decided to build a fourth course and announced that W.C. Jackson would be the head of construction. W.C. supervised the building of the course, assuring it was to the specifications of architect Willie Park Jr. The fourth course of Olympia Fields became known as the North Course, site of many major championships. During the construction of Olympia Fields, W.C. was invited to play golf with President Warren G. Harding at the opening of a new course in Mansfield, Ohio.
During this time, William became proficient in the skills of golf course architecture and construction and decided to open his own firm in Chicago. As a golf course architect, he is attributed as having designed and built over 50 courses throughout Wisconsin, Chicago, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio. This includes Butte des Morts Country Club, in Appleton, Wisconsin, and the Butler County Country Club in Liberty Township, Ohio, north of Hamilton, Ohio, known now as the Hamilton Elks Red and White courses. Butte des Morts Country Club names and celebrates the architectural and design accomplishments of W.C. Jackson on their website, the Hamilton Elks Golf Club fallaciously claim Donald Ross designed their course.
In March of 1923, The Chicago Tribune reported the Chicago Beach Hotel hired W.C. to install a large putting course between the hotel building and the lake front. It was reported "there is sufficient ground to make all of the holes two shot affairs". This was the location of the International Putting Event held September 1st though the 16th, in which The Houston Post reported W.C. Jackson was awarded the contract to build the course. The Houston Post also reported W.C. was currently building the 6300 yard golf course at Berrien Hills Country Club in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
During 1923, William Jackson was a well-known golf course architect and builder in the greater Chicago area. His connection with the Carters Tested Seed Company and Olympia Fields strengthened his reputation as a designer and builder of fine golf courses. William was often recommended as an architect of choice for golf course projects. After W.C. completed construction of Olympia Fields 4th course, the board of the Butler County Country Club hired him to lay out a new 18 hole golf course. By utilizing the existing nine hole course and the recently purchased 60 acres of land, W.C. Jackson designed an 18 hole layout and presented the plans to the board for approval, which they unanimously approved. During this time, W.C. was also hired by the Butte des Morts Country Club to design and lay-out an eighteen hole golf course. After an exhibition match in 1925, Walter Hagen gave "much praise to W.C. Jackson" for his accomplishment in designing and building Butte des Morts Country Club.
During 1924, W.C. Jackson visited the Butler County Country Club numerous times, inspecting the building of the new nine hole course, as well as refining plans for the rearrangement of the existing nine. Reports of these site visits were reported numerous times by the local newspapers and include instances of W.C. playing the existing golf course.
In 1925, W.C. was hired as the new golf pro by the Butler County Country Club. During that time, he was busy designing other golf courses, including two in Wisconsin, one of which was the Whiting Golf Club later named Stephens Point Country Club. They name Mr. Jackson as the architect in their club history. William received a $350 fee for laying out the nine hole course, he would later return to the club to design the second nine holes and revise the original nine. The year ended with a newspaper report that W.C. Jackson has offered his design services, free of charge, to design Potters golf course in Hamilton, Ohio.
In March of 1926, the newspaper published the layout of Potters golf club and two months later, on Memorial Day, 1926, the newspapers reported the new 18 hole golf course of the Butler County Country Club was ready for play. The dedication ceremony for the Butler County Country Club was reported with many articles describing the events and details of that day which included identifying W.C. Jackson as the architect and designer who built the new course. In July, it was reported that Bill inspected the progress of Potters golf course with the park superintendent.
Bill was well known throughout Hamilton, Cincinnati, and Southwest Ohio as an accomplished architect, course builder, golf professional, instructor, and player. He was often consulted to examine courses and suggest improvements. At the end of the 1926 golf season, Bill informed the Butler County Country Club that he was leaving the club. On Friday, October 22nd, 1926, The Cincinnati Post reported "Jackson to be Pro at Camargo Club". Bill was hired by Camargo Country Club to complete the construction of the golf course after the death of architect Seth Raynor. Bill remained the head golf professional through the 1953 golf season. Bill was also in charge of trap and skeet shooting and served as the golf course superintendent until the start of the 1947 season.
In 1927, Potter's golf course, the first public golf course in Butler County, Ohio, designed by W.C. Jackson, was dedicated, opening with the play of W.C. Jackson, John Buchanan, Paul Stoppleman, and Page Schalk, a Hamilton native who was then the golf pro at the Petoskey Michigan Country Club.
In 1928, W.C., commonly referred to as Bill, was elected as the President of the Greater Cincinnati P.G.A. and was using a motion picture camera to help teach the golf swing. This was also the year that he began to contribute articles published by Golfdom Magazine, this continued through 1961.
In August of 1929, William made a return visit to the Stephens Point Country Club in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. At that time the club was known as the Stevens Point Country Club, the operating company was known as The Whiting Country Club. Bill was hired to revise the current layout that he designed in 1925 by adding sixteen new bunkers and redesigning holes 6 and 7. Bill also drew plans for the second nine holes, allowing the facility to expand to 18 holes.
In 1930, The Cincinnati Post article "NEW GOLF CLUB TO OPEN SOON" identified Bill Jackson as the architect who made the present layout of Summit Hills Golf and Country Club. Reported on the Greater Cincinnati Women's Golf Association website, "Camargo Country Club golf pro William Jackson laid out the course. He put together a design in one evening based on a government topographical map and made adjustments after walking the grounds the next day. Jackson’s princely price for the job? Twenty-five bucks and a quart of whiskey. "It’s not a long course,” Sergent said. “It’s a shotmaker’s course. I’ve seen many golfers finish rounds shaking their heads because it was more difficult than they thought it would be. “Architects need to route the course around the land features,” he pointed out. “The land tells you where the holes go. The course is in impeccable condition with firm and fast greens.”
In 1934, Bill joined other local Cincinnati golf professionals to help grow the game of golf. They were a fixture at Brophy's Driving Range, providing free golf lessons through a program sponsored by the Cincinnati Post. The program continued through the 1935 golf season.
Through the years Bill was also a consultant to many clubs. In this capacity Bill resolved turf issues and made suggestions to improve golf course playability. This included resolving a turf issue on a green at Losantiville Country Club, and in 1937, he provided suggestions to the Lexington Country Club in Lexington, Kentucky. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported he was "considered one of the outstanding golf architects of the country".
The Camargo Country Club historical book, has the following quotes and stories:
"He was known at the club as "General" Jackson. Some say it was because, as a student at Virginia Military Institute, he had been cadet commander. Others say it was because one of his classmates had been Gen. George C. Marshall."
"As a player, the General's strong suit was putting". "Among his many claims to fame," wrote Rowe, "was having won the National Indoor Putting Championship in Chicago two years in a row in the early 1930's. On one of those occasions, during the 18 hole final round, The General played the first 17 holes in 17 strokes, then took two strokes on the 18th. "I'd have aced that one too," he said, "Except that during my backstroke, a pretty girl walked near my line and distracted me."
"Once, in the late 1930s, Jackson played an entire round at Camargo using nothing but a putter and shot 81."
And finally, "As the general got older," Rowe said, "he lost a lot of his playing ability, but I remember two consecutive Saturdays when he had holes-in-one on No. 11. I congratulated him and asked him how he did it. He said, "Well, now that my putting's gone, it's the only way I can help my partner."
In 1938, the Exalted Ruler of the Hamilton Elks welcomed Johnny Fischer and Bill Jackson as speakers, addressing the lodge following the annual "Golfer's Night". This was one of many return visits Bill made through the years to the Elks. By the end of 1938, Bill had teamed up with Terrace Park professional Al Warner and started an indoor driving range, providing golf lessons and utilizing video to allow students to see their swing.
An article in the Cincinnati Times Star from 1952 stated Bill was the "Dean of Greater Cincinnati Golf Pros" describing his tenure at Camargo Club which started in 1926, being an architect by trade, and his time at the Butler County Country Club.
In 1953, Bill played in the Senior PGA Championship, held in Dunedin, Florida. Bill was paired with Gene Sarazen who was playing in his first senior tournament. Later that year, Bill announced he was ready to retire, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported "he was signed to the job at Camargo after rebuilding what is now the Elks Country Club course at Hamilton". In October, Bill was honored with a dinner by the Greater Cincinnati Professional Golfers Association. At the end of the golf year, at the age of 63, Bill retired from Camargo Country Club. A dinner was held in his honor at the Camargo clubhouse where he received a pension, a silver bowl, and a "purse of money". The Cincinnati Enquirer also reported "Bill is to retire to his cattle farm in Eufaula, Alabama".
In Eufaula, Alabama, Bill became a regular fixture at the Eufaula Country Club. He was made an honorary member, director, and golf chairman. Remembered by members as "the General", they said "he was a wonderful golf teacher, giving many lessons and instruction". Bill was also reported as being the instructor and coach of an Alabama Women's State Golf Champion.
In April 1961, Golfdom Magazine reported that "Bill retired pro-supt., Camargo CC is helping design courses in Alabama", furthermore "Bill was one of the great builders and a fine designer... The PGA Championship will be played at Olympia Fields North Course this year, it was built by Bill to the design of Willie Park... Bill then was head of the construction dept. of Carter Tested Seeds Inc. "
Through the years Bill kept the Virginia Military Institute apprised of his activities and whereabouts, filling out alumni questionnaires, and attending Virginia Military Institute reunions. He described himself as a VMI graduate, chemist, civil engineer, golf professional, golf course architect, and a fisherman "just sitting on the banks of the Chattahoochee river trying to integrate a hook with a catfish".
The storied golf career of William Congreve Jackson began with the construction and building of golf courses. He quickly transitioned into a respected golf course architect and turf management expert. He finished his career as a well-known, respected, golf professional and instructor. One who certainly enriched the game of golf, leaving a legacy of golf courses that are played and enjoyed to this day.
William Congreve Jackson Sr., father of Theresa Melville and William Congreve Jr, passed away July 12th, 1973, at the age of 83. He was laid to rest next to his wife Helen in Glenville Cemetery, Russell County, Alabama.
