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Bell's Lab
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© L.C. Lambrecht
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By
Geoff Shackelford
When the U.S. Golf Association awarded Torrey Pines South this year’s U.S. Open,
most saw the choice as an interruption in a long line of venues designed by
Golden Age masters.
They may not be famous, but the course’s architects, the
father-son team of William P. and William F. Bell, were highly regarded, with an
impressive list of credits. The elder Bell (left), known as “Billy,” was George
C. Thomas’ co-designer of several California Golden Age classics, including
Bel-Air and Riviera. They also worked on a renovation of Los Angeles Country
Club’s North course.
Billy also had several solo designs, including hidden
gems San Diego Country Club and La Jolla Country Club. Bell also left behind his
trademark lace-edged bunkering at A.W. Tillinghast’s San Francisco Golf
Club.
But his lasting legacy will be the 36-hole Torrey Pines, which had been
an artillery training center during World War II. When the base was
decommissioned in 1945, there were 500 buildings on the site.
Construction
of Torrey South required extensive removal of concrete pads, and even a
pragmatic builder like Bell couldn’t keep the budget from swelling. By the time
of his sudden passing in 1953 at age 67, the project was facing several
financial hurdles.
Fortunately, Bell had been transitioning his design
practice to his son, who oversaw final construction of both courses in 1957
after a multi-year delay. The junior Bell went on to design and redesign several
courses in California, including Sandpiper in Santa Barbara and Bermuda Dunes in
Palm Springs.
One touch not present in the South’s original design was the
pond fronting the 18th green—that came at the request of the PGA Tour during a
greens reconstruction in 1974. The USGA is embracing the pond’s potential for
drama, deciding to reverse its original decision to play the hole as a par 4.
Hopefully, the bold decision will lead to a heroic risk-reward shot in the final
round.
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