1938

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November             Maxwell has been retained “to make a study of the two golf courses” at Maidstone following extensive damage from September hurricane “with a view to making changes that would improve the courses”.  [“The Maidstone Links”, by David Goddard (1997), Pg. 106]  Editorial Note:  Goddard relies on club minutes from November 14, 1938.

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1939

 

January                 Maxwell submits proposes for reconstructing the golf courses at Maidstone, which are presented to the board.  “Maxwell suggested three alternative plans, only the first of which was essentially adopted: 1) Put both courses back in condition without making any material changes or improvements to either of them. 2) Reduce the East Course to nine and give up the seven ocean holes on the Further Lane property. 3) Reconstruct both courses and make ‘considerable improvements’ in the West Course.  The cost of the first plan was estimated at $10,000; the third was projected at $27,000.”  The third plan was recommended by the golf reconstruction committee and received the board’s “provisional blessing” but it appears Maxwell was only paid $150 for his initial report and there is no written record of Maxwell returning.   [“The Maidstone Links”, by David Goddard (1997), Pgs. 106-108]  Editorial Note:  Goddard relies on club minutes from January 16, 1939.  Some of the ideas in Maxwell’s third plan included moving the 7th green to the 8th tee site and relocating the 8th tee to the top of the dune; moving the 9th green to the site of the 14th tee, making it into a par 5; and relocating the 13th green and 14th tee to accommodate the changes to 9.  Goddard notes that while these changes were not made, there are indications some of Maxwell’s other suggestions were adopted by the golf committee between 1939 and 1941.  According to the January 9, 1940 Brooklyn Eagle, Maxwell prepared a plan “last year” which included alterations to holes 1, 2, 8, 9, 14 and 15.  We assume this is the same plan referenced in Goddard’s book.

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1940

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January 9              Changes to Maidstone proposed by Maxwell which are expected to be implemented in time for the upcoming season include a dune along the 1st fairway “a bit to the right of the straight line to the green” which needs to be carried, and carry bunkering up the 2nd fairway.  In addition, “Chances are that out around those magnificent dunes that parallel the ocean there’ll be new holes created to replace those damaged in part by the 1938 hurricane. Though not an accomplished fact yet, there’ll probably be a new eighth all along the water…And a gradual slope cut into the ninth…  Maidstone hasn’t determined just how far it will go with the alterations planned last year by Perry Maxwell.  His ideas called for a brand new ninth green off in the hollow to the right of the present green, a new line of play for the tenth, a new 14th paralleling the water and a shortened 15th to make the shot more evident.  The change on the 15th will cut the course par a stroke - down to the usual 72.”  [Brooklyn Eagle, January 9, 1940]  Editorial Note: According to “The Maidstone Links”, by David Goddard (1997), only some of Maxwell’s suggestions were actually implemented.

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May                       Maxwell is in “charge of remodeling the course of the Maidstone Club at East Hampton, L.I.”  [“Charming – is the word for Winston”, by R.E. Lauterbach, GOLF magazine, circa May/June 1940]

 

June 24                 Work on the West Course at Maidstone have been completed with some “minor” work still “to be done on the ninth fairway subject to Perry Maxwell’s approval.”  [“The Maidstone Links”, by David Goddard (1997), Pgs. 106-108]  Editorial Note:  Goddard relies on club minutes from June 24, 1940.

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