William Francis Bell (August 8, 1918 – September 20, 1984) was a golf course architect, active from the 1960s into the early 1980s.[1][2]
William Francis Bell | |
---|---|
Born | William Francis Bell August 8, 1918 |
Died | September 20, 1984 | (aged 66)
Occupation | Golf course architect |
Known for | Golf course architect |
Board member of | American Society of Golf Course Architects |
Spouse | Dell Applebury |
Children | William Park Bell II (1952–1992) |
Parent |
Biography
editBorn in Pasadena, California, son of noted architect Billy Bell, Bell Jr. studied at University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He was affectionately known as "Billy Bell Jr.". [3]
William F. Bell's courses were designed in the Western United States.[4] Bell is considered a commercial golf course architect with more than 200 courses credited to his work and design, mostly in the American West and Hawaii.[5] Notably, Bell was the golf architect for Torrey Pines Golf Course, both Torrey Pines North course and Torrey Pines South course, site of the 2008 and 2021 US Open.[6]
Bell was elected into The American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) in 1950 and served as ASGCA President from 1957-1958. Bell was elected in 2017 to the Southern California Golf Association Hall of Fame for his contribution to the sport of golf.[7]
Bell's Mesa Verde Country Club hosted the PGA Tour Orange County Open Invitational from 1959 - 1962 with notable champions Tony Lema and Billy Casper.[8] LPGA Nancy Lopez won at Mesa Verde Country Club in 1984.[9]
Bell's Bermuda Dunes Country Club hosted the PGA Tour's Desert Classic for 49 years.[10]
Bell's Newport Beach Country Club course has hosted the Hoag Classic on the PGA Tour Champions from 1995 - 2022.[11]
Bell's Saticoy Club hosted the LPGA Mediheal Championship in October 2022.[12]
Following at $25 renovation upgrade, Bell's Industry Hills is home to the Southern California Section of the PGA of America since 2016.[13] Industry Hills Eisenhower course has hosted several professional tournaments:
- LPGA 1980 Olympia Gold Classic[14][15]
- LPGA 2011 Kia Classic.[16] [15] [17]
- 2011 U.S. Women's Open Qualifying.[18]
- 2016 U.S. Women's Open Qualifying.[19]
The following is a partial list of courses designed by William F. Bell:
- OD denotes courses for which William F. Bell is the original designer
- R denotes courses reconstructed by William F. Bell
- A denotes courses for which William F. Bell made substantial additions
- E denotes courses that William F. Bell examined and on the construction of which he consulted
Name | Contribution | Year Built | City / Town | State / Province | Country | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maryvale GC | OD | Phoenix[21] | Arizona | United States | ||
Papago GC | OD | Phoenix | Arizona | United States | ||
Tucson CC | OD | Tucson | Arizona | United States | ||
Alhambra GC | OD | Alhambra | California | United States | ||
Ancil Hoffman GC | OD | Carmichael[22] | California | United States | ||
Apple Valley CC | OD | Apple Valley | California | United States | ||
Bakersfield CC | OD | Bakersfield | California | United States | Private, with William P. Bell | |
Bermuda Dunes CC | OD | Bermuda Dunes | California | United States | ||
California CC | OD | Whittier | California | United States | ||
Eaton Canyon GC | OD | 1962 | Pasadena | California | United States | |
Heartwell GC | OD | Long Beach[23] | California | United States | ||
Industry Hills GC (Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) Course) | OD | 1979 | City of Industry | California | United States | |
Industry Hills GC (Babe D. Zaharias (Babe) Course) | OD | 1980 | City of Industry | California | United States | |
Lomas Santa Fe Executive GC | OD | 1973 | Solana Beach | California | United States | also named Lomas Santa Fe CC |
Los Verdes GC | OD | Rancho Palos Verdes | California | United States | ||
Mesa Verde CC | OD | Costa Mesa[24] | California | United States | ||
Mission Trails GC | OD | San Diego[25] | California | United States | ||
Newport Beach CC | OD | Newport Beach | California | United States | ||
Palo Alto Municipal GC | OD | Palo Alto | California | United States | ||
Peacock Gap GC | OD | San Rafael | California | United States | ||
Rancho Bernardo Inn GC | OD | San Diego | California | United States | ||
Recreation Park GC 18 | OD | Long Beach | California | United States | also known as "Big Rec" | |
Sandpiper GC | OD | Goleta[26] | California | United States | ||
Tamarisk CC | OD | 1952 | Rancho Mirage[27] | California | United States | |
Torrey Pines GC (North Course, South Course) | OD | 1957 | La Jolla, San Diego | California | United States | |
The Saticoy Club | OD | 1923 | Somis[28] | California | United States | originally named Saticoy CC, with George C. Thomas Jr. |
Hawaii Kai GC | OD | Honolulu (Oahu) | Hawaii | United States | ||
Idaho Falls CC | OD | Idaho Falls | Idaho | United States | ||
Hobble Creek GC | OD | 1973 | Springville | Utah | United States | |
Mountain Dell GC (The Canyon Course) | OD | Salt Lake City | Utah | United States |
References
edit- ^ "The Bells: California's first family of golf course design". (California): City of San Diego. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ Techniques for improving established golf courses: Restoration, renovation, and redesign. An improvement plan for the Meadow Club (Fairfax, California) (Thesis). University of Arizona. May 31, 2000. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "PCAD". (Seattle): Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Thomas Brown (October 24, 2020). "Best Golf Courses in Los Angeles". Golf Magazine. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "William Bell Society". (Los Angeles): William Bell Society. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Joe Passov (June 14, 2021). "US Open site Torrey Pines - Original Golf Architect". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "William Francis Bell Hall of Fame induction 2017". (Los Angeles): SCGA. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Orange County Invitational following Bell's completion". Los Angeles Times. August 1, 1993. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Miss Lopez Wins". New York Times. March 3, 1984. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Inside the courses: 50th Bob Hope Classic". PGA Tour (Press release). January 17, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "PGA Tour Inside the Course". PGA Tour (Press release). March 3, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Ewart Shadoff earns first LPGA title by winning event at The Saticoy Club in Somis". VC Star USA Today. October 9, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ Youngman, Randy (26 May 2016). "2 tracks and an accessible spot work for SCPGA golf course at Industry Hills". Orange County Register. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "Remembrance of the 1980 and 1981 victories from Sally Little". LPGA. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ a b Pucin, Diane (22 March 2011). "Los Angeles Times - LPGA event at Industry Hills". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "Images from the 2011 LPGA event at Industry Hills with winner Sand Gal of Germany". LPGA. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "USA Today GolfWeek LPGA event promotion for Michelle Wie". LPGA. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "21 year old Lizette Salas qualifies for the U.S. Women's Open at Industry Hills". LPGA. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "16 year old Angel Yin qualifies for the U.S. Women's Open at Industry Hills". LPGA. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "William Francis Bell, a short profile". Golf Club Atlas. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- ^ Godfrey, William (2010). Maryvale Golf Course - The First 50 Years. Xlibris. ISBN 978-1-4535-7799-8.
- ^ "Ancil Hoffman Design". (Sacramento): Ancil Hoffman Golf Course. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Alan Shipnuck (April 3, 2000). "ROOTS A LOOK AT TIGER WOODS'S GOLF GENEALOGY REVEALS HOW HE GOT SO GOOD". (Long Beach, California): Sports Illustrated.
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(help) - ^ "Mesa Verde: Restoring a Billy Bell Jr Design (Cary Bickler)". (London, United Kingdom): Golf Course Architecture Journal. July 10, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
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(help) - ^ "Tiger Woods Junior World victory at Bell's Mission Trails". Los Angeles Times. (San Diego, California). July 20, 1990. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Sandpiper Image". (Goleta, California): GolfWeek USA Today. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
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(help) - ^ Larry Bohannan (April 30, 2015). "Tamarisk pro-am harkens back to Hope Classic". Palm Desert, California): Desert Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "The Saticoy Club - Somis, CA (William F. Bell, 1964; Bunker revisions by Thad Layton, Arnold Palmer Design Company, 2018)". (Somis, California): Hochstein Design. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- "William F. Bell". ASGCA. Retrieved 2022-11-15.