Washtenaw Golf Club’s Original Architect: W.H. Way

Washtenaw Golf Club’s Original Architect: W.H. Way

While doing some research for an article on renovations at some historic Michigan golf clubs, I ran across this photo of William Herbert “Bert” Way, the architect of Washtenaw Golf Club’s original nine holes.

The blurb is from the January 5, 1900 edition of “Golf Illustrated,” a British golf magazine.

Quite the dapper fellow, wasn’t he?

Way at this point was the pro at the Country Club of Detroit, but was visiting England for supplies for his club and ball manufacturing business.

The photo is from one year before Way was paid $10 to design (redesign) the first nine holes at Washtenaw. (Washtenaw had six holes at that point).

The South Course at Firestone, Euclid Golf Club in Ohio, the original six holes at Detroit Golf Club and the original eighteen at the Country Club of Detroit also were Way’s work. Donald Ross reworked Way’s holes at DGC, while H.S. Colt and Charles Alison later modified Way’s work at the Country Club of Detroit.

Born in Devon, England, he was Willie Dunn, Jr.’s apprentice at North Devon. He emigrated to the United States in 1896 with his wife, Caroline. Both became naturalized American citizens.

Way spent much of his career in the Cleveland area, where he was head professional at the Euclid Club, and then the Mayfield Club, both of which he designed. He was a charter member of the PGA of America, and served as PGA Vice President and President of PGA Seniors. When he died in 1963, he was the organization’s oldest member.

Way not only was a respected club pro and course designer, but also an accomplished player. He finished second in the 1899 US Open and won numerous smaller championships.

An 1899 article in the Detroit Free Press chronicles Way’s defeat of that year’s US Open winner, Willie Smith, as well as future US Open winner Alex Smith in a tournament in Grand Rapids.

According to his obituary in the Akron Beacon Journal, it was Way who convinced the True Temper Corporation, a Cleveland manufacturer of hand tools, (they had 90% of the farmer’s hand tool market) to begin producing steel golf shafts. The rest, as they say, is history.