William Francis Bell Explained
| William Francis Bell |
| Birth Name: | William Francis Bell |
| Birth Date: | 8 August 1918 |
| Birth Place: | Pasadena, California |
| Death Place: | Pasadena, California |
| Occupation: | Golf course architect |
| Boards: | American Society of
Golf Course Architects |
|
| Spouse: | Dell Applebury |
| Children: | William Park Bell II
(1952–1992) |
| Known For: | Golf course architect |
| Parents: |
|
William Francis Bell (August 8, 1918 – September 20, 1984) was a golf course architect, active from the 1960s into the early 1980s.[1] [2]
Biography
Born 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:
Notable courses[21]
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[22] | |  United States | |
| Papago GC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Tucson CC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Alhambra GC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Ancil Hoffman GC | OD | | Carmichael[23] | | United States | |
| Apple Valley CC | OD | | | | United States | |
| OD | | | | United States | Private, with William P. Bell |
| Bermuda Dunes CC | OD | | | | United States | |
| California CC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Eaton Canyon GC | OD | 1962 | | | United States | |
| Heartwell GC | OD | | Long Beach[24] | | United States | |
| Industry Hills GC (Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) Course) | OD | 1979 | | | United States | |
| Industry Hills GC (Babe D. Zaharias (Babe) Course) | OD | 1980 | | | United States | |
| Lomas Santa Fe Executive GC | OD | 1973 | | | United States | also named Lomas Santa Fe CC |
| Los Verdes GC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Mesa Verde CC | OD | | Costa Mesa[25] | | United States | |
| Mission Trails GC | OD | | San Diego[26] | | United States | |
| Newport Beach CC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Palo Alto Municipal GC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Peacock Gap GC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn GC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Recreation Park GC 18 | OD | | | | United States | also known as "Big Rec" |
| Sandpiper GC | OD | | Goleta[27] | | United States | |
| OD | 1952 | Rancho Mirage[28] | | United States | |
| Torrey Pines GC (North Course, South Course) | OD | 1957 | | | United States | |
| The Saticoy Club | OD | 1923 | Somis[29] | | United States | originally named Saticoy CC, with George C. Thomas Jr. |
| Hawaii Kai GC | OD | | Honolulu (Oahu) | | United States | |
| Idaho Falls CC | OD | | | | United States | |
| Hobble Creek GC | OD | 1973 | | | United States | |
| Mountain Dell GC (The Canyon Course) | OD | | | | United States | | |
References
Notes and References
- Web site: The Bells: California's first family of golf course design . City of San Diego . (California) . February 21, 2017.
- Techniques for improving established golf courses: Restoration, renovation, and redesign. An improvement plan for the Meadow Club (Fairfax, California). University of Arizona. May 31, 2000. November 16, 2022.
- Web site: PCAD. Pacific Coast Architecture Database. (Seattle). November 12, 2022.
- Best Golf Courses in Los Angeles. Thomas Brown. Golf Magazine. October 24, 2020. November 16, 2022.
- Web site: William Bell Society. William Bell Society. (Los Angeles). November 12, 2022.
- US Open site Torrey Pines - Original Golf Architect. Joe Passov. Sports Illustrated. June 14, 2021. November 16, 2022.
- Web site: William Francis Bell Hall of Fame induction 2017. SCGA. (Los Angeles). November 16, 2022.
- News: Orange County Invitational following Bell's completion. November 16, 2022. Los Angeles Times. August 1, 1993.
- News: Miss Lopez Wins. November 16, 2022. New York Times. March 3, 1984.
- Inside the courses: 50th Bob Hope Classic. November 16, 2022. PGA Tour. January 17, 2009.
- PGA Tour Inside the Course. November 16, 2022. PGA Tour. March 3, 2009.
- News: Ewart Shadoff earns first LPGA title by winning event at The Saticoy Club in Somis. November 17, 2022. VC Star USA Today. October 9, 2022.
- News: Youngman . Randy . 2 tracks and an accessible spot work for SCPGA golf course at Industry Hills. 16 November 2022 . Orange County Register. 26 May 2016.
- News: Remembrance of the 1980 and 1981 victories from Sally Little. 16 November 2022 . LPGA . 22 March 2011.
- News: Pucin . Diane . Los Angeles Times - LPGA event at Industry Hills . 16 November 2022 . Los Angeles Times . 22 March 2011.
- News: Images from the 2011 LPGA event at Industry Hills with winner Sand Gal of Germany. 16 November 2022 . LPGA . 27 March 2011.
- News: Pucin . Diane . Los Angeles Times - LPGA event at Industry Hills . 16 November 2022 . Los Angeles Times . 22 March 2011.
- USA Today GolfWeek LPGA event promotion for Michelle Wie. 16 November 2022 . LPGA . 19 September 2010.
- News: 21 year old Lizette Salas qualifies for the U.S. Women's Open at Industry Hills. 16 November 2022 . LPGA . 5 June 2011.
- News: 16 year old Angel Yin qualifies for the U.S. Women's Open at Industry Hills. 16 November 2022 . LPGA . 31 May 2016.
- Web site: William Francis Bell, a short profile . Golf Club Atlas . 2022-11-15.
- Book: Godfrey, William. 2010. Maryvale Golf Course - The First 50 Years. Xlibris . 978-1-4535-7799-8.
- Web site: Ancil Hoffman Design. Ancil Hoffman Golf Course. (Sacramento). November 12, 2022.
- ROOTS A LOOK AT TIGER WOODS'S GOLF GENEALOGY REVEALS HOW HE GOT SO GOOD. Sports Illustrated. (Long Beach, California). Alan Shipnuck. April 3, 2000.
- Mesa Verde: Restoring a Billy Bell Jr Design (Cary Bickler). Golf Course Architecture Journal. (London, United Kingdom). July 10, 2019. November 16, 2022.
- News: Tiger Woods Junior World victory at Bell's Mission Trails. Los Angeles Times. (San Diego, California). July 20, 1990. November 12, 2022.
- Sandpiper Image. GolfWeek USA Today. (Goleta, California). November 12, 2022.
- News: Tamarisk pro-am harkens back to Hope Classic. Larry Bohannan. Desert Sun. Palm Desert, California). April 30, 2015. November 20, 2022.
- Web site: The Saticoy Club - Somis, CA (William F. Bell, 1964; Bunker revisions by Thad Layton, Arnold Palmer Design Company, 2018). Hochstein Design. (Somis, California). November 17, 2022.
