In 1917, the five-year-old Altadena Town and Country Club had fallen into bankruptcy to the tune of $200,000. Archie M. Andrews, a newcomer to Altadena, convinced then-president John Coulston, owner of the Maryland Hotel in Pasadena, to purchase a partnership in the California Hotel Association. In an agreement dated March 20, 1920, Coulston became president of the California Hotel Association, and Archie M. Andrews became president of the club, now renamed the Pasadena Golf Club by Andrews. After a year without improvement in its fortunes, the club's operation reverted to the Altadena Improvement Association. (From The Altadena Town and Country Club, copyright 2002 by Mike Manning, derived from information in the archives of the Altadena Historical Society)
A similar, if slightly less flattering, story is told on the current web site of the Altadena Town and Country Club:
In 1920, the owner of Pasadena's Maryland Hotel (known today as the Green Hotel) and one of the original founders of the club, John B. Coulston, entered into negotiations with A. M. Andrews, a wealthy promoter, and the Altadena Country Club became the Pasadena Golf Club with dining and golfing privileges extending to guests at the Maryland and other Pasadena Hotels.
The fortunes of the Pasadena Golf Club did not prosper under the management of A. M. Andrews and in 1921 the operation was turned over to five members of the old Altadena Country Club. (www.altaclub.com : About the Club : Club History)
Here are some more insights into the changeover from Altadena Town and Country Club to Pasadena Golf Club:
THE EVENING COURIER AND REPORTER,
WATERLOO, IOWA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21. 1920 - PAGE 14
Southern California is planning one of the finest
golfing layouts in the country.
An organization to be known as the Pasadena
Golf club, occupying the site of the old Altadena
Golf is preparing to expend $500,000 on the
installation of club, three 18-hole courses, which
it is hoped to have ready within two years.
Two Chicago professionals, George O'Neill of
Lake Shore and Jack Croke of Exmoor, will have
supervision of the work.
A carpet of green is to be assured by piping the
entire course with six-inch mains which will conduct
the water from the Sierra Madres the year round.
The first 18 holes are expected to be ready
by December.
NEW YORK EVENING
EVENING TELEGRAM
Tuesday, April 27, 1920
New Courses at Pasadena. Archie M. Andrews, New York banker
and yachtsman, has incorporated the
Pasadena Golf Club, at Pasadena. Cal.,
and with his associates will open the
biggest golf course in America at the
California resort and will attempt to
make Pasadena the golf capital of
America.
Work has been started on three eigh-
teen-hole golf courses at the Pasadena
club and the services of five professionals
are said to have been secured
for the season of 1920-1921.
Mr. Andrews, who lives at the Majestic
Hotel when in New York, is owner
of the yacht Sachem, and is prominent
in amateur athletics. He is a former
Chicago newsboy who at the ago of
forty has become a multi-millionnaire.
He has won several golf prizes in California.
The new golf club house will cost
$300,000 and the membership will be
restricted
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN
Portland, Oregon
July ??, 1920
CALIFORNIA LINKS WILL BE
BEST IN UNITED STATES.
Pasadena Is Site for Golf Field
Destined to Excel Any Yet Constructed.
Archie M. Andrews, New York and
Chicago banker, is building the finest
golf links in America, second not
even to Pinehurst or Belle-air, at
Pasadena, Cal., on the sun-kissed
stretches surrounding the famous
winter resort. There, nestling close
to the Sierra Madres, the sporting life
of America will be drawn.
The first spade of earth was dug
last week. The gigantic 54-hole
project is begun. It will be a matter
of ten months before it will be fin-
ished. By next December it is as-
sured the first 18 holes will be ready
for the national prize tournaments to
be staged there, which will attract
the supreme golfing skill and finest
social flowers of America.
Mr. Andrews is an enthusiastic
eastern sportsman, the owner of the
yacht "Sachem," and the winner of
many golf contests in California. He
began his career as a newsboy in Chi-
cago and recently bought the Chicago
Herald building in front of which he
formerly sold newspapers.
He was given up to die of tubercu-
losis at the age of 16 and went to
California where he fought for five
years to regain his health, golf being
a contributing factor in his recovery.
He is 40 years old and recently took
over the majority Interests of the
company controlling tne Maryland,
Green and Huntington hotels In Cali-
fornia.
The services of George O'Neil have
been secured for the golf project. Mr.
O'Neil will be in charge of the golfing
features of the new Pasadena course.
He is one of the best known golf ex-
perts in America. Under his super
vision the 54 holes will be built.
Mr. O'Neil is no stranger to California.
He was a former resident of that
state and laid out the original Annan-
dale golf course of the late Colin
Stewart. He also laid out the famous
Chain of Lakes course at South Bend.
Ind., for the Studebakers and Olivers
and has Just completed the municipal
course in Columbus park. Chicago.
The Beverly Country club, Chicago,
also engaged him as architect for its
course.
The Pasadena Golf club is building
grass greens of an undulating nature
with sand faces, like those on eastern
courses. No blind shots will be neces-
sary to the golfer who can play
straight and true, since all the greens
will be raised. Bunkers will be
placed in such a manner as to call for
the skillful golfer's best shots to ne-
gotiate the green the short way. On
the other hand, the person who aver-
ages shorter drives will find an open
path which will enable him to avoid
the bunker by going the longer way,
but he will find it necessary to add a
stroke in so doing.