New-York tribune., 1898-12-25

4
tenes of the game have not been transgressed. ana
no difficulty is In store for the player who b.des
the zee a the ba." 1t Is the present Intention TO
hold the formal opening on Memorial Day. and from
the progress already made II Is evident that much
of the work will be completed before that time. 1t
is not the desire to have preentious clubhouse.
but OF old-fashoned comfort. hospitality and
good cheer, and In this effort expense will be
spared.
Golfers may not care to read OF the course hole
by hole but something about the salient features
may not be uninteresting. The Greens Committee
is considering the matter OF bLnkers. No artih-
cia bunkcrs will be placed until the kind and posi-
ton agreed upon by large majority Of the
experts and until the bunker has been saked out
and the ground played as to determine un-
der what conditions ball would be trapped.
Certain points are. however. determined in rela
ton to the bunkers The artificial will be
either sand pits with cops. cops II they exist.
will be broad and low. All bunkers will be arranged
so that they may be played out Of In one skill
ful strokes The committee Will the
side OF too few bunkers at the start rather than
too many. until by actual experience in play It
mas determined the proper position Of the bunkers
ana their Kind. when they will be added from time
, to time. No rock sod-fencc bunkers will be per-
m'tted There will be no fences rocks trees or
bushes on or adjoining the fair greens nor In the
hazards
The railroad track outside OF the line OF play for
play Tor two hoes will not be in any sense haz-
ard, except for an unusually erratic ball. but the
course is laid out to take advantage Of some natu-
ial hazards, such as the pond the punchbowl and
the valley containing the old farm lane
The seventh hoe and green is at the bottom OF a
deep, oval depression. sunken In level plateau
which surrounds 1t on all sides and which makes
hole very similar TO the famous punch Bowl" hole
at Prestwick. This hole is short one OF 100
yards, and may easily be driven by an iron. The
entire depression Il being surrounded by Irregular
sand pits or dltches. so that unless the ball is
placed by the drive within a reasonable distance OF
the hole inside the hollow It will either be trapped
by the sand pits or the approach on the second
stroke VIII nave to be made the from any
direction.
Inc od lane with Its sunken grayish banks has
been cleared OF all bushes and stumps and is be-
's proadened out In some places made irregular
In others. and deepened so as 10 reach sand for
ai'housh there Is good top soil and turf everywhere
over the course. still sand may be had AZ any non.
o9 u'sBihs oowa foot or two There is a peculiar
ana ueep depression guarding the approach 10 No
10 hoie at the head Of the pond, with long s.ope
| leading down TO the edge Of the same so thar :,
| hecessifates rather long approach
The circuit OF the course on the outside linz ..
noies Is arranged purposely with the track and
"oous ana he.ds not only at some distance bu,
| 10 the left of the players as they face the holes
| as the vast majority Of players are right-handes
. ""' "a i"''-uoHefi DaHS are sliced to hat ic
hooKed There Will be such bad devices nc
walls. vertical banks or board fences behind nu,,,
green's nor VIII there be an unplayabe place on tho
course except the pond, within well-dehned banks
anu OF course. another ball may be played under
the usual penalty. for one that is lost there
| Another excellent point is that the hazards hack
/ OF putting greens will not be too severe and will
be at reasonable distance from the holes Tnless
other hazards are provided. the ground immediate
ly in front of tees and surrounding the fair greens
or lanes OF play will be covered with coarse grass
s'uppie' which, while stopping the ball. will permit
the skilful player to play out In one stroke
All putting greens. with one or two exceptions
| will be nj least hundred feet square Nearly
all OF the putting greens will have the natural un-
dulations OF the ground. enhanced In a few cases
! by artificial means. and a few OF them will be COM
paratiye planes. but with reasonab BILE slopes In one
| direction or another for variety There are no
terraced greens
In order to offer attraction for womens matches
a large ninc-hole practice putting green is being
| laid out north OF the clubhouse. near the verandos
Ihe tees are all on sod and large enough to permi,
OF being moved frequently TO avoid too much wear
Nearly all OF them are on the natural surface OF
| the ground.
| There are no crosses the lines OF plav any,
| "here' ana the tees and greens 70 arranged
| that the greens cannot be reached by sliced balls
from 'he tees except In few places by exception
| aiy erratic pay. Moreover. the tees and greens
! that here Will be no long walks from ono IN tho
| o'"er' anu yet they Will not be near enough 10
| interfere with each other The average width OF
the closely cropped lanes OF play is 25) feet
Experiments have shown that the re- is n mag
n'hcent water supply 1T reasonable distance below
the surface 80 as TO preclude any danger from sur
race drainage. and set OF artesian wells IL being
urVen from which an unlimited supply for the
clubhouse and grounds Will be pumped into under
| ground tanks. where 1t will not be exposed TO the
| detef1orating influence Of the sun I'm hot veather
and from which It will be constantly distributed by
air pressure to all points Two miles Of large pipes
are being lni1. supplying not only the clubhouse
but every putting green and also the fair green's
on the more elevated places. insurng a perfect turf
| at all seasons
| Work has been begun. and is progressing RAPIDLY
| on the central section or main pnrt OF the club
mousse ana II is expected that will be begun
| on one or both OF the dormitory wings as soon as
| winter breaks up. The main house Will be road,
| f"r opening ct the same time the links on
| Decoration Day. and II Is hoped that the dorm
tories Will be in condition soon after In the mean