The herald., 1898-09-05
GOLF


footing throughout the United States Is
now assured. Is 1t simply craze? Is 1t
not meteoric pastime of society that may
be out of fashion after a season or two?
There are but two weaknesses to the game
and they are in large measure dependant.
First, 1t is not strictly game Of contest.
You do not play with the same ball that
your opponent uses, as in baseball or tennis.
Secondly. It is poor game for the specta-
tor, unless, indeed, he or she happens 10 be
q golfer. There is an infinite fund Of skill
in the game. for there are no two courses
alike in the world. The exercise is not vio-
lent; there is no running or jumping about
It; yet golf brings into play every muscle
in the body and the man who plays eigh-
teen holes a day will not find much wrong
with his liver or his biceps. The old can
pursue the golf ball as we'll as the young
and have known of several cases where
men have not taken up the game until they
had attained three score years, and yet
be able to give their grandsons "a stroke a
true sweet" swing of the drive can never
be acquired after boyhood, nevertheless,
there are today many excellent players
who never handled a club until they had
thought It was about time to releca;e their
plcate whist
The advance that the game has made In
Southern California during the last few
months is very remarkable and has sup
piled certain evidence that some such pas
time. combining skill and exercise, was
much needed. Within the last year links
have been laid out at every resort in which
people congregate for amusement and rec
reation.
Catalina island is the latest convert 10
the game and the Banning company is to
be congratulated on sizing up the oppor-
tunity so readily and so handsomely, for to
lay out links over the hills behind Avalon,
to clear the cactus, to reduce the canyons
TO reasonableness and to mold the mesa.
is no light nor inexpensive proposition. But
the result Of this timely energy and enter
prise promises to be by far the most sport
ing and picturesque links in the country.
besides being eventually a profitable in
vestment. A squad of men has been en-
ployed for several weeks licking tha Aog-
backs and cactus in and out of shape and
within another month course will be COM
pleted that will not only thoroughly test
the skill Of the expert golfer but will prove
Already five holes have been completed
and the course is such that one can play
seven without going out of ones way.
From every spot in the course there Is
something to attract and delight the ar
lists eye. The beautiful bay is hardly ever
lost sight of and the valley of Avalon in
which the links are laid is, as everyone
knows who has ever been behind the city
of tents, one of the lovelies, In the world
Th links are within five minutes walk
from the sea front and easily reached down
Sumner avenue. The first tee is just south
of Captain Whitley's house, which has
been purchased by the Banning company
and is to be transformed into commodous
and comfortable quarters for the Santa
Catalina Golf club. The first drive is an
ideal one, clear field and no favor, but
lots of trouble and lost ball il you toe
It. You drive from the road over fairly
steep precipice. The bottom of the canyon
has been thoroughly cleaned of cactus, and
IS kept we'll watered and rolled. AS long
as your drive is fairly straight and you
keep in the course you are all right, but
there are several acres of hostile and i'm
penetrable cactus on the right, and some
twenty to thirty feet Of difficult sandy and
stony ground on the course side of the cac-
tus. The first hole is fair, plain PROPOSE
ton provided you keep straight.
The second hole is short and can be ne
gotiated In three shots If the drive is good
and strong and kept we'll to the left short
carry up a hill and there is another very
attractive course. There Is an inviting cam
yon to the right and the hill slopes from
the left. You must drive we'll to the left
to avoid difficulties, and here as IN the Sec
ond hole strong and we'll directed drive
may land you on the green.
The fourth hole has been christened Cat
alma. but should be renamed "Hades" The
holes have been called after the islands
Of the channel, shut 1t would be a good
amendment to rechristen them according
to their characteristics. The fourth hole
is one that will try the nerve of the old
est golf player. You have to drive clean
over canyon about eighty yards across at
Its narrowest and 100 feet deep. There is
an alternative tee on the other side-for
ladies and tyros. The canyon crossed. an
other rolling mesa takes you to the fourth
hole. The fifth hole is somewhat similar
to No. 3, but down hill instead of up. Then
the main canyon is to be crossed again and
the last hole will be at the club house.
Since writing the above, a fellow ep1Y
fiend who spends the entire summer at
Avalon writes: 1--WE have a new drive
considerably worse than the canyon
Gades) The tee is near the second rreon
and the drive Is up the hill about 200 ards