Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-09

GOLF COURSES CRITICISED.
Member Of the Oxford Cambridge Team
Writes About Them.

One of the most popular of the Oxford
Cambridge golfers. who visited the United
States last summer. was Mr. J. A. T.
Bramston. Furthermore, he was one Of
the keenest observers. In the November
number of Golf he discusses the American
courses at length, saying, among other
things:
There is little doubt in the minds of the
English players that the best course on
which they played was that of the Myopia
Hunt Club. in Massachusetts. The reason
why this course proved so popular was be-
cause it presented many of the character
istics of the British links. The holes are
made to fit In the naturalilie of the ground
and the ground IS not tortured and twisted
so as to afford holes of the supposed ideal
lengths.
Moreover natural hazards are made use
of and brought into play wherever possible.
and the greens are not banked up and made
true with spirit level. but are left nat
urally rolling and Andulating All this is
admirable and 1t proves what a great ad-
vance has been made In the conception of
a good golf course. Elsewhere the courses
show many proofs that the spirit of math-
ematics has been abroad. The hole 1t has
been assumed, must be definite number of
yards in length, and when that distance has
been measured off the green is manufac-
tured irrespective of position, surroundings
and the natural laysof the ground.
1T Is easy to see. how this method has
arisen. 1t is a direct corol1ary of the
American thoroughness Some authority
gave out that the holes should be of certain
varying lengths. and this dietum has been
followed out In the absolute letter. without
regard for the greater Elasticity of treat
ment demanded of the spirit. But after
all, the origin is more or less immaterial
1t is the result which is important. And
the result is number of courses of very
similar nature. which call for the same
strokes time after time. There is nothing
to make the player exert himself to draw
him out and compel him to use his judg-
ment. In word, there is a great lack of
interesting shots.
Now this plea for interesting shots is
not in the least confined to the American
courses. The English links Gas opposed to
the ScOtch) have in many cases the same
characteristics as those across the Attain
| tic, arising also from the sudden spring
| that the game made into popularity. Only
| this happened in England some fifteen
| years ago, whereas in America 1t was more
recent
| whose ideas upon golf were materially the
| same and, unfortuna tely for the game
| these were not the best ideas The result
was a crop of holes varying between 300
! and 400 yards, with narrow bunker across
| the course to catch miShit drive and an
| other of the same type in front of the
| green to entrap a fooled second. But it
| must be patent that the amount of skill
| infinitesimal, and the interest which they
| arouse really non-existent.
Added to this the entrapping power is
| small. For a topped ball rarely reaches
| the bunker, and a shot which goes four
| feet in the air will carry over it. The Chi
| cago Golf Club course. at Wheaton, affords
an instance of this type or golf, but it is a
! step in advance of our average inland
| course. For it has been subjected to what
may be called the exaggeration of the
| standard. That Is to say, 1t has been laid
out for a scratch player playing at his
| best.
THE result, as is Invariably the case
| where these cross bunkers are employed, Is
| that the short player just reaches the sec
| ond bunker with his two best shots. In
| fact, the short player is unduly handicap
| ped by his shorthess. But to the long
| player these bunkers do not exist or. at
| any rate, do not cause him to think for a
| moment, which is the sine qua non of a
| good bunker. Moreover. the shots are all
| the same. There are only three clubs
| needed on this course If a man Is playing
| well--a driver, medium iron and put
| ter-and these do not require to be used
| with any finesse but only in the ordinary
straightforward way.
Not but what there are interesting shots
| to be found on the American courses. The
| complaint is that they are so comparative
| ly few. And yet they are easily made.
! For instance, the ninth hole at st. An
| drews Is in many respects typically bad
hole. 1t is just a drive and short run UP
| with an iron or Il wooden putter. But 1T Is
| saved and turned into an admirable hole
! by small circular bunker about six yards
| in diameter, which is placed right In the
middle of the course and exactly where a
| good, straight drive should 60
THE bunker, when viewed from the tee,
| demands decision in the mind or the
| player. He must settle whether he Will at
attempt to carry it. play short Or go right
| or left, and in the latter two cases he must
| be prepared to pinch In close TO the hazard,
| as there are troubles on either side If the
| hn1 9 ~ fbA
| haps one of the most interesting strokes
at St Andrews, and 1T Is simply caused by
| a little sand pit three times as big as hip
| bath" j. 10.