The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24
new LINKS AT RIVERSIDE
PLENTY OF NATURAL HAZARDS IN
COURSE OVER THE HILLS.
Eishteen-Hole Course Is Now Pro-
vided-PopaIarity of Game at Riv-
erside-New Regulations.

The Riverside Park golf links are more
popular this year than during any of the
past seasons. Visitors to Indianapolis. who
have visited the course, have o&en asked
what has served to make a public course
SO popular and well patronized by the best
class of people. Many Of the visitors and
many players on the links at Riverside this
season have played public courses in
other cities where the links were improperly
cared for and where caddies ruled the
course. Tney nave nouced the Striking
contrast between such courses and the one
at Riverside Park. Although Riverside is
public park and the links are for the public
the park commissioners have provided such
rules and they have been so well followed
that the undesirable players no longer fire.
quent the course, and every day the best
class of people are on the links.
1t was in the spring of 1900 that the MEM
bers of the Park Board first conceived the
idea of constructing golf course at River
side. The board secured the services Of
Chicago professional to come to this city and
lay out a nine-hole course. His idea was to
lay out the course south of Thirtieth street,
but later in the spring the board employed
Mr.. Conacher, professional golfer of we'll
known ability, to take charge Of that
branch of sport at Riverside. Mr.. Conacher
thought it best not to follow the plan
mapped out by the Chicago man, and. in
stead. laid out what is now known as the
old nine-hole course. He had charge of the
course during the season of 1900
Golf did not prove big success at River
side that year and in 1901 Henry Fleming, a
local player. formerly caddy at the Coun-
try Club, was installed as expert. Few rules
were made and they were not obeyed. Unde-
sirable persons gathered at the links every
day and the Park Board discovered that the
links would have to be placed under proper
management if the sport was. to become
popular at Riverside.
f. V. Lennon. of Boston, was engaged as
golf expert and instructor in the spring Of
1902. and the board provided rules for the
regulation of the players and the course.
Mr.. Lennon took charge of the course and
by persistent effort and compelling players
to abide by the rules soon rid the park of
the undesirable players. In short time a
change took place and the sport began TO be-
come very popular. By the close of 1902 the
best class OF people in the city were using
the links and this year the links are patron
lied by none but the best-professional men,
school students and others being among
those who cover the course daily.
NEW NINE-HOLE COURSE.
Golf has become so popular at Riverside
that it has become necessary to lay out an
other nine-hole course which will be for
mally opened to the public next Saturday.
This course is situated north of the rail-
road and will be combined with the old
course in order TO make an eighteen-hole
course. After following the first two holes
of the old course the new course will be
west the bluff and then north over the
railroad. There are seven holes north of the
railroad and the new course will combine
with the old course at the third green.
The new nine-hole course Will tar surpass
the present nine-hole in regards 10 natural
golf. In the old nine-hole course il was
found necessary TO build several artificial
hazards TO make 1t interesting. On the
make the game more enjoyable and more
sporty. The first natural hazard of the
new course is the driving of the bluff on the
first hole. Golfers will play 10 blind
green on the second hole because of the roll
ing ground On the third hole the teeing
ground being elevated about forty feet gives
a player chance To make a drive over the
railroad track, but woe TO the golfer who
tops his ball, 10. 1T the foot OF this hill
pass the Big Four trains.
After crossing the railroad track the next
natural haz I'd Is on the fifth hole, where a
hedge nine feet high ohstructs poor shot.
The sixth hole Is bounded on the right by
shrubs and bushes OF many descriptions
player slicing his ball. The tenth hole il