The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-30
THIRD SECTION
A MONTE CRlSTO GOLF CLUB,
IDEAS or TIE MILLIONATRES
WHO SEEK PERFECT LINKS.
M0n>y PiedEel AMI Realization May he
Only Two Years Awsy-Charles ID.
Macdonald Coins Abroad 10 study
Famous HOles-The Ideal C0sirse?


Macdonald Going Abroad TO study
Famous Hoies,-The Ideal Course:
sThe world Is mine!" Is the cry OF the
Count OF Monte Cristo that has. thrilled
two generations in reading or in beholding
the melodramatic reproduction OF the
fiction In the theater. Now, conceive an
entire club Of American Monte Crstos,
seeking bit OF the world to convert into
reproduction Of the best golf holes abroad
The announcement has thrilled our golfers,
warmed the cookies OF their hearts. much
in the stirring way that Dumas enthralled
them In years agone.
1t is fact, not fiction a daring conception
based on sound premises. that has aroused
our golfers. There have been doubts ex-
pressed az to the credit rating Monte Cristo
might claim to-day from the commercial
agencies, but no doubling Thomas may
impugn the solvency from this standard
of the newest golf club. Ninety at least
OF the 100 who have been asked to become
charter members are rated at 81 900 900,
and some at higher credit.
Charles B. Macdonald, a pioneer OF the
game here and winner OF the first amateur
championship OF the United States Golf
Association. is the moving spirit in the
unique club. The time is proptious for
the venture, which would have fallen on
deaf ears decade ago. for the land now
teens with golfers who by journeys abroad
and constant playing at home understand
thoroughly what Is meant by a good golf
course and are eager to possess one.
There arc constant differences OF opinion
rs to what Is tine best golf course, just as
one mans meat is always another mans
poison, but there are isolated holes on each
course that all agree on as ideal. In 20 far
as the topography Of the land to be obtained
will admit, Mr. Macdonald will reproduce as
many Of these holes as possible on the new
links. Taking this as the basic proposition;
Mr.. Macdonald has obtained the number
Of charter members he needed at 81 900
each to start the club. 1t will be their
club and conducted for their own enjoy
ment, but there will be an affiliated men,
bership, in which the joining fee will be
500.
Nothing has been done as yet except to
procure the pledges Of money. The club
has not a name. nor even the shadow Of an
organization. The greater number OF the
signers Of the subscription paper-if the
sheet circulated among them may be so
termed-are New Workers, and there are
residents Of Boston, Providence, Piitsburg,
Chicago, PHILADELPHIA, Washington and
points further south on the list. In a talk
on the new club Mr.. Macdonald mentioned
many Of the names, but with a req uest
not to print them now. They were all men
Of wealth and OF known devotion to golf
"a an upbuiding mental and physical
recreation. Ransom H. Thomas, president
Of the United States Golf Association. It
may be mentioned, was asked to be char
ter member. but 1t is not the aim to lay
out links that will be the national testing
course and the scene Of the championships
As to championships. the new club will
bear the same relation to the United States
Golf Association that Is maintained by the
older clubs, which means that 1t will give
loyal acceptance at all times to the requests
Of the national committee.
'There ia little in the jest that the holes
We want to counterfeit at st. Andrews or
Prestwick rust be carried bodily away
began Mr.. Macdonald. They have moth
ing over there that we haven't got here
sand, turf hills, to sea-and as far as the
reproductions 60 they will be limited only
by the topography of the ground we get,
which will be nodded and shaped to the
degree de panded in carrying out our plans.
best Roles we want. not the absolute phys
ical imitation Of the Scotch or English
model. We are not seeking the scenic
background, for golfers care little for the
picturesque in detail. although they love
the open and the communing with nature.
The games the thing.
-One may sit in any golf club abroad
and hear the men agree on the best holes
az they chat over their experiences on
many links. There are certain holes that
all agree on. Take the eleventh at st.
Andrews, which is deemed the best short
hole in the world there Is nothing to pre-
vent the reproduction Of its salient points,
and this il true Of most Of the best holes:
aThe distance Of the short hole at st.
Andrews Is l4s yards and 1t Is very hard
three. Yet should ones opponent De over
shaw bunkers, one may use a putter from
the tee and be sure Of four, which in'this
case will probably win. Headwork has its
place on the good holes. Moreover the
holes to be picked out, while testing the
them. The comfort OF the golfer Is toe
little regarded on our American links. COLI
Is not mountain climbing, nor supterranean
Nor should there be long walks to the tee.
On an ideal course one should step on the
putting green right on to the next tee
.In the selection Of holes I am to be {;
committee Of one, but later, on others will
be appointed with me on the green com
mittee. I shall probably go abroad this
winter. and with surveyors and drafts
men visit the classic links and plan the
working model of our new course. with
the topography OF our tract always IN
mind. II will be an ordinary en- cheering
problem to mep out just the course we
want. After that the fulfllment will be
matter Of contract. Contractors here are
up to very fast work on any conceivable
undertaking, and il we can get the GROUND
this fall We should be playing golf on It In
two years cay the spring Of 1907.
Mr.. Macdonald added that the course
would probably be on Long Island and as
accessibe from New York as possible. 1t
is evident that he has .hitched his wagon
to a star" but the golfers seem willing to
back him as the jehu for a good race. no
matter how rigorous may be the conditions,
cyan though he has comet in the shafts.
There are many good holes on American
links, in Mr.. Macdonald's opinion, but to
reproduce them would gain nothing OF the
sentiment that clngs about the particular
holes Of the British links, which are most
famous In the stories, sonSs and records OF
golf. No one is better qualified TO approach