New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-04
TO IMPROVE THE LINKS.
Changes Suggested by ". j. TRAVIS
for Garden City Course.

7, 4. or,t. ross,bIe that at no distant date the
links Of the Garden City Golf Club Will undergo
many changes The fact is that number OF
alterations have been suggested and It Is for the
members 70 saw whether not the proposed In
novations meet with their APPROVAL Walter j. Travis
is responsible for this agitation. Mr.. Travis main
tains that the time IS at hand when this country
should be represented by a few courses OF &C
knowledged championship requirements where OIL
rection as well as distance. is absolutely essen
tial 10 SUCCESS.
Some Of the proposed changes which Mr.. Travis
has placed before the board OF governors follow;
Additional side traps between the falr greens OF
the sixth and seventh holes; traps in front OF sew
eral putting green's traps cut right through num-
Der OF the green's traps beyond some of the green's
and other side hazards.
This communication rather startled the governors
the matter, a member of the club asked John NJ
Of the suggestions was seen. but before deciding
TO go ahead it deemed best to first find the
pleaslre of a majority Of the members The lat
are at present IN Quandary how TO reply
TO the circular letter they have received. In the
opinion of some the course. which has been gradu-
ally heightened and improved during the last nine
years. does not require many alterations. while
others admit that its width in places permits Of
certain amount OF wildness in direction TO so un-
punished.
With q view to getting an experts opinion on
the matter g member Of the club asked John NJ.
Ward. the New-Jersey champion. what he thought
up golf he has been abroad several times, playing
over all the famous links and with many OF tho
strongest golfers in Great Britain. He has made
close study OF the conditions abroad. and is well
qualified TO express opinion. In discussing the
matter last night he said:
In my opinion the plan to alter the Garden City
by the addition of traps is good 1t is
time had two championship courses in
this country. TO be found abroad. At Prest-
wick and North Berwick the aim has been TO
penalize the swiper and give the shorter but
straighter player prOpOrtionate advantage.
There seems to be difference of opinion among
golfers TO what constitutes a difficult course.
Where the latter has chiefly length. with few PEN
aties for wildness, the long player has undoubt-
ed advantage. Many golfers seem to think that
the more trouble there is course the it
becomes for them. On the contrary, take course
with plenty of side hazards with greens well
trapped, matter what its playing length may
be, and you will find the straight players chances
OF winning much greater. II is such a course
that the wild shots of the swper will result n Just
penalty. The medium class golfers at Garden City
need not worry over the proposed changes.
The idea suggested by Mr.. Travis TO cut some Of
the greens in half with sand traps is in this
country Some OF the Garden City greens are
wonders for size, though tribe fiat To relieve
this monotony Travis would also like 10 have ar
undulatng effect impaired With of the
greens divided in the mentioned. and others
rolling the course would present and interest
ing situations at each shifting of the holes