New-York tribune., 1908-08-23
NATIONAL GOLF LINKS
TO BE BEST IN WORLD.
Rapid Progress in Work ON Ideal
Course Near ShinnecocE.

Nearly two years have elapsed since work began
on the ideal golf course-that millionaires retreat
out among the sand dunes near Shnnecock Hills,
Long Island. From what at first looked ike
phantom dream of an enthusiast, now appears
a reality, and Ia less than another twelvcmonth
familiar cry of "Fore will be taken up afresh
along the shores OF Sh.nnecock Bulls Head ana
Peconic bays.
Not long since articles of Incorporation were
taken out. and the organization is now known as
the National Golf Links OF America The utie'
however, will become International in reputation
for its fame destined TO extend not only
across the seas but wherever the game of golf is
known This is obvious from the fact that from the
outset one of the chief aims the construction OF
the ideal links has been TO reproduce so FAR as pos
sible several of the famous holes found on the
classic links abroad. This has been made prac-
ticabfe because of the natural topography OF the
country selected, which lends itself readily 10 the
project.
AS may be imagined, this course Will not De d
luncheon parties. Situated, as 1t Is eisnty-
six miles New York, II Is safe to say 1hat
a majority of its select membership Will tfaVei
there by means of automobiles. The burning GOWN
of the Shinnecock Inn last spring has proved no
handicap the golfers. In fact, II mas aireaus
been decided to erect another along larger iieS
in the near future, either on the present ste oi
over nearer the Peconic side. In a measure LILO
nauv course will be independent of the elements as
a pumping station has been installed, with piping
system TO all green's.
Chief credit for this herculean Undertaking mus
he given to Charles B. Macdonald. of this city for
fully two years before a spade was pnt INTO 'li7
new course Mr. Macdonald made carefW stauy
of his project. He even went abroad anu ', ",na
Great Britain played over many Oh ',ie :,
courses besides procuring maps ana uiaei
hundreds of holes. Even now he is III 'oii'
communication with Horace Hutchinson W
the leading authorities the game IN Ehslaiiu
| A graduate of ST. Andrews Unfversi's' W.
donald had the advantage OF being SUR =.
! eofne atmosphere from boyhooa nc i0 =.
| this country more than thirty years ago. anu w
| the distinction of winning the 1rst ha'i ~
| teur championship at Newport In 1880 .
As NAV readily be imagined, money am 80.
! Of # is required to finance an unGertahihe " ~
nature and in the list of founders the names u
M, - -, ado,,inste In addition to Mr.. Mac
| donald those who have become founders anu IN
cidentally consented to pay the slo" zee. az C,s
| ieI Chauncey president of the Uniteo 0'a.o' 80
! Association. Ransom H. Thomas, Clalehee II ~
| kav H c. Frick, Hugh j. Grant EDEN NJ, 80
| T,,,r,on+ Clarke O. A. Shaw jr. H. M AthilSol'
James L. Taylor, Robert T. Lincoln, Eioef. n
Garey Devereux Emmett, Norman D. ilo"'
schoonmaker F. S. Laying. winthrop f'utnei -
| Delaney Nicon. James A stiinah' y, ,rson,-
eon 7 Moore ]. Bowers Lee. H. hch t~oli, ~
| b,v Horace Harding W. D. Sloane fSicnai
| Young u H. Broughton, W. b 1noihas' 80.
| Rowne Mott Watson T. Blair. harry rasHo w"
new r Toscani Alfred c. Norris Arthur nSels1.-' 80,
| W II Moore w A. Putnam, E. T. Duhhe Joiii
! ~ To- Robert Rage Kerr r. H. Williams, j. J.
| Manning w. K Vanderbilt. jr., Robert {. "a'soh'
II Iyhisham Leigh Hunt, Robert Bacon Jaiies
| Deerng Jarvis Hunt Hugo R. Johnstohe' ue0 So
w Baxter and T. Jefferson Coolidge.
| Acting as co-workers with Mr. Macdohaio ai
Mr. whigbam Walter j. Travis and finoiay D
| Douglas Their suggestions and IDEAS nave 0ee'
| carefully carried out by Mortimer PAYNE @
| S,+barnn,on veteran who has had charge OF the
| Sh;,necock Hills golf course for so many years.
| - ,rsons have any conception of the difficulties
| he hos had 10 surmount Several lows spots CON
| tanning water 10 depth OF four Zee. haVS ~
| drained filled in and left as dry as a bone.
| The fourth hole the new course is 10 De re-
| as,,o,,o, Of the eleventh at ST. Andrews. Mr.
| Macdonald firmly believes 1t viii even De an iii
| movement the original, "nlch mas ooe0i'''
| famous the world over. The distance is ABOUT one
hundred and sixty yards and at 81 AhuieNs 'i,o az
hole is practically surrounded by trouble except "
| O direct line from the AS result many pre-
| fer the low runnng-up shot and IN that way 'io
rising ground Immediately In front OF lhe green -
more easily negotiated. On the new course 'iieie
| is water hazard in frcnt of the tee' the loeh
| b.,,o IN coupel the player to use his mashie The
| other characteristics of the st. Andrews mole VIII
be strictly followed
| The famous Sahara at Sandwich Will be repro
arce6 IN the eleventh hole here. The new hole. like
a. or,s,,a1 ,s ,o be about 270 yards with trouble
| nearly all the way. The deep, desert-hhe ounher
will not be so extensive the one on the other sue
though the principle is the same long drlVe WIN
| hit of q pull may enable few to get home, but
| he another way for the less courageous. An over
| auuroach vii descend TO trouble
| The twelfth hole, near Shfnnecock, VIII peaf d
s.,,l,np resemblance to the Alps Prestwick. AL
| Though the Cardinal bunker which extends at con-
siderable length in front of the Alps tee Will nave
to be made the real feature of the hole the rising
ground In front of the green is found in natural
reproduction on this side of the water long pali
slightly pulled will leave the player In the best
| place to get home his second. The distance IS
| sSo wards and the green nestes on the other side
of the hill.
Another capitaI imitation will be found in the
| fifteenth on the new course, which is to be much
like the short lancaster The feature OF the
latter is the deep bunker guarding the green, while
on this side the drive will be from high tee over
| valley TO the green situated sort of plateau.
THE green however Is slightly lower than the tee,
| making the distance deceptive. The distance is
| only 14o yards but 1t will be necessary to carry
all the way with a mashie
The 100 yards thirteenth hole WILL when COM
pIeted remind one of the Redan at North Berwick.
! Low ground intervenes between tee and green, the
latter to be protected by buners three sides and
II will be dangerous drive off the pin especially
| with q following wind The safest way will be to
drive to the right with a little pull. but in the
| opinion of Mr.. Whigham. 1T will always be fine
| hole no matter from what quarter the wind may
| blow.
There will be a resemblance between the six
| teenth on the new and the seventeenth hole
| at ST Andrews. The distance is marked down as
| 46o yards but in straight line it will scarcely
exceed 400 The green is peculiar in formation. be-
| ing long and considerably higher the right end.
There are pits to the left and along the right side.
| The eighth hole the new course will be about
| three hundred yards and in way resemble the
seventeenth at Leven although the latter is some
| what shorter From position the eighth tee
| of the new course exceptional view can be had
| of Peconic Bay. while on the right the nearby
| Bulls Head Bay dotted with islands, presents an