Evening star., 1909-05-11
TRAvERS WRITES
OF SCOTTISH LINKS
American Golf Champion
Deems PreStWick the
Ideal Course.


British links in Golf Illustrated Q-ondon)
Of April %. They relate to the courses
in the "Bobbie" Burns country. along the
sea-washed coast Of Ayrshire, In the
west Of Scotland. OF this he says:
I'm the extent of golhng territory con-
verted to use, l had never seen the
equal of this. And when closer examina-
ton permitted me to judge of the quail
tiles and niceties of the best Ayrshire
courses l concluded We cannot hope to
rival them in America II We wish to
develop the game in manner correspond
ing with its merits. we must either con-
tinue under disadvantages, compared
with Scottish golfers, or indulge more
extensively IN our recently inaugurated
policy Of constructing courses embodying
the best features of the finest holes in
this country Nature has been less gen.
erous to the American 1t remains for
American enterprise alone to determine
whether We may remedy the deficiency.
Turf Alluring to Wooden Clubs.
THE turf also is superior to what is
found at American courses. Only at
Garden City, N. Y. and Myopia, near
Boston. does our turf attain a standard
equivalent to what is indigenous to Ayr
shire. Close. short. velvety grass is
found there, which imparts that delight
ful carpetlike richness 80 temptingly
alluring to ones wooden clubs, and pro-
duces those exquisite putting surfaces
where the skillful operator may reap
the just reward due to his better skill.
or the courses 1 am acquainted with In
America, Myopia alone bears resemblance
to the best Ayrshire links.
Il have little hesitation in pronounc-
ing Prestwick to be the finest course
have ever encountered In my experience.
II better exists anywhere l should like
to make its acquaintance. l am aware
that there are many fine courses in
other parts, and that have much yet to
see. These courses have each their par
ticular schools o. advocates and adver-
saries, too. for that part. Perhaps alone
unchallenged about any course is a par
ticularly good hole or two. Neverthe-
less. l can scarcely picture anything
which could provide a superior test of
golf. 1t brings into play an immense va
riety of shots: mingles the fats with the
happens to be a bit of wind about 1
should say the golfer will be put to a
most searching test: perhaps better even
than that, this course will discover the
weakiings and elevate the greatest play
er to his proper altitude in the results.
Charmed With the Cardinal.
II was charmed with the cardinal. The
first shot is simplicity itself. For the
second, however across the broad and
high-faced timbered bunker. the player
is fairly safe down on his merits. 1t is
like storming q fortress. The great hit
ter may carry the fortress at one fell
swoop: whereas the non-speculative in
vader has to creep warily and come in by
may save a stroke At my first attempt
1 found myself ''engolfed'' In the car
dinal and concluded 1t to be a veritable
sepulcher, conveniently disposed for sud-
den death or suicide. in stroke events. On
my second round I got a lucky four;
whereupon 1 mentally envied the great
ness OF those homebred golfers like Braid.
who have reached the green In two and
taken the hole In four.
When I came to the twelfth and found
could not cary the dyke with q second,
l relapsed into admiration 70 rthe qualities
of British golfers who can snap this hole
in four.
Finest Two-Shot Hole Anywhere.
Next I was introduced to what I un-
hesitatingly pronounce to be the finest
two-shot hole 1t has been my lot to come
into contact with-the famous Alps hole.
do not see how a better. hole could be
imagined. When I had scrambled to the
top of the heights and surveyed the situa-
tion-a perfect green ensconsed monarch
like among q retinue Of uncompromising
defenders-my admiration of this supreme
test of second shot greatly expanded.
1t seems to me to be as near perfection
as could be hoped for
"It has been my good fortune to meet
many Of the leading players in the west
Of Scotland. 1 have played with Mr.. J.
l.. c. Jenkins (Troon). Mr.. A. r. Aitken
(Prestwick and Mr.. Gordon Lockhart
(St. Nicholas). all Of them fine players.
was particularly IMPRESSED with Mr.
Lockhart's hard hitting off the tee. He
does put steam into them. When intro
duced to former Champion James Robb
the conflict at Sandwich, in 1904, natur-
Schenectady putter which l use was
trotted out for inspection and on my in
cidentally observing it was not mine. but
a friends. Mr.. Robb revived an incident
in the 1904 Championship with the re-
mark: oh, this Is another friends put
been feeling at home at all with his put
ting and had borrowed one from a friend
when he suddenly struck that remarka-
BILE game of his. Mr.. Robb was good
that / also had borrowed a friend's s
putter. leaving one to conclude that /.
too, was hoping to find some other body S
game along with 1t. Well, l thought,
shouldn't all who aspire to putt we'll have
no stint about borrowing right and left :?
To borrow well is a first principle in
good standing.
Since these impressions were written
Mr.. Travers, with Mr.. Lockhart as part
ner played q four ball match at Prest-
wick against Robert Andrew and James
Robb. the 1905 amateur champion. Mr.
Andrew played an exceptionally brilliant
game, coming home, which he polished
off in thirty. two strokes getter than
the record. Mr.. Robb and his partner
won by up and to play.