Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-30
AMERICAN GOLF COURSES.
English Player Thinks They Are More
Difficult Than British Ones.


Horac" Hutchinson, in the Metropoli-
tan. that the first point to strike the
attention and arouse the respect OF the
visior from he other side, is their diff
ficulty.
The American golfer has set him
self no light task. His ideals are high.
In this respect. however, we have to
draw a distinction.
About the time when golf really
came to America the common British
idea of laying out an inland course
was to set it forth as though for
steeple- chase with a bank, having It
ditch in from of it. right across the
line OF the shot: another Of exact
" the same character for the second
shot to carry, and with that glorious
simplicity of plan men We're content
The trail of that serpent lies very
evidently across many of the United
States courses today 1t is Il criticism
made from no superior standpoint, for
the same rail is on many Il British
course no less.
Here ana there We find in America
q course laid out at q date when the
architectural ideas about golf were as
different from those described ats the
Tudor style differs from the Gothic.
And then there are also 4 great many
which seem to be in the process of
transition There are signs of stress
and struggle So we see the Stra lght
across bunker gradually disappearing,
the holes gradually being stretched out
to something more than the duh drive
and pitch distance.
Il have said that the fact that has
impressed me. sometimes with Il pain
full emphasis, about the American
courses is their difficulty it is said,
obviously, of the latest and best type.
The American golfer evidently has
the idea that the game is one which
ought to demand StraiehtneSS of drive
and great accuracy Of approach.
Herein the Americans have inn
proved upon ourselves | am sure that
their courses (again would say that
speak of those which are arranged
on the most modern planl are laid
out on scheme which preSupposeS
straighter driving than our links re
quire.
IF a comparison be made with our
classic courses it would be no more
than just to these latter to remember
that they We're not always as they are
now and that their present estate is
not III precise accord with the designs
of their designers. on almost all the
classic courses in Great Britain there
used to be Il dense fringe of whins on
this side and on that the tirthway be
tween being straight and narrow.
Many years and many golfers have
worn these Whins away. consequently
there is much room on the right hand
and on the left, very little demand on
the golfer for accurate driving, and as
a further consequence We see the
young golfers who have had their
schooling on these all too glorious
links, slashing the bali about very far
but very uncontrolled.
THE best American courses, III fine,
seem to me to require much more ac-
curate play than our own courses de-
! mand with the longer clubs, and fur
. Their the best American golfers appear
to respond to their need and to be q
good deal more accurate. to drive a
good deal more straight and more pre-
cisely to Il point than our own best
men.
"I ,., w..
~, .,,.,,,+.,,., ,,.,I,. ~
,;,,,.,I ,,L. :.
l., I,,;1.;. -. - 60
hottn, an ,.,,,,1 rl,ca,', ~, i'.
,,,o,. i,lua ~ 49,. as,'atl,. ,,,
,,,r,' - .,,..,t..,. ,.,;..;. ~. ~
,f ~ ,,>,.'ri~1.' -! r.
- 49,, ,,... Wv,
a., ,,,,,.
10,
.;,, ,.;D, i'
s+r,,oo, j., A., l.,,.,, .',s
l,.,-, -"
"T,s. ,,',,,o,.,, .,,.... 49,, .......,. a.,
,,,; .,,,,, -, 80
"
,;rrt,t
..,rh,t :. ,h,, .,,.....;.. 80, ,...;,;.,.x ,,:,.
a., t,,,. :, ~ :,
,a,,, ~ '"o
,.,', ~ ,t,.,', ,,f, ~. :.
81 ~, &c..
,,.t,,,,.;a,, :. 'i,,, u az. ~
,,,o,,. - ,.,,,,, NM, .,'.;',;'.- D''''i
w. Sp'' '"'' VI "iiN' u,
tho hni,,h. ~ ~, '''., !, 'l'',i' "
ca,o,.,1 ~ ,h, I,,,,,,t,,-
..r-,;,