Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-17
LAYING OUT GOLF COURSE
Architects Agree that Variety Of
Holes is Desirable.
ALL CHARACTERS ARE NEEDED
Kind of Course f. Determined by the
Position and Guarding of It's
Putting Grcens--AdRptinE
Course 20 winds.

NEW YORK, Dec. 16.--The up-to-aato
golf architects generally agree nowadays
that In the arrangement OF courses that
mean something thore should be a COM
plete variety OF holes, not only as to
length, but In their character the way
In which they are bunkered, the kind OF
tee shot that is required at them, and
last but not least, the kind Of approach.
In every case the putting greens should
be thoroughly we'll guarded.
IL has also been claimed that tho
shorter the hole tho smaller should be
the green and the more closely IT should
be guarded. so that this principle when
In good play, a long shot can reach tho
green. which should be fairly large and
open In order TO give the player en-
couragement, to which he Is entitled.
In this respect, however. there must
ever be difference OF opinion. There are
those who argue that il is wrong TO say
that a fairly long course is a sufficient
test to select the best golfer out OF
field of any fifty or 100 competitors. In
other words, no course can bo a thorough
test OF the skill and nerve OF the player
which has not so closely guarded greens
that ON occasions there is but one. and
that a most skllful shot, by which the
long approach can set home.
IL Is not too much to say that the
character OF the course is determined by
the position and guarding OF its putting
greens. II the greens are In an opon
position Il well-nigh passes the wit of
man to make the course first-class. One
may lengthen the holes and construct
artificial bunkers galore. but the final
test-that OF the approach shot-is want
ing.
In laying out a new course or remodel
Ing an old one the main thought should
be given to the proper placing or close
guarding OF tho greens. Whereas the
player starts from the tee in order TO
reach the green. the golf engineer should
start from the green In order to fix the
tee. In selecting or guarding the green
the thought should be ever uppermost
TO make Il difficult OF approach and from
the center OF the course and from per-
fectly played shot.
IL is always well 90 have alternative
tees In order that the course may be
easily adapted to varying winds and dry
weather. when there Is more run on the
ball. Unless this is done an average has
to be struck in the arrangement of the
test in all conditions. In other words,
the holes have to be planned TO suit the
prevailing wind and are consequently
much reduced in quality and testing
power when Il comes from the opposite
quarter.
The bunkering and general planning OF
the hole should be carried out with the
, specific object Of making II necessary
, not only 10 get certain length, but more
particularly to gain a desired position
and the player who does not gain this
: position should have his next shot made
: more difficult for him OF should b.
; obliged TO take an extra stroke.
The ideal situation is to have as fire
9 uuently as possible two alternative
. methods OF playing hole. an easy on
u and difficult one There should be I
Q probable gain OF strike when the lat
/, ter Is selected and the attack is sue
. cessfui.
That brings us up TO the diagona
!, formation OF hazards, which are becom
= Ing more and more popular. The oh
a ject OF these diagonal hazards is obvious
' In other words. Q player may, to us
the phrase. ''bite Off as much as he ca
chew" Where the hazard runs alon
n on the bias It should be so arranged tina
s the long carry is not off the line OF piaS
8 Some golfers are OF the opinion tina
/, the best practice in putting is on poo
X green's, on the assumption that when IN
= player puts on first-class greens late
: the putting looks and is a very easy al
u fair. The theory is that IL a player ca
putt on the bad greens. no can putt a
y the better on the good. Others argu
!. that 1t is a waste OF time trying TO put
!, = on greens that are untrue. for the reaso
y that no matter how straight and tru
: you make the putt. the ball win not ru
straight nor get into the hole.
With reference to such widely dtfferer
A views. the general opinion is that III
y best greens to putt on are those whic
9 are difficult, yet-true- A green may /
n flat as billiard table, and yet may I
untrue because Of certain excrescence
IS A flat and true green Is desirable, bi
4 Ia true and difficult one is even bette
i There is too much Of the element OF luC
d on a green whose surface is untrue,