New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-10
HOW TO CONSTRUCT
IDEAL GOLF COURSE
Rules Laid Down by One Who
Has Made Long Study
of the Subject.
VARIETY is A NECESSITY
Last Three Holes Should Be
a Severe Test, with the
Second Shots Made
the Most Difficult.


To the sorely perplexed committeeman
endeavoring 10 fashion and maintain their
golf courses along most approved lines. 1t
may be comforting to know that IN the
search for ideas is not nearly so essen
tial to cross the ocean now as formerly.
Much travelling has already been done by
those who have spared neither time nor
money in their endeavor 10 keep pace
with the hast word In golf, and as a re-
suit Of their observations and study
many courses here in the East are con-
stantly being benefited.
When II so happens that a club sud-
denly comes into possession Of much ad-
ditional land 1t behooves the officials 10
go carefully and make haste slowly for
It rests largely in their hands whether
the course is to become a good test OF
golf or sink TO the level OF commonplace
and uninterestlng. Where there are
number OF parallel holes the problem OF
trapping becomes douby difficult.
Charles b. Mcdonald, founder OF the
national golf links OF America, has mace
a lifelong study Of the subject He says
the essential characteristics TO be consid-
cred in the laying out OF a golf course
are nature of the soil. perfection IN uH-
dulation and hllocks, as pertaining 10 me
course proper; putting greens. quality OF
turf. nature Of undulation and variety
bunkers and other hazards, nature size
and variety: proper placing. length OF
hole, best length Of holes, variety and ar
rangement Of length. He also recommends
considering the quality OF turi' ana
for the fairway suggests a width OF
from forty to sixty yards He likewise
calls attention 10 the nature Of teeing
grounds and their proximity TO the put
ting greens.
Another well known expert lays GOWN
the following rules:
/ There should be a complete variety
Of holes. not only as regards length out
their character the way In which. they
are bunkered, the kind Of tee shot that
is required OF them. the kind of approach
etc.
.. In every case the putting greens
should be thoroughly well guarded.
2 The shorter the hole the smaller
should be the putting green and the
more closely should II be guarded so
that on this principle when In good play
q long shot can reach the green. The
green should be fairly large and open
in order to give the player the encourage
ment to which he is entitled.
4 There should be alternate tees in or
der that the courses may be easily adapt
ed TO varying winds and dry weather.
when there is more run on the ball. IN
less this is done q medium has TO be
struck in the arrangement Of the holes,
which seldom makes a really good test
in all conditions; or. on the other hand.
the holes have TO be planned to suit the
prevailing wind and are much reduced
in quality and testing power when 1t
comes from the opposite quarter.
g. The bunkering and general planning
of the holes should be carried out with
the specific object of making It neces-
sary not only TO get a certain length.
but more particularly 10 gain desired
position. and the player VINO does not
gain this position should have his next
shot made more difficult for him or should
be obliged TO take an extra stroke.
6. There should be as frequently as
possible two alternative methods Of play
ing a hole. an easy one and a difficult
one, and there should be a probable gain
of a stroke when the latter is chosen and
the attempt is successful.
James Braid, former open champion OF
Great Britain, believes that a course
should have four short holes-two for an
iron or a mashie. one for a cleek and one
for full drive. He also favors two long
holes. He adds that the others should
vary. with the two-full-shot kind pro-
dominating. Braid has declared himself
as opposed TO the cross bunkers. but IA
vors the bottle neck system OF guarding
the greens. making the open approach
narrow. In his opinion the total length
Of a course should be anywhere between
5000 and 6. 400 yards and he declares that
the first two holes should be OF nature
calculated TO let the players get away
quickly and avoid congestion.
The last three holes he asks to be
severe test, as so many matches ere In
their last throes at this part Of the links.
In his opinion, the second shots at these
finishing holes should be difficult In this
country many well known courses end
with short holes. At Garden City. where
national amateur championships have
been decided, the home hole over the
pond is only an iron snot and the same
may be said of the one at Englewood,
where the metropolitan professionals
struggled for their open title a couple of
years ago.