Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-14
CHANGES IN GOLF.
Cross Hazards, Once Scorned,
Coming Back in Favor.
HAS MANY ADVANTAGES
Ideal Course Should Be Test for the
Skilled Player and Playable
by Unskilled.

NEW YORK. April 12-With the open
ing of another golf season close at hand
there is already much thought being eX-
pended by the links architect with a view
| to keeping pace with the times. Most of
the devotees of the game who have been
welding driver and iron for any consid-
cradle period need not be told that within
the present generation the fashions in
hazards have changed surprisingly.
Twenty years ago the cross hazard. ex-
cept on a few links, was practically the
only form of hazard made by man.
Following that came a period in which
the cross bunker became less and less
popular much SO. in fact that it's
champion was looked upon with scorn.
Today. however. there is a strong re-
action in its favor. While no attempt is
being made here to detract from the
merit of the side hazard, it must a.so be
remembered that today the ball goes so
much farther, especially in the case of
topped shots, that additional remedies
have to De sought
1t may be said now that clean hitting
is at discount. The small, heavy rubber
core flies better against the wind when
half topped. while the completely topped
shot, except that which is hit on the
head, travels to an unconscionable dis
lance. Furthermore, it flies. rather
runs, straight toward the goal for I'M
less socketed, or hit off the toe a topped
shot is rarely off the line For these rea-
sons cross hazards, which should be a.
most times ridiculous to good players,
and are occasionally unfair, become nee
essary evils.
In the opinion of a well known foreign
critic, to lay out a two-shot hole which
theoretically is quite good, being both
testing and fair. demands some exercise
of intellect on the part of the designer.
The fairer he tries to be the more modern
ball knocks him about. Here is an ex-
ample. which, curiously enough, applies
to a certain extent to the first holes of
several so-calle. championship courses
abroad. There is hole of about $50
yards. no cross hazards for the tee shot
but side hazards about 100 yards. too far
out TO be carried and fafrway of not
more than thirty-five yards between them
The green is guarded. not in front, but on
both sides, even more closely, and owing
to its unduating character and the adj
joining ground, is most successfully al
tackled by long running-up approach.
Here apparently two skillful Shots are
called for, long drive, which to be
placed most advantageously must go dan
gerously near the trouble to the right. so
as to present the best position from which
long iron shot. low and straight, can be
played. The critic says:
Although narrow, by reason of being
open. a hole is supposed to be fair in
every wind. both to the long driver and
the short. If the latter cannot get home
i'll =. he should be consoled by the fact
that, provided he hits a couple Of his
best. he encounters no risk. and his sub
seduent shot is the simplest. Ills tee
shot cannot reach the outlying pots nor
can his second reach the guardians OF
the green. His disadvantage In length is
compensated by his gain in safety.
Granted all these, the hole is fair and
testing The modern ball. however, makes
a sorry show of il. For the accurately
placed tee shot substitute an almost COM
plete top: for the low running iron shot
substitute a topped brassie shot and as
Stunning that the pair of topped shots nave
been straight it will be found that these
contemptible substitutes have been most
! effective
IF links are to be laid out to test the
| better players only comparatively few
| cross hazards are necessary. for those
which are really testing may often prove
! unfair. Few clubs are in position TO
! assume this responsibility, as a majority
| have 10 cater to all classes of players.
| The ideal course is one which is a fine
/ test for the skilled, yet which AFFORDS
| plenty of scope in the matter OF educa-
| ton for the unskilled: perfectly played
! by those who are masters In the game,
| playable always by those who have sue
] ceeded in mastering it's rudiments.
! For the short driver who has attained
| moderate degree of accuracy much
| sympathy must be shown. Having ac-
| auired the art of getting over cross
| hazard 100 To 1870 yards from the tee, an
| art which might we'll be made compul-
| sorry, he should be afforded way of
| escape at longer carries. The loss OF
] distance and difficulty of the subsequent
| shot are sufficient penalties.
| Gross hazards for the second shot are
/ extremely hard TO place. shorter dis
| lance from the tee than 300 yards is a
peril TO the long driver, while greater
/ distance puts the short driver out of
count, save when the wind is following.
| Even So if the problem of the topped
second has to he solved. cross hazards
alone will solve it.
| Turning to one-shot holes, which are
! less than full shot, there are those who
| maintain that the short driver must be
disregarded for the reason that one-shot
| holes should be tile highest tests of skill
/ There only the most skillful shot should
/ come to rest on the green. consequently
no way OF escaping difficulties ought to
be provided.