The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-10

lne SURROUNDINGS, JuhN V. ANDEhSON.
which gave strong denial TO those ad-
herents OF anu-golf who assert that golf
makes man forget all the beauties of
nature and pay no attention to sught
but his game. But will miss my guess
very much II tho scenery which meets
tho eve OF the golfers who are competing IN
the United states amateur championship,
which begins on August 81. does not at
times force them 10 enjoy its beauty and
grandeur. Tho golfer who cannot make
the best of bad shot under these sur
roundings should not be handicap
man or better.
The course was IN good condition de-
spite long drought which threatened
at ono time TO dry up every blade OF
grass. You would naturally expect that
in spot where the weather Ia always
cool and delightful there would be
plenty OF moisture and resultant green.
But the misty clouds only peep over the
tops OF the Taconic range and Mount
Equinox, and then are pushed back by
the grlnning sun or else by the heilsht OF
tho mountains. Then they appear on the
Green Mountains side and hold forth in
an extremely tantalzlng fashion, which
Ia most exasperating 10 the green com
mitteeman. In this cage the we'll known
golfer James l.. Taylor. That Is the only
thing which hurts ones feelings here In
a period OF drought. the omnipresence OF
calm insensate things" which might help
but won't.
For "A number OF years there has been
talk OF the course at Manchester being
the venue OF the United States amateur
championship. but each year the award
ing has been postponed. When. therefore,
the news came out last January that the
championship would be held on the YER
mont course there was hearty apprO val
from all those who had played over the
this was that cool weather could be guar
anteed. and that Is no small advantage.
The course measures In the neighbor-
hood OF 800 yards the outward portion
being n shade under 5000 yards and the
, inward footing up 10 300 or so. There
are two short holes in each nine and thu
par OF each nine Is So Twelve holes have
| the par OF and two are a stroke higher.
From the standpoint OF length the course
IL barely championship In these days. But
| the time and thought which have been put
into Elvwanok have given 1t standing
which rivals most OF tho finest links IN
| the land.
But Il Is easier to throw away money
! In the construction OF poor golf courses
! than you would imagine: the good thing
about Ekwanok IL that there has been lit
| tie need for any radical remodelling The
| hunkers and the traps have been placed
| In their proper places, and tho much 10
De desired feature, tnat OF having TO place
| your drive. Is here evident The putting
greens should be tho courses pride. for
| they are softly undulating and OF goodly
| texture The turf Is firm. vet elastic m
| It's response there will be no complaint
about the putting surfaces.
| The falrway, despite tho lack OF a de-
| cent supply OF water. did not show lies
which were unsightly. In some places
new turf had been put down and new tees
| built TO lengthen the course. The holes
| as played in tho recenk tournament Will
| DO the same at the time OF the cham
| pionship, with the possible exception OF
| the sixth, where tho tee will be raised In
| order that the green can be seen. At
| present the hole Is blind shot and the
| blind shots on the course and round
| over tho links will dispel all fear in this
| respect The sand in the bunkers IL of
| the finest variety, and there In enough of
It to make a sturdy stroke necessary,
AZ one time j. l.. Taylor was much
| worried about the course on account OF the
| lack OF rain and SO he made a tour of
| inspection around the neighooring region
| and tried to buy some OF the lawns which
had tho green grass, at the same time
| Offering goodly sum for such. The
| farmers, however. although hating to re-
| fuse good money. refused to part with
their front decoration. for their almanacs
/
were to some extent right Enough rain
| has fallen In the past two weeks 10 insure
that tho course will be in good condition,
| was told that did not see Ekwanok
| at its best because there was a too IA
| vorable wind blowing This favorable
| breeze comes only about three times a
| year and makes the course couple ot
| strokes easier az the very least This
may account for the most excellent scores
! which were turned in on the outlying
| round at the open event. The best score. a
i72 by Dr. Gardner OF Providence, was
the lowest which has been made over the
course, with one exception. in n regular
tournament Francis Ouimet went around
| in 10, the par OF the links. In a medal
| handicap two years ago II would seem.
therefore. as n the qualifying round of
the amateur championship would be fully
as low as In past years. despite the excel
lent features which stamp Ekwanok as
| OF championship calibre,
The course does not ofrer any disad-
vantage TO the long driver. and. on the
! other hand. Il does not make the task OF
! the short driver too hard when put up
! against the straight and far hitter
| Every course has It's most adm red and
J star hokes and thA ones which +ooL ~