The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-16

JOHN g. ANDERSON. distance. putting
green and hole In the ground. There
was even a certain KIND OF thrill which
came to a person after making shot
over hill or a long brassie over n cross
bunker which hid tho pin. for added to
curiosity was the thought OF the success
in overcoming the extra burden imposed
by the blind stroke. There was greater
feeling of exultation by far in clambering
up a hill and then seeing the ball reposing
on the green a few feet or inches away
from the pin than in seeing II go there
all the way
Then came rhe day OF the golf architect.
who really was the representative of the
opinion of the day that cross bunkers and
blind holes We're not the proper means to
the end. II was too big job to tackle
both of these evils, so called at once, so
they started in discardng the cross bunk
ers and in a few cases by so doing
spoiled good holes But in the long run
their work told nightly and the pleased
golfers began to talk about other phases
which might be improved The architects.
none in particular, for at one stage to be
on the green committee was to be such.
were more or less stumped because at all
those courses where golf had been played
for many years the holes could not be
turned round. and the topography OF the
land would not admit of its undergoing
extensive changes unless at an expense
which generally and rightfully was con-
sidered too great.
For number OF years. therefore. say
from 1905 until 1910. the matter was per-
mitted to rest and we were content when
new holes which were constructed did not
have these unpleasant features. But all
the time the palpahle injustice OF the
thing was taking deeper root. and de-
spite the facts given about the foreign
courses-how at Sandwich there were
many blind shots. that at ST. Andrews
these were not unknown. that at Hoylake
chance ruled at times-the sum of it all
was that the golfers convinced that the
blind hole. especially when presented
many times, was detrimental TO the best
execution OF the shot called for. demanded
its removal
The insistence on this doctrine has been
more exact since the high class architects,
Charles Is. Macdonald. II. S. Colt, Donald
Ross and few others. have given us
examples of courses where the blind hole
does not find prominence. i think It is
fairly we'll established fact that where
you have n short hole say from 125 TO
1876 yards or even longer. II tho tee Is
on an elevation II Is better to have
the bottom of the pin in sight from the
tee But | venture TO state that almost
half of the short holes in the land are not
fashioned after this manner. When We
get one. however. we find extreme pleas
ure in playing II. and we count all such
as being exceptionally good tests. For
example. I need but mention the eleventh
hole AT Ekwanok the tenth hole at
Brookine. the thirteenth hole at Dun
wood!e. the firth at Fox Hills. the sixth
at Wykagyl. the sixth Mt the National
links, the eighteenth at Garden city. all
gems and several others which are well
known. In contradistinction to these
might be given numerous holes which are
good hut which are not popular. Take
the third hole at Baltusrol. for example.
II il a fine test Of golf. but only after
you know the course.
have long been. a believer in the
theory that the test OF hole should be
the first impression which 1t gives to the
newcomer This is usually the test which
applies TO the course and the links is
made up OF the sum OF it's parts So that
II we have blind hole which 10 the
learned player IL first class. but TO the
stranger is full OF lurking dangers, there
Is something wrong with the hole. This
is not radical by any means II is the
thought in the minds of most Of us; the
standard which was set UP through past
false ideas cannot be changed in mo-
ment or a year. here are 100 many
physical limitations.
Now 1t may be argued that II may be