Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-24

strokes for the reason that he has pro-
ceeded from the bunker to the dreaded
road beyond the green and then back to
the bunker and so on to distraction.
Braid had to send his ball about eight
yards to put II close to the hole. He
used every bit of his power, came down
well behind the ball and raised a vast
cloud Of sand; and the ball rose slug
gishly from the force OF the disturbance
In its rear and stopped within holing dis.
tance. He hit like Hercules for that
little shot (as one spectator remarked, the
very earth seemed to tremble) and II was
one Of the finest bunker strokes in his
tory II he had played 1t in any other
way. in all probability ne would have
been on the road.
This, then, is the only conceivable justi-
heation for cutting the hole close to a
hazard: II affords plenty of scope for the
exhibition of skill in bunkers. In some
instances, one knows perfectly we'll that
one will be in the sand, and at times II
Is matter OF looking for the best place
to enter II.
Such was the case in a tournament held
in connection with the opening OF the
Cooden Beach links, In England, course
which must have been laid out with a
view to its being regarded as the last
word In dficulty. was so fortunate as
to win It; think l must have been good
at recovering from bunkers that day We
were all getting into them and doing It
cheerfully and resignedly, with an eye
the whole time for the most favorable
position In the hazard
When Braid and opposed Duncan and
Mayo for el0O In a foursome a few years
ago l put my partner into the bunker on
the left OF the ffth green at Walton
Heath In each round. I knew that we
were sure to be In a bunker OF some kind.
and that the one on the left was the
easiest. The plan was vindicated; We
secured the hole In each round.
At the same time. there Is not much to
be said on behalf OF this ultra-difiicult
golf. which gives the player hardly one
chance in a hundred OF playing an iron
shot close to the pin. II adds to the num-
ber o. strokes required for the round, but
1t does not necessarily prove that the
course Is so good test of golf as one
that can be done In fewer strokes.
While certainly / would have every
green literally guarded, l do not think
It Is possible to say anything Amer OF
course than that 1t encourages bold ap-
preaching. Particularly would / have
the bunkers at the back OF a green at
least lo-and preferably l5-yards behind
the pin unless the shot ordinarily de-
manded consisted OF nothing moro than
a short pitch. To have hazards three
or four yards In the rear OF the hole is
bound TO cause timidlty, which surely
need not be promoted In a spirit OF sheer
cruel-heartedness
During the last year or two a wave
OF reasona blenesB has come over the
sphere OF British golf-course arohitee-
ture. Putting green's, which were dsvel-
oping Ahsurdly tricky attributes In their
deliberately constructed dips and rolls,
have assumed something like their old
condition Of fairness, and the craze for
having little pot buhkers In the middle
Of the iaiFway (snares which cannot
always be seen from the spot at which
the shot Is played has died down In a
considerable measure
/ have always felt that lost News
OF the World" tournament at Summing
dale through getting into pot bunker at
the 18th hole Of the existence OF which
was unaware. The incident happened in
the ssmi-Ansl, and hit the ball Just as
Intended. Unfortunately, l had not been
called on 70 play this hole In the preeed-
ing rounds, and my astopishment was as
great as my indignation when, on walk
ing toward the spot to which had struck
the ball, diseeFned little bunksT-and
my ball nesting in Il.
Nevertheless. Downright easy golf is a
dull recreation, and Il Is bound TO TetaFd
the development Of a high standard OF
play Ny eXpeFienea eonvlnees me that
most OF the courses In America err on the
side OF simplicity: / have played on many,
and / should say that two out Of every
three possess this fault. There are some
sa which one hardly ever sees a bunkeFi
n is possible 70 hit the ball IN almost any
direction without getting into serious
trouble, and IN the absence Of hAzard
guarding the green, a half-topped ap-
preach may hnish In better position
than q perfectly executed shot
Copyright. 1918 BY the Wheeler syaaieais, Tue,
IThis IL the seventh Of ; series el articles
on golf that Mr.. NardQni the British chHm7
oIas a writing specially foE the Evening
IsdgsF, me slshth aFiiels VIII appear nsHt
safurday,l