The sun., 1918-07-21
MOST AMERICAN I:
LINKS ARE TOO BIG
John Anderson Says Best
Brand Of Golf Can Be Played
Over Short Course.
VARDON MAY VISIT L. s.
BY JOHN G.. ANDERSON.

ny JohN hNDEhSoN.
What strange notions are possessing
the minds OF some OF the golfers OF
the land in foisting upon the players
links which measure 1000 yards? In
the report Of the play at Hollywood
week ago 1t was said that the tees
were placed so far back that the length
OF the course was increased 200 or 800
yards, the total yardage being well over
5000 yards. Playing on the long hole
at Ravisloe In Red Cross match n
| few weeks ago golfer remarked to
Jim Barnes about the length of the
course. why, at Olympia Fields, where
We played last week, you had to ask
where the hole was
"Of course this was a bit OF exag-
geration. but a close inspection OF the
! length OF the holes on that course shows
the reason for his statement. To begin
with the length OF the course, which
has four holes which can be reached
from the tee, is 6.733 yards, and IL de-
sired it can be made longer. To get this
enormous yardage three holes over 500
yards are used. measuring 545. SIS and
b0b, with two other holes measuring
4s4 and AS to help out
The holes were trapped as nicely a.
any of the shorter ones and the average
score made by Chick Evans, Jock
Hutchinson, Jim Barnes and Warren
Wood In playing these six holes was five
and nine-twentieths. This is an indi-
cation OF what the average player who
pays for the links and their upkeep
might expect in the course OF round,
provided, OF course, the round was fin
ished.
How many more times must we harp
on the question as to why the links
should not be constructed for the play
ing membership? Quality Of as fine
grade as can he desired can be Sc
cured over a short course-say $3.50
yards.
Good Distances spoiled.
Nor need we pick upon Olympia
Fields a new course recently opened
in the suburbs of Chicago. for there are
many links in the country whose hg-
ures for distance are to be changed
soon through the setting back or the
toes In most of these instances the
good distances are spoiled, but that
makes little difference to the men IN
charge when more yardage is one or
the goals, the other being high scores
for good golfers.
We will be the exception" seems to
be the rally cry OF many committee
man, and the result is more than
plenty One great objection TO extra
part of golf architects to produce
splendid three shot hole. There are
many good ones, but the ones which rise
to heights which make the hole worth
! while can be counted on the fingers OF
ones hand.
| The seventh tole at Pine Valley. to
my way OF thinking, is the greatest three
shot hole in the world. and ] doubt II
there are half dozen good three shot
| holes In the world that ! haven't seen
| and played over.
The eighteenth at Wykagyl and 81
wanoy, the fourth and seventh at Gar
den City, the fourth at Baltusrol, the
! last at Dunwoodie, the ninth at
| Apawamis all have their good points
| and weaknesses. but they do not show
votes in popular favor.
The long hole AZ Richmond County
| on staten Island shows up as strongly
as any in the metropolitan section, but
not one of the holes mentioned is within
/ 20 per cent. OF the excellence of tho Pine
! Valley hole. And be 1t noted that on
this course there is at present Just one
hole where three shots are required of
the crack golfer Playing at his best.
Comparisons ofttimes prove the point
better than mere opinion. No better
method Of comparing course length
comes to mind than that of taking the
six championship links OF Great Britain
and ascertaining the long holes. We find
that the longest OF all the championship
venues is Deal. with a total distance
round OF 6.5sl yards. and not single
hole measures within fifteen yards OF
500, St. Andrews has two, $50 and SIG.
Prestwick. Hoylake and Sandwich one
each. the average being under $40 yards,
while Muirfeld like Deal has none