The sun., 1919-02-24

easier TO tCOTt phT oNci bho s'''NS
across than the difficuB ones here. |
Bunkers are wilder in Britain. more
dangerous looking from the tee. Our
links now are designed with a view 90
helping the poorer player In his enjoy
ment of the links by giving him lons
course TO the hole.
1t IL a step in the right direction,
great advance in the principle of making
the fine courses enjoyable to both the
crack golfer and the middle handicap
chap.
Heather and Gorse Abound.
Heather abounds at many Of these
holes in Scotland and England, and
heavy gorse features when that tough
obstruction Is absent, thereby making
straightness a necessary point Of view
In attacking the hole.
Our inland courses resemble those
abroad In many respects. the one DIG dis
tinguishing difference being that most
American courses have plenty OF woods.
while British courses havo az Few as
possible and the best have practically
none.
There was a time when expert golfers
| we're of the opinion that trees had no
| place whatever on the domains OF a golf
| preserve, but the wonderful links which
| have been developed with the aid OF
| the trees and their insistence upon
straightness as necessary medium from
the tee and on second shots have thor
oughly disproved Mt least the major por-
| ton OF the statement.
Pine Valley has trees. 90 has Brae
Burn. the Country Club. Baltusrol. with
many new courses being hewn and
| moulded out Of forests, as, indeed. was
| done at Walton Heath. Braids course in
! England, where approaching a quarter
OF n million dollars was spent in secur-
| ing the excellent eighteen holes OF the
present time.
The trapping at the inland courses
more artificial and, therefore. not good.
While we often rake the bunkers here
| in an effort TO give each and every
player the same sort Of an opportunity
| to get out and perhaps secure bit OF
distance II he makes an excellent recov'
cry, that is seldom II ever done over
there.
Cross bunkers have their place in
Britain In the same quantity as here.
lance rs secured from traps by our golf
ers. but there Is one exception which is
worth noting.
Ted Ray. open titleholder OF Great
Britain in 1912. had been knocking at
the door for first class recognition for
years, Way back IN 1908 he had
reached the finals of the Ners Of the
World tournament, an event which is
practically the match play champion
ship OF the professionals, the same as
that OF the p. c. A. in this country.
But James Braid quickly snuffed out
Rays aspirations.
Four years later Ray was a semi
fnalist and again Braid won. In 1911,
however, 1t seemed as II no one could
stop the redoubtable golfer who was
outpaying them all. Again he reached
the final OF this event and once more his
opponent was Braid.
Ray vs.. Braid.
course. aud more than once Braid lost
hole through catching trap off his
pulled drive. With nine moro holes to
play the game was all even. At this
stage hole meant much and Ray puff ed
) serenely on his old black pipe after the
drives to the long tenth--a fine two
shotter for DIVER and cleek-for he was
In the centre Of the fairway and "Jim-
mie' was snugly ensconsed In a trap to
the left, where there was no hope for
distance seemingly.
Ray played first and put a long iron
to within fifteen feet OF the hole
Chalk up one at last" he, said rs he
reached for his putter. Braid took out
his niblick and dropped into the sunken
hole in the ground. Up he came a mo-
; ment later and asked for his mid!ron
and then, deciding TO risk all, took his
long iron and with a tremendous swipe
, confined with delicate timing and sand
cutting sent that ball whirling through
the air and to the very edge OF the
green.
Rays pipe was being furiously pufred
; rNyta hA ho1l lee k~,.N IA
went out when Braid proceeded TO hole
out for n from the edge OF the green,
one under par. winning the hole and
later the title by one up
Such shots are made once IN life
time, especially out OF Walton Beach
bunkers and that particular stroke is
: Braid's finest 80 he says, selected from
i hundreds OF others
) To conclude the tale we may say that
Ray, when open champion in 1912, again
reached the Anal OF the Eetcs Of the
World event and was beaten on the last
{ putt by his friend Harry Vardon. For
his serving let us hope he viii some day
,, merit the gold medal and large purse.
The chances for low scoring are about
S as frequent here as there. While the
4 player secures at almost all seasons
!, q. the year in Britain the response to
: cut shotS which are essential in low
: marking he gains here by the eXtraordi-
nary length which the hard ground
= gives to- the run of the ball
Anent Clubhouse Detail.
o Attention TO clubhouse detail and IT'S
!; location In proximity to the hrst and
= tenth tees is a feature of American golf
which has been warmly commended by
r experts from abroad. This enables many
: more to start out within given time
S for their round OF the course. provides a