The sun., 1919-07-27
Golf Links Are in Need
of Regular Inspection
Clubs Should Have Experts Diagnose Needs of Courses
Says Anderson-Skll and Science Discounted on
Hard Ground Where Ball Rolls Far.
BY JOHN q. ANDERSON

The scene opens in the rear room OF
There are gathered in consultation the
bank treasurer, n newly elected treas
urer OF a new golf club. five graybeards
who care nothing for the game OF golf
other than the income which 1t was
supposed to bring to town In summer
and directly and Indirectly enrich them
and the writer. The latter had been
called in to advise concerning the name
of a good golf architect, who for con-
sideration would lay out short course
and see to the preliminary ground work
until foreman with some experience
In links work could be obtained.
What man would you suggestT' we
wero asked after the usual talk OF the
crops and the weather had been settled
We named two or three men who at
that time were breaking Into the golf
architecture game and making a success
OF it to whom the Job would appeal
both from a financial and. since perfec-
ton was not required--only a course
which could be called one to allure the
ordinary summer pilgrim who plays
once a week at the most was sought
for--educational reasons. We went on
to say that either one OF these chaps
could be had for about S25 and expenses,
hotel accommodations.
That sum seemed satisfactory enough
to these men, and selection was about
to be made when one old chap spoke
up and said: Say. what about Donald
Ross. young fellow7 You never said
anything about him. Amt he one Of
them there cracks in this architectury
stuff7"
Certainly" we rejcined, zone OF the
very finest-but II will cost about 800
and expenses to get him. and, moreover.
he is probably tied up with future work
for some time to come, and you want
quick action"
"Mebbe 80, but 1t might pay TO wait"
ut surely would" we said but added.
"It will run into money at 500 day."
what, Hundred Per Day!
"a day!'' shrieked two or three at
once I'VE thought you meant a
month. Say. what does he do? Let's
have the other chap"
Which they did. although they had to
rcadjust their conclusions on the twenty
five per day instead of per week idea
which had first entered their heads. We
might add that when we visited the
country postoffice thereafter we were ac-
corded more gracious glances on meeting
knew n man or two who could get a
hundred dollars for one days work on
the golf links
Now the telling of this story Is for
theh purpose OF bringing to mind at this
time OF the year the necessity of having
golf architects or rather. as we prefer
to call them. Links DOCTORS" look over
the various courses where excellence is
desired. Not a year passes but hun
dreds of thousands. we are not wrong
when we say millions OF dollars, are
thrown away because OF the indiscre-
tons OF men on green committees.
Take the case Of a course not twenty
miles from New York. where the mem
bers paid the highest subscription ever
asked in this country, and whose club
green's are being torn up because of mis-
takes made at the start. Laying out a
course Is work of art SO far as the
placing OF tees and greens are concerned.
but having the right kind of grass grow
through the clever selection of seed and
nursing is fully as essential and praise
worthy.
Too many clubs are willing to pay
fifty or a hundred dollars n day for an
architect. but they do not keep him on
the payroll long enough. A mans in
terest Is always keen in following up a
course which he has laid out and l
have not the slightest doubt but that
II this had been done In the above in
stance there would have been saved up
wards OF twenty-five thousand dollars.
Long Course Taboo.
We speak of the need for architects
advice at this time because of one par
ticular reason which seems vital to us,
We believe that golfers as body are
coming to regard the extra long course
as a delusion and a snare with nothing