The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-03
I ca s.
What Size Courses


With the tremendous spread OF the
popularity OF golf now upon US,
many of the smaller towns of the
country are actively planning new
asts the problem arises: Shall 1T
be a nine-hole course, to begin with.
or Is holes at the start?
The right policy for all such or
CARNATIONS, unless special conditions
and favored finances make the full
1S-hole links possible, calls for a
nine-hole course. And the enthusi-
asts should understand that they are
establishing the nine hole course not
as mere beginning, but perhaps
for all time.
No one seems to know. definitely,
just where the idea that Is holes
constitutes golf links got its origin.
But because OF this until, which has
become more or less standard, many
members of nine hole links seem to
think that there is something lack
ing in their club. Such is not the
case at all. and new clubs, starting
with nine holes, should not do so
with any idea that the course Is a
present excuse or apology for
regular" course later on.
Some or the best golf courses in
the world are of nine holes. Some
OF the sportiest holes 1 have ever
played are on nine-hole courses.
An Attractive Course
There are several factors that
make the nine-hole course most at
tractive. Its only disadvantage Is
that it will not accommodate club
with a large membership. If one
looked closely enough into the his
tory of golf he would discover, |
am sure, that the only reason for
the 1S-ho1e course is that club MEM
berships, growing, made it NECESSARY
to have more room in which the
MANY golfers could enjoy the sport
without crowding one another.
In small towns the number of men
and women. especially men, who can
give time to golf on week days. eX-
cept perhaps Saturdays. Is limited.
And there are two distinct phases to
the proposition of organizing a golf
club. Number one is organizing and
creating the club property. Num-
her two Is keeping the club alive
and going. If the organization at
tempts too much at the start 1t will
fall OF its weight. In the big cities
there are many men who can spend
much money for golf and consider
able time as well, but the financial
side of the matter must be weighed
in the smaller community.
Nine Good Holes Best
1t is better to have nine good holes
than is indifferent ones. 1t
+. far better to have nine good
TUT n a =
number constantly in poor condition
1t is a far easier task to establish
nine holes, than reconstruct and re-
build upon the course until 1t reaches
a state of near perfection--and to do
all this on nine holes is Just half the
Job and half the expense, that would
be involved in doing it on s holes.
The pleasure of golf is not meas
ured ct all by the number OF holes
on the course. For instance, one of
of the finest golf properties in the
world, the links of the Chicago Golf
club. has had but nine holes this
season because of repair work and
extensions being completed on the
other nine. But the spirit of the
game and the JOY of playing have
not been married in the least for the
members of this wonderful club.
Air OF Intimacy
I have often noticed that there is
an air of intimacy about the we'll
kept nine-hole course that sometimes
seems to be lacking in the larger
one. The players and members seem
to be thrown into closer contact with
one another. One seems to know
the holes better. which OF course is
a fact, not a fancy The detail of
the holes is more familiar to the
player because he goes over them
more often. On some big courses
some of the holes are so far away
that they seem to be entirely out OF
the players scheme of pleasure until