Evening star., 1928-04-24
, BIT WALTER r. McCALLuM.

~ TX miles above the city Of Rich
mond, only brassie shot from
the north bank Of the historic
~ James River. George T. Cum
ningham former club cham
pion Of Bannockhurn. and a well known
golfer Of Washington, Is moulding into
condition and preparing for the Sched-
uled opening in May golf course that
has in it the marks of genius.
The course is the new layout for the
Country Club of Virginia, which has
nearly 5000 members and has long
since outgrown the golf facilities Of
fered at its WeSthampton course.
Last Summer Fred Finlay, the man
who brought Joe kirkwood TO America,
and Toomey and Flynn, who have laid
out several Washington courses, coll
Elaborated in planning the course. And
on December Is last year George Cum
ninghan1. who had been with the green
section of the United States Golf AS
Sociation for several years. went 70
Richmond to take charge of the course
and of the Westhsmpton layout.
A month ago he asked us 10 come
down and look at a course which he
describes. in his enthusiasm, as 20 per
cent better than Burning Tree. OF
course, we were q bit skeptical about
that. knowing what Burning Tree is
and stands for, but We went TO Rich
mond last Saturday in the rain. and
Sunday. in more rain, We walked over
the new layout.
Constructed over rolling terrain of
much the same character as the ground
at Burning Tree. il bears much the
same marks of genius in the contour of
the holes and the use that has been
made of the natural hazards and the
lay of the ground. Gently grasSed
slopes conceal vicious bunkerS. point
ing the way to amply large green's laid
away in the corner of oak and pine
woods. There isn't climb of any
account on the whole course except
that 10 the fifth green, where the
player shoots from one hilltop to
another across shallow ravine. The
layout is one that would delight the
golfing heart of Fred Mcleod and
Sandy Armour and others, who learned
the game In the classic precincts of
Scotland. for ii has the same ingeri-
ousiy trapped fairways and the same
hidden bunkers that mark the Scottish
and English courses.
Four par S holes on the course can
al be reached in two shots by the long
hitter who is hitting them straight,
but they have TO be accurate. To ball
ance this the four one-shntters are as
tough as they can be made, yet the
genius who built the course has left
ample space in the immediate front
of. the greens at the short holes for the
sAort player to avoid the traps. Alto
gether the new course of the Country
Club is. in our Judgment. a great
golf course and one destined to
become nationally known.
We played over the picturesque lay
out at Westhampton, which Is the old
course of the country club. considerably
revamped and bearing little resemblance
to the course over which Allen Lee
Hawse beat Bob Finkenstaedt for the
Middle Atlantic Golf Association cham
pionship eight years ago. Donald Ross
reconstructed the layout and turned
out one of his poorest jobs.
The course is good. but not equal to
what might have been done with the
facilities at hand He kept the great
seventeenth hole intact, one of the finest
golf holes anywhere, but the balance Of
the course lacks variety 1t lis a real
test Of golf shsII, however, for there are
10 par 4 holes On the layont.sof which
are more than 400 yards In length.
Cunningham now is attempting TO
make up for some Of the deficiencies by
Tesodding and enlarging the tees and
improving the approaches 10 some OF
the green's.
One week from today the tournament
trek starts and the golfers who follow
the rounds Of the invitation affairs viii
have their hands full trying TO beat each
other and trounce George Voigt, who is
apparently the only unbeatable golfer
around washington. The Washington
Golf and Country Club blasts the season
open, and II the entry list warrants 1t.
viii start dts tournament on Tuesday.
May J., opening with a two-day qualifi-
cation round, instead Of the old time
one-day medal round.
Washington intends. If possible, 20
have only one day for quanfying--Wed
nesday, May 2--out from the list of in
YitatiOng that have been sent out and
the size Of the List TO date, IL appears
that another qualifying day may be
necessary. All the stars Of other years
have entered the tourney. including
Frank K Roesct, the Washington Club
title holder. and the formidable Maurice
J. Mccarthy, probably the best player
- the Washington Club. and the holder
Of the course record with a mark OF 66.
In addition TO the best Of the home
club stars many fine golfers from other
clubs around Washington have entered
the event. and Washington is sure TO
open the Spring season with It's usual
fine tournament.
Tickets for the exhibition match at
Columbia next Saturday in which Bob
Jones with appear for the Olympic fund
are on sale ~ several places In Wash
sngton. They may be obtained At 81
apiece at EpaIdinRs and at the City
Club as vel as at the Columbia and
Congressional clubs.
The exhibition match viii start
promptly at 30 pm. 10 enable the
players 10 attend the Gridlron Club
dinner IN the evening. The following
day Jones viii pair with Watts Gum
against Roland r.. Mackenzie and -.
Warren CorkTaB over the Five Farms
course of the Baltimore Country Club.
Other participants IN the Columbia
match are Phillips Finlsy who will be
Jones partner against Roland Mac
KeFlZ1e and JeSs EweetseF.
The first Of the monthly medal play
events listed for Congressional men,
beFe Will start a week from next Sat-
uE6ay, With the Journeys scheduled 10
run for 3 year ~ the end ~ which
time the winners viii compete for spe-
eisl prizes.