Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-30

oOelI1NA1lS 41yOuOJ ISoO
of scoring ability and shot-mak
ing alike?
Washington is fortunate in hav-
ing at least four exceptionally
fine golf courses, layouts which
have been built by master de
signers with a view toward the
future and courses which I'M
doubtedly rank in difficulty with
similar layouts around any other
city in the southeastern part of
the country. But which of these
is the best?
The professionals land we use that
term in the collective and not in the
individual sensel aver that the golf
course of the famed Burning Tree Club
Is the finest layout around Washington,
even though few of them do not care
to play Burning Tree since the unfor-
tunate incident few years back, when
some visiting pros overdid a good thing
and started playing five-ball and six
ball matches, with the result tsat play
was slowed down, the course cloggeAs
and the powers that be at Burning
Tree ordered the pros to pay green fees
like any other golfer. But, even at
that, they admit that Burning Tree is
the finest test of the game around the
Capital, demanding the finest of shots
and the most accurate short game to
score moderately well over those length
ened fairways.
Doesn't Want Tourney.
Which naturally brings up the ques-
ton, Why does not Burning Tree go
- ~. Ia ok.A
pionships? The answer, we are inform
ed by a prominent club official, is that
the course would be far too easy for
a fast field of amateurs or professionals.
Would it be too easy, we asked, If it
were trapped as most championship
courses are trapped? DR.. Walter S.
Harlan, who has charge Of the course
upkeep at Burning Tree, said it might
be too easy even then, but that in any
case the club is too far away from
transportation lines, the club house Is
not equipped to handle large entry,
and, TO sum the matter up, Burning
Tree at present does not care to stage
major championship.
ANY golf course whose yardage
stretches out to only 6,6l0 yards would
seem to be easy enough on which to
score, but the real tip-off is the fact that
the best any amateur has been able
and that was made by Frank K. Roesch
only last September in winning the Dis
trict amateur championship. The off,
cial professional record in competition
is 70, made by Leo D.egel in 1925. There
have been lower scores made at Burning
Tree, both by amateurs and profess
SIGNALS, but not in competition, from the
back tees. Take such holes as the six
tenth, where the back tee Is seldom
played That hole, from the rear tee,
stretches out to nearly 500 yards, and
probably not one-tenth of the Burning
Tree membership ever have used 1t. Or
the back tee at the seventh or sixth
Those holes all change very materially
from the rear tees-and how long they
can be?
Par Is Increased.
Par for the Burning Tree layout used
TO be SO, but there was some grumbllng
about that figure when it was found
that even the longest hitters had TO
stretch their shots to get home in 2 on
four of the holes. So the par now Is r.
The second, ninth, tenth and sixteenth
all used to be classed as par holes
but nowadays they are figured as par 9s
Not that 1t makes any difference to the
big hitters, for they are always striving
to clip a stroke off par and On these
holes they may do it, but for the rank
and file Of golfers par on these holes Is
s and nothing else. The second and
tenth are the easiest Of these par D
holes. and the sixteenth is the hardest,
based on yardage and general difnculty
Burning Tree, however, is not
course that gives up its par with ease.
Brides are not as easy TO get over
this layout as they are at some otner
courses. Take such holes as the fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh. On any or
all of these holes one bad shot may
spell disaster Personally we believe
the fourth hole is the hardest par
4 on the layout, while OF the orlyye
and pitch holes the nth prooaoly
takes a little more than your average
golfer can show. The second shot 10
both of these holes is deceptive for the
fourth green lies across deep hollow
and the fifth green lies on top OF a
ridge. with a bank falling away at
the left. protected by huge bunker.
And what a finishing hole Burning
Tree has That eighteenth hole is one
Of the hardest par As, from the na sSa
tee. of any eighteenth around the
Capital. 1t looks easy enough, but the
second shot must be dead straight to
hold the line and then must be hit
far enough to carry the dip in front.
Ask the professionals about 1t. They
will probaly agree that Marsnal!
Whitlatch did a fine job when he lald
out burning Tree.
Small consolation it may be TO golf
ers while their courses are covered with
snow, but the Weather Bureau assures
us that more rain has fallen in the last
~ hours than fell during the entire
period between June II and December
IS. The last real rain around Washing
ton was on June IT. In between we mad
a few scattered showers, but the total
precipitation was small That rain last
Friday was the best in many months
and resulted in few Of the courses
being closed on Saturday. And Sunday
It showed.
Your uncle Nick Altrock, partnered
by Alex Baungartner, played through
the snow over at Washington until the
snow became so deep that the golf ball
became literally snow ball as it rolled
toward the hole and Nick decided TO
cali - g day. Mich says he and Joe
Kirkwood, with within Nick performed
III New York several months back, may
20 on the vaudeville stage with golf
Skit, during the coming year. In this
skit Nick viii perform the stunts which
have made him a riot IN base ball
stadia all over the country and will
permit q golf ball to be driven from
all portions of his anatomy by the
accurate hitting Kirkwood. even from
his nose. And that takes. nerve and
nerve control. Nick himself is no set
up as q golfer. He hits a long, straight
ball from the tee and is an accurate