VOL. XIV NO. 3
SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 17, 1910
FIVE CENTS
ON BRITISH GOLF COURSES
Professional Donald J, Ross Writes of
Summer European Trip
Viitn World Famous Courses and
Point Out Adrantag-e From
American Viewpoint
HAVrNG been asked by
the editor of The Pine
hurst Outlook to rec
ord some of the im
pressions received dur
ing my tour of Scot
tish, and English golf
courses last summer,
and during my play in
the open championship of Great Britain
at St. Andrews June 22nd to 24th, I do
so with the hope that some of the many
things learned after a long absence
from the home of golf, may be found
interesting and instructive to those who
visit Pinehurst, the "St. Andrews of
America."
Perhaps of more striking and general
importance to the players of golf here
than anything discovered, certainly the
one fact that proved the most stimulat
ing and the most satisfactory to myself,
was that anything that has been done
by course architects and constructors in
this country, which has been criticised
as radical and extreme by home players,
does not hold a candle to the work of
the people on the other side of the water
10 make their courses a severer, and
therefore a better test of the game. Much
of this construction work, or rather on
many links much of this laying out of
the courses, has been done during the
past few years and whether in some
cases the architects have gone too far is
a question that time will answer, but the
general opinion seemed to be that while
criticisms were heard frequently at first,
that they have become fainter with time
just as they have at other places where
those in charge had determined to take
the course by the horns, and tear up
things to some purpose ; but to nothing
like the extent which has been carried
out on courses in Scotland, England and
Ireland.
A very curious fact was noticeable at
all the links I visited namely, that the
average standard of play on the other
side seemed inferior to the average stand
ard on this side. Golfers over there
seem to take less pains with their golf
and to care very much less whether they
defeat their opponents than they do
here. Perhaps this is because the larger
leisure class has been less under the
strain of professional and business life
and therefore less sensitive to success or
failure. In any event, as I went from
one golfing resort to another, I wonder
ed whether it would be possible to find
so many players' anywhere in the United
States who would so promptly be rated as
"dufiers." Nevertheless these "duffers"
were enjoying the game on some
of the hardest links to pUv prop
erly in the world, and if anyone
had dared to suggest to them that
they might find more pleasure on
SEVENTH HOLE NEW
and become fully as expert as the best
amateurs in Great Britain. There isaten-
dency in the old world to idolize a cham
pion or a famous player long after he
has fallen from grace and indeed, to at
tribute a great game to many who never
have become great.
Before passing to an account which
will be given in the briefest possible
way, of the links which I visited in
Scotland and England,' each one of
which could only be properly described
in an article by itself, two essential
principles which are laid down by the
COURSE. PINEHURST
- y-"n '-'idii m , "
f57
ft:
At
FROM TEE FROM GREEN
an easier and an inferior course, their
remarks would have been received with
the scorn of silence, or with an excla
mation of pitying contempt.
More people are playing golf over
there however, and on every links play
ers, were found who certainly would be
a match for some of the very best ama
teurs in this country, should the latter
have an opportunity to cross the ocean
and make a tour of the courses. That
does not mean however, that first class
American amateur golfers would not
quickly adapt themselves to the condi
tions, learn more strokes, realize the
possibilities of the game within them,
architects of courses across the water,
will be mentioned which well might be
followed here by those who are trying to
bring American courses up to a first
class standard. And, by the way, the
secret of the development of American
players is In the development of Ameri
can courses.
The British architect of golf courses
pays little heed to criticism, but is al
ways open to valuable suggestions,
knowing full well that the carping critic
is usually a very ignorant man, while
the one who has any advice worth taking
gives it in the gentlest way knowing
(Concluded on page two )
AUGUSTUS POST A VISITOR
Famous Aeronaut Stops Oyer For
Glimpse at Pinehurst
See the Future of flying a a Iligu
Class Amateur Sport of
Wonderful Popularity
AN" interesting and
interested visitor of the
week was Mr. Augustus
Post, the famous aero
naut, who came for
a glimpse at the world's
most famous winter re
sort and like others
who have cme before,
left amazed at its equipment.
'Man like the birds, will in all truth,
soon be flying southward to escape
northern winter," said Mr. Post to The
Outlook, "and a few of us are already
looking for places to light, for like the
autoists, we seek creature comforts at
our resting places. In my journeyings
I have found no sport more delightful.
Your blue skies and vast expanses give
new meaning to the sport we love, for
sport it really is to be ; surely for the
present at least.
Who does not envy the great buz
zards as thsy sail aloft and who
would not like to do the same? This is
just what the flying machine makes
possible, and enjoyable because the avia
tor really flies, the machine but an in
strument in his skillful hands. The joy
of the sensation is indescribable. Fear
even the timid forget in the delight of
the sensation and the time is not far dis
tant when it will be classed in populari
ty among the world's most fascinating
recreations ; limited by the expense, of
course, to a class."
Mr. Post talked interestingly of his
recent thrilling experiences in Canada,
but believes the flying machine will sup
plant the dirigible entirely among sports
men; prophesies for it a wonderful
popularity as a high class amateur sport.
Jn Advance ot Carolina Opening-
In response to urgent demands Mana
ger and Mrs. H. W. Priest of The Caro
lina will provide accommodations for a
few guests late iri the present week,
some ten days in advance of the formal
opening, Saturday January seventh.
Something over a hundred are scheduled
to arrive on the opening day and book
ings for the immediate future are unus
ually large.