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Vol. XXVIII
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MARCH 14, 1925
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Number 13
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The Pinehurst of 1925
(By “Chick” Evans)
Y little trip to Pinehurst was a glancing one, so transi
tory that it seemed a moving picture, or a delightful
dream. It is as if I went to bed tired and exhausted
on a certain night, and awoke the next morning in Chicago,
rested and refreshed, ready for the business harness, and
enjoying the full consciousness of a beautiful dream. I once
heard a president of a Theosophical Society say that if one
should chance to recall in the morning a bit of last night’s
dream it should be written down and then in time a true and
noteworthy story might “come through.” Following that
advice I am trying to remember a swift and dream-like vaca
tion that in the process of writing is becoming something in
the nature of a distinct photograph of courses, pine woods,
cottages and hotels of beautiful Pinehurst.
The Pinehurst of 1925 differs from that of 1911^-only in the
improvement and general finish of everything. The friendly
atmosphere is there, intensified by the years, and over all the
spirit of golf presides.
All the way to Pinehurst I was wondering if I would recog
nize the country around it. I had no difficulty for memory
had grooved deep lines. There was Aberdeen, for instance.
It had been a typical, shabby little junction where the spur
of the railway appeared to run off into a lumber camp. There
is where one still waits for a through train, but Aberdeen itself
has grown up with a Main street, comfortable cottages, and
its group of natives at the station.
I stopped at the Carolina for there is where I stayed so
many years ago. The winding streets of Pinehurst were just
as of old, a labyrinthine puzzle for the stranger.
The first thing I did was to take the bus to the country club
Years ago there was no bus, just a short and charming walk
past the deer park, where I always stopped to watch the pret
ty creatures, on to the golf course. But golfers rarely walk
except on a golf course, and nowa-days the Pinehurst players
always take the waiting bus. This is not only a restful thing
to do, but it gives them an opportunity to converse with Hap
py, a local character who is a part of the Pinehurst atmos
phere. Just before the course is reached a worn hillside comes
to view—a miniature golf course, covered with negro caddies
who spend the intervals between their labors trying out their
own skill at the game. They, too, are an interesting part of
the local color in which Pinehurst abounds.
Only five minutes from the hotel, and we find ourselves at
a large clubhouse beside which are parked many automobiles,
much resembling some great Country Club near a large city.
On this same spot in 1911 there was only a tiny locker room.
Glancing around outside the clubhouse doorway a vast expanse
of golf holes stretches out before you. There seems to be a
multitude of them, in fact, I do not believe that I have ever
seen so many from one viewpoint before. You discover there
is just an interesting question of choice before you. You are
to select which one of the four courses you care to pla,y upon,
and the ability to mtake such a choice seems the height of
luxury somehow. Having chosen wisely, I hope, there is no
delay in getting off. The architect has seen to that. I found
tees, fairways, bunkers and greens in perfectly wonderful
shape. In fact, I want to make a very special mention of the
fairways. In 1911 I recall how “spotty” they were, and now
they are an unbroken expanse of lovely grass. I never had
one bad lie in the fairway the whole time I was at Pinehurst
on this visit. Northern courses can learn much from Pinehurst
on greenskeeping. I only wish that many of them could get
the fifteen or twenty yards in front of each hole as fair to a
falling ball as Pinehurst offers. •
The refinements of the course were most noticeable. Bunk
ers were all trimmed and raked, fairway lines well defined.
No sloppy grass or weeds anywhere.
The Number 2 is one of the finest in the country. Since
1911 it has not changed so much as one might expect, although
the new holes add immensely to it. I missed the railroad track
on the second hole, for there it was that I once found an un- ' +
playable lie and reached the green for a three. The new third
and fourth are splendid. The former beautifully demonstrates
the fact that traps can be built successfully near a sand green.
Although golf makes resorts, I have really seen very little
of them, but there is something peaceful and calming about
the playing of golf far away from the large cities. It is the
(Continued on page 10) _ ■