Chapter I: Introduction

My partner, who is the author of these short essays on Golf Course Architecture, has asked me to write an introduction. This is, however, hardly necessary, as the name of Dr. Mackenzie is so well known in connection with this subject.

Many years ago now the idea came to him, as to a few others, that it might not be impossible to create a golf course without doing damage to the natural attractions of the site. Up to that period the courses which had been designed by man, and not by nature, had in great measure failed in this direction, and although no doubt they had provided necessary opportunities for playing the game, the surroundings in many cases proved a source of irritation rather than pleasure.

I vividly remember meeting my present partner for the first time. I had been asked to go to Leeds to advise about the design of the Alwoodley Golf Course, and stayed at his house. After dinner he took me into his consulting room, where, instead of finding myself surrounded by the weapons of his profession as a Doctor of Medicine, I sat in the midst of a collection of photographs of sand bunkers, putting greens, and golf courses, and many plans and designs of the Alwoodley Course. I found that I was staying with a real enthusiast, and one who had already given close attention to a subject in which I have always been interested.

And it is this enthusiasm for the natural beauty of nature which has helped him in all his work, so that in the case of Alwoodley the player not only has the opportunity of displaying his skill in the game, but also of enjoying the relaxation which delightful natural surroundings always give.

No doubt many mistakes were made in our early attempts, and I never visit a course which I have designed without seeing where improvements could be made in the constructional work, and as long as this is so, I feel that we shall all continue to learn and to make progress, our instructor being nature herself.

H. S. COLT.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMY IN COURSE CONSTRUCTION AND
GREEN-KEEPING 17

II. SOME FURTHER SUGGESTIONS 68

III. IDEAL HOLES 88

IV. THE FUTURE OF GOLF ARCHITECTURE 116

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE 140-YARD SHORT HOLE AT SITWELL PARK _Frontispiece_

PAGE

THE SIXTEENTH GREEN AT HEADINGLEY, LEEDS 26

THE HOME GREEN AT SITWELL PARK 28

AN ARTIFICIAL HUMMOCK AT MOORTOWN, CONSTRUCTED FROM THE STONES
REMOVED FROM THE FAIRWAY 32

THE FIFTEENTH HOLE ON THE CITY OR NEWCASTLE COURSE 40

DIAGRAM OF HOLE OF 370 YARDS, ILLUSTRATING THE VALUE OF ONE
BUNKER, B 45

THE ARTIFICIAL HUMMOCKS GUARDING THE FIFTH GREEN AT ALWOODLEY 49

THE SEVENTEENTH GREEN AT HARROGATE 52

GRANGE-OVER-SANDS: THE SITE OF ONE OF THE GREENS ON THE ROCKS
NEAR THE BOUNDARY OF THE COURSE—WORK JUST BEGINNING 62

GRANGE-OVER-SANDS: READY FOR TURFING—A GREEN CONSTRUCTED ON ROCKS 63

THE “SCRAPER” AT WORK ON WHEATLEY PARK, DONCASTER 69

GRANGE-OVER-SANDS: THE TURF CUTTING MACHINE AT WORK 70

GRANGE-OVER-SANDS: SANDHILLS CONSTRUCTED BY MEANS OF THE SCRAPER
ON TERRAIN ORIGINALLY PERFECTLY FLAT 71

AN ARTIFICIAL BUNKER ON THE FULFORD COURSE 86

THE SECOND HOLE AT HEADINGLEY 94

THE EIGHTH GREEN AT MOORTOWN 99

THE EIGHTH HOLE, “GIBRALTAR,” MOORTOWN GOLF COURSE 101

THE SIXTEENTH HOLE AT ST. ANDREWS 103

THE FOURTEENTH HOLE AT ST. ANDREWS 107

THE SEVENTEENTH HOLE AT ST. ANDREWS 111

PLAN OF IDEAL TWO-SHOT HOLE OF 420 YARDS 115

THE FIFTH HOLE AT FULFORD 124

GOLF ARCHITECTURE