Some Essays on Golf-Course Architecture

It is sometimes difficult to realise the present popularity of the game of golf. No other game has been played so universy, and it is quickly becoming a necessary recreation for mankind throughout the world. To some readers this may seem to be an exaggeration, but if the present position is carefully considered, the statement will appear to be true. I recently left the neighbourhood of Sunningdale, and as I thought, of golf-courses, to Uve far away from any large town, and in the midst of an intensely rural district. After spending nearly twenty years in the closest connection with the game, I thought that it would perhaps be a reU ef to have my home far removed from the sight and sound of it, so that it might be possible to emerge from home fresh and keen for my work as a golf-course architect. But I very soon realised on a fineS unday afternoon that the joy of life was not complete. There was a craving for my usual game round theS winley Forest course, and then I made a few inquiries, and to my surprise discovered, almost at my door, a very delightful g-hole course. When I came to hve in the neighbourhood I had never even heard of it, but now I know that it is an impossibihty in this country to get away from the game, or for many to be deprived of it without severely feeU ng the loss. France is quickly adopting golf as her national game. It is only a few years ago that it was unknown in that country except at a few holiday resorts, and now we find that one of the Paris clubs has a membership of over a thousand. Spain is becoming enthusiastic, and atM adrid there is a club with over 600 members. The progress made in America is well known, but to me it was a surprise in 1913, when I paid my second visit to the United States, to hear that in the neighbourhood of Chicago there were between thirty and forty courses.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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