Golf Neglects the Idea That Made It Big by HERB GRAFFIS USGA Green Section Committee, Florida
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Practice is essential to all levels of play. Open Championship contestants at Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Golf Neglects The Idea That Made It Big by HERB GRAFFIS USGA Green Section Committee, Florida ONALD ROSS was a golf pro green was born by accident. It was built during the North and South Open fessional who came from Dornoch, on the "Ladies Course" at St. Andrews, Championships at a place irreverently DScotland, in 1899 to become a which was a short, primitive chip-and- called Maniac Hill. American pro renowned and beloved American golf putt course. fessionals who spread from the school revolutionary. He has had an effect on Nothing . absolutely nothing . yard at Maniac Hill carried their learn the game as profound as any man. The was done in golf course architecture to ing nationwide to their jobs. At their genial gentleman achieved this wonder develop the game from the few early clubs they did not have the convenient in a very simple way — he invented the "Ladies Courses" in Scotland until and useful classroom that Maniac Hill lesson and practice tee. Donald Ross, as professional at the provided. There wasn't time or teachers Before this Ross innovation, lessons North Carolina golf and health resort of enough for the old-style playing lessons. were playing lessons, and all golf prac Pinehurst, observed the process of some Golf teachers selected rough areas or tice, except putting, was done on the pioneers endeavoring to be golf teachers. momentarily vacated tees or fairways golf course. The first practice putting These men were teaching themselves near the clubhouses or the sheds that 6 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD were called pro shops. There, the I'm sure you'll find it difficult, to name It was that spirit and environment of teachers and pupils were not too safe just one golf course at which there has the blessed out-of-doors that inspired from the stray shots of those playing been a development of the Ross idea and guided many through the difficult the course, nor were the players safe fitted to today's conditions. years of adjustment in this country. from wild practice shots. The tutoring The Ross practice tee brainchild has Intelligent Americans need and are was conducted with difficulty. continued to grow and benefit golfers, subconsciously straining to regain the By the time American golf was to even though it often came as an after tranquil charm of the days when golfs outgrow its infancy, Ross, the busiest thought in the design of golf courses. heart was young in this land. There were golf course architect in the United The practice area is usually located on no "monster" golf courses then, no States, recalled Maniac Hill and included leftover ground, and the thought of moving of mountains of earth to imitate his epochal first lesson and practice tee coordinating it with the location, Scotland's dunes. Have we forgotten in his next golf course design. This function, and service with revenue- that golf is something to grow with, a innovation definitely gave golf a tre producing potential for clubs seems to happy free living? The genius of Donald mendous impetus in worldwide growth. have escaped the attention of those to Ross found a simple and sure way to To my embarrassment and sorrow, I whom the pleasant game of golf is a sample this playful Eden. Then the trail long ago lost my notes of an informative business. In the meantime, the practice seems to have been lost. visit with Ross at Pinehurst. My foggy range showed its power in Tom Thumb With all the imagination there is in recollection is that Ross said it was or miniature golf courses, the par 3s, the business of golf and the realism that about 1914 and the course was in New and the executive courses. must recognize the imperative necessity York or Pennsylvania. "Golf Training or Learning Centers" of modernizing golf again in every way, have been devised by at least two golf why is there such tardiness in making architectural firms for golf schools golf convenient in the midst of a tre RACTICE RANGES, despite all concerned with making learning a mendous real estate boom to get the Ptheir potential for attractiveness profitable business. Golf architects city folks to the therapy of the country and utility, too often remain golf might include practice areas when real side? Who is going to become rich and ghettos where the underprivileged estate developers ask them to instill the famous and be the benefactor of those golfers are condemned to hack away, charm of golf into acreage so that it who care and should be golfers? Doesn't sunbaked in education for fun. Try, and won't be just another golf course. anyone in golf recognize this potential? A practice group at Stratton Mountain Country Club, Stratton Mountain, Vermont. .