Another gem from Seagle:
http://photoarchive.usga.org/mbwtemp/National%20Golf%20Links%20of%20America.pdfHere's the beginning of the report:
Dear Sirs:— Some six years ago the idea was formulated of establishing a classic golf course in America, one which would be designed after and eventually could be compared favorably with the championship links abroad, and serve as an incentive to the elevation of the game in the United States.
There was subscribed $60,000 in one-thousand dollar subscriptions to further such a project. This number was afterwards increased to seventy. There is attached a copy of the original agreement, the spirit of which has been carried out as closely as has been consistent with the object which the Founders had in view. The course is now completed, the clubhouse erected, and the direction of the Links has passed into the hands of a Board of Directors appointed by yourselves, who in turn have appointed subcommittees in their various capacities.
It occurs to me that this is an appropriate time to make a statement, acting, as I have, practically as a Committee of One in the furtherance of this project, with the devoted assistance of a number of the Founders most keenly interested. Regarding the financial part of the enterprise, with the opening of the National Golf Links of America this spring $177,000 will have been expended. We paid $200 an acre for two hundred and five acres of land on Sebonac Neck, Shinnecock Hills, near Southampton, Long Island, having a mile and fiveeighths of tidewater. This land we hold in fee simple. During the past year we found it necessary, in order to protect ourselves, to purchase two and one-half acres of additional land on Peconic Bay at the western end of the golf course. The Shinnecock Hills & Peconic Bay Realty Company were loath to sell us this at a price under $1,000 an acre, but eventually, as expressed by them, to give us their aid, they sold us the two and onehalf acres for $750 an acre….
There's also a great diagram of the course and a early scorecard.
He also personally thanks Seth Raynor:
"It is but proper, too, that I should say a word of thanks to those outside of our organization who have aided the undertaking. I cannot speak too strongly of the work of Mr. Seth J. Raynor, civil engineer and surveyor, of Southampton.
In the purchase of our property, in surveying the same, in his influence with the community on our behalf, and in every respect, his services have been of inestimable value, and I trust that the club
will extend to him the courtesies of the clubhouse during his lifetime."