We have talked about bunkers but as this report from 1913 mentions the fourth course construction at St Andrews I though some would be interested.
The article below is based upon The Eden Course being constructed and relates to bunkers and their problems. Although we, well those of 1913 are looking to guard the Greens with bunkers, there still seems to be some voices wanting to retain the old cross bunkers.
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I feel these hazards are underrated today and at times seem to appear as decorative finishes to a course than totally functional. However I love the way the reporter has filed his copy, using phrases “They are frequently mar the card, but they help to make the player” and later he goes on to quote Lawrence Ayton from his book ‘Success at Golf’ “When you are in trouble the thing to do is to remember the shots that are to follow, and to determine that no matter how little distance you obtain from the bunker, you will dislodge the ball in one stroke and put in into a satisfactory position for the next shot”.
I am a firm believer that by understand the past we are in a better position to understand ourselves. This article was written some 97 years ago yet still conveys the simple pit fall we still tumble head first into today with many appearing to be somewhat surprised.
Guard your Greens by all means but defend the fairways, after all why did the Romans built pits in front off their forts as the first line of defence then using that soil to built mounds with ramparts on top. The message was clear you have to address the hazard before proceeding to the next challenge.
Melvyn