The Origins of Golf in the Shinnecock Hills, A Confused History

[Sven Nilsen]

Mike:


Perhaps, but perhaps not.  This was the start of golf on Long Island, no one had set down a blue print as to how things should be done.


I'm more concerned with the written descriptions of the course in the 1892 articles, and how they don't seem to match up with the look of the course in the 1891 map.  The hole distances given do, but the write up of how the course worked its way around the property seems different from how it was drawn a year earlier. 


Sven

[MCirba]

Sven,

I suspect there might be some validity to the idea we were both emailed that the course started at #5 originally.   If the "Women's course" was well south of the tracks the convenient starting point (likely some type of hut)  for both sexes would likely be in that area prior to the clubhouse being constructed.  The 6th looks like it requires the carry over the railroad embankment cited in that article. 

It could be as simple as the difference in hole numbering between what was intended (post-clubhouse construction) and what was practical prior to then.

[DMoriarty]

A few of the articles mention something like an old windmill cottage and/or Hoyt's cottage,  which I think was the structure pictured on the original 9 hole map near the 5th tee.  My assumption is that, prior to the creation of the clubhouse, they started the course at that point. The descriptions make more sense if one starts there.

[Sven Nilsen]

Mike:


I understand why the description was written that way in 1891, but not in 1892.


That was my point.


Sven

[MCirba]

David/Sven,

Agreed.  It would be interesting to see how that land ownership was subdivided prior to the late 1891 purchase.

[Joe Bausch]

I found this 1923 article by William Everett Hicks (Brooklyn Times) that seems to fit in this thread.

(this article is clickable to a larger size)

[MCirba]

Gee, thanks, Joe. 

[Bernie Bell]

"How to cure the slice" is certainly a hardy perennial in the golf media!