April is nearly here, and with it should come the end of the snow and the emergence of some real grass. While Links grounds crew will be scouting the course to assess early spring conditions, many golfers will be turning their attention to the first major championship of the year, the Masters held annually at Augusta National.
Augusta is a fabled course, recognized the world over for its famous holes and playing conditions. The course includes towering pines, and azaleas and dogwoods that seem to bloom on command each spring. Originally an indigo plantation, the property became a nursery in 1837. Operating under the name Fruitland Nurseries, the business imported many types of trees and plants from other countries. The business thrived for more than 50 years but ceased operations in the early 1900's. The property remained stagnant until 1931 when Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones purchased it for $70,000.Dr. Alister Mackenzie was selected to help Jones design the course, and construction began that summer.
MacKenzie and Jones shared a vision for the course that focused on the concept of risk and reward. Jones believed that no good golf hole should exist that did not afford a proper and convenient solution to the average golfer and the short player, as well as to the more powerful and accurate professional. MacKenzie shared this view stating, "There should be a sufficient number of heroic carries from the tee, but the course should be arranged so that the weaker player with the loss of a stroke or portion of a stroke shall always have an alternative route open to him."
Augusta is a fabled course, recognized the world over for its famous holes and playing conditions. The course includes towering pines, and azaleas and dogwoods that seem to bloom on command each spring. Originally an indigo plantation, the property became a nursery in 1837. Operating under the name Fruitland Nurseries, the business imported many types of trees and plants from other countries. The business thrived for more than 50 years but ceased operations in the early 1900's. The property remained stagnant until 1931 when Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones purchased it for $70,000.Dr. Alister Mackenzie was selected to help Jones design the course, and construction began that summer.
MacKenzie and Jones shared a vision for the course that focused on the concept of risk and reward. Jones believed that no good golf hole should exist that did not afford a proper and convenient solution to the average golfer and the short player, as well as to the more powerful and accurate professional. MacKenzie shared this view stating, "There should be a sufficient number of heroic carries from the tee, but the course should be arranged so that the weaker player with the loss of a stroke or portion of a stroke shall always have an alternative route open to him."
In comparison, Links golf course was the brain child of John Holland. Back in 1988 he wanted to have a place in town where people could feel welcome, play some golf, meet some new friends and have some fun. After locating a suitable plot of land adjoining farm land and the City's Community Forest on the northeast edge of town, John set out to build his dream. Son’s Len and Jim worked with John and wife Rose, to design and build the course. Working on evenings and weekends after their other jobs were finished, they cut trees, cleared brush, dug, scratched and scraped to shape the land for the next four years. The course opened for play in the spring of 1992. Like Bobby Jones, John sought to create a course that would challenge and reward the good player while still offering a fair test to less accomplished patrons.
Rose is now the keeper of the course's history. If you'd like to learn more about how the course was built, or if you'd like to renew or take out a membership for the coming year, the proshop will be open from March 30th to April 12th between the hours of 11am and 6pm. Links will also be at the CKNL Trade Show April 13th to 15th. Here's hoping warmer weather will soon have us all out on the course soon.
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