CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF ON DESERT LINKS

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF ON DESERT LINKS

At Phoenix, Arizona, championship golf can be played in the desert—on a beautiful course surrounded by sandy wastes, writes Jim Ferrier in The Sydney Morning Herald. Sigantic dams, more than 100 miles away, supply the town with ample water, and the course is as green and soft as one situated in an area where rain falls abundantly. Luscious fairways, thick with grass, and as green as emeralds, make golf here an amazing achievement. The course has a par of 72, and stretches 7,000 yards from the back tees. It is a good test of play. Phoenix has been called a millionaire’s winter resort. It has been built in the midst of fearsome desert lands. During the season here, which lasts approximately four months, the leading professionals play a 54 holes tournament for £l,OOO prize-money. Last month, Byron Nelson, the 1939 United States open champion, won the event with an average of 68 for the three . ounds. Watered twice daily, the entire course is serviced by a system of underground pipes, which come to the surface every few feet, soaking both fairways and rough. It is difficult to credit that, a few yards from the outskirts of the course, there is desert country deviod of vegetation except cactus and similar growth. ARTIFICIAL COURSE For an artificially built course, it has some great holes. Generally flat, with mounds here and there, it was similar ii. many ways to my home course at manly. Six holes from 400 to 480 yards were all excellent “two-shotters.” Long drives followed by strong iron shots ■were needed if pars were tn be obtained. What surprised me most was the fine condition of the greens. They are laid down every year—the hot summer, with its temperatures of 120 degrees in the shade, makes even the best

watered greens shrivel up. Slower than most American greens, they are very true, allowing the ball to be well pitched up to the hole. They are undulating, and make the player think before he putts. Smooth stroking of the ball is essential.

The course follows closely the pattern of the best American courses by having three of the par three short holes 200 yards and over. The tendency for long one-shot holes here is pronounced throughout the country. A days golf in Phoenix brings home the fact that with water and time it is possible to build a golf course up to championship standard almost anywhere. After driving over 400 miles from Los Angeles through the desert, I would have ridiculed a statement that such a beautiful golf course could be found i this arid country. It is proof of Americans’ keenness for golf. There are two championship courses in the town, which is about the size of a large country town in New South Wales. In winter there is no rain, little wind, and ideal weather for the game.