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18 WIU1 K'lTK LIFK, FRIDAY, KKUKUAKY 1,_1924 Northwestern Links Described as Real Championship Course Experts Label Forest Pre- serve Course One of the "Sportiest" A group of men, expert in the busi- ness of constructing golf courses, re- cently engaged in a tour ot inspection over the grounds of the new North- western Public links located in the Forest Preserve southwest of Wil- mette, and, at the conclusion of a most critical investigation ventured the pre- diction that it will he the In-st cham- pionship course among the numerous public courses in and near Chicago. They pronounced it the "sportiest" course among all the prospective pub- lic links now in progress of construc- tion in this vicinity. Even the layman who never swung a club on the elusive little "pill" re- garded the prospects of this course with enthusiasm when he was guided over hill and dale, across bridges span- ning broad and natural water holes, traversing the rough and-the fairway and led to speculate on the effective- ness of the general scheme of "archi- tecture/* There were'no golfing sales- men in the party. No persons about who were interested in purveying memberships. The experts were ask- ed to give an unbiased opinion as they surveyed the still unfinished course, _and they were unanimous in calling it the finest natural golf course brought to their attention in many a year, For the Public And this beautiful course is being provided ior the public at no profit to Us sponsors. The property is a part of the Forest Preserve district and comprises a 6,3()0 yard course easily accessible by rail or motor car. Coincident with the expansion and growth of the north shore communi- ties, the_open spaces available for out- door recreation have, with increasing rapidity, given place to the building of homes. Five yc"ars ago a small band of pub- lic spirited citizens of F.vanston and for the va»t of the public great pleasure ground number of the devotees courses. With the aid of F.vanston, Wilmette and Cook county officials they were successful in obtaining'"the Forest Preserve site west of North F.vanston and lying between Harrison and Fm- erson street* (south of the Gleuview Country club.) for use as a public golf course. Working quictlj, with such men as Charles F. Speed, vice-president of the F.vanston Street Railways, and Harry M. Jiachman. Wilmette Village trus- tee and an engineer of distinction, supervising the actual construction (Mr. Speed has been on the job at the course practically every working day and greens on the Northwestern links was started April 16. WM. 'ibe fair- ways were leveled and seeded, even though the majority of them were al- ready in good condition with a hue turf of luxuriant native grass, to which was added the varieties of .grass rec- ommended, by the Greens committee of the United States Golf association. The work was accomplished under the personal supervision of Mr. Speed and, under his direction, 'miles of tile were laid to insure adequate drainage, a system of water supply completed, and" water mains reaching each green laid below the frost line and con- nected. Work it Permanent Work is now in progress 'on a dam across the river which traverses the course and attractive bridges are in course of construction. Ambling lanes h;.ve been cut through the wooded stretches on the course providing pleasant walks from the putting greens Approach to No. 9 Green Wilmette formed an association which resulted in the establishment of the Coinmunity Golf club at Central street, Kvan-ton, but, with the increasing density of population, 'the playing facilities soon became inadequate so that, even with the addition of stretches of playing field south of Central street and extending along either side of the Drainage channel, it was foreseen that the. early future would probably force complete aban- donment of the course to make way for subdivisions for home sites. East from 12th Tee--525 yards Sponsor* Seek Site Recognition of this prompted an- other group of citizens to form an as- sociation and seek elsewhere for for ten months) these men have pro- gressed with their plans to the extent that the Northwestern Golf course, as the tract has been termed, will be ready for the 1924 playing season. After securing the advice and coun- cil of interested and .experienced per- sons, the men in charge of the con- struction work on the course made numerous surveys before making their final selection of a site, exercising great care not to disturb the natural Torests, but to ""permit of unusually wide fairways and a charming setting for each of the 18 holes. Plant Many Trees Improvements were made from a scenic standpoint, literally hundreds of additional forest trees and shrubs were planted with a view to creating even greater beauty and. to surround, each tee aniLgLccu with its individual and harmonious setting. Full-grown forest trees line nearly all the fair- ways, so located as not to interfere with the plav Inn to enha-uee the at--- traetive background and thus add materially to the "pleasure of the game. Start Work April 1923 to the following tees. In fact, an amazing amount of work has been /lone in permanent, durable construc- tion. The putting greens on the course are designed to harmonize with each natural setting, as well as to provide variety in form, and are described as a challenge to the skilfull use of the putting iron. The foundations for the greens were built early in the season and permitted to settle naturally, atid also to produce the first crop of nox- ious weeds which we.re allowed to de- velop to the proper stage and then de- stroyed, root and branch. On •-th-crr western links," one of its sponsors has said. "No essential operation has been neglected. The fairways have' been rolled time after . time when the wiathcr conditions were favorable. No effort lias been spared to bring the links into the best possible condition for the opening of the 1924 season. "The development is almost unpre- cedented in the history of golf course construct ion." he continues. "It is re- markable bo'.ffin regii.i^LTZnihe_rai)icli:y with which the work was done, and the definiteness of the aim and ac- complishment due, in a'--l»r-ge--me-a-s-urc. to the plan of having a business ad- ministration rather than a committee control. To the average golfer this is something apart, but. a properly constructed course is the foundation -e-f--t-h-e-1)e»e-ftt^wd-picasurc hcrderives from a round of play in which are eliminated many of the things that vex his soul," To aid in loping visualizing the daying Street, the Green is large, si well trapped all around. No. 2 is 487 yards. A long $t drive to a saddle green. In the the green is raised with narrow proach. NJ. Z ;.. 4[ii) yards along the boundary of the Glenview Club over rolling ground to a blind ' set-well into the woods. No, 4 is 267 yards with the teei the wood. Fair-way rolling and well into the woods, with a series small traps each side of the approi- to the green. No, 5 is 40() yards uphill along \ < south edge of the woods to a rais* sloping green trapped all around. No. () is 317 yards across the ur.£ branch of the Chicago River'and o;« a low basin, about 160 yards cam j high ground. The green is a bowl hanked high to stop the ball No. 7 is 267 yards to a liberal rolling in contour. greJ greens then was put the liner lop dres- ; ing and seeding, with t/i" ^result "that the first year brought u growth < line, thick turf. In this, the builder of the course profited by the splendh the Cnili-d rrnt~ir : (hire ol "oeiatioii. and rt is san western greens are far some on other courses that a year or two earlier, States 'Golf a; Tl\Trrrtrr- North - superior tu milt were Employ Painstaking Care "Continuous care under painstnkim View of 16th Green lltte ii Actual work of building the fairways rule Jigent in the supervision construction lias been thi- ol the North - course, the reader is provided the ac- companying very brief description of piay over Tire T8 ho 1 e s ~: " Starting south from the Club house. 1 drive from No, 1 Tee 483 yards a right hand dog's leg to the green at the corner of Harms Road and Kmcrson No, 8 is 3.5() yards to a law cso 1 green well raised and trapped. vards alon No. 9 is Street to a trapped. No. 10 is the short hole; the te< 267 yards along 0 raised sloping green,