AFTER the Championships it is only fit that something should be said concerning the courses upon which they are decided. But here I am faced by a task of considerable magnitude, for opinions upon their merits or demerits must necessarily differ, and possibly my opinion may be in direct variance with those of others who have played over them. Hence I approach the subject, if not exactly in fear and trembling, yet with considerable diffidence, and I must try and make it quite clear that the opinions expressed in this chapter are mine alone; yet they are opinions formed after playing over each of the courses I have attempted to particularise.

Commencing with the leading course, as far as excellence goes, I may say at once that I consider Prestwick and Sandwich are fairly entitled to share the honours, although, to bring the matter to a finer point, I confess I have myself a predilection, a decided preference, for the former. In my opinion it is really better adapted for the game, both for the player and spectator, for Prestwick is well suited by the contour of the country, and it is possible for the spectator to watch every stroke, or nearly so, which is played, equally as well as the player himself, and the value of this cannot be over-estimated.

Sandwich, too, is a natural golfing course, but there is one great objection to it. It is not an insurmountable one perhaps, but it is none the less a very real one, and an objection that surely impresses itself upon anyone who may be playing over it, no matter whether he be amateur or professional.

This objection is that a long "carry" faces the golfer from almost every tee. The practised player will at once recognise what I mean by the expression "carry," but in order to render my meaning absolutely clear, I may explain that it is necessary to clear a bunker or some other obstacle at long distance from the tee with every first shot. That is what will face a player at Sandwich, and so marked a characteristic is this of the course that the late Lieutenant F. G. Tait, after a full trial and experience of its difficulties, christened it "the one-shot course." It is quite an easy matter to recognise the delicate sarcasm of this description, and it fairly describes matters as they stand.

I may add that at all Championships the tees are put back as far as possible. Naturally this additional distance to be covered confers a benefit upon a man who excels in driving. Such players may be instanced in Mr. E. Blackwell, Braid, and Harry Vardon. Either of the players I have named are capable of negotiating this difficulty of a long drive with a fair amount of ease, whereas another man, not such a Trojan in his power, might be struggling hard and unsuccessfully to extricate himself from the quandary he would be likely to find himself in.

My personal opinion is that a driver of medium strength should not be handicapped to such a great extent, and beyond all possibility of doubt, it is a fact that at Prestwick a player secures a fairer all-round chance of distinguishing himself. Possibly the second strokes are the more difficult in this instance, but that again is a matter of personal opinion. What one man may consider difficult another may think easy of accomplishment, and vice versa.

Upon visiting St. Andrews, probably the most famous of the whole set of courses in the world, it will be found that the conditions governing play are almost exactly the reverse of those holding sway at Sandwich. There is really no "carry" from the tee, and the going, if I may be pardoned for so introducing a racing term, is flat when compared with that encountered in the south of England.

Even here, though, there is an objection to be raised, if it be the solitary fly in the amber. This objection to St. Andrews is that it is possible for a player to "top" his drive off the tee almost with impunity. Should he do this, it is quite an exceptional occurrence for him to put himself in the way of punishment, although I will not go so far as to say that such an existent condition is altogether calculated to improve a golfer's play.

After the shot from the tee and its almost entire immunity from danger, the second and third shots will be found to be more difficult, as the holes are surrounded by dangers, more or less apparent, that require a considerable expenditure of thought and care before they may be successfully escaped. So things, with the ready provision of Nature in her happiest mood, balance themselves up as far as St. Andrews is concerned.

Hoylake and Muirfield, curiously enough, are possessed of characteristics very similar to those found at Prestwick, although in respect of the second I have named I should describe it as a semi-seaside course, a paradoxical definition, I am aware, but it is one that best explains what I mean.

The course is on the slow side, and when on it there is a tendency to feel that you are playing within bounds upon a confined space. A wall encloses the whole of the circuit of this course, and a player here has an ever-present and uncomfortable feeling that he is continually running up against it or struggling to escape it.

The result of being so affected is that it induces a curious feeling of being more or less boxed in, and this nerve-irritating sensation makes Muirfield possibly the worst of the Championship courses. As regards the links as a whole, some of the hazards upon it are natural in character, but others are very decidedly not, and it is in reality a more or less artificial course when placed in comparison with the others.

This is as far as the Championship courses go, but when we descend to a discussion of details there is no question but that the best greens are to be found at Sandwich. In this connection it must not be taken for granted that they are faster-it is not that, but they are possessed of an all-round superior standard of excellence.

Many reasons have been advanced for this, but I think the most probable one would be found to be the following. At the other Championship courses the greens do not require such close attention, they, in a manner, look after themselves. At Sandwich, on the other hand, unless close and unceasing attention is paid them, they would be only too likely to deteriorate rapidly. As this is so, nothing is left dependent upon chance; they are well and continually looked after, and hence their excellence, which is admitted by all who have played there.