Hole No. 5: In the style of Walter Travis
Walter Travis did not hit his first golf shot until he was 35 years of age. Nicknamed "The Old Man" because of his late start in game, Travis, an Australian-born representative for a construction products exporter, fell in love with the game of golf in 1896 at the old Oakland Golf Club of Bayside, NY, located in New York City's borough of Queens. Travis quickly became the nation's top amateur golfer, winning the US Amateur tournament in 1900, 1901 and 1903. In 1904, he helped catapult golf's popularity in the states after winning the British Amateur, a feat that was not duplicated for another 22 years. Travis enjoyed wide success in his amateur golf career. He announced his retirement from competitive play in 1916 due to declining health. He finished his career with a 45-11 record in major amateur events.
Besides playing the game, Travis was absolutely devoted to golf with numerous contributions to the sport. He advocated for and tried ground-breaking new golf equipment in search of strategic advantages in playing the game. He was a prolific writer, author of the book "Practical Golf," published in 1901. In 1908, he founded one of the most influential golf magazines of his time, "The American Golfer." Travis often wrote about golf course design and offered his opinions on the components and composition of a "first-class" golf course. His first project as golf course architect came in 1899 at Ekwanok Country Club in Vermont. Nearly 50 courses bear his name, whether from original design or remodeling. These courses include Westchester Country Club's West course, Hollywood Golf Club and Garden City Golf Club. As a course designer, Travis was often characterized as a "penal designer," placing bunkers on the sidelines of holes to punish off the mark shots. He emphasized the importance of soil that provided natural drainage for his courses. He preferred undulating land, neither flat nor hilly, with non-existent trees. His design concepts promoted diverse, strategic play on each hole, offering golfers opportunities to use every club in their bag on every hole.
Our 5th hole is a classic penal golf hole, true to Travis' unique and progressive design style. Sand bunkers and "chocolate drop" mounds are scattered from tee to green, ready to punish off-line shots. The back half of the green slopes to the rear, demanding strategic placement of any approach shot, depending on the pin's positioning.
Event Details:
- Complimentary Tribute Hat offered to the first 75 golfers
- On Course Contests (Open to All Golfers)
- Closest to the Pin (Front 9 & Back 9)
- Longest Drive (Front 9 & Back 9)
- Tribute Day Lunch Special: $10 Sandwich (Chef's Choice) & Pint
- Rain Date: Friday, July 1st
