About the demise Excerpt from American Golfer:
The South of France Season
THE SOUTH OF FRANCE season is in
full swing, but, as was almost to be expected
in the circumstances which obtain,
it is more of a social character
than highly competitive. It has, however,
been enormously successful so
far, and despite the high cost of everything
in France and the increased
green fees on the courses on the Riviera
and in the Biarritz region there
has not been room enough on those
courses for all those who wished to
play upon them. Recently in these
pages some notes were made on the
present state of golfing things on the
Riviera. These may now be supplemented
by some others upon the present
season at the other group of winter
courses in southern France, those
in the aforesaid Biarritz region in the
corner of the Bay of Biscay, where,
I am informed, the American contingent
is very much in force. The conditions
as between the two groups
vary very much. Round about Biarritz
the temperature for one thing is
generally much lower, and there is
often much wind. Mr. Corrie who
was for so long secretary and was so
closely identified with the golf club
there has left and is home in England,
and Lt Col. Finlay reigns in his stead.
Thanks to him I am able to give a
fair indication of the position at Biarritz.
Of course most people have
some sort of an impression that the
golf here was carried on during the
war, for we have heard about it from
time to time, but not many have any
particulars, and it may not be realised
what a severe trial the club has had.
Like many others it has suffered from
greatly reduced income, and the increased
cost of golf stores and labor
and every kind of commodity used
for golf and the upkeep of such a
club and course. Essentially a winter
course, during the last few years owing
to the largely increased number
of Spanish and French players it has
been kept open all the year round. In
the really hot period of summer, July
to September, water is the difficulty
as the "terrain" is sandy or light soil.
As the ordinary water supply is inadequate
and the installation of a pipe
supply almost prohibitive at present
prices, it is practically impossible to
keep the greens in first-class order all
the time. However, despite the strain
of the war and all the other aggravating
conditions and circumstances no
man or woman should stay away from
Biarritz because of an idea that it is
not as good as it used to be. In recent
times there have been heavy rains and
work on the course has been conducted
with the utmost energy, so that
some weeks since it was believed that
the fairway and the greens would soon
be as good as ever they were. It was
then hoped and believed also that the
famous holes in the lower part of the
course in what is known as the
"Chambre d'Amour" would be in use
again this season. The greens have
been resown and promise well despite
the difficulties of the soil and the nuisance
of worms and other underground
pests. Even many who have
never been to Biarritz have some idea
of the strong features of this course.
It is, however, not a difficult one, and
the bunkers are largely natural. Besides
the main eighteen-holes course
which is reserved for males but on
which ladies may play twice a week
in certain conditions, there is a nineholes
course especially reserved for
ladies. The resident British professional
is J. Anderson and there are also
several French "professeurs" at hand
to give lessons, including E. Lafitte,
Gassiat, Bomboudiac and Maurice
Dauge, the man who once created
such a sensation with his enormous
driving. There are plenty of competitions
the busy time for these being Feb.
and March. The last summer season
was very successful, and it is believed
that the winter one will be also. Hotel
and other charges at Biarritz are high
as they are everywhere in France, but
then the favourable exchange has to
be considered, and, after all, the Biarritz
rates, all things considered, do
not appear to be unduly inflated, while
on the other hand there is reason to
believe that the hotel keepers are beginning
to appreciate the wisdom of
reducing their tariff as much as possible
in the hope of fastening on to
a new and regular set of customers.