Poughkeepsie New Yorker

Saturday July 15, 1944

IBM Opens New Golf Course

Watson Takes Part in Program

Marking the culmination of many months of planning and effort on behalf of the employes of Plant No. 4 of the International Business Machines, the new nine-hole golf course of the IBM was opened this afternoon.

Thomas J. Watson, president of the company accompanied by Mrs. Watson, and other executives of the IBM, joined the employes in an outing on the rollling acres of the new recreational tract. Numerous members of the families of the Plant No. 4 employes were present at the outing. The events of the afternoon were to include a picnic for young and old in the wooded picnicking [sic] area of the former Miller farm property. There were to be several obstacle races and similar events for boys and girls of the IBM employees.

COURSE TO BE DOUBLED

"Interesting" and "tough, but not too tough for the average golfer" have been expressions which have been made about the beautiful new golf course of the IBM. Plans of the corporation call for eventual addition of another nine holes to the course.

While the construction of the country club had to be postponed until after the war, there are already in use on the recreational grounds three tennis courts. The picnic grounds include several horseshoe pitching areas. A caddy house has been built near the first tee of the golf course, and second hand lumber has been used for the construction of all existing structures on the property, including the picnic tables. Several stone fireplaces have been built on the picnic grounds.

The employe board of managers of the Country club group of Plant No. 4 was in charge of today's opening of the golf course and the afternoon's outing. The grounds - on the east side of the South road - and with an entrance a short distance south of the Rudco road entrance to the Plant No. 4, are the 123-acres former farm prooperty of Theodore H. Miller. A short time ago, the IBM purchased the 300-acres property of Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Dickerson, of the South road. The latter tract, which adjoins part of the present golf course property, is to be developed for further recreational purposes and as a site for dwellings for IBM employes.

"LAST WORD"

Robert Trent Jones , golf course architect, who designed and laid out the IBM course described it as "the last word in modern golf architecture." After seeing the course, the reporter agreed with Jones that: "One could travel throughout the whole East without finding a more thrilling, beautiful and interesting nine-hole course." The point of the first tee, is on the highest elevation of the property, close to the south end of Kingwood park . There are views of the surrounding mountains from three directions, and on a clear day, one may see Newburgh bay from the first tee.

There are many old and many types of trees on the property, which retains much of its rustic qualities. The Casperkill flows through the grounds , and also running thorough the golf course is a section of Revolutionary lane , an old narrow road dating back to the days before the Revolutionary war.

In a hole by hole description of the golf course, Mr. Jones wrote:

" From the first tee, one looks toward the first green 400 yards away, and for beyond into the hills. This is really an ideal type of first hole, with the tee some 50 feet above the level of the fairway, giving confidence to the golfer, making him feel that a good drive will practically reach the green. However, such is not the case. A good drive will bring him parallel to the two fairway traps which separate the first and fourth holes. The second shot, to a well-guarded but receptive green, makes this a fair but not easy par four.

" The second hole , the longest on the course, also from an elevated tee, can be reached in two excellent shots, but both must be accurate and long. The fairway trap at 220 yards from the tee, on the crest of a hill, requires a big hit from the long hitter, and the second shot must carry the creek . He can get home with a very long second shot, but, trying this, he takes tremendous risks. It is 80 yards , par 5, with lots of trouble for the adventurous."

" The third hole , 410 yards, is over the undulating fairway, "to an elevated green in the hillside." The green was described as guarded with one small trap, and a spectacular setting, with a beautiful background of woods .

The 360-yard fourth hole contains a sloping fairway, with the pitch shot into an elevated green about 15 feet above the fairway.

The fifth hole , 190 yards, or the first "one shot" hole of the course is "from an elevated tee" about 40 feet above the level of the green. The sixth hole has alternate tees, with a fairway trap 230 yards from the back tee. The seventh hole , longest par four on the course, is flanked by a row of beautiful old trees that form the boundary of the property on the left . The green is guarded by three traps and the surface has an abrupt terrace toward the back. "This," said Jones, "will make a pitch shot to the green very interesting, and because of the length of the hole, most players will be playing their third shots as pitch shots."

The 200 yard eighth hole was said to be unusual because "the green is a punchbowl, and one will be able to see the flag and the guarding traps but the green surface will not be visible." This hole was patterned after the "famous punchbowl holes of the Scottish seaside links, at the championship course of the Prestwick."

The ninth hole is 405 yards from the back tee and 370 yard form the front tee, according to the Architect Jones. The hole is uphill all the way, and leads to a large green in the vicinity of the site of the proposed clubhouse. The green is guarded by three traps, "two at the left are terraced, making it impossible for a poor shot to roll into the natural hollow in which the green is placed."

VINALL TO BE PRO

Harry E. Vinall, son of the well known Harry Vinall , golfing professional and greenskeeper at Craig House sanitarium, Beacon , will be the professional the IBM course. On salary, with IBM, he will teach employes of the plant and have charge of the course. A nominal fee is to be charged for play on the course, and there will be clubs for rental to those of the employes who do not own their own golfing equipment. Harry E. Vinall has been playing golf every since he was a tot, and long has assisted his father at Craig House.

This afternoon's program was scheduled to open with the playing of the National anthem by the IBM band, at 2 o'clock. Welcoming remarks are to be made by Walter J. Niles , general manager of Plant No. 4, after which Joseph P. Foley , president of the board of governors of the Country club, was to introduce Mr. Watson. The president of the company was to be invited to drive off the first ball. Other officers of the corporation were to try their driving abilities, after which foursomes of plant personnel were to play the course.

The afternoon's program was to include a tennis exhibition match with Fred Kolts and Thomas Duro taking part. Tennis doubles matches were to be played by Fred Kolts and Adele Shinn against Mr. Duro and Charlotte Traver .

Events at the picnic area were to include sack, potato and egg races, horseshoe pitching, a bombers contest, and three legged races. Mrs. Watson was to award prizes, and the program was to come to a close with the playing of "America" by the band at 6 o'clock.

Officers of the Country club's board of governors include: Mr. Foley , president; Walter Quackenbush , first vice president; Alyce M. Kowalski , secretary; and Mrs. Dorothy Watson , treasurer. Other members of the board are Elizabeth J. Adams , James E. Barry , John N. Eidel , Daniel E. Eustace , Fred M. Grant , Frank Hennessy , Elisabeth A. Hulst , Morgan Mackey Jr., Frank O. Pearson , Alan H . Raymond , Charles B. Ronk , Matthew T. Starzyk , Harry E. Vinall and James White .