The first time I visited a Municipal Course, I was astounded by the fury of the battle……
The gameness and concentration of those golfers was as fine a test of sportsmanship as I ever saw.  Everyone who aspires to concentration should play such a course.  These was no nonsense as “Please move your shadow off the line of my putt” or “Stand still while I play this shot”….It was an endurance contest, and it was played with perfect indifference to outside influence.

George C. Thomas
Architect of Riviera Country Club
Golf Architecture in America (1927)