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existing park, for twenty -five years for the sum of one dollar - -in effect a donation of the land.[6] The Park Board's plans for a golf facility were somewhat slowed by the First World War. With so much empty land, the board was asked by local residents to make use of it for growing vegetables. The land was plowed up for these "war gardens" but by 1918 relatively little use had been made of the available land for this purpose. The South Bend Tribune reported that summer that the Park Board had decided to go ahead with the construction of the course the following year.[7] By 1919, Studebaker Golf Course was ready for tee -off. Social Context: A "Prep School" for Citv Golfers As in the rest of the country, the 1920's were a time of phenomenal local growth in the popularity of golf and the landscaping of new golf courses. During this decade at least five new courses were built in St. Joseph County including Erskine and Coquillard (1925) and a municipal course in Mishawaka, Robin Hood and links next to the University of Notre Dame (1929).[8] Studebaker Golf Course was initially designed and built to accommodate nine holes covering 1,898 yards. The course had seven par -three holes and two par- fours; the longest hole - -the first - -was 380 yards in length. The first version of the course was considered to be challenging; its compact size and small greens required finesse to play successfully. Nevertheless, the course was early on considered best utilized by beginners and children - -those less "powerful" and less likely to "become dangerous" on a compact course. The challenging nature of Studebaker made it ideal as a learning course - -it has more recently been described as South Bend's "prep school for ... golfers. "[9] In 1923 part of the course was sacrificed for the building of Riley High School. Most of the original holes had to be shortened to make up for the acreage lost. Within a few years, many of the city's more sophisticated golfers became tired of the reduced course. Studebaker no longer provided "enough balance of man and nature or enough holes," according to one newspaper account. This need for more challenge spurred the building of the city' first eighteen -hole public course in 1925 on land donated by Albert Erskine.[10] Studebaker has remained, however, a popular ancient game. It has been said that the beginning for every good golfer that has Sometimes called the "Bowman Creek Country continued as originally intended - -as an South Bend residents to play golf. 4 place to practice the course has provided a come from South Bend. Club," the course has affordable place for