The sun., 1897-02-22
GOLFERS TO JOIN HANDS.
OUTLOOK BRIGHT FOR THE ANA
TEUR AND OPEN CHIMPIONsHIPS

TEUR AND OPEN CHAMPIONsHIPS.
Tn, Ch,e.~. Ci-b Promise. "a Y.,r rieis ana
No Eaver.-Pre-,dcnt Hsvcmeycr q rrnc
Prophet on tho Lmit.tien OF starters
ouestion-Cortests tho Links To-Day.
"a fair fold and no favor is the promise for
the meeting OF the golfers at Chicago for the
amateur championship. The date will probably
be in August or the FIRST week In September. so
as to hit the vacation time OF the Eastern busi-
ness men and the college boys. Whatever may
have been the feeling in regard TO Western
trip before tho u. s. q. A. meeting, now that
the choice has been made tho Eastern golfers
will be united in promoting the success OF tho
affair. The course is q fne ono, the Chicago
club house spacious, and the club members full
OF enthusiasm.
The repeating Of the mandatory scratch stand
ard and handicap by the u. 8. q. A. was an
action to have been expected In view OF the
openly expressed dissatisfaction with its condi-
tions In framing It. the Executive Committee
was unmindful Of the fact that poor players
never received a hint that their presence was
not help to tho success Of the event On the
other hand, there was quito an agitation last
spring TO arouse general interest In the anna
teur championship. 90 that 1t might surpass
In entries tho Newport fixture OF 1898.
On this account many started simply
to swell tho size Of the field. This year
tho situation IA different. The clubs
have besn formally requested by the U. 8. q. A.
to send only their representative players. Tho
motion at the annual meeting followed the re-
marks by Walker Breeze Smith, in which he de-
fined for the clucidation Of certain doubters the
exact rights Of clubs and individual members
within the fold OF tho association, both in re-
gard to the amateur championship and In gem
eral way. His views turned out to be sound
ones by the subsequent votes on the repeal The
issue Is now dead, and President Havcmeyers
words that tho discussion of tho scratch stand
ard would bring about some action In regard to
the limitation Of starters have proved to bc a
true prophecy.
By what standard will the clubs select their
representative plnyersf Obviously by selecting
only their scratch players or those within few
strokes Of scratch. Tho fato Of such players at
the championship will be a liberal education
to themselves and tho stayat-homes. Players
Of this rank, too. will not mar the chances Of any
men they become partners with by tho
"luck OF the draw" Even with this
limitation. the field is certain to exceed
In numbers the cighty.thrco who drew In
at Shinnccock Hills. To start with. one repro.
sentative from each club would make a field OF
seventy eight this year. The Chicago Golf Club
course Is nearly 5000 yards In playing length.
so that there is little danger OF II becoming too
congcstcd. The proximity OF the links to Chica-
20. too. should enable the home club to provide
scorers for each pair In the medal rounds, which
will make the play faster than II was at Shinne-
cock Hills. II will simplify, also, the posting
up Of tho cards by strokes Us fast as they are
handed in. a concession due both the contestants
and the public in an event OF national I'M
Robert Bagc Kerr. the new Secretary OF the U.
8. u. A., has been prominent in open tonrna-
ments during the past two years and IS Presi-
tical experience In the handling OF such cOmpe-
titions, He had fair luck In open medal handi-
last ,sS %;b Winning ns asd smar
event in the November handicap at his own
club from iorty-f starters, with card OF
Ocean County Hunt and Country Club Lake
wood. on Feb. 10. with tho card of ss-s-sl.
Light Iron" who sent criticism from Chi.
cago regarding the workings OF the standard
soniradictions q kis, statements By Charles 3.
IIsb, MnThGn IRON nskes this reonder dated Chi
cago. Feb. II:
note In The srS OF yesterday that Mr.. Macdonald
s aso vain and S Golf eS ne
questions my familiarity with the records made
whisham made the former In eighty.one strokes and
open champion in eighty, This may have S been T. p,as
Chcago) links at the tournament last September
whis James Fouis wsn with another
Thorps best score At wheaton was ninety four. while
Mccawley just got in on the hundred by phenomenal
These scores, he it remembered. were made last
Grai or artinciSi hazards in which tho new course
abounds Only hole In the eighteen was protected
cSud approach with brassey. run up and lie dead.
while this year he VIII have g play golf g &c. the
course at wheaton in eshtyon hope to be there to
witness the grand golf
Light Iron,' who wrote before the location
of the championship had been decided upon.
closed his letter with tho sportsmanlike promise
that, no matter where 1t should be held, the
West this year would he represented by players
who have taken the game up within the past
few years. From this time on golfers East and
the Of s m %his
none will cavil at the victory Of an "old
country" player, their pleasure will be at the
tRI 'i2e. n0''n 'n0u'a a H0"''''"'"'a ma" win the
II, l.. Pratt, the winner OF the Mrs. George J.
Country, Club handicap. entered from the
Queens County Golf Club, He is also member
OF the l Dyker y Meadow o;s Golf Club.
There will be an eighteenth medal handicap
at Baltusrol. open to members and their guests
and q professional match between Val Flood
and John Young Mt the Richmond Hin Golf
club and the Visiting ' team from ths g. yU ni
drew's Golf Club will meet in a medal handcap
for cup presented by the Rcv. DR.. Prescott.
held AT Lakewood.
An interesting approa ching and putting com.
petition, to continue for thirty days will be
started to-day at tho Staten Island cricket and
baseball ground. 4 net will he stretched across
Each contestant will have six trials from the re.
spcctive distances OF thirty, forty, and fifty
yards approaching over tho net and holin9 ont
from each mark. The winner will he tho maker
OF tho three best cards during the thirty days
Although the competition will begin to-day II is
expected that most OF tho members will wait un.
I'll the turf is in better condition before making
their trials.
Hhrriers on the Rum.