The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-09
NAY HAVE A COLE COURSE.
THE OLD MILITARY CAMPS MAY BE
USED FOR THE LINKS.

Street Railway officials Have Taken
the Matter Up at the Request OF
Are Regarded as Great Attrac-
ton for Northern Tourists-LocaI
People, 1t Is Thought, Would Also
Take the Matter Up and Become
GOIEacs-PrOf. Martinez Says
Ground East of the ThunderboIt
golf course for Savannah is one of
the things the immediate future may have
in store. Mr.. R. w Rowers. of the De
Soto. and Prot A. F. Martinez, teacher
of fencing. had consultation yesterday
with Vice President j. H. Fan and Gen
eral Manager H. NJ. Lotion of the street
railway system, it being desired TO inter
est them in the plan.
The railway officials displayed a ready
interest and agreed to do whatever they
could TO help along the project. Mr. Lof-
ton said to the Morning News that he
cannot see that there will be any great
benefit to the street railway from the es-
adjustment of golf links. as it is not
game, according to the slight understand
ing Of il he processes, that would attract
great crowd. The fares the railroad
might collect on account of the links
would be no more than the players them
selves might expend. Mr.. Lotions opin-
ion is that there. are not very many play
ers, even after interest in the game is
aroused in a place, and that the railway,
fh.-1ar tore hos. To Loo
ward to in a pecuniary way. He says,
however he is willing TO do anything he
can to help the city along, and that the
matter will be taken up.
Two or three locations have been visited
in search of a suitable course. One of
them was in the neighborhood of Jasper
Springs, west of the city. The tract was
thought unsuited, however, and another
visit was paid to the camping place of
the Second Division of the Seventh Army
Corps Prof. Martinez recently laid off
course in Chattanooga, and his know
ledge of the requirements for a good
course is that upon which the few gentle
men who have interested themselves in
the matter are working.
Prof Martinez says the country to the
east of the Thunderbolt road, part of
which is that occupied by the Fourth Nir-
ginia and the Forty-ninth Iowa Regi-
meDIS,h Is We'll adapted TO SOll, ana lidl
an excellent course could be laid off. He
and Mr.. Lotion will visit the proposed
course to-day and go over the ground.
The gentlemen who are displaying the
interest do not believe there would be any
trouble encountered in securing the prvi-
leges of using whatever ground may be
decided upon as suitable. 1t is not ex-
pected that any rent would be charged
as the use of the grounds for golf does
i /. flaas, t1aa ,1axr
ers chasing a little rubber ball along for
three or four miles. The course is laid
off in a circle, for a straight-away reach
would not be available.
While the military had the ground men
toned IL was very well cleared. 1t IS
rolling 90 just about the degree that Prof
Martinez says is desired by players. He
seems to be the only one in Savannah who
| has a knowledge Of golf courses or the
game. Mr.. jill. Oppenheimer is also in
terested in the movement, but believes the
best plan to make the interest general
would be to bring 1t before one of the
young mems association to induce them to
take it up. 1t is desired to have only the
best classes go into the thing. The ex-
perience al the North has been that none
others take. up golf, as playing it involves
considerable expense The equipment
costs a good deai, and aolfacs have to
with which they are seized as soon as
they put a bali for the first time From
that time on the case is hopeless, it is said
the game is so very Interesting.
Mr.. Powers OF the De Soto wants to see
the course established because he believes
the city needs one as a tourist point.
Many of the Northeners who come down
during the winter play the game, and it is
one of the greatest attractions to many
that ST. Augustine and other points in
Florida that have courses can offer to the
Northern winter visitors. 1t is believed
Savannah could get more of the tourists
to exercise their stop-over privileges If
the course could be secured
Prof Martinez says Chattanooga has
gone wild over the game, and that many
devotees have sprung up there. Golf, he
says, can be played as well in the sum-
mer as in the winter. and that there is
no reason why a course should not be es-
tablished here and interest awakened Just
as was done in Chattanooga
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