New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-20
GOLF.
STATEN ISLANDS NEW LINKS TO BE
OPENED ON SATURDAY.


FOX HILLS COURSE NOW READY FOR PIAY-AC-
CEssIBIrITY ONE OF ITS CHEF CHARMS
A GARDEN SPOT FOR GOLF PLAYERS.
It will doubtless be gratifying news to golfers
in this city TO learn that the new links II the
Staten Island Cricket Club at Fox Hills. about
which much curiosity has been felt this season,
WILL be thrown open for play on Saturday. 1t was
expected that the course would be ready on Me-
mortal Day but the extremes OF weather and the
many difficulties which the club experienced In
putting the ground in satisfactory condition delayed
the opening beyond the date originally set. Now
however ali the fundamental work has been done.
The task was one from which less vigorous
Greens Committee might we'll have shrunk Tor IL
included the laying OF seventy-hve hundred feet
OF subsoil drainage. clearing seventeen ponds. re-
moving powders stones and trees filing IN. clear
ing swamps. laying sod, seeding and all the count
less alterations which a links. II well laid de-
mands. Though the course is opened with the
belief that play will benefit 1t. the club has wisely
decided to start with moderation, and all tourna-
ments and formal matches 10 be postponed I'M
til later date
Lavish has been the expenditure by Amer
lean golfers in the effort 10 secure desirable Inks
1t is doubtful II any compare in natural beauty
with this garden spot Fox Hills. Its accessible
ity to this city must be reckoned as one OF its
chief charms II can be reached by the Midland
Electric Railway, at Osgood-ave. the Staten Island
Electric Railway, at the foot Of Vanderbilt-aVe.'
and the Staten Island Rapid Transit Road, Clifton
Station the trip by any OF these lines consuming
not more than forty minutes from this city
ON THE VANDERBILT ESTATE.
Situated on the George W Vanderbilt estate and
commanding a glorious view OF the Narrows and
Lower Bay. the course covers liz acres OF rolnhs
meadow land that is said to resemble more nearly
the turf Of the classic links abroad than any other
course in the country. The house. when Is one
OF the George ". Vanderbilt cottages remodeled
for golhng purposes, was moved 5000 yards from
its original site in order to have It placed on
OF the higher knobs. and 1t now commands
delightful view of almost the entire grounds IL
stands near Vanderbilt-aye.. scarcely hve minutes
walk from the Clifton station. with the home tee
to the left and the first Immediately IN front OF
the piazza
The building is fitted with all the modern
veniences with nine bedrooms. two Of which are
to be for transients and the other seven reserved
for regular members who may obtain them for
a period Of not less than one week at IS week,
transients being charged 81 a day As for the
course Itself, 1t is too much TO say that IT has
reached a satisfactory condition or that Its raw
edges have been worn away, but with time and
care 1t promises to rival any In America. nature
the needs Of golf are concerned and by utilizing
needed to artificial traps and bunkers
NO DANGER FROM FLYING BALLS.
At no point will it be necessary to cross pre-
vlous line Of play. nor will the holes be near
enough to one another to subject those playing
over them TO the danger Of flying golf balls. On
some Of the unclaimed land sand pits have been
arranged. with view OF penalizng unskilful shots
but the whole the Is on the side OF deVel-
oping hlgh-class play and not dscouraging con-
Leaving the clubhouse the player starts upon
the outward journey over the first hole distance
of 365 yards. TO green protected beyond by steep
VIII
proach. From the high ground near this green IS
nal direction toward cump Of trees and crosses
brook not far from the second putting green.
NTH is practically an iron shot. the distance being
necessary to reach the green. which lies at the
Coming now to the sixth, the same plateau fur.
nIshes a capital teeing spot. and from this point
to the green go yards away the p hs
what golfer prizes above ala good lie
CREEK AND sANDPIT AT SEVENTH HOLE.
The seventh hole is about three hundred and
eighty yards long. with creek crossing the line
OF play catch fooled ball. and sandpt
little beyond penalty for the luckess player
who tops The green Is in depression between
two hills and considerable skill is required to nego
tiate It successfully road intersects the course
some three hundred yards from the tee; ana unless
himself in plenty OF trouble The eighth hole Is Z75
yards and the ninth 325 yards 1t Is on this hrst
that the committee mas eAptHueu NosA Va ~,
energy and consequently II will be the most used
in the next few weeks The entire links Of eighteen
holes will be opened Saturday. however. and the
full playing length is 6.0% yards.
1t should not be understood that the club has
abandoned its old quarters at lrvngton, however
much the popularity OF the new course Will detract
from the interests there. The present clubhouse
is merely an annex, and the Livingston building
will remain the headquarters. and will continue 10
be used foster cricket tennis. baseball and other
sports the officers OF the main organization having
control. with some aid over the Fox Hili adjunct
The riyileges OF the course all days but Sat
urday afternoons, Sundays and holidays. have been
extended TO the members OF the staten Island
Ladies' Club and privileges are to be, extended
to visitors at 81 day. Lockers may be secured
from A. w Morriss, the treasurer, No. 100 Broad
way this city, BY written application, accompanied
by a fee OF s. and lockers will be allotted In order
Of receipt OF remittances
The Golf Committee consists OF j. Maxwell Car
rere George e Armstrong. DR. Burdett OCOnnor,
F. b. CroweH and Malcolm Graham. tr. Mungo !
Park IT, will be the professional and George z.
Armstrong the captain.