New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-10
GOLF.
HARRIMAN's VICTORY MARKS A NEW
EPOCH IN THE GAME.
WHAT AMERICAN PLAYERS HAVE DONE
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS


WHAT AMERICAN PLAYERS HAVE DONE
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS
Another championship. ably managed admirably
fought and royalty won has decided the amateur
golf title for another year The victory Of HART
man at Onwentsa Saturday. however, means
more than the mere award OF coveted prize. Tor
Il marks a epoch in the history OF American
golf For the first time since the game has been
played here the championship rests with dis
tinctly home bred golfer. In 1886 Theodore A
Havemeyer then president Of the United States
Golf Association made the prediction that in three
years more the native born golfer would come to
the fore That prophecy has now come true. and
in Hartman American golfers have man VINO
represents the best type of the home. bred game.
Hartman did not play in the championship last
year, and the year before, at Wheaton he was
put out by W Rossiter Belts Yale undergradu-
ate. who afterward the runner up. In the
long driving contest held in connection with the
Wheaton tournament Hartman won first place,
but though always a brilliant player his game
did not round out in excellence until the begin
ming Of the season OF 1895 His only notable vic
tory previous TO mis- present one was gained In the
metropolitan championship at Garden City. In
April. when he defeated Reginald Brooks In the
final round for the supremacy OF the local asso-
citation Of this city
His victory at Onwentsia is a popular one. TO
Judge from the comments heard among golfing
men yesterday and will do much toward increas-
ing the zeal Of thousands OF players in all parts
OF the country who like him. have been forced
10 develop their style. Douglas fairly
beaten. and the feeling generally is that the tour
nament has resulted in the success of the best
man
The United States golf contests which cul-
minated last week at the West in reality the
outcome OF a disagreement It was in 1894. when
golf had only begun TO make its appearance in this
country, and when scarcely one man in ten knew
what the word meant. that the Newport Golf Club
determined to hold a National championship. With
out knowing OF this plan. the St Andrews Golf
Club, then occupying its old nine hole course on
the Sawm River Road at Yonkers. also de-
cded to hold a championship. The outcome Of this
was that two tournaments were held that year,
some thirty players meeting the Newport course
al medal play. and about equal number gather
ing ST. Andrews. At Newport the winner
William Lawrence, who had learned his game at
Pau. while c. B. Macdonald. who defeated
by Hartman In last weeks semi-hnals. was the
runner up.
The St. Andrews tournament a more pre-
tentious affair for a gold and diamond badge was
offered 10 the winner. with the title OF Amateur
Champion Of the United States" Here L. B.
stoddart who had learned his game while boy
in England. was successful in the finals, defeating
Macdonald by UP.
This conflict OF championships had a beneficial
result. for in December OF the same year meet
ing was called at the Calumet Club in this city
for the purpose OF organizing a permanent associa-
ton which should be- the guiding body In future
tournaments. The outcome OF this meeting was
the formation OF the present United States Golf
Association. The late Theodore A. Havemeyer
was chosen the first president Of the new league,
and to him golfers the perpetual trophy cup
which is offered each year as a symbol OF the
championship title.
In reality therefore. the first National champion
ship was the one held at Newport in October 1885,
under the auspices Of the infant association Thir
ty-two players faced the tee the opening day in
GLIDING many who even then began to show promise
Of becoming admirable golfers. The finals mar
lowed down TO contest between Macdonald and
Charles E Sands. a tennis player Of some note in
those days but who had taken TO golf scarcely
three months before. As natural in the cir
cumstances Macdonald won by up and to play
II was in this championship that Richard Peters
at tempted to put with a billiard cue-an experiment
that has never been tried since. far is known
Macdonald held the title until the following sum-
NOR. when the shinnecock Hills Golf club Of
Southampton. was chosen for the tournament. II
was the first time the golfers In this country had
an eighteenhoe course TO play over. and the added
space proved abundant attraction. New cond-
lions were also introduced. and a system much Ike
the present one was adopted A qualifying round
OF thirty-six holes was established, in which the
first sixteen were permitted 10 keep on AZ match
play. As showing the rapid rise In popularity which
the game had enjoyed It may be said that there
were eighty starters in the preliminary matches.
r. J. Whigham OF the Onwentsia Golf Club, won
the gold medal offered for the best score in these,
and later in the match play defeated in turn L. p
Bayard IT.. Harry Roy Sweny, A VI. Coates and
J. c. Thorp. from which latter player he won the
championship.
The following year. 1897 the championship went
10 the West and the Chicago Golf Club. whose
course is scarcely thirty miles from the scene Of
weeks struggle. had the honor OF conducting
the tournament. Possessing a large and well ar
ranged clubhouse, the Wheaton organization was
able 10 entertain in royal style. and tournament
week was made the occasion OF whirl or social
gayety. In the preliminary round Macdonald won
the medal for the best score with a card OF ia,
and among the veterans Of the previous year VINO
qualified were Whgham Tying. Chadwick, Coates
and Sweny. Douglas. who had arrived IN TINS
n notable addition 10 the list, while ". X. Bets
and John Reid. jr.. both Yale undergraduates rep
resented the college element. which first came into
prominence at that time. Douglas was well known
by reputation and the Eastern contingent al
the meeting backed him 10 a man. But he proved
when the two met in the semi-fnals the latter
won by s up and 70 play -
Retts was Whighams opponent IN the hhal
round and though the college lad put up clever
and determined night IL did not prevail against the
more seasoned game Of Whigham.
Last years championship at Morris county Is
Of too recent a date TO call for comment Wing
nam who had Just returned from cuba, was IN
no condition 10 defend his ute. and did MOI even
qualify Walter =. Smith. another Yale man, had
ths honor OF meeting Douglas In the finals. but
i've MS nredecefsor Belts he failed the
crucial moment and Douglas received the cup