New-York tribune., 1900-05-28


Home bred golf IS improving That IS the opinion
which the players in the annual metropolitan
chsr.rfonsh!p JUST closed entitled to hold And
~ was under conditions which might be called ad-
verse that this Improvement was demonstrated.
Throughout the week rain and wind were added
difcntes wholly absent from the tournament of a
ge gesF 9f9 a cars n the live sixteen Vas consI9 OF
eraby better than at that time. N proof Of this
was the best score IN the medal play round, while
a. .o-e ' s-G ,1s +sI +ba o+beE co,,naf+or G @
fonoRed with consistent form
Probably unexpected than the downfall OF
Hartman IN the final round the defeat Of
Douglas ct the hands Of Allan Kennaday. No one
thought seriously OF the likelihood OF the Scots
mans overthrow, the less because he WIS known
20 have played fully up form in the earlier
rounds and particularly against Hamilton one Of
The cracks Of the BaItusrol Club. Douglas. how
ever. possibly held his opponent from Monrclair
i happened the match found him in an uncertain
short game whereas Kennaday was above his
before he fnny realized the fact, the Scotsman
1 81 nIsF - shae Of h3s man Who had succeeded
II gaining the advantage.
Leaving out OF account the players who figured
n the final, the who added most 10 their
reputation by their performances IN the meeting
we're Seeley, the young Wee Burn golfer, and
Alfred L. Norris. of Dyker Meadow. Norris has
The St Andrews links. where he held John Reid, jr,
down 70 the final hole and Seeley has also dis
played form at various times that promises well
for his future prominence in championship play.
AS for Kennaday. who made his debut this
occasion he viii probably one day. sooner later
achieve greater success than he did in this
his opinions as 70 capabilities Of the newer cfass
said after the match that Kennaday one of the
most promising Of the local amateurs. That he is
al accomplishing golfer no one who followed him
81 Nassau could doubt. although his style OF play
struck some critics as showing want Of finish.
Blrr he mas been playing scarcely more than two
peTiencs- ' VIII ----1-'' I'M ''''-'9 anu
II Travis can beat Hartman IN the Metropolitan
why not IN the National championship? That is
a phase of the recent struggle that golfers were
discussing yesterday. Certainly the field Mas
Eau. while perhaps not widely representative as
that which viii figure in the National meeting.
contained all Of those who may hope for the cup.
To be sure Macdonald there but is
not seriously considered championship possibil-
ity- It Is scarcely more than & month before the
National fixture viii be under way, and the rating
just established should not be materially changed
IN that tine Travis has the absolute accuracy of
the professional ana player little IN
UNDERGO Tor The @ same nee enc - a5 o ts tS, men M wSe1a
-Ea-a seems -e-[- -s-r - LG5e, g. lItete
his place 1t was in October 1885, that Travis
1rst TOOK up goit but according 70 his own state
rsnt ne IS stl4 IN the experimental stage ready TO
aqopt any new method that will improve his game.
his 6rst open tournament at Lakewood, in the fan
sa SoTntTT 55iII Ut W bsnd ~ i4tgner Ia @ me Inc Mas
fort OF players and spectators whom the Champion
SHIPS attracted 10 this splendid Long Island course
nothing was wanting, and under the personal su-
g -s-Sn % Llrxsy 9iuroock the popular presi-
without hitch.
It Is little wonder that English players have
queer ideas regarding players and links Sew
eral things have happened OF late TO confirm the
impression that everything American is ''crash"
~F-z~
country First OF al. A. c. Hamilton. Of the
Baltu5rol Gof Club, brother OF the man who
took part at Nassau last week went abroad some
time ago, and merely incident to that
journey he entered the English amateur champion
ship al Sandwich The report was Immediately
current that OF the American cracks had
7oI -5aEL Occ-1ea z MOST IaooesI position In
20 t9Gs5 gol & o09ss and never 6y 5he widest dream
70 halve three holes IN MS match with Charles
Andrews championship. and then fngIorfousIv dis
appeared It was hardly wise thing for him
ured by the standard he set up
Furthermore yardon is home, and Is spreading
stories OF the kind Of links have. Everybody
viii remember that Vardon's VISIT was in the
middle OF winter, when the only courses open were
those the South, and consequently the English
champions Impressions are all OF clay putting
green's with sanded surfaces 10 keep the ball from
sliding. the kind they have down in that country.
Here is the sort Of stuff being served up Eng
lish golhng readers result:
The American club has usually TO content itself
with rine holes not account Of the scarcity OF
and, but because Of the expense OF clearing the
ground Of timber.
One would think we were hewing courses out of
TIE pr7uleval forest. Again: They have. with one
or two exceptions putting greens baked and rolled
as hard as Uacadau1ized roads. with Just sprirk
ling OF sand the top to keep the ball from run
ming I frightened TO look at the ball
VardOn is quoted saying. When it bounced on
one OF them you never knew where it would go. l
soon discovered that II paid TO pitch short and
then I cic better The teeing grounds are Just as
hard and they slope TO such extent that again
using Vardon's expression. they looked like shoot
ing ranges
IN another interview Vardon is quoted thus:
Every American club has it's local rules. and
stance. you never know when you are bunkered, or
NA-a your opponent ts bunkerec- II happens IN
ne second shots Of Indifferent players, but they
&&-so now and then catch big drive of the tee
long tee shot other clubs show such considera-
non. During The last SIX weeks I played better
pr1sed ne don't know how 10 account for II,
-ess II owing the different atmosphere.
anyhow, the ball appeared meet with much less
Try.
On the whole, however. vardon appears TO be
pleased with visit, and tribute the skill
% the he played here he said:
= net some rafting good golfers, both profess
% taking II easy while playing the best Of two
three balls
Which, after al. is doubtful compliment
The Oakland C;olf Club. Of Bayside Long Island.
ass announced its programme for the annual open