New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-06

enter the national contest although he will be at
Hartford 10 defend his title Seeey is en-
thusiastic player, and il he should again win the
State championship it is possible that ne would
20 10 Chicago, anyway. According 10 his present
plans however, the Connecticut tournament is the
only one he proposes TO enter for the summer.
The League Of Connecticut Golf Clubs was
formed four years ago. There were then ten clubs
in the organization. There are now twenty-five
including about every club in the State.
General interest is taken in the Nutmeg State
tournaments, the contestants to be heard
from in the metropolitan district. The Connecticut
and New-Jersey State tournaments the only
ones OF which this is true. other golfng associa-
lions being too far removed from NewYork to be OF
any particular interest TO followers Of the game
here II is interesting TO that both Connecti-
cut and New-Jersey have in their respective cham
pions-CharIes Il. Seeley and Allen Kennaday-two
golfers Of the first class. Until recently Findlay
Douglas a Connecticut player, although he
never took part in State individual tournament.
For some years Douglas entered from the Fairfield
County Club, Of Greenwich, and played No. l on
the club team. During the last two seasons he has
been playing for the most part on the Nassau
links and has been entering from that club
The Connecticut League has not hard and fast
organization. 1t has no charter. Aside from the
annual tournament and the general promotion OF
tnterclub meetings the league has in various ways
taken action for the promotion of the game the
State The Connecticut legislature has a tendency
every now and then abridge sports or recreation,
especially on Sundays, and then, too, there the
old blue laws, which have become known all
il frequently happens that links in small coun-
1rv villages where constables hard up for
fees So il viii he that there is abundance OF
room for the influential members of the league TO
Use discretion and persuasive powers both with the
law makers and the law enforcers. case in point
came I'D few years ago. soon after the league
organized. Wilson l. Baldwin James S. Jenkins
and Marion Phelps, members OF the Wee Burn
Golf Club which is made up largely OF STANFORD
aEr,lr= IN Tka -
Of Darien, were arrested by one armed constable
for INDUCING in the game Sunday. The Daren
Justice who has the picturesque name OF Schild-
knecht cut the golfers short in their efforts at
explanation, and fined each $50 and costs. The
Connecticut League took hand in matters then.
An appeal was taken, and the higher courts over
ruled the decision Of the Darien exponent Of law
and justice. The interesting point was brought out
IN the court decisions that golf, least it is
played the Wee Burn links. is recreation. and
not sport The Connecticut statutes permit Of rec
reation Sunday. but not sport.
When representatives of ten clubs met in New
Haven in the winter OF 1899 TO form State
ganization there some misgivings TO the
successful Of the undertaking. but the fol-
lowing summer. when the first tournament was
held on the course OF the Brooklyn Country Club.
at Bridgeport, there such enthusiastic interest
shown By ali the clubs in the state that the con-
tnuance Of the league assured Since then
ell the old clubs in the State have become MEM
bers and new ones which have been formed have
also joined.
The FIRST tournament was held on the nine-hoe
course Of the Brooklyn Country Club and was won
by Tom /. Cheney. OF the Oxford Golf Club, Of
South Manchester who also held the championship
Yale one year. The following year the
Inent WAS again held q. nine-hole course. this
time the links Of the Wee Burn Golf Club being
used. The championship was won by DR. Carl
Martin, Of the Fairfield County Golf Club. Of
Greenwich Last year the play on the links
OF the New-Haven Country Club, which has an
elghteen-hoIe course The winner was Charles II.
seelsy and c,riousIy enough. the former champion.
br Martin won the consolation cup.
This the only other eighteen-hoe course in
fhe State that OF the Hartford Golf Club. was
chosen for the championship tournament.
The Hartford Club is the largest in the State. II
mas now five hundred members, and is looked upon
- tne Eolfng centre for the uaiddle and upper