New-York tribune., 1903-03-16
GOLF
Conflicting Views on Amateur Championship
Methods-Committe to Act Soon.

Suggestions as to the best method ot playing ths
amateur championship are coming Ina rapidly IN
response to the circular sent out some days ago
by the United States Golf Association. There Is a
strong sentiment in favor OF the retention 0f tho
qualifying round at medal play As Travis eX-
pressed 1t the other day: ~. should be con-
sfdered finished golfer. certainly net champion
unless he combine reasonable prnnrI9ncy AZ
score play with high abilities match player
This Is the feeling that prevails among num-
bor OF Eastern golfers but in the Chicago and
Boston districts tho sentiment seems to favor the
abolition Of qualifying round The Chicago
view is expressed by Edward T. Martin. of ths
executive committee. who says:
believe that careful unPEcjrdTed die i1yssiFFa- 5F
rounds would convince many that trial At least
should he made Of the English method. VIC M tt E2
open championship of this country by one or tW9
Gnaso6 ge h0Ie ana Ta6 on IF f becaH the Ba lodged
behind a stone which had no place on champion
stronger proportionately in medal play than ANA
teurs an9 IN oDIscooil Oh iesoT1giRIs - "a
much more pertinent with the latter than Win the
so far as possible from contest for amateur pre-
The match play game. ia much more interesting sting
to the great majority Of golfers Nothing IS more
at match piay-each hole a contest BY itself Los
not distress the player or endangar the whole
score as the same number OF rxIra d sI[9fes bzir ~
out the keenest and best skill and sportsma anship.
teur sport.
Opposed to this is the opinion OF Waiter =
Travis who has repeatedly declared in favor q tHs
medal play qualifying round. This. IN his judS-
ment should be at thfrty-six holes with thirty-two
players qualifying II the field is too big for ths
opening days play. he suggests eighteen holes as
medal play Monday and Tuesday. thirty-stx IN
ali, the first and second rounds at match play ae
eighteen holes and the subsequent rounds at thirty
six. Said he the other day:
am or the opinion that eighteen hole match
play rounds between players or almost equal RANK
do not anOTd any conclusive Test axe. or m
stance. the last British championship. Who be-
up. IS good Messrs- Ball. Hilton or Max
well? If the matches had been at thrty-six. In
stead OF eighteen, holes. 1 believe Mr. HutChins
never would have won out.
An Improvement the medal play qualifying
round would be TO weed out at the eighteenth h0ls
ali players whose scores are more than eighteen
, least thIrty-two intermediate scores II would
hasten the play and act as q deterrent 10 aInDi-
tiOus buffers
Opposed to this Is the view OF those who Eavor
the English system. In which the qualifying round
medal play is omitted altogether Tho adyo-
details OF the last championship dt inc SI- NJ
drew's Golf Club in Scotland where IFS entries. the
largest number ever received we're handled without
ment there twelve hyes. and with fOur-n1nuts
intervals between pairs. etghty-four matches
at eighteen holes completed between tho hours
of a. m. and p. on the opening day.
On the morning OF the second day sixteen
matches were played. and in the afternoon eight
played in the forenoon and two IN the afternoon;
thirty-sx holes.
The replies to the letter Of the executive COM
mittee are being rapidly Siftad; and - . few DAYS
the coming championship This announce:1ent VIII
correspondence with the associate clubs IS being
conducted.