New-York tribune., 1905-12-27
VIEWS ON GOLF MUDDLE
Controversy at Lake0oood Likely
to affect Other Clubs.

The muddle among the golfers at the Country
Club of Lakewood growing out of the tournament
OF Christmas Day is likely to have its effect in
directly upon majority of the other gol1ng Or
ganizations in the metropolitan district, by which
open and invitation tourpaments are held. 1t has
long been mooted question among golfers as to
the Justice of dropping the names OF contestants
from the list after having qualified at medal play
simply because they had openly expressed their
intention rot 20 continue
The practice Of dropping players at their own
request has been such common one that the
rregularity would in ali probability have been over
looked by the disgruntled Lakewood players on
Saturday last had not one of the three who had
been dropped expressed later a desire to continue
In speaking OF the matter yesterday afternoon W.
a. Hamilton. of the directors of the club said
that meeting of the board of directors had been
called for Saturday. when another matter Of i'm
portance would be taken up. and he thought it
quite possible that the tournament difficulty would
also be thrashed out
The directors of the club w. r. Proctor.
Albert IL Bradshaw, Irving T. Bush, John Hays
Hammond. S. <. De Forest, George ]. Gould. w.
A. Hamilton. Henry L. Herbert. H a James,
Clarence N. Roof Henry S. Kearney, Charles
Lathrop Pack. c. L. Lindley. Jasper Lynch and c.
L. Sti!lwell The officers George J. Gould. presi
dent; Henry A. James vice-president; S. K. De
Forest, secretary, captain and chairman Of the
greens committee.
The question whether Captain De Forest did or
did not exceed his authority in leaving out A C.
Soper after the latter had signiied his willingness
to continue at match play remains the directors
to decide 1t runored yesterday that Presi-
dent Gould, who had been apprised OF the situa-
ton. is not in sympathy with the stand taken by
De Forest. This could not be verified. however.
James G. Patterson, who has taken Just the op-
posite view from De Forest, when seen yesterday
had the question put to him, Who wins the cup?
His reply was that he did not believe there would
be any cup 1t will be remembered that De Forest
was the winner in draw and Patterson in the
other.
Another Lakewood golfer. who did not wish his
name mentioned said:
it This b toqsaament E ne vas arranged BY the members
eighs these prizes to be paid for by subscription
h MAS 5hersfSre @ strictly speaking not club
non ton IN this instance less tenable. What is more,
good under the eeay @ iaTH 10 as maze fbeS
seem to be Of one mind on the subject
mn a9er Gd in his msiSRS a4or for PFIs ta
S9h oG pan has ne gfe m5 Ft Roqh gfos the draw
ms On the other hand; Mr. De Forest appears
could be- Prize or m With the aed on6ps s2 en
the way they do, and I doubt If he would care to
would be good thing if all this withdrawing busi-
ness wers stopped entirely.
Leighton Calkns, secretary of the METROPOLITAN
Golf Association, spoke in general way about the
practice Of dropping the of those who qualify
in a tournament, without taking any sides in the
Lakewood controversy. Mr.. Calktns said:
after it has once been posteo. When player turns
In his card and the score is posted by member Of
the tournament committee, it has then passed pc
ed se oud o be b II ' For oe yesT it It has
been a general practice. at tournaments to drop
names Of contestants who. after qualifying have
stated their inability to continue.
The reason is clear. for it can be readily seen
that much Of the interest would be removed with
several defaults recorded in the first round, which
would be the case when players paired after
they have stated their intention of dropping out.
I afraid. however. that it will be difficult mat
ter to get the clubs change, for with many tour
nament committees the view Is taken that these
three-day gatherings for the mutual enjoy
ment Of all concerned. and that this best be
attained by doing away with defaults wherever
possible.
The stand taken by De Forest is that as captain,
secretary and chairman of the green committee.
he had the right to make any ruling which. in his
judgment, he fit.