New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-22
G0LFING.
This Week's Metropolitan Cham
ship at Foe Hills.

The Metropolitan golf championships seventh
birthday anniversary VIII have been completed a
week hence, but who will take the cake in the
form Of the championship title seems less sensl-
tive of prediction than ever. Two extnguished
candles on Traviss commemoration of these ami
VerSary celebrations the emblems Of the
British champions victories OF 1890 and 1902.
Ike number emphasize Douglass success in 1901
and 1902 Last year. in Traviss absence at Sand
wich Harold Wilcox, a schoolboy from Montclair
turned the occasion into a surprise party by
quenching the remaining lights which were burning
with the hope that Traviss departure was TO give
them their longed for opportunity.
The tournament will open on Wednesday at the
Fox Hills links. continuing through the week IL
seems TO be the general opinion that Wilcox cannot
mold his title and that Travis will not take it from
MIN on that course. With Douglas not at his
best, owing to lame finger. the prize seems open
to the player who Is the most adept in mind and
muscles, the most versatile in adapting both 10
Kaleidoscope changes in lie and stance. and above
all the most proficient in strategic perception. For
on the rolling land at Fox Hills and its constant
succession of knobs. bases Pliach bowls and pla-
teaus each stroke presents a problem whose apal-
ysis demands not only a skilfuI golfer but
mental strategist. The player is almost always
above or below the ball when addressing IT, max
ing hanging lies and sidewise stances not merely
the exception but the rule
This is what followers OF Travis's game saw will
put him out Of the running. especially he now
seems welded to his long shaft clubs. making all
the more awkward anything but straight. level
shots On the other hand. Travis is a thinker" a
student of every stroke he plays. and for this
reason ii may be that the British champion will
find the course much to his liking It should be
remembered, however. that Fox Hills, like Baltus-
rol, where he was beaten last year. is one OF the
few metropolitan courses not familiar 10 the Gar
den City crack.
II is on the George Vanderbilt property on Staten
Island. at Clifton and very accessible. The round
is 5,736 yards. but while not long in distance as
compared with some the hard htters" will find
its length surprisingly non-susceptible to slug
ging" In fact. it is not the '.triphamrner'' shot
that will win in the long run, but the placed
stroke-the one which lands the ball on the stra-
tegic spot from which the next stroke can be made
to the best advantage In few places does the ball
get much run after the drive. The carry Is the
essential thing. and it must Oe accurate full and
tactically perfect. There is scarcely hole IN the
eighteen that does offer an advantage to the
man who can place" the ball On the other hand
there are no artificial bunkers. and no trees as
hazards. Rough grass, brooks. bitches and roads
constitute the only hazards and over the fence Il
out of bounds.
The amateur record is 73 established by the late
Luther L. Kellogg. jr, while the professional record
IS z. held by Isaac MackIe although the profess
sonal record in competition is credited to George
Low at q. No amateur has done better than II
IN competition, and that is reckoned splendid going
Louis Livingston IT., scored 20 in 4 private
match. X C. Watson, Jr. is credited with IS and
A-44NNS DON64ao Win a. II IS not a links q
popularity visited by players as some others In the
metropolitan district and in the congress of golfers
tAere this week there may be many whose knowI-
eose OF us salient points Is gained from hearsay
only To such it should be said that Fox Hills
makes you think that 1t never grows rnonot-
onous; that it is never played twice alike. that
II Is Chexcelled as test OF goIdng strategy 1t
requires mastery OF every stroke in every position
II never unfairly penalties. but gives the ad-
vantage to the man Of tactical superiority T-be
| following ANALYSIS n
their respective qualities:
Hole No . QaE 5; distance SIS yards)-For the
payer on the tee is a rise and a punch bowl It
gEeen cannot reached in TheSe Is sn fou HRs
fbs Ba across has e OF play in big hollow and If
ane knoll to the right Of the hollow. where if
accurately placed. the ball will roll forty Yards
nearer the green which then be reached with
Hole No. 2 (par 8: distance 40 yards)-The strate-
IN ordeT TO %i rat Try Tor Ions drive sghtIy pulled
green a brassey or cleek In no Other w SnS
can the green be reached in less than g. "@'
bad hole with tricky green It is better 10
hdes the 6 as ia 6on from r the sft as the knoll
aole No. Gar s. distance $50 yards)-If ION
drive should Be sg6tiy pulled e to Tq land nd
on me side hill which slopes to the right. A long
| put not many players accomplish IT, The second
II played 10 the right should at least get a fair
/ run ana leave an open approach Playing to the
ieII should be avoided. as it usually leaves blind
. Hole No Gpar 8: distance 14s yards)-A good
SGly Ts and put hole and frequently reached on
on knoll. surrounded by rough grass
said TO he ona ,paF distance SO yaTdsl-Ihis Is
country with the wind either with against the
| reach IT good second shot, high ana well placed,
VIII Ho,d no 86 roll is is the safest ..o
! Ioaa also bitches about $50 yards from the tee
aq with wind behind the player It might be pos
| ton would be to play short with cleek 10 the
TlSh;r as rough grass is apt 10 catch the ball on
| nc 4tAl. Inc green Is IN punChOOWl and open.
Hole No. par 1; distance ~ .yards)-,A rather
| road. which is best accomplished with two mid
that the going is easy and unlnteresting
Hole No. Cpar 4; distance SO yards)-For the
twenty yards The drive should Re pulled. in or
der to gain a lie from which 70 make a running
approach The green IS on top Of slight rise, and
Hole No. 10 (par I; distance. 81 yards)-It is a
| long pitch. Inc drive should be straight to the
stroke After that the player may take mashia
or nidiron and loft to the gEeen bu{ the stroke
on the top Of the hill 1t is not hard TO do for
! Hole No. II (par 5; distance, 40 yards)-Two full
| shots and n mashie TO the green. or, perhaps. a
rough in front and on both Sides and To- Slice IS
fatal The green should be approached from the
Hole No. p Cpar s14; distance. 224 yardsl--A long
green on the further side Of the slope II is fully
rs yards over the crest OF the HILL with the water
about 40 yards, requiring two fun shots and
! pitch.
Hole No. l3 par 81; distance, SIS yards)-The
hole has been made in 4, but it requires strate-
gst to do II. II offers two good opportunities to
/ the man who place his shots accurately. The
first is the drive which should keep TO the lett
! in order strike the crest with its suggested
| run" The second shot is the one that calls for
| nice placing. Pick out point in the grassy val
/ ley known ''HelTs Kitchen" we'll toward the
| left end. This enables the player 10 cross the
Store at an easy angle. whereas il he takes the
right end he finds himself under the hillside, with
the green a full brassey II tho drive Is long
and well placed the second shot may. II IL is a
''sizzle-" carry across the Kitchen but this is
/ ri alI -rr lr.- LIZ -