New-York tribune., 1906-12-31
ON THE GOLF LINKS.
Players Ask Why One Public Course
Is Closed and AnOther Not.

Unless all signs fail. hundreds of golfers who
for years have been in the habit of playing over
the public links at Van Cortandt Park and Forest
Park will soon rise in vigorous protest over what
they regard as the unwarranted early closing of
these courses. Ever since Park Commissioner
Berry Unexpectedly ordered the Van Cortlandt
eghteen-hole circuit closed December / local
devotees of the game have been put to end of
Inconvenience.
1t is true that few temporary holes have been
laid out the polo field. but this is poor SUBJ
situte for what they have been accustomed to
the greater part of the year. What makes 1t par
ticuarly aggravating to the Van Cortlandt Park
frequenters is the fact that the public course at
Pelham Bay has been allowed to remain open
The Pelham course is, according to golfers, in
poorer condition than Van Cortlandt and in far
greater need of attention 1t runored that the
Pelham course has not been closed because of
private interests.
In the past it has not been customary to close
the Van Cortlandt course during few weeks
in the spring. when the frost is coming out of the
ground. There are also times when the regular
summer green's have been closed but nothing ap
preaching the present state of affairs has previ-
ously been attempted. over at Forest Park the
Brooklynites are up in arms, as they had ex-
peced to be able to play over the course through
out the winter.
At a meeting of the executive committee of the
METROPOLITAN Golf Association Yesterday j. E.
Erickson, of the Plainfeld Country Club. was elect
ed chairman of the handicap committee for 1908.
succeeding Leighton CalknS who has been chair
man since 1904. The other members of the COM
mittee will be F. j. Phillips and Findlay S. Doug
las who have served On Mr.. Calknss committee
and have generously agreed to serve another year.
Mr.. Calkins, while prevented by his other golfng
duties from assuming the detail work of the handi
cap committee next season, has offered to render
such assistance the chairman may need in
the beginning. Mr.. Erickson, however, is
pert at handicappng and is thoroughly familiar
with the details of the metropolitan system. He
is hard worker and the association is fortunate
in securing his services.
Mr. Erickson himself is fortunate in having
Messrs. Phillips and Douglas his committee,
they familiar with the work and of
judgment. Furthermore, all clubs in the associa
ton thoroughly acquainted with the form
of report required that the labors of the COM
mttee will not be arduous they were yea
or so ago. before the system of handicapping became
generally understood. Handicapping is
established basis and it only requires careful work
by the clubs in making up their reports to produce
a good handicap list.
novelty in a gofng way will be attempted by
the advertising golfers when they gather for their
annual winter tournament at Pnehurst on January
16. II and IS. The innovation will be thirty-six-
hole qualifying round two courses. This is
possible the North Carolina resort which is able
to boast of two eighteen-hole and nne-hoe
course.
There be nothing monotpnous in days
qualification play where every hole is different. II
is expected that a good sized delegation of players
from the metropolitan district will take part Last
winter quite party left here In special car.