New-York tribune., 1907-12-31
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 Van Cortlandt Park and Forest
Park will rise in vigorous prot st over what
they regard as the unwarranted early closing OF
these courses Ever since Park Commissioner
Berry Unexpectedly ordered the Van Cortianct
eighteen hole circuit closed December local
cievotees of the game have been put to no end OF
Inconvenience
II is true that a few temporary holes have been
laid out on the polo field but this is poor sub
stitute for what they have been accustomed TO
the greater part of the year What makes 1t par
tcularly aggravatng to the Van Cortlandt PARK
freouenters 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 condi J. than Van Cortlandt and in TAR
greater need Of attention. It IS rumored thar tne
Pelham course has not been closed because OF
private interests.
in the past 1t has not been customary to close
the Van Cortlandt course save during a few weeks
in the spring. when the frost is coming out OF tle
ground There are also times when the regular
summer greens have been closed. but nothing ap-
preaching the present state Of affairs has preVi-
o1,sly been attempted. Over at Forest PARK the
Rrooklynites up in arms, as they han eA~
nacted 10 be able to play over the course through
out the winter
\, meetin., of the executive committee OF the
METROPOLITAN Golf Association Yesterday j ~
I-,cl,sop of the PLanfeld Country Club. was elect
cd chairman of the handicap committees for l'oo'
succeeding Leighton Calkins, who has been Chsil-
mar, since 1aOi. The other members OF IN" c"n'-
,,ttee will ho F ! Phillips and Findlay = Doug
laa who have ser, I'd on Mr. Calkius < committee
and have generousl- agreed to serve another year
Nr ,,,Ilkins while prevented by his other goInns
,ues from assuming the detail work OF the hahot-
can conrnittee next season. has offered to render
such assistance as the chairman may need IN
the lerinning Mr.. Erickson, however. Is an c%-
NOR at handcapring and is thoroughly familiar
tails ~ he DlafrOpplitan
is a hard worker and the ASSOCIATION Is l"Ft""alo
in securing his services
rr Erickson himself - fortunate in having
SIes,rs Phillips and Douglas his committee. 9s
they are familiar with the work and are men OF
fne Judgment Furthermore. all clubs in the asSocia-
ton are nov thoroughly acquainted with the form
or rerort required so that the labors OF the com
vnfttoe will not be 50 n arduous they were yea
or so ago before the system Of handicappuE became
generally understood. Handicapping is now on an
established basis and il only requires careful work
by tho clubs i1s making their reports to produce
a good handicap list.
\ novelty in u golfing way will he attempted ny
the Advertising golfers when they gather Tor the'r
animal winter tournament at Pinehurst on January
Is II and IS. Tho innovation will be thirty-siS-
hole o,lalifvins- round two courses This Is
POSSIBLE az the North Carolina resort which Is able
"a boas, Of two cighteen-hoe an one nine-hoe
course. =
There can he nothing rnonotonous in Gay
Qua cation play where hole Is different IL
- expec,ed that good sized delegation OF players
from the metropolitan district will take part Last
winter quite a party left here in a special car