New-York tribune., 1910-02-14
DELAY GOLF PLANS
H4Rn UORK rs AHEAD
Clubs Ascniting Tourney De-
cis;nns of W. O.. Il. Committee.

According 10 W .. Vanderpool, secretary
Of the Metropolitan Golf Association, that
body will soon hold an executive commit
tee meeting to decide on plans TOR the
coming season. In the opinion or MANY
too much time has already been lost, ana
the new handicap committee Will nave 10
work hard to get its list compiled as early
as last year. Furthermore, the clubs that
have applied for the amateur champion
ship tournament OF the association nave
been kept in unnecessary suspense Nor
ris County, Midland, Montclalr and FOX
Hills would all like 10 know one way or
another whether they are going TO get tlie
attraction. It is safe to say that the or
ganization obtaining the tournament VIII
work especially hard on that account dur
ing March. April and May In ar endeaVof
to get its course in the best possible condi-
ton, and for that reason an early declsloH
by the committee is desired
The Same uncertainty exists with regard
TO the RAINING of links for the champion
shin tournament of the New Jersey state
Golf Association. The Country Club OF
Atlantic City made the only bona tide offer
at the annual meeting in this city. but
whether Atlantic City is the choice or not
the club by the sea intends to go along
improving its course. Apropos OF this is
part Of a conversation overheard between
two golfers
Have you played golf at Atlantic city,"
asked a devotee of the game of q friend
the other day.
"Oh, yes; I had several rounds there
about five years ago was the reply
Then you haven't really played golf AT
Atlantic City. You only thought you had
continued the first speaker
This rather startling statement soon drew
forth explanations relative to the changes,
frequent and varied, that have worked such
wonders within twelvemonth on this South
Jersey course. In the old days a common
expression among visitors was that the
most troublesome hazard on the Atlantic
City links was the wind, but that saying is
as out of place now as the solid guilty ball
There is of course, an advantage in being
able to start right, but unfortunately At
Iantic City, Ike many of the other courses
in this country laid out a decade or more
ago, has had to pass through the process OF
evolution which practically began with the
introduction of the rubber cored ball. These
clubs, after starting in the wrong way, have
been sufficiently wide awake to see what
was needed and in some instances really
wonderful transformations have resulted
Furthermore since the construction OF
courses, both inland and seaside, has be
come a. business and q science, the treat
ment of the soil and the selection of seed
has been studied to such an extent that
what formerly took years to accomplish
can now be done in q few months. Latterly
the authorities at Atlantic City have devoted
their energies toward making the course
better test of the game This work has
consisted in the digging of new traps, and
either the removal or partial removal of
certain old cross bunkers, relics of bygone
times. Further treatment OF the soil viii
come later.
When once determined to reconstruct
their course the officials Of the Country
Club of Atlantic City went about it in the
right way, and, incidentally. determined 10
make haste slowly. Herbert Barker, profeS-
sOnal of the Garden City Golf Club, was
sent for and the former Yorkshire amateur
spent three days on the North1eld links.
All of the suggested changes have not as
vet been carried out, but fully three-quar-
ters of the work has been completed
There are few courses on this side OF the
Atlantic so generally visited as this one
Among the millions of pleasure seekers at
this famous resort are, of course, many
golfers. and a general thing they ma
II impossible to refrain from ylsitlng the
links Scarcely a week goes by without
seeing persons of prominence from distant
parts playing round.
Karl Keffer. the professional golf cham
nion of Canada, has been engaged by the
Jekyl Island Club, which has recently laid
out new course on its peautifui GROUNDS
that Keffer was recommended to the club
nv i Travis.