New-York tribune., 1912-03-31
GOLF 'DOCTORS' DIFFER
Metropolitan Ratings Do Not
Conform to National List.
AGREE AS TO SCRATCH MEN
The Newly Issued Handicaps Are
More Exacting and Only 54O
Names Are Placed.

That handcappers. like doctors. may
differ is Illustrated again with the arrival
OF the annual Metropolitan Golf Associa-
tion rating. It's appearance only week
later than the initial effort Of the United
States Golf Association offers opportu-
mites for comparison, especially as both
bodies have had to rate hundreds of the
same players Nothing out Of the way
occurs so far as the scratch men are con-
cerned. for the amateurs at the head of
the Metrorolitan Golf Association list are
almost identical with the national. The
names are Fred Herreshof. Of Westbrook;
Oswald Kirkby. Of Englewood; Albert
Seckel, Of Princeton; J. d. Travers' or
Uppcr NIontclair. and W. J. Travis, Of
Garden City.
These men, along with Charles w.
Evans. ir., constituted the scratch bri-
eade on the United States Golf Associa-
ton list, and the only reason that Evans
is not on the Metropolitan is because he
is not affiliated with any club in the dis
trict Scckel gets ION board through his
Princeton connection. lie is at present
champion OF the Western Golf Assocla-
ton Not name appears at one on the
Metropolitan sheet, hut Gardiner W.
White and T.. NJ. Byers have been brack-
eted an two. Here is the first important
difference between the two lists, White
being at three on the national This
golfer. who represents the Oakland CLUB
won no less than five open tournaments
last season.
Byers, although a resident OF Pittsburgh,
gets a Metropolitan rating this year be-
cause Of his nonresident membership IN
the National Golf Club. The United States
Golf Association also gave him 2, as we'll
as Walter Whigham, another member OF
the National club. The Metropolitan com
uittee, however, could not see where
Whigham should come in for such a low
rating. and placed him at in consequence.
Walter Whigham is a younger brother OF
III. J. Whigham, who held the amateur
championship of this country back in 1897
Another instance where the Metropolitan
list is more exacting than the National is
shown in the case of Robert c. watson
placed among the 3-men on the United
States Golf Association list, but given
stroke more by the Metropolitan Golf AS
sociation bandicappers. Further on, how
ever, IL IS noticed that the Fox Hills trio
John Naethlng, II. E. Armstrong and b.
S. Bottome, are all given strokes, yet
they do not even get on the National sheet.
The same may be said of Fred Thomas, Of
Morris County, president of the New Jer-
sey State Golf Association. He is on the
local sheet Naething made a big jump on
the Metropolitan, as he receives strokes
last year.
To return to the scratch men, 1t is
worthy Of mention that the number OF
leaders is unusual. In the past Travis has
generally enjoyed the position Of honor
alone though in 1908 and 1909 Jerome
'fravcrs was there as well. in 1910 Travers
received a stroke. and last year strokes.
Hut his return 10 form subsequent to the
appcarance Of the 1911 Metropolitan Golf
Association list warranted the committee
in placing him again at the top. Travers,
II will lie remembered. won the metropol-
itan and New Jersey state championship
tournaments i'm successive weeks.
There are so names on the present sheet
as AGAINST 5G3 a year ago. The falling of
IS due 20 more care on the part e '''
committee iu rating the 9-men, seve. al OF
whom have been dropped. A. II. Pogson
is chairman Of the committee his asso-
ciates being Wyatt w. Taylor, George II.
Barnes. John $. Woodward, ID, and Oswald
IlhEbv. The first two are followers, while
the other three are new.
The -t 's as follows.