New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-18
WANT 4-BALL MATCHES
Golfers Favor Old Conditions OF
Play for Lesley Cup.
CALKINS TAKES A POLL
Opinion General That Question
Will Be Thrashed
Out Soon. q.

As a partial result of the refusal OF
Walter J. Travis To be a member Of the
metropolitan team i'm the tri-city matches
for the Lesley cup this fall, because OF
his disapproval of the two-ball matches
now in vogue instead Of the four-balL
there has been much discussion on the
subject. and a poll has been taken OF
metropolitan golfers under the supervision
Of Leighton Calkins.
Asked for details, Mr.. Calkins writes
az follows:
Replying 10 your request for informa
ton with regard to an inquiry which /
have been making Of metropolitan play
ers as 10 the desirabiity Of reinstating
four-ball matches i'm the Lesley cup con-
tests. / beg to advise yoa as follows IN
order that my part in this matter may
not be misunderstood.
Just prior to the last Lesley match
certain Pennsylvania and metropolitan
PLAYERS expressed a desire 10 have me
undertake such an inquiry in this dis
trict. probably because they knew | had
made similar inquiries several years in
succession while secretary Of tho Metro
politan Golf Association. There was a
feeling among many Of the Lesley players
here and in Philadelphia that an effort
should be made 10 obtain the views of the
golfers and submit them TO the officials.
II was not at the time known that any
Official inquiry was contemplated. |
undertook TO obtain the views of metro
politan golfers and make a report 10 the
Oh. fg,tnz NIFn a
as trustees Of the Lesley cup. have power
10 amend the conditions Of play.
such an inquiry had just been made In
the Pennsylvania district, showing that
seventeen men, who had played on the
Pennsylvania teams, were In favor OF re-
lns.atlnC four-baIl matches. only one be-
Ing i'm favor of retaining iourscmes.
Il have recently made report show
INK the result OF my inquiry. which has
been transmitted to f. 5. Wheeler presi-
dent Of the Metropolitan Golf Associ-
alton. Herbert Jaques, president Of the
Massachusetts Golf Association, and IL.
W. Perrin. president Of the Pennsylvania
Golf Association. I can see no obJec-
ton To stating that / had replies from
tv,uty-eight golfers who have played on
METROPOLITAN teams since the Lesley cup
WAS donated. in 1905, and twenty-four
plavers have voted unequivocally for re-
Installing f1ur-ball matches and only
four have voted I'm favor Of retaining
foursomcs. The report contains copies OF
my circular letters and the replies IN
full of the players who answered. THESE
replied afford not only very interesting
reading. but probably constitute as thor-
oueh and emphatic "a poll on the subject
,s has ever been made at least in our
district.
Of have not the slightest objection TO
tho report bcing made public, as II is ap-
fareut from your request for information
that Won have heard from some of the
YIavers interviewed that an inquiry has
been made. and l should suppose that in
matter Of such general interest 1t would
always boz good policy to let II be gener-
ally known what views are held by the
men who Pay an our teams.
"StuI. although my report is entirely
unofficial. which leaves me at liberty to
make il public. [ should prefer 10 have II
given out by the association, and accord
reIy refer you to Mr.. r. :. Wheeler. the
president of the Metropolitan Golf Asso-
citation and one Of the trustees of the cup.
Z do not think that he will have any OBJ
lection TO your having a copy for publ
cation. which I could furnish YOU from
my nlcs.'
The Calkins statement was then sent 10
Mr.. Wheeler with letter asking the Met
ropolitan Golf Association president IL he
had any objection to the publication oil
m, correspondence between Mr.. Calkins
and the various golfers. The following
brief reply then came back:
.I must apologize for not replying soon
er 10 YOUR letter regarding Mr. Calkins'
communication. but have been extremely
busy and overlooked 1t.
81 do not feel like expressing myself
upon the desirability Of publishing the
data you refer to-
II looks from this as if the Metropolitan
Golf Association president does not care
particularly about the airing OF the opin-
ions Of the players, although he refrains
from committing himself one way or
another. Golfers are discussing the sub
iect again. not only hereabouts. but over
philadelphia way. and it seems only n
question of time when the thing Will have
10 be thoroughly thrashed out
Rober: Kuebler. treasurer OF the Forest
HIN Field club. has ISSUED his annual re-
uort 10 the members of the organization
showing its financial status. total OF
$40 500 was received during the fiscal year
ending October /. while the disbursements
were SGoJ less The assets were listed at
SO 800. with "a surplus OF assets over lia-
buitics of A4S7, as compared with 1880
a wear ago. The two largest items of eX-
nense. outside Of financial considerations.
were the disbursements OF the green COM
mittec s.7i3, and the house committed
p.oG7
Alec Smith, former holder OF both the
national and metropolitan open titles,
leaves for Bellcair, Fla tomorrow, for
the winter Alec has been at Belleair
for several seasons during the winter
golang period in the South and returns
zach spring TO resume work on Northern
preens on his return TO the North he
will take up his duties az professional at
Wykagv for another year