New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
GOLF DATES A PROBLEM
Bids for Journeys Swamp the
metropolitan Association.
STRIVE TO AVOID CONFLICTS
Big Amateur Championship NAV
Be Held in East Next
Season.

In an endeavor to be fair in his al.
lotment and. so far as possible. please
everybody, Fred II. Thomas, the nev
secretary of the Metropolitan Golf As.
socis ton. is making a careful study O,
the open and invitation tournament sit.
uation. In discussing the problem las.
night, Mr.. Thomas expressed his surprise
at the eagerness OF number of the
clubs in applying for 1913 dates While
past records show that a certain few
have been in the habit of expressing
their preferences early. yet there never
has been such a large advance guard.
With view to having a more complete
understanding on the matter, Mr.. Thomas
has secured a list OF open and invitation
tournaments in this district for the last
five years, the idea being to give a Ger.
tain amount of preference to organiza.
tions hat have been In the habit of Sc.
lecting dates about the same time, year
after year.
Even so, ii VIII be impossible to avoid
conflicts. Already, the Sleepy Hollow
Country Club asked for a week end that
is certain to clash with another proml-
nent club II is also understood that the
Poweton Club, OF Newburg, will be In
the field again, and as 1t has asked for
the last three days Of popular week il
IL not unlikely that conflict Of dates
will be agreed upon.
June. OF course. is much too short 10
accommodate half of the clubs that would
like to run off tournaments during that
III baro,nipp
more and more the custom each year FOR
clubs TO hold their meetings In July and
August In the old days there was COM
paratively little competitive golf here
abouts, the local clubs being content 70
let the seashore and mountain resorts
corral the players 10 their hearts content.
Latterly July and August have also been
in demand, so that the so-called mid
summer lull no longer exists. II Is as
good as settled that the Morris County
Golf Club. which has been out Of the In
vitation field for three years. will hold
tournament this season. but the clubs
officials may find IL advisable to put tho
affair off until October.
So far as actual number Of tournaments
in this district during the 1912 season were
concerned, the total fell one or two short
OF the year before, but from present In
dicat,ons next season Will easily eclipse
all previous attempts.
AS pointed out earlier. conflicting dates
IN future will be wellnigh unavoidaDe.
There is, however. one way ~ ooviatlnS
the trouble. but II is doub, II the CLUBS
will care 10 adopt the plan II has been
81, ri don Of the week
be utilized. The thought Of holding
tournament on Monday, Tuesday ana
Wednesday may at first glance seem
out Of all reason, but there are plenty Oh
amateurs who could arrange their ansus
so as TO take in these so-called WorHhs
DAVIS" II may be that some CLUB rather
than have n conflict will be Wiling 10
try this innovation. Mr.. Thomas says
he would be glad 10 see cluo selees
some Monday, Tuesday and "Wednesday
though he feels the chances OF such
stsp being taken are extremely remote
BECAUSE the national amateur cham-
nionship was held at Wheaton Hi last
fall. IL is looked upon as foreg' ne CON
clusion that some Eastern ciuo WIN ~
chosen next There Is no ironciau ru's
regarding territorial allotments, out
has been customary TO award the tour
nament alternately TO courses In the Ea's
and West. The Chicago section Is 'ns
furthest point west the tournament mas
aver gone. for the reason that II was NJ"
deemed feasible to go further.
The East, however, presents more os
,ess of a problem this year, for the oni!
direct applicant from this section Is ths
Wykagyl Country Club. or Ne" hocnene
The Homework Country Club near |hi-
cago. has also requested the touIhs'hen-
Great improvement has been mace III ''''
Wykagyl course since the time wheh nus:
rocks protruded at various places anu
the turf lacked that fine quality 80 m9'a
desired for golf purposes. Inc srssu.
can now stand comparison with inc w"
and the rocks have graduaiy a's
reared. As to yardage. Wykasyi
8.l5O each way. Tho par for tho hnA'
n. IS In each direction.
Although wykagyl and Homswooo -.
tho only ones to express g paruoulS w
air. IN hold the amateur, II may Do We.
tho delegates at the annual meeuns ~
the United States Golf Assocla'ion
decide differently, for there 10 No.. 49,.
nosittye until the actual voting AAs
place. However, four Eastern oluos no.
offered their links for any oil tne
national championships-Nass "a
Hills. Garden City and Baltusroi-s"
them. except Fox Hills. having ne.u
tournament In previous years Ns''.
has expressed a preference for the WV.
en-. Garden City has twice hau Wv.
tional. and there can be little oue'"
that the course is as good no" ss !.
time. It is one OF the longest co'''
the country. 500 yards. at
Since 1901, when II. Chandler bsan
won the title there Baltusrol has ulS .,
gone many improvements. and was n
IN a better position TO handle hau'. ~.
tournament than now. The course 81,
mitted 70 be one OF the most scieh"" 49,
laid out In the country. IL is oni'
wards shorter than Garden City. .S.
Nassau, too. has been greatly nlp,,orsi
especially In It's house. since the s, 20
was held there The traps are w. ...s
irving as at some of the other co1 ,s
and might be better for the "on ,hs
tournament. Fox Hills has correo.
-. s.,,tt La k of diStanCe-an~