New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-18
NEW COURSE FOR N.Y.A.C.
Fox Hills Links May Be Bought
by Athletic Club.
SOLVES A BIG PROBLEM
Golfers of Organization Much
Impressed by Outlook on
Staten Island.

The desire on the part of four hundred
or five hundred gofing members OF thc
New York Athletic Club to have course
OF their own, which mas caused 10 end
Winged Foot organization and has
brought about some serious difficulties lii
the club, is quite likely to result i'm the
purchase Of the property now occupied
by the Fox Hills Golf Club, on Staten
Island. In fact, there was considerable
discussion during the recent New York
Athletic Club championship at Fox Hills
as TO the ACCESSIBILITY of combining the
two organizations, particularly as there
are about forty persons who are mem
bers Of both.
The Fox Hills Golf Club holds lease
on It's present property at Clifton. owned
by the Vanderbilt estate, and the lease
has seven years yet TO run Until recent
ly the property was not for sale. but it
is understood that 1t can now be pur
chased for something like $780, 900. Fur
thermore, the Fox Hills organization has
met with much heavier expenses of late,
and II is declared that the limit of safety
has about been reached.
The problem of providing course for
the New York Athletic Club golfers has
been a vexatious one for long time.
The majority of the members. are also
affiliated with some golf or country club,
making membership In two clubs neces-
sary. 1t is argued that the Winged Foot
ar 10
port a course belonging to the club, and
keep the whole thing In one organization.
4 few weeks ago there was talk of an
agreement with the Siwanoy Country
Club, which has a nine-hole course near
Travers Island, for the use of its links,
but II is argued that this would necessi-
tate the enlargement of the links TO
eighteen holes. as well as the entire re-
construction of the clubs facilities.
II is pointed cut that the purchase Of
the Fox Hills property would give the
New York Athletic Club second Travers
Island. along a highway for automobiles
between New York and Central New Jcr-
sey. and less than an hour from down
town New York. The course, being
eighteen holes and $500 yards long. could
be made the rival OF any In the East. Il
is claimed, and the erection of a new club
house on the knoll back of the seven
teenth tee would give the clur all IA
clities and at the same time furnish
the members with a convenient and fully
equipped golf club under the supervision
Of one organization. Every year more
end more Of the members take up golf
and II the property was purchased now
IL would be necessary only to guarantee
the Fox Hills Club membership until the
lease expires, seven years hence.
IL is urged by those in favor Of the Fox
Hills plan that course convenient to
Travers Island is Of no advantage, be-
cause no one would be likely to visit both
places I'm the course OF a day. one Of
the members, in writing an expression 3f
opinion for the clubs publication, de-
cared himself very much in favor of the
movement to secure a course for the
members but that he did not favor any
plan which would merely give them the
privilege of playing al some other golf
club.
What we want is n course OF our own.
he said THE afillation plan suggested
would simply mean that the members
must pay dues to another golf club tani
most of them are already members OF
golf club. and still they would not be
able to play on a course owned by ;ne
New York Athletic Club and compete In
as members of the club"
There was considerable talk about ten
years ago OF making some sort Of. an
agreement with the Fox Hills club. and
a committee of one was appointed To
look into the matter; but as the New
York Athletic Club was not so keen for
golf then as now the proposition fell
through Since then the transit facilities
to Fox Hills have been greatly Increased
and the course has been improved and
heightened, while the/golf membership in |
the New York Athletic Club has under
gone a great Increase