New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-08
TWO COURSES IN LINE
FOR NATIONAL GOLF PLAY
Either 0akmont, of Pittsburgh,
or EkWanok, in Vermont,
Probable Next Year.
OUIMET GETS HIGH PRAISE
Many Believe Boston District
Has Coming Champion
Travers Still Placed in
Glass by Himself.

With the national amateur golf cham
ponship tournament for 1918 matter
Of history, thoughts naturally turn tow
ard next year. as they always do imme-
diately after a blue ribbon meeting. Al
though nothing could be given out on
the subject officially there was an under
current of opinion that led many TO be-
leve one Of two courses stood good
chance Of being selected. Thus far the
championship has never been held In
the Pittsburgh section. and 1t is an open
secret that the Oakmont Country Club
could have the attraction for the asking.
Oakmont wants the championship play
as soon as il can get its course up TO
that standard. Two years ago II came
near going after the amateur, but finally
decided that it would be better to wait
Since then the officials OF the club have
spent a fortune on improvements. and
while the course is now regarded as pre-
senting good test OF golf, the club may
prefer 10 wait until 1915.
As close second comes the Ekwanok
Country Club. This course at Manches-
ter Vt, long has been a favorite retreat
could have had the championship this
year. but it declined. During the last
four months extensive improvements
have been made there. and in the event
Of this being the final selection the
chances are that little objection would
be offered.
Unless good judges miss their guess
the Boston district has coming national
championship possibility in Francis Out
met Although eliminated carly in the
tournament by Jerome Travers, the fact
remains that Oumet gave the national
champion his hardest battle of the week.
Long OFF the tee, and playing his irons
like a professional. this young golfer
from the Bay State certainly has
bright golf prospect ahead Of him.
John Anderson, the man who held the
ultimate winner level for the first eigh-
teenhole round, is also deserving OF
praise-possbly a zeal more than he got.
for at the finish Of a stirring struggle,
no matter how close, the loser rs often
forgotten The Fessenden School profess
sor really had no intention of competing
in the championship this year. only yield
closing OF tine entries. lie probably
doesn't regret now that he did make the
try.
as for Travers, II may only be repeated
that this exceptional golfer must still be
placed in class By himself. The way
he does things when the pnches come
makes him the marvel OF the amateur
division. When he fubbed his mashie
shot TO the pit going TO the first hole IN
the afternoon II looked as IL he was on
the verge OF a breakdown. yet he not
only won that hole. but from that mo-
ment reeled OF thirteen consecutive holes
in par figures No wonder he won.
OF course. IT is all over now and TO
the victor belong the spoils, yet that
incident In the final stage OF the testing
round furnishes food for thought. TRAY
ers remains as champion and the United
States Golf Association handicap COM
mittee will not have 10 scratch IT'S head.
so to speak, over the problem Of finding
the scratch man.
Yet. what would have been the answer
had Travers taken "A single additional
stroke in that never-to- be forgotten pit
to the left OF the home green? The sin
gle extra stroke would have prevented
him from qualifying. II Is hardly likely
that the United States Golf Association,
the highest court In American golf, would
nave placed Travers on scratch, yet who
could say that he would have been any
the less great golfer than he is to-day?
Such may be the importance OF a single
stroke. II doesn't seem quite equitable.
nor logical. but it's golf
Immediately after the finish OF the open
championship at Brookline on Friday.
September 10. Harry Vardon and Edward
Ray will hasten 10 New York. They
have an engagement at the Wykagyl
Country club on September n, when
they are scheduled 10 take on Alec and
Macdonald Smith in an exhibition match.
When the visitors arrive here they will
be the guests OF Ralph Day at the Re
publican Club. Day intends to give Ray
and Vardon chance 10 get acquainted
with Wykagyl prior to the professional
match by having them engage IN a
friendly affair tho day before. on that