The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-07
GOLF|NG TOPICS
ARE DISCUSSED
DARK HORSE MAY CAPTURE TIN
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCHES.

There was much discussion on goir.
ing topics among the golfing clans who
gathered at Ekwanoka for the Anna
teur championship. which came TO
close Sunday. Foremost was the mat
ter OF qualifying, and It was hoped
that the suggestions would meet with
consideration from the COMMITTEES
which has the affair in charge.
1t seemed to be the prevailing opin-
Ion that the scheme advanced BY
James l.. Taylor would not only be
worthy Of serious thought, but that
Its method ought to be tried once
at least. In It's essence 1t was that
the four handicap men And better
be allowed to play In the Championship
play and not have to qualify to get
into the best sixty four at Medal scor-
ing and that the five handicap men
be permitted to play off for the nec~s-
sary places up to sixty-four on the
Saturday preceding match play proper
This would mean that there would
be a thirty six-hole qualifying round
on Monday in order to select the best
for the match play and 1t would In
sure that there would be thirty six.
hole contests for every one who had
advanced to the first round The en-
tries from the first lot (those who
were handicapped up to -, would not
in any case total more than thirty
two. with the prospects that they
might go under this figure. it all de-
pending In what part of the land the
amateur championship was held. This
would give the handicap men, OF
whom there are upwards Of one hun
dred on the list and probably as many
as seventy-fve In the qualifying
period, the other thirty two places to
play for.
Tba nresAr4 syStar, Aoa cpA -Aah
point IN that when the entries become
SO numerous two qualifying rounds
are found necessary to be played on
two days and that one round must be
played in the afternoon OF the second
day, and the championship therefore
does not represent a perfect whole.
There are many minor matters CON-
nected with this scheme, which al
though not very important in Them
selves. might be avoided II the new
system was In use. 1t has happened,
and 1t Is likely to do SO again 1t
any time, that some of those who are
drawn to play last In the Qualifying
round on the second days play, come
In at time when everything 10 in
readiness for the draw. and II they
are SO fortunate as TO qualify then
they must hustle through lunch 1t
speed which oftentimes deies tho regu-
idtipHS IHey arrive at the nf0C Io0
In anything hut a do or die spirit,
while their fortunate brethren who
have been resting for an hour or two,
have the advantage. All this IL accen-
tuated. II 1t happens that those who
come in last get into a tie for last
place and play off Is necessitatsd.
The championship Is the purpose OF
finding out who is the best amateur
golfer in the country. and It 10 not
always the lowest handicap man who
comes through to the finish. True.
1t has been 50 in most instances In
this country. the past few years, hut
at the same time II must be remsm-
bered that a Massachusetts, amateur
fFrancis Ouimet) won the open cham
pionship. of the United States when
his rating in the United States Golf
association was handicap 1. So there
may be other dark horses in the race
and every opportunity should be given
them to show their stride. Then there
was more or less said about the courses
on which the championship should be
played The chief thought In this con-
neetion was that II Is radically wrong
for course to receive only six monthes
notice before the holding Of the anna
teur championship, The point 10 very
well taken for many reaspns. In the
first place there are some courses
chosen from time to time which have
varying standard Of excellence, and
this is due to the fact that It is i'm.
possible to regulate the weather and
to prevent greens from becoming VIM
ter killed and the fair way from be-
ing left devastated In any one OF sev-
eral ways The thought that the cham.
pionship Ia to be held on the course
in the near future means that prepare
tons are made which require. or
should require, serious thought. and
alterations are proposed and put
through which are not always the best
for the course or for the members
believe that there should be regular
system whereby certain courses would
get the privilege of holding the cham
pionship event and that the schedule
be made out ar least three years IN
advance so that there might be p1entx
of time for any and all preparations
which might be needed. 1t In not
difficult to find three courses which ara
worthy Of being chosen for this honor.
nor do / think 1t difiicult to get 4
club to promise to hold the tftpla-
event at time three years hence.
AS soon as the fact became known that
the course was to have the Champions.
shin. whatever financing Is necessary
and whatever improvements need 30
made might he done In cain ana
most orderly fashion. There would NJ
new course chosen each succeeding
year, so that the number having notIca
wopt1 poyar No 1aSr tho~