New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-31
VAN CORTLANDT
GOLFERS MUST WAIT
Higgins Says Park Depart
ment Lacks Funds to
Carry Out Plans.
SHOULD TAKE PLEA TO
BOARD OF ESTIMATE
Mayor, Too. Could Do Much to
Further Additional Facilities
on Public Links.

Golfers who play over the public INKS
NJ Van Cortlandt Park and are seeking
better facilities can hardly expect relief
IN the Park Department OF the Borough
Of The Bronx at the present time. This
point was made clear yesterday by The
Bronx commissioner. Thomas j. Higgins
In other words, the only hope the golfers
have Of correcting existing evils is 10 go
70 the Board Of Estimate and Apportlon-
ment and the Mayor.
~ am not opposed to golf i'm any way,
said the Commissioner yesterday. In
fact. ! believe golf is a great game and
ought 10 he PLAYED by the multitude
There are cool and sufficient reasons.
however, why or department cannot At
this time grant the wishes Of the golfers
II takes money to carry out these ideas Of
the golfers and Of that we have far too
little for actual necessities.
When the Park Department Is short
Of funds Il has nothing 10 do but await
the time when the Board Of Estimate APP
proprlates enough 10 finish the task, and
that is Just the situation now. There are
lots Of matters that must be attended 10
before golf IS considered, and none OF the
urgent needs is OF a sporting nature. We
need shelters. roads repaired and host
OF other things before we can consi1 n
golf.
IF the proper amount of appropriation
is made by the Board OF Estimate we can
certainly have all the facilities the golf
ers want. That Is the crux Of the situa-
ton. | can do nothing without cash We
cannot give the golfers the preference
over the needs Of the department"
Taking this as a cue II would he well
for the golfers committee to train its
opinion of one golfer Yesterday, when told
of the Commissioner statement
1T would seem that the proper method
has been followed" he said, in going to
the city Hall. and that if anything is TO
be done in the way OF providing an extra
course it must be through the Board Of
Estimate or Mayor Mitchell. The need
for additional facilities at Van Cortlandt
Park is certainly pressing and would UNI
doubtedly prove popular move"
IL was learned yesterday that the quar-
ters occupied by Squadron on the pla-
teau, where a new links was started sew
eral years ago. but abandoned, had been
vacated. II was understood that the mill
tary organization had a lease with year
or more still TO run. Some of the golfers
seen yesterday considered it significant
and expressed the hope that Il would not
he long before work would he started on
the extra links
Warren x. Wood, the Western amateur
champion, and Charles Evans. jr. former
holder Of the title, Will visit Houston,
Tex. in the course Of their trip through
the South. The dates are February IS. 10
and n
The Houston Country Club will also
make arrangements for a visit by Tom
Mcnamara. John J. McDermott and
Michael j. Brady, the well known profess
sionals, while they are under sunny skies.
An open tournament is planned which is
designed TO draw the entries OF the ex-
perts when they are in that vicinity.
Robert White, who was greenkeeper at
the Ravisloe County Club. near Chicago.
and who recently resigned to become the
Sreenkeeper OF the Shawnee Country
club, has been succeeded by Alec TAYLOR.
formerly Of Exmoor. and the winter pro-
fessional at Coronado