New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-04
TWO CLUBS WANT
BIG GOLF TOURNEY
National Open Champion
ship Not Likely to
Go Begging.
BALTUSROL AND FOX
HILLS PUT IN BID
Showing of Homebreds Encreas-
ing Popularity in Fixture,
Says an Authority.

Through the filing Of applications by
both the Fox Hills Golf Club and the
Baltusrol Golf Club with the United
States Golf Association for the priv
ilege Of holding the national open
championship next season situation
has been brought about which is any
thing but usual. As rule, it is neces-
sary for the parent body to seek a
club indulgent enough TO hold the tour
nament.
Apparently all Of this has been
changed. The tournament Of 1914 was
held at the Midlothian Country Club,
near Chicago. This club was an appli-
cant for the amateur fixture ct the
last general meeting of the United
States Golf Association, but when the
prize was awarded to Ekwanok Mid
lothian was content to entertain the
professionals and few of the leading
amateurs, for the meeting was due to
be held in the West
In 1915, however, the open champion
ship will come East again, II precedent
be followed, and already Fox Hills and
Baltusrol have filed requests for the
privilege of holding the tournament.
Baltusrol has held four national cham
pionships in the past-the women's in
1901, the open in 1908, the amateur In
1904 end the women's again in 1911.
Fox Hills would have liked the anna
teur for 1919, but withdrew in view Of
the candidacy of Garden City. Fox
Hills never has held national meet
ing.
Undoubtedly the fact that two we'll
known clubs have Get up rival claims
81 h. - lax Nv n n
development of native born talent, was
the declaration of well known golfer
last night. He pointed out that the
first home bred ever to wiz the honor
was John J. McDermott, and he accom-
plished the feat as late as 1911 at
Wheaton, where he defeated George
Simpson and Michael J. Brady in the
play-off of a three-cornered tie.
Then, il was explained. McDermott
had clear victory at Buffalo the year
following. Ouimet became the first
amateur to capture the open at Brook
line in 1918, and he, too, was native
born.
The last straw, however, which well
illustrates the advancement of the
home breds was the success OF Walter
c. Hagen, the young Rochester profess
sional, who came through the field this
wear at Midlothian. Evidently the home
bred has come TO stay and will here
after command much greater attention
thar foreign born players. Thus the
last four seasons have produced great
do.I of golf history in connection with
the open title.
cover in Great Britain" continued
the golfer in question, "the open cham
pionship is Of as much interest as the
amateur. In fact, it is in the open that
real golf always is expected, for the
worlds finest professionals and anna
teurs are gathered together in compe-
tition. In America also the Importance
of the open is more thoroughly appre-
ciated than heretofore. Ii is the classic
in which real golf is to be expected al
ways. | think that accounts for the
desire Of both Fox Hills and Baltusrol
to hold the tournament.
"There is one more point not to be
overlooked. When Ouimet electrified
the world Of golf at Brookline by not
only tying with Vardon and Ray, but
beating them on the play-off, the inter
est in the open spread like wildfire.
This year not only did Hagen lead the
field. but he was only one stroke lower
than Chick Evans. You see, the show
ing of the leading amateurs in the last
two years also has a great deal to do
with it. 1t shows that our amateur
golfers, too, have advanced wonder
fully"