New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-10
new PRESIDENT
OF GOLF BODY
MAKES A HIT
Frank L. Woodward Han
dies Amateur Question in
Way That PleaSes.
HILTON MAY PLAY
IN OPEN TOURNEY
Chances in Favor of Big Foreign
Entry-Dates Sure to Please
the Many Contestants.


No sooner had the annual meeting OF
the United States Golf Association
closed at midnight on Friday az the
Waldorf than Frank l.. Woodward, OF
Denver. THO new president, was show
cred with congratulations because Of
the masterful manner in which he pre-
sided. In the opinion Of most Of the
delegates the way Mr.. Woodward
handled the amateur situation was adj
mirable.
When tresding on dangerous ground
the chief executive carefully avoided
using names, and he also requested the
delegates 10 conduct themselves in
similar manner when discussing the
subject. The nearest Mr.. Woodward
came 70 Starting something" was when
he referred TO a club which through
the chairman of its sports committee
had written 70 a prominent amateur
golfer inviting the latter and friend
TO compete at the club on certain
day, and at the same time explaining
that the expenses OF both players
would be paid by the club.
That the sentiment Of the executive
committee is as strong, II not stronger,
than ever in favor of concurrlng with
the Royal and Ancient Golf Club was
made clear by Mr.. Woodward. He
called attention 10 the danger and com
plications that might arise IN case OF
a different Interpretation with regard
TO the course architect The broad
view of this is that amateurs who have
studied the game know more about
laying out courses, about seeds, SOIL
and fertilizers than most professionals.
The remarks Of the new president, as
he took pains to explain. were IN no
way personal. In other words, ne was
voicing the sentiments OF the executive
committee, although what the West
erner had to say might, as one dele
gate happily put il, be regarded as
talk OF instruction.
Now that il has been made clear that
in the opinion of the committee section
8 ties that body's hands. there seems
little doubt but that change VIII be
made there This section now reads:
Protest against any individual Tor
violation Of section Z OF the bylaws
must be made in writing TO member
of club belonging 70 this association.
and must be sent TO the secretary or
this association with certificate by
the secretary OF such club that the pro.
test is lodged by a member IN good
standing of such CLUB
II is contended that the foregoing
paragraph will have TO be altered be
fore golfers will care 10 take hand IN
bringing 20 light violations now at
lowed to pass unnoticed. An alters-
ton in this section may DE made AZ
once by the executive committee.
In view Of the la.eness Of the hour n
full details were not published IN the :
early editions Of The Tribune yester-
dav. so that some of them are here re
peated.
The amsteur championship will be
decided over the links of the Country
Club of Detroit the first week IN sep
tember; the women's championship at
the Onwentsia Club, near Chicago, the
second week in September, and the
open championship az Baltusrol. PROB
ably June 10, is. II and IS. IL IS pos
sibie. though, that one week later may
be the final selection for the open, as
the parent body wants TO Inconvenience
the Metropolitan Golf Association as
little as possible. IL IS well known
fact that the month of June IS IA
tournaments. but the chances are that
the local association will not sanction
tournament dates during the week
chosen by the national
Apropos Of the open. there Is a feel
ing that this tournament will be ia
vored BY an unusual foreign entry.
There appears TO be little doubt that
Harry Vardon. open champion OF Great
Britain. will be in this country shortly,
and should il become generally under
stood that because Of the war there
may be no British open championship
the chances are that Vardon Will be
followed by a number of his country
men.
When Mr.. Woodward announced 20
the delegates that in the event OF the
field for the amateur championship
tournament becoming unvieldy start
would be made on Saturday, instead OF
Monday, there remained a doubt In the
minds Of some as TO the exact condl-
tons contemplated He did say that
there would be an eighteen-hole medal
round on Saturday, in which the sixty
four contestants with the best scores
would continue for another thIrty-sir
holes of medal play on Monday, when
the top thirty-two would qualify for
matcn play.
There we're those who wondered n
by that il was meant for the qualltiers
10 be Judged on their medal scores for
ffty-four holes. II is understood. how
ever. that the golf on the first Satur-
day would be nothing more than an
elimination round, the scores made
then having no bearing on the thirty
six-hoe test the following Monday.
when the idea of having the tourna-
ment take more than week was first
preached a few raised the objection
that the contestants would be subject
ed to too long a grind. These who feel
that way, however, are greatly in the
minority, for il is argued that after
single round on Saturday day OF rest
intervenes.
Then, again. the amateurs who take
the championship seriously will gather
At the Country Club OF Detroit for sew
eral days OF practice. so It will be a
matter Of indifference 10 them whether
they make a start on Saturday or Mon
day. What appeals TO every one is that
the new plan will make IT possible TO
have all match rounds at thirty-six
holes.