Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-16

and two just outside while at least
! five of the hotels have their own
courts, besides the immense number Of
private courts. Two public courts have
recently been established in Honolulu
and are being used very extensively
by all races, particularly the Hawai-
ians and Japanese. Going outside OF
! the island Of Oahu. we have four act
| i've tennis clubs, while practically
every sugar plantation directorate. in
! its usual liberal policy towards its
employees, has furnished its plantation
with good courts and. in many cases,
fine club house facilities. II is need
less to say that many of the inter
plantation matches are as keenly con-
tested as any.
The interest taken in the Davis
Cup matches naturally led to, SINH
lar scheme In Hawaii. cup now being
contested for annually. The event Is
open 10 any club or member of the
Hawaiian Tennis Association ("Lawn"
now being eliminated from the official
tltle). and the rules Of the Davis Cup
are used as model, except that in
stead of four singles and one doubles,
there are two singles and three dou-
bles, the idea being to stimulate inter
est In as great a number Of players as
possible, and yet have fair team.
The Beretania Club is the present title
holder, and only needs one more win
for permanent possession.
The latest development in tennis is
the holding of a tournament in connec-
/ ton with the Mid-Pacific Carnival,
which takes place during the week of
Washington's birthday. Last year was
the first, and many people shook their
heads as to the feasibility of the
scheme, but instead of other features
|detracting from tennis, the little tour
nament was voted one of the pleas
antest features of all Messrs. tW. M.
Johnston and II. G. Brock of Califor-
mia and z. p. Larned of New Jersey
competed, the tournament being won
by Johnston. His aggressive forehand
attack, backed by his court general
ship and all-round playing. was very
impressive; in fact. so much so that
Honolulu did not share in the general
surprise over Johnstons win at Forest
Hills. No doubles tournament was
played, the CalifoTnians engaging in
three exhibition matches against diff
ferent teams, winning two and losing
one, the last to Castle and Eklund of !
Honolulu.
: This, next year it is the plan to
tournament in connection with the
Carnival, commencing about February |
IL. though definite announcement will
be made in later issue of American
Lawn Tennis. Probably Mr.. C. j. Grit
fin and at least one other Californian
of distinction will participate in the
1916 tournament. (Any information
will be gladly given by writing to A.
L. Castle. president, Hawaiian Tennis
Association.
No Turf Courts.
Mclaughlin, in his recent book, men,
tons his visit to Honolulu, and re-
marks that IL is surprising thing
that there are no turf courts there. 1t
is indeed unfortunate that turf courts
are not feasible, but it is due to the
nature of the grass. Instead of the
grass one is accustomed to in the
eastern part of the United States, it is
a sort of creeping affair that mats
very quickly and makes accurate play
Then, too, courts belong
ing to the various clubs are in use al
most every day in the entire yeaf-for
there is no winter-which would hard
ly make grass courts possible, unless
the clubs possessed large ground.
The more modern courts in Hawaii
are now almost entirely of hard sur
face. the mixture used including a
certain amount of asphaltum. The
lines are painted on the courts. The
playing surface is very true, but rath-
er too fast. the balls getting light
after couple of sets, so that GER
tain amount of top" is necessary.
The dirt courts are going out, due to
the fact that there is no real clay, and
the dirt with its mixture of little
sand. does not give a sure
enough footing for fast play.
Future Bright For Tennis.
The future of tennis in Hawaii must
certainly be bright. More and more
the islands, situated as they are five
Dr. six days over generally calm sea
from San Francisco, are becoming a
tourist center for what are the winter
months on the mainland. On the ay-
srage, about seven steamers a month
cave San Francisco for the islands,
Including the Great Northern, the fast
est steamer flying the American flag,
md second only to the Mauretania n
The Great Northern stops en- route at I
Hilo, where a day is given to visiting
Silauea, the largest active volcano in i
he world.
In Honolulu one finds as good hotels !
IS can be had anywhere, the Moana !
appealing particularly to tennis play. {
rs, with its two fine courts and prox- {
nifty to the famous Waikiki beach. n
5esides the hotel courts, three s
months memberships in all the clubs
AN be obtained at nominal cost. Per-
laps the ocean is drawback to ten {,
lis players, however, as Mclaughlin {
avs. I'VE found it difficult to stay |
'ut of the water long enough to play I