The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-27
~ .OuN q. A>DER SON.

oNN'IllioI hum ilOlb lli tlt
viewpoint. Besides the new feature, the
Introduction of n fourth team, the fact
that II Is the tenth anniversary of the
tri-city competition gives added dignity
and Importance. 1t Is "a peculiarly
happy circumstance that the matches
are to be played at the Merton club this
year. which besides having opened an
additional eighteen hole course. whioh
makes II possible for the players to havc
thirtN-siN holes, all OF a different char
acter. in the days play. celebrates the
hftieth anniversary of the clubs found
ing. The jubilee tournament which j.
held this week preceding the Lesley
matches, promises to furnish q suitable
standard Of play and give a glimpse Of
the real rivalry to be seen later ia the
week.
1t tx interesting to 90 bach and play
over again some OF those hard fought
Lesley cup contests. For years the
metropolitan team was far too strong
for either the Philadelphia or Massa-
chusetts (which usually was the Boston
squad), although I'm one match. In 1908,
at Garden City the Massachusetts team
anne near winning through the defeat
of some of the very fine outstanding
champions Of the land. ! remember
that II fell To my lot playing for Massa-
Chusctts TO be matched against Jerome
Travers. and to my own and incidentally
about every one else's astonishment ]
was > UP with two holes to play. ] lost
the next two holes with no hesitation
whatever, but seemed in a good way to
win at th- nineteenth. for my drive Was
well out and straight and TraNcrs'S was
in n Clump of bushes and back Of huge
mounds after Il badly hooked shot. But
the master took out a we'll laid back
mashie n banged that bail up to
within a few feet Of the hole That
settled IL.
In the morning that day Tom Fuller
OF Boston had a hard match aud when
We two were teamed ny and II was seen
that our opponents We're none othcr
than Messrs. Travis and rraNtT- II
looked 10 be all over. for New YORK
had led after the singles 10y : matches
20 3.
I never shall forget that round he
fore every shot the two of us, VINO At
first had only In mind not To BE- whipped
badly. talked over each shot. wh're We
thought 1t ought to land, the 'oll of the
putt and 50 ON. carefully so liciurica
SChmidtly did We golf hat at the ninth
We were ! up.
The ninth hole. by tn, way. was u
sample of our luck and thought. Full
Ter had driven INTO a deep trap and
| barely got out on the second. 1t
was a question what club TO play and
We decided that Fuller should use his
cleek and rus, to luck hat the ball
would strike the bank right back on
the green and hold the ball. one chance
IN "A million. The shot CiInc of, and
after my twenty foot putt had gone
down for a 4 and the hole was halved
We didn't believe y word OF what our
partners said when they asked In what
pocket We kept our horseshoss. tn.
match Went t. the last hui-. where
Travers pulled into the deep trap
which nearly cost him ms tItlr In the
qualifying round two years agu--aud
we won by = up. Massachusetts, won
four OF tn" fOuI somrN II was beaten
BY only a single point.
The ClOseness OF that struggle gave
the Boston men courage and meetings
were held to devise some ways n
means whereby the team could win.
Two years later the contests were
scheduled for Nyopia, and a siege OF
preparation was begun. The names OF
almost a score of golfers Were talked
over and II finally was decided to hold
a 20 mole medal play contest over
the Myopia links. just for the members
Of the Lesley cup squad. The affair
was "A success and the team was chosen.
Then began a series of foursome matches
among the different players. which also
resulted in increased confidence n
benefit. The players were teamed up
as they were to play In the match and
the golfers got together and decided
upon what make Of ball they should
play with-a rather important thing. by
the w~ay--and visits We're made to diff
fcrcnt courses.
Practice was taken after this fash
ion. Each player would drive a bal
from the tee and then each would play
for the second shot. the ball played by
the other golfer. The shots would alter
nate his way for the round and wher
the eighteen holes We're played 1t was
the same as two foursome matches and
took little. If any, longer than the time
for an ordinary round. That this prac'
tice was not in vain Vas manifest wheT
the contest was held. for MassaChu'
sets was easily the victor.
/ shall never forget the contest in this
match between Jon VI. ward and Percy
Gilbert. They were al even at eighteen
r holes, and when the first extra hole was
! started "A group of Massachusetts meT
= followed round, silently roofing for "A Gil.
. bert victory. Not a New Yorker was In
4 sight, and when Gilbert won at the TWEEN,
7 tieth hole Mr.. Ward expressed his senti'
7 ments rather freely at the absence OF his
2 teammates. always have believed tha'
II was lit ll' SIillll VI 'ollll'AlAlbll mann
| Tested by the Massachusetts men which
. Won for them the Lesley cup that year
l A certain lassitude, indirectness and in.
2 decision had cost victory in more thar
one year
J \ few years ago the metropolitan
: team swamped the Pennsylvanians a
! Huntington Valley and won the mattel
l in the morning by taking al least eigh
of the singles. That ~ away all inter
y est in the foursomes in the afternoon, Il
, was decided therefore to have the four
, somes in the morning. and this proved Z
= wise move. Now there is no chance FOL
: the final result being known until som,
u of the afternoon matches are finished,
There always has been much free Criti
cism concerning the value and the wis
dom of having foursOmes instead of fouI
bah matches, Originally it was at fou
ball contests and was changed with full
consent of all those interested who had
vote. The agitation arises each year 70
n rGturn to the four ball system. This i
is which has kept Walter J. Travis on
a OF the matches the last two years,
rather inadequate reason from one stand
point, ! think. but so long AS the Massa
chusctts men believe in the foursome "a
4 the best expression of the game IL /
A uuite likely to stay. The relative merit
n of the two competitions have been dis
cussed pro and con again and again. an,
. will not go into the matter further.
do believe most heartily, however, tina
, the hardest form OF golf in the world
the most searching and trying. and gol
at It's very highest point Is TO be foun'
i'm tho true fOursOme OF course II IN