New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-04
GOLFERS MUST
TALK OR HOLD
THEIR PEACE
Chance Now to Make Sug-
gestion on Public Links
in The Bronx.
WHITTLE ANXIOUS
TO HEAR ALL KICKS"
Hopes to Make Courses Equal to
the Best, and Thinks Well OF
Plans for Mosholu.

II golfers have any objection 70 the
D bile golf links system IN the Bor-
OUCH of The Bronx the kick" must be
written and sent TO Thomas W. Whit
tie, Commissioner, Claremont Park.
This was the statement OF Commits
sioner white in speaking Of the pub
lie links situation.
In other words, there has been so
much difficulty in arriving az the proper
conclusion so that the Park Department
might proceed with the work that the
Commissioner at last has taken the
golfers into his confidence. Letters re-
ceived by him will be treated conf
dentially.
A great deal has been written about
the required changes in the courses a.
Van Cortlandt ParK, Pelham Bay Park
and in the construction % the rev
Mosholu links. The golf committee ap-
pointed by the Commissioner, largely
through the suggestion OF names ~
those who ought 10 know. has bunkered
itself through having differences oil
opinion which apparently It is lmpos-
sible to overcome.
Meanwhile, voluminous reports have
been presented to the Commissioners
and have appeared in print. A resume
Of the whole matter is illustrated IN
the expression, "straining a. enat
and swallowing a camel" Details have
been so numerous that the main idea
was apparently forgotten.
Much ado was made about the lack
/ Of brushes on each tee box. the absence
of towels and a hundred and one SINH
lar matters. but it required the eye
of the professional to suggest the
change at the tenth hole, which in ad-
dition to providing better golf also
/ eliminated a mean little pisce OF
/ swamp.
It NAV be said without fear OF con-
| tradictlon that Commissioner Whit
, tie is first of all DESTROYS Of providing
a public links system second to none
in the country.
To accomplish this means that the
+ links must be al that can be expected.
OF course, the financial limitations OF
the department play big part. but
when the executive does something for
I golf and golfers he wants to be ress-
onahly sure that the money spent will
be productive.
Nothing tangible was accomplished
until the Commissioner called IN the
services of William Kilgour, the Pei
ham professional. and listened 10 eX-
/ pert advice. Action then took place.
The golfers objected TO the plans for
a new first hole and the project was
Immediately abandoned because Of the
danger 70 pedestrians from dying
balls out of line. Furthermore. the
lawn used by so many little picnic
parties would be used for golf. Thus
the Van Cortlandt links will not be
materially extended in distance, but
merely developed further than in the
past
II have heard many fine comments
on the new course at Mosholu," said
the Commissioner, in discussing the ad
ditional links, "and it bears out what
I was told some time ago. ] am con
WINGED that Mosholu has a bright flu
ture and if we can keen up the work
of development will ultimately become
a links OF high rank. We are remov-
ing all of the stones in the fairways,
so as to prevent mans ball from fly
ing somewhere Off into the bushes. and
at the same time save the knives OF
our mowers
So, if it happens that a golfer has
any objection to some of the things at
the public courses, it would be well TO
write to the Commissioner about u
rather than do the Directing among
ones friends where no one who could
remedy evils could ever hear OF It.