New-York tribune., 1915-02-21
GOLFERS DEMAND
PUBLIC COURSES
IN MANY CITIES
New Mosholu Links Will
Lessen Congestion in
New York.
QUAKER CITY ALSO
MEETING THE CALL
Cities All Over Country Clamor
for Facilities for Royal
and Ancient" Game.

The movement for public golf links
is spreading TO degree little dreamed
OF a year ago. although at the time at
tention was called 10 the fact tnat
there was such demand and that ulti-
nately il would have telling effect
The effect has been felt, but the end
of the movement hes not been reacned
ty any means. Perhaps the best eS-
ample Of il may be taken in the sltua-
tion within the confines OF greater New
York. In The Tribune Of last Friday
a we'll known golfer, whose name was
rot mentioned for reasons OF his own'
pointed out that there was ample room
In Prospect Park, Brooklyn, for a nine
hole course of $500 yards over undu-
lating ground. which also had the ad-
vantage Of being in excellent conditlon
as regards the turf. Through the re-
moval Of few trees, IL was asserted,
a full links of championship length
could be installed without much dim
Guilty, and the ground was practically
unused at present.
About a year ago Thomas ". Whit.
tle was appointed Commissioner OF
Parks for The Bronx, and he immedl-
stely took up the question OF better ts-
eilities for the golfers patronizing the
ham. Conditions at both places have
been improved. and work on the new
links at Mosholu, on the plateau above
the Van Cortland course, has been
started. ,.
All of this has been accomplished
yithou. additional appropriation from
the Board OF Estimate, because great
deal can be done toward the lnstalla-
tioa of a golf course in keeping with
park maintenance. Preparatory meas
ures for the building Of real go!t
course mean the clearing OF the land
o. the very growths which are inimical
TO park development, and II nothing
else the tract on the plateau at van
Cortlandt has been improved materially
in this direction.
Thus Commissioner Whittle really
has done nothing but improve the vast
tract of park land. Temporary tees
and greens have been provided for nine
holes. That is as far as the wor.; of
constructing a new links hae gone, but
the time is not far distant when TINS
work will be continued along broader
lines, provided, Of course, the powers
that be listen to the voice OF thousands
who love golf but are unable to AFFORD
membership privileges in the more eA-
pensive private organizations.
The activities OF the Bronx Commis-
sioner. however, have been OF more
benefit to Philadelphia than to New
/ York. paradoxicslly as it may seem, for
the reason that the golfers in that CITY,
inspired by his efforts. have caused tne
City Council to realize the necessity
for public links.
! Accordingly, under urgent persuasion
! from such men as Robert W. Lesley.
resident Of the Golf Association Of
/ Pbiladelphis and the donor Of the Les
| lev Cup. for which teams from three
states compete annually; Ellis A. Gim-
| bel and Howard ". Perrin, vice-presi-
dent of the United States Golf Assocla.
| t,on, and many others, the City Council
has voted appropriations SUFFICIENT TO
| establish q public course OF 6,aO0 yaros
| in Cobb's Creek Park, and in the res
olution made it known that this links
! should be Second to none so far as
public links are concerned.
Nothing remains now but the imme-
6;ate establishment or completion OF
| Wosh olu. which will give the golfers in
/ Manhattan and The Bronx "a holes OF
! golf-1S at Pelham, l8 at Van Cort-
! landt and IS at M0shulu. Should any
/ thing ever come Of the Prospect fars
! idea Brooklyn and Queens will have -
boles-l8 al Forest Park and nine in
Prospect Park. This would make a
total of FIVE full courses within the
confines of the greater city, which,
after all, would be only equal to the
! facilities provided by Chicago.
Reverting to the general demand ior
public facilities for golf, the foregoing
presents the local phase OF the sltua-
| ton. Washington has been building
links along the Potomac, although as
vet il is only nine holes. The point rs
| that the demand is there, as II is IN
Philsdelphia, and more pressingly 80 in
this city. Des Moines has three courses,
and it Is not such large city as some
others. Boston is anxious for better
| facilities; Seattle, Tacoma and Port
land. on the Pacific Coast, are ciamor-
ing for golf, and the subject has been
brought I'D in several other cities IN
that region. If a search could be made
doubtless a dozen other localities could
be found where there is such demand.
The movement in this vicinity, there
fore, is not strange to any other part
Of the country, and there are those who
know golf well who predict tnat II
l'Nosholu IL once completed and Put IN
good playing condition 1t will not lack
for users. Those who have seen the
ground declare that it is ideally adapt
ed for golf purposes.