New-York tribune., 1916-07-30
c;tv's New Course Re
Iieyes Congestion at Van
Cortlandt Park.
EIGHTEEN HOLES NOW
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
,,ortv Features Of New Play
ground Appeal TO More Ven.
tureSome of the Game.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.


Have you noticed, you golfers on the
VS. public links. that there has not
sn the same agonizing bag line" at
a, first tee at Van Cortlandt Park
a, summer that greeted you almost
,v,rv day in the week last season? II
:, aid YOU believe that the popularity
!, The grand old game had begun 70
,,ns in these parts and that golf
..,rs hs succeeded in the near future
h, .ons other line Of sport?
i. true that there is less waiting
- these summer mornings and after
.oo,s al Van Cortlandt than for tho
,,s. few years, and that the popular
.,pr,s is less congested. but the rea-
an. strange as it may seem, hes In
=, fact that Seotland's game has in
-,.sed in popularity within the last
s,lye months.
things got so bad last season for
s,,. who have to do their playing OIL
Il, municipal course that TO get in a
,,u,a Of eighteen holes there mean,
rrss up practically the entire day TO
=, undertaking. Even as early as s
,,loek in the morning last summer
4, dreaded bag line" would be in
ri5snee, and as the hours went by and
4 drew on toward afternoon the long
ne would lengthen out, twisting like
giant snake for fifty yards or more.
The hspless late conner knew what
ar meant, and resigned himself forth
s.,h 10 8 seat on the bench for two
y three hours, as the case might be.
Even after getting off the first tee
he golfer would find himself held up
4 almost every hole while waiting for
hose ahead to get of the green.
That is almost entirely changed now,
I'D except for certain hours in the
t,srnoon the line OF bags at the first
ss is practically eliminated.
Bag Line Thing of the Past.
When we started out TO describe con-
..lons g: Van Cortlsndt Parks public
III course. accompanied by q photog-
1rher, the first thing 10 be done, Of
-rse, was 70 take pictures OF the in
G.ab!e bag line. The photographer
uted in vain for upward Of an hour
~ the long line 20 form, but nothing
ru that happened. Perhaps ten or
'hssn players were waiting 20 play,
.rssd OF the usual hundred or so, and
~ we're sent Off without unnecessary
ssy By the starter. That was one
roi picture spoiled az the start.
Wha, has worked this remarkable
DANCE? Nothing more, gentle golfer,
tan the recent opening OF the full
eighteen holes Of the Mosholu golf
Inks, on the lofty plateau above Van
Cortandt Park. to the eastward and
extending over as far as Jerome Ave
rue
Thomas w. Whittle, Commissioner 1
Parks Of The Bronx, realizing that in
course Of time. with the greatly n
usased number Of golfers every year,
Van Cortlsndt Park would be utterly
Inadequate 70 handle the hundreds who
vrsld wish 20 play golf. hastened the
YORK OF completing the new links at
Aosholu. Recently the last touch was
gwen to the new course and the second
me holes thrown open for play.
The public was at first slow to take
i:ysntage Of the added facilities and
,',iinued 70 throng the old course at
Vn Cortlandt. Gradually, however,
ne few venturesome spirits who had
iiysd around at Mosholu came back
si;h glowing descriptions Of the new
.in and the beauty Of the scenery.
You have 70 keep as straight as
string Il you want TO avoid getting into
eli kinds Of trouble up there. IT'S a
sporty course, and as soon as the turf
., green's and fairways gets into better
tidiiion il will be one of the most
r.sctive courses around this section"
~ the general opinion of those who
a: visited the links.
Rich in Scenic Beauty.
Gsdually the number Of players at
Ia Cortlandt was lessened and a cor
ssponding increase was noted at
IAhou; but even now this latest addi-
=, TO New York's municipal golf
.a seem all too little known, and it
ior that reason that this article is
riiien. with the hope that the gospel
Z golf at Mosholu may be spread
n'rsd wherever the public park
hyers eongregste.
To reach the first hole at Mosholu
:. golfer must first mount the fight
wooden steps that skirt the steep
~ on the crest of which the old aque-
~ runs From here panorama Of
'n Cortlsndt Parks links, the great
a'sde ground. the Harlem valley and
hr north as Dunwoodie and Yonkers
a, be had, with Manhattan's towering