The Washington herald., 1918-03-10
GOLF AND TENNIS NOTES.

As the season draws near, the out
look for tennis appears more and
more gloomy. A few months ago
when the government decided to take
the ground occupied by the Municipal
Court at Henry Park for building
purposes, local racquetters were. of
course, disappointed. but it never oc-
CURED to them that they would be,
called upon to make other sacrifices
in this respect. Any one who would
have suggested several months ago
that the government would at this
time have ONCE buildings at Potomac
Park would have been sent to st.
Elizabeth's for investigation. In ad-
dition to the twelve Henry Park
courts which have been taken, those
used by the Y. NJ. C. A. at Potomac
Park have also been turned into
building sites, and those in the know
say that the end is mot yet" as for
some time past the rumor has been
travelling the rounds that within a
very short time the remaining courts
in Potomic Park will be relics Of the
past. Thus, in one clean sweep,
Washington players may possibly
lose all Of their municipal courts. As
there are fewer private courts now
than ever before, due largely to the
fact that Washington Is growing in
size, and those owning lots large
enough for courts are building on
them, this means that hundreds of
former municipal court players will
either have to connect with clubs or
quit. While local racquetters are, of
course, willing to give up their courts
for the cause, it is certainly hoped
that they will not be asked to make
this sacrifice unless such action is
absolutely necessary. With all OF Po-
tomac Park to choose from, it would
seem that the officials could find
enough building sites without disturb
ing this greatly appreciated and really
necessary recreation center. Last
year, 1t is understood. over 1900 diff
ferent players availed themselves OF
the Municipal Court privileges. and
before any definite steps toward
breaking ground on these courts are
taken the oficials should look into
the matter from all angles.
While both the Middle Atlantic and
District of Columbia golf associations
at their annual meetings held re-
Gently. decided that there would be
no championship events, and while on
the face OF things the vote in both
bodies appeared to be unanimous, the
results OF this vote do not in reality
express the feelings Of some of the
clubs. When the national body called
on events last year on account Of the
war, discussion arose from all sides,
but, rather than appear to be unpatri-
QUO, the matter was dropped and the
wishes OF the u. s. G.. A. were fol-
lowed. This is practically the case
this year. Some Of the clubs think
the calling of Of titular events un-
necessary and ilI-advised, claiming
that neither the players leaving for
the front nor those remaining at home
are in favor of such action. These
patriotic events are rather poor
substitutes from a strictly golfing
viewpoint A number of players sim
ply dig down in their Jeans, make
sood-sized contribution and then for
get about 1t. When the tournament
Gay arrives, probably half Of the
matches are decided by default and
tne other half are between inferior
players. To offer golfers a ''patri-
QUO vent instead of q title one is
Just Ike giving a hungry man a
recipe book to read. A title event
could be held, carrying with 1t the
patriotic" feature and real golf
would result, and the some amount
OF revenue for relief work would be
saken In and. in addition, it would
oe found that practically all of those
who entered would actually compete,
experience has shown that these PA
riotic events are not popular, ex-
cept that they give golfers opportu-
mites for contributing to a good
cause in the name Of their favorite
sport At the Middle Atlanta Asso-
cations meeting. President slinrluff,
OF the Maryland Country Club. an
nounced that his club would be clad
the championship event as
signed to IL. When he learned that
there would be a 'fpatriotic' event
instead he was unable to give an abb
soiute answer regarding the desires Of
his club. and the matter stands. All
of which simply bears out our state
ment that golfers viii have to be