The New York herald., 1920-01-18
Deal Course, Turned Into Shooting
Range, May Not Be Ready for
Open Championship.

In view OF the possibility of entries
from the United States the leading Ameri-
can golfers will be interested in the latest
reports from Kent, England, where the
Deal Golf Clubs course Is situated, which
are to the effect that 1t is doubtful If
the famous links can be made playable
in time for the 1920 British open cham
pionship next spring.
Soon after the outbreak Of the war In
1914. the British military authorities con-
range. Six holes of the links were COM
mandeered by the government officials
who quickly changed the fairways, green's.
hazards and trees into a choatic area Of
well trampled common. When the Deal
Club regained possession of its property
palling condition, the grass being waist
nigh in places and the lie Of about one
third Of the links totally obliterated. The
work OF renovation was begun Immediate
ly and is daily being hurried 20 the limit
of all the labor and other help available
The Deal course had .nioyed an en-
viable reputation for many years, only one
fault being found with its original .on-
struction. This was iue to the fact that
the first nine holes followed on almost
In straight line and those on the incou-
ing trip were similarly laid or AS
result If often happened that the players
had the wind against them all one way
and with them over the other half OF
the link
During the present reconstruction this
VIII be changed so that the straightness
OF the course will not be a matte for
criticism any more. The War Office had
wiped out the eighth, ninth. tenth,
eleventh and twelfth holes and a good
part of the fairway to the thirteenth. The
alterations now being made will change
the lie of these holes as follows:--Th
new eighth will be short one of i40 yards
going toward the sea. The ninth will be
almost on the shore In full view of tn.
fhannel, and will be back to q green on
,he old eighth fairway. Then for the
tenth there is to be a two-shot hole Of
$50 Yards out seaward again and for the
eleventh you come back about 400 yards
t. "a natural plateau green. The twelfth
Will measure f50 yards and the thirteenth
will be dog-legged type OF hole, but the
remainder of the course will be renovated
along the old lines.
Should the Deal course not be in proper
condition in time for the championship,
ltlo open VIII De nelQ on the Inks OF
the Royal st. George Club, at Sandw ich.
in the same county, provisional arrange
ment having been made to house the ma
1onal competitors there.
Early this year the six controlling clubs
VIII consider suggested improvements In
the ch Snpionship conditions The idea is
to deal iairly with the big list OF entrants
for this national event, as no goirer. anna
teur or professional can be- ienied the
right IA gor ha
qualifying test must be imposed, but this
cannot be carried through In single day.
n 1914 the experiment OF splitting the
field of competitors was tried. They were
divided into two equal sections and played
off on two separate courses. This may
be tried again this year over the Deal
and Sandwich links, which are not very
far apart
There now seems to be no doubt as to
the playing of the 1920 amateur champion
ship over rhe Scotch course at Muirfield
some changes may also have to be made
in the conditions for this contest. Further
restriction of entries may be deemed ad-
visaole, In order to avoid the crowding In
OF many players who have not the ghost
of chance of wnni~g Some of the con-
trolling clubs are said to be in favor of
adopting the American plan by intrvduc-
Ing a thirty-six hole qualifying ground
This scheme was suggested few years
ago, and II might be favorably reconsid-
cred in time for trial at Muirfield this
year.
A national and permanent golf course
over which tie more important champion
ship tournaments shall be played annu-
slly, has frequently been proposed by both
English and American enthusiasts This
proposition has aroused much favorable
and unfavorable comment. opinion being
apparently, sharply divided on the feast
bility of the plan II has been pointed out
that such course would standardize
play and make IL possible
TO compare the form and ability OF the
various winners. sem-finalists and others
In different years, .hus furnishing A basis
for accurate comparisons
Opponents of the scheme take the stand
that unless certain restrictions and con-
cgr,ovis were imposed few favored play.
ere 49, a.e ss-stis besetit, ewing to their