The New York herald., 1921-12-20
PERMIT COST HINT
AROUSES GOLFERS
Linksmen of Van Cortlandt
Prepare to Fight Any At
tempt at Increase.
LOCKERS TO BE HIGHER
Players Feel They Pay Too
Much for What They Get
on Public Course.
BY KERR N. PErRIE.

BY KERR N. PETRIE.
II. as II has been declared. the Park
Department has thrown out a feeler and
s now waiting to see how the golfing
public receives the suggestion OF an
Increase in the price OF the annual PEI
o,its for the use OF the public golf links
Il can proceed to load its heaviest artil-
ery in the full knowledge that 1t will
have TO blast It's way through world
" opposition.
Believing in the axiom that troubles
aever come singiy, especially when they
come marked ell over with the dollar sign.
me linksnen have been looking anx-
lorsly and rather fearfully for the hand
writing that would round out the COM
ple.e story which had been only partly
toid with the intiination OF the increase
Of the lockers in the golf house at Van
-ortlandt to q flat rate Of $40. Formerly,
or. rather. latterly. these have cost $3.50
for those on the lower tier and IS for
uppers. Now the man, woman or child
who does not care to drag his old shoes,
clubs and caddie bag home every time
after game will have to hand over $40.
because. as the Park Department rather
iamely states, the supply OF lockers does
not meet the demand.
II Is quite possible that II the Park
Department cares TO work along ON this
theory II will find some group of indi-
viduals willing to pay fairly steep
price FOR the exclusive use of the locker
room and links at Van Cortlandt. But
Van Cortlandt links, like Central Park.
belongs to the people. Because part OF
It is laid out as golf course it does not
follow that the golfers should be used for
2 good thing" or that they should have
TO pay a steep fee because they choose
&c amuse themselves with a club and a
,ceex. a rnashie and a putter instead OF
en- the parade grounds playing football.
tennis. cricket or croquet.
The High Cost Is Blamed.
It has been said that the Park De-
rsrtment has been worried about the In
creased cost of upkcep. This Is an ex-
cuse that has been worked threadbare,
and 60 hear it used in connection with
the Van Cortlandt Park or other links
Is something of n merry jest for those
who know the game OF golf from the in
side. Moreover It is a little late to be
talking of the increased cost ut time
when the whole country Is straiIins
every fiber toward deflation.
But to return to the condition of Van
Cortiandt and what the golfers are get
ting for their money there is no denying
that New York is away behind Che times
beth as to facilities for the linksnnan
and condition Of che public courses over
which he is asked to play. Only the
other day John G.. Anderson returned
from abroad announcing that he had
been staggered by what he termed the
rid.culously low cost of golf on the pub
lie links of Scotland. For 50 year
ho found the Scottish artisan enjoying
membership in club which had a
regular stone built clubhouse. the priv
ilege of championship course that was
open to him all year around and al
ways In apple pie order. For about half
n dollar more he had a locker all TO
himself for twelve months.
Conditions in Scotland may be vastly
different from what they are in New
York city, but even so conditions at Van
cortlandt do not even bear comparison
with other public links In this country.
Again, II is a fact that the great ma
iority of these courses do not begin 10
compare with Van Cortlandt as revenue
producers.
1t would almost seem to be fact
tiat In New York those in authority see
golf only from the side OF revenue. That
they do not see II through the eyes or O
golfer Is clear as crystal. II some one
high I'D In tho CITY affairs could only be
induced to become golfer all would be
we'll, much would be changed and I'M
proved. He would at once see that by
placing some one on the job who knows
the business Of golf greenkeeping the
city could lay fxt bogey--the higher
cost of upkecp.
Money Goes TO sinking Fund.
A sum in excess of s5o.0c0. 1t ha:
hsen estimated. is paid by the public
links golfer each year. All money taker
in goes into some sinking fund. IL II
even said that Il is used to help out ir
the Park Department all over the city
BY the look OF Van Cortiandt II becomes
readily appersnt that under this plar
other parks aust need very great dea
of attentio. Some private clubs coul'
take s50. 900 and build championship
links with Il, at the same time buyint
the ground and building clubhouse Int
the bargain.
Old timers are wondering what has IN
duced the Park Department to pick OF
the golfers. Time was. and not so yer,
long ago, either that the man who chos'
to take his recreation in that particular
part OF the network of New York parks
set aside for the golfers could dispor
himself free. gratis and for nothing, Jus
as did his athletIcally inclined brothei
who wanted to scuffle The earth In I
football game or TO swat a baseball o
bowl on the green or canter around th'
bride path.
Golfers at the present timo arc paying
enough for what they are getting at Var
Cortlandt---far too much. in fact. II tn
Park Department actually 10 IN Dir
straits for the wherewithal to embeilisf
other parks or TO feed the swans OF
squirrels or lions it should coniine its at
iention to that particular part Of the cit,
which is 10 enjoy the benefaction. Maybe
y series OF collections would help. Tit
Central Park goldfish fund would maxi
an instant hit, while the fund for th'
restoration OF the crocus In The Bron'
would be certain 20 bring tears 10 th'
eyes OF the citizenry and leaping pennie
to the collection boxes.
AS for the golfer. he is just abou
+, sick unto death OF being taken for tn
GOOD thing, and he refuses absolutely =
rour any moro of his hard earned cas-
into that bottomloss sinking fund. Whn
no wants. In fact. Is n great deaf NOR
l.. tt4~