The New York herald., 1921-12-22
Public Links Devotees to Seek
Action by Commissioner
of Parks.
COMMITTEE rs SELECTED
Municipal Association Will Be
Formed to Safeguard Play
ers' Interests.
BY KERR N. PETRIE.

several thousands OF Father kntcker-
bocker's children who favor drivers.
brassies masliies and putters above all
other manner OF sporting equipment
are liable to wake UP Christmas MORN
ing to find that Santa Claus has been
distributing notices broadcast calling
upon each one individually to pay more
for his yearly permit than he has been
In he habit of doing before he can
pay on the public links, a meeting
WAS held yesterday at Doyle's billiard
s3ois and committee selected to look
after the interests of those who disport
esl selves at Van Cortlandt, Mosholu
ena Pelham.
rer several weeks there have been
siarE hints of coming jump in the
sns.tal dues. and while those who pursue
flIeir slicing way down the rough Of
She golfing Eysian fields Of the Greater
ity do not intend to fly in the face
w fate and dare all and sundry to do
sheis worst they certainly intend to
Snaie 1t their business to probe the mat
aef ce costs to the bone In the event
~ 8 raise and to endeavor before that
"a Nsye the question Of the yearly tariff
aa'O ted in an amicable way and ac-
eesdlg to, the etiquette Of the game.
ore have been many guesses just as
Is nat actually is in the wind. Some
LA . SdlQ IQdI lIley ndNo 0SSiA A~A ~
believe that the Park Department in
tends to charge each individual $50
instead Of IS for a years golf at Van
Cortlandt and other public courses In
the city. Already 1t has been intimated
that lockers that last year cost IS for
uppers and $3.50 for lowers are to be
advanced to a fat rate of $40 next
year.
At the meeting It was brought out
that no official notification has been
made Of this aspect OF the case. Every
one seemed to feel that something OF
the nature was in the wind. however,
since It has been customary for the
Park Department to notify the locker
holders by December ! that rents for
the coming season are due January ].
Those who wish to retain their lockers
thus get a month in which to make their
intentions known. Only locker holders
are notified that next years permits
are ready. Those who do not rent space
in the golf house wherein to store their
clubs have to make personal applica-
tion for their permits to the Park De-
partment of The Bronx.
Feel Need for Action.
While various suggestions were Of
fered to account for this years tactics
no one could say definitely just what
the Park Department intended to do with
regard to the distribution of the annual
permits. And they knew even less about
what the authorities intended to charge.
Rumor had plenty of scope and 1t seemed
to be the general opinion that an In
crease of some sort Is intended.
What the golfers did not know was
that it is about time they took some sort
oe action that will safeguard their inter-
ests. So a committee was appointed
10 seek an interview with the Park
Commissioner of The Bronx toward find
ing out where they stood with regard to
next years play and also to get in touch
with the Corporation Counsel with
similar object. The committee named
consists OF golfers in membership of
clubs using the Van Corlandt and Pei
ham links. They are Il. S. Dreux, New
York Golf Club; C. N. II. Atherton and
A. p. Roth of the Newspaper Club, J. b.
Condor, Scottish american. and f. n.
Brower and II. Il. Churchill.
It was stated by some one at the
fneeting that he knew it to be positive
fact that the permits last year ran above
. 5000. AS there are many who. playing
only occasionally, do not take the trouble
to make application for yearly permit
the committee feels that 1t has at least
10000 golfers in Manhattan and The
1'ronx behind it. In addition the players
v no use DuDllC ilfh5 III DIOOklylk II
consisting of the members of the Wood
haven Golf Club the Clansmen and the
brooklyn Forest Park Golf Club. not TO
Iuention the hordes who arc not affiliated
with these organizations are marking
time, watching developments and ready
to back UP the committee In any action
Il may take on behalf of tho linksmen of
Manhattan and The Bronx.
Golfers VIII Not Dictate.
One OF the most progressive and con-
structive suggestions accepted was that
of the formation of Municipal Golf
association for New York. Such an
organization exists in several other
cities. notably Chicago and Philadelphia,
and has been of inestimable value In
maintaining cordial relations between
the players and the city fathers and In
getting action on the various problems
aud questions that are continually
arising IN connection with municipal
golf. This new body would comprise all
the clubs that play on the public courses
of all boroughs and would easily have a
membership OF 400 or 500 active golfers.
I'VE do not wish to be misunder-
stood" said an official of one of the pub
lie links clubs at the meeting. ''Wo
have no intention of antagonizing any
public official or of debating what he is
10 do about the golf courses OF the city.
We feel, however, that II Is about time
that tho golfers knew where they are at
why they are not getting the permits
and what they are to pay.
"Wc do not presume to tell the Park
Department that It does not require
more than we are paying for upkeep at
Van Cortlandt. Nevertheless we havo
our doubts. 1t was during the regime
OF Thomas w. Whittle that charge
first was levied for golf at Van Cort-
landt. We were made to understand at
that time that the money which was
taken in for yearly and shorter time
permits went into u sinking fund. but
that II the golfers paid more than was
necessary for the upkeep OF the links the
cost to us would he reduced or at least
tnat the surplus would mean increased
facilities for the golfer Despite the
fact that the course as Il is to-day, with
an annual revenue of upwards OF $780,
900. does not begin TO compare with
what II was In the old days when there
was no charge at all wo fear that we
are TO be asked TO pay more than ever.
The course may be costing for main
tenance more than we are putting into
H.. We have our doubts II Il Is costing
NTH OF what we pay. Moreover the
Eolf course is the only part of the
city's park system that is self-support-
ing. There was a time when golf was
called the rich mans game. We have
passed beyond that unenlightened period.
The health OF the city demands golf