The New York herald., 1921-03-06
WALKER CUP GOLF
PLAN MEETS WITH
CRITICISM ABROAD
British Critics Believe
There Will Not Be Suf-
ficient Interest.
HENRY LEACH SPEAKS UP
Thinks America Presumptuous
for Proffering Trophy for
International Match.
HENRY LEACH SPEAKS UP
ny JOHN G. ANDERSON.

critic and writer stepped from taxi
before the entrance of the exclusive
Myopia Hunt Club at Hamilton, Mass,
and started to walk toward the first
tee not far distant. 4 voice hailed him
and he was asked by the cha or
the golf committee what he was doing
on the links.
you've got to have a guest card even
II you only wish 10 walk over the
course" he was told.
Whereupon Henry Leach Of London,
then ono of the best known golf writer's
In the world, turned back and, after the
usual delay. secured the necessary per-
NIT from a friend in Boston.
At that tine there was more than
shade OF soreness at the manner OF
treatment which he experienced, the
same, by the way, which would have
been meted out to any other golfer so
trespassing on the clubs property, and
! wonder IL the anti-American feelings
which have remained constant with Mr.
Leach for seven or eight years were not
caused, or at least started, BY this
Incident
In his book written soon after his re-
turn to England Mr.. Leach speaks very
pleasantly OF tho Myopia links as golf
course but l know that there was and
perhaps is ranking. This undoubtedly
showed itself at the time when Francis
Ouirnet went across as the open cham
pion OF the United States in search OF
the amateur title OF Great Britain. In
one OF his preliminary stories the young
American was listed as an overgrown
caddie with clothes which did not add to
his bearing. And to make matters worse
all the Americans wero given not the
ghost Of a show for the title because
the standard Of play was considered TO
be much inferior to that OF the rank
and file of British amateur golfers. In
this respect Mr.. Leach was right, as he
is on most occasions, but to Americans
It was bluntness which they did not
relish very much.
America Prcsumptuou-.
And now we are told by AIR Leach
that America Is very prcsunptuous in
proffering a cup for international com
petition and that If such a trophy were
10 be presented for play Great Britain
should have been the one to start the
affair. No one will deny that the emi-
nent critic has great weight on his side
and yet there Is no answer TO the ques-
ton as to why Great Britain hasn't
started such an affair when there have
been years and years OF opportunity
Surely international competition has
been long enough in the air.
As far back MS 1911 there was
proposition put UP to Horace Hutchin-
son, former amateur champion of Great
Britain and long recognized as leader
in golf affairs there, whereby a magnifi-
cent trophy was to be presented for q
team match of an international charac-
ter. The trophy. by the way was to be
presented by a Scot who had made his
home In America and a huge fortune as
well, and there could have been no ex-
cuse about a lack OF desire to accept
such trophy from the hand of a man
who did not have the true spirit OF golf
In his veins as he was member of
the Royal and Ancient and frequent
visitor to Scotland.
remember well hearing Mr. Hutch
inson ask MIR. Il. A. Lassen. former
amateur title holder of Great Britain.
his advice. and also many others, in
cludng Sidney Fry NJ. Pierre Des-
champs president Of the Societe dc
Paris and La Boulie Golf Club. and then
added his own opinion that the PROPOSE
tion could not be made a success. That
was ten years ago. and there was much
more known about II abroad than there
was here. Yet from that time to this
almost everything which had been said
about international matches has orig
mated on this side OF tho water and
the elimination has come In the Walker
trophy to be played for in September
OF this year.
Home Players Saving Money.
Mr.. Leach says that Americans arc
saving thousands OF pounds by having
tho first tournament played in this
country. Well, 1t has to be played
somewhere and why not on course
which equals any in the British Isles?
However, we are In accord with two OF
the suggestions which are made BY Mr..
Leach, namely that II other nations
believe there might well be some change
IN tho playing conditions that their
voice should count. and. secondly, that
* Is asking too much for several ma
tions to journey six thousand miles for
the sake OF meeting each other III com
petition which could be held by short
trip TO France or Great Britain. those
nations being the chief logical oppo-
nents / believe that a scheme could be
worked out whereby there could be a
survivor among the European nations
which would travel to this country first
and here meet challenging nations OF
this continent say Canada, FOR Instance.
before the final round
Tt Great Britain should win the
Walker trophy It would seem bit
useless journcying for Canadian and
q team from the United States to travel
elk thousand miles to decide which sldo
IS the stronger when that could be done
on this side of the water. Leaving oJt
tho matter Of the expense entirely, tho
project does not appeal to me strongly
in this specific provision. l feel condl-
dent that there would be a.Ehore whole
hearted response IL this Mhange were
made.
However, | regret the manner IN which
some of the foreign golf critics have re-
garded this international event Instead
OF boosting II 70 tho skies or laudlng tho
proffer they have thrown cold water and
said That there will not be sufficient M
tcrest to have representative teams pres
ent at the time OF the internationals
Fortunately there Is in Great Britain
now youthful competitive spirit which
seems to welcome the now order az
things, and we predict that III duo sen
son the Davis cup Will have ITS greatest
rival in the Walker trophy.
Y. :. q. 4. Makes n Mistake.
/ note that the intercollegiate Golf
Association has been honorcd by inclu-
ston to the executive committee board
OF the T.. s. o. j.. There seems 10 be