The New York herald., 1922-01-31
TOLEDO SHOWS HOW
TO GIVE FREE GOLF
City Sets Example to New York
With Four No Charge
Municipal Links.
BY KERR N. PErRIE.

by KERR N. PETRIE.
While striving like good sportsnen to
live up to tho injunction "Rejoice with
them that do rejoice" public links golf
ers of New York city nevertheless are
liable to suffer q sensation as of having
salt rubbed into an open wound at being
reminded that this great city with its
teeming millions is no better off. II any.
than Toledo. Ohio, in the matter OF
public golf course facilities. Toledo,
with population Of 2So.000. is even now
swinging plan for a four course pro-
gram and according to s. r. Jermain
this is rapidly being realized.
| Mr.. Jerniain may be remembered a.
the man who had SO big hand in stag
Ing the 1920 open golf championship at
the Inverness Club Of Toledo He Is the
live wire behind public golf links in that
city. Not that he is one OF the flock
which has to snatch its round between
| sunrise or sunset and tho toots Of the
factory whistle. but simply because he
fully realizes the value to any COM
munity of public golf.
Under Mr.. Jcrmain's efficient direc.
tion the Ottawa Park course has been
entirely rebuilt. From $500 yards when
work began it will have been extended
| 500 yards when play IS started in the
spring and when all plans are finally
carried out it will reach 5000 yards.
The course, it Is said. will be Of private
| club standard. It Is to be bunkered In
the most approved style, yet those who
are only beginning need not despair, as
there Is still another course in another
park named In honor Of Mr.. Jernlain
and which has been built expressly for
| the novice.
Bay View Park, remembered as the
scene Of the willard Dempsey fight, also
has been transformed into public golf
] course. Mr.. Jermain and his assistants
are making a fine course Of miniature
hills and rolling fairways Of this here
tcfore level tract.
Pay Nothing for Playing.
And to think that with all this work
going on the public links golfer OF To-
ledo does not have to pay a single RED
cent for his sport. Mr.. Jerinain started
out to give the citizens of Toledo who
could not afford to enjoy the benefits OF
the health giving game just what he
has succeeded in doing. He feels very
strongly on che subject OF charging for
the use Of the public links. and no doubt
were he in, New York instead OF In To-
ledo he would be found protesting Wig
|
the devotees are paying at Van Cort-
landt and the other supposedly public
courses of this section.
| Mr.. Jermain has written the follow
ing to show where he stands in this
matter OF public golf and where, incl
dentalIy, he feels that all others ought
to stand on this very vital subject:
Mature consideration and experience
will reveal that 1t is a fundamental err
TOR to make a charge for the playing or
my game ordinarily suitable in a pub
| ic park. If any one game Is selected
! or such charge and the rest are free
| hat is discrimination. If they are all
included the basic freedom of the parks
| n their various recreational activities
s lost. They become places Of special
privilege as a fee is exacted Tor their
,se and enjoyment, and those who either
cannot or do not pay are excluded from
| -uch use or enjoyment.
ITO thousands Of people these games
are the entire reason for going to the
par ks. The playground activities OF our
parks have a tremendous power for the
he alth and happiness Of the rank and
file of the people. II the public golf
&C urses or the tennis courts or the base
ball diamonds are inadequate then more
should be provided. Toledo now has
three public golf courses and in 1929
will have four. Our population is about
$4,000. There is no charge for any OF
the recreation permits here. The locker
Charge is 1915 for lower lockers. There
arc no uppers.
Step I'm Wrong Direction.
"Once a playing charge sys,nm is
started It naturally grows as .ne de-
r;and for opportunity to play increases.
That il another step in the wrong direc-
| tion. To city with the enormous
wealth Of New York. both municipality
end individually. adequate playground
facilities of all kinds should be no prob
lem at all.
Concerning public golf. it 10 by CEN
turics the pioneer publicly played game.
II had it's birth upon the community
lards Of Sctland-the free lands along
| the ocean side-and among the very
fist public parks. It's annals are repIete
with all that is best in the democratic
and common fellowship Of man. II ap-
rears very powerfully to me that our
American cities. and especially those in
leadership. should see to 1t that we do
rot fall short. The absolutely free op-
rortunity to play golf in our beautiful
rarlis marshaIs the most inspiring
pageant CT public recreation. One after
room at any tee upon the course at Van
Cortlandt Park or at our Ottawa Park,
watching the pageant go by, is a revela-
tion. I sincerely hope that a nationwide
movement may be inaugurated for
public golf. il Is the grand old games
time rored heritage which we are in
ronor bound to realize and to fulfill {"