Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-16
new LINKS HERE
FIRST OF CHAIN
National Cooperative System
Of Golf Clubs Begins With IT,
Hole Donest Course
AUSTRALIAN EXPERT HERE
By SANDY McNIBLICk

THERE is something new nearly every
L day in the possibilities Of golf, and
here is the very latest.
There are certain town clubs which
provide a haven for the traveller TO
distant cities but never until now has
the idea been applied to country clubs.
A certain group Of Philadelphia golf
crs is now organizing the first chapter
OF what YOU might call links frnter-
nifty" II won't have Greek letters or
anything like that but. as the college
men build their fraternity houses and
orgo ,,ise for fraternity purposes so will
linksmen in various cities build course
and form their district branch OF the
organization. 90,
Thc idea orgininated in Chicago. It's
n chain of golf courses extending all
over the country. You Join one club and
you re n member Of them all. A high
standard Of excellence will be main.
tanned in the construction OF the course
and maintenance. Certain principles
will be stuck to in their government
nnd the organization is intended 10
boost the game Of golf and carry 1T to
new heights in American popularity.
Ten cities are already starting branches.
Local Branch
The Philadelphia branch is to be-
known ms the Somcrton Hills Country
CIub under the government of the ma
tionol body which has been incorpor-
ated ns tho Country Clubs Of America.
Such local clubs ms Gmlph Mills. Sun.
nybrook. Tavistock. Cedarbrook and
others. started by a block OF members
leaving one club TO build their own.
The Somcrton Club is drawing its mem
bcrship from all clubs. golfers who be-
lipve in its principles and big ideas.
The first thought was that It should
be posshlc for golfer going from ono
CITY - another to become member OF
n club without the tedious delay on q
waiting list which nearly every golf
club has these days. Then. too. that he
should have the same test ana the same
kind Of an opportunity he mad IN MS
other club.
The fraternity or club idea will be
followed in all the branches. but it il
not the idea here to dwell too much on
tho national phase Of the movement.
Local golfers will be interested in the
branch here. for 1t is to be one Of the
largest and best tests Of golf in the
East. The Philadelphians approached
took hold. OF the idea with vim. verve
and vigor.
Plenty Of Room
Property has been acquired to the ex.
tent Of 28O acres about mile from the
Philmont Country Club. il is between
somcrton and Forest Hills on the Read
ing and near the Northeast Boulevard.
The original idea was TO start mod
estly with nine holes. but interest in
creased so rapidly that the Board Of
Governors has decided to build twenty
seven holes this summer and eventually
to have thirty.six. with an even bigger
layout If necessary. Such PROPOSE
ton is n distinct addition to the golting
facilities in this city.
II is hoped to make the new courses
the very best in town. and TO this end
the officials have imported sea going
architect and world traveller. Fred
Findlay. for II was indeed he. was
chosen. and he Is now busily engaged at
Somerton.
In his younger days he was a rival
and friend Of such experts as Nardon.
Ray and all the rest Of them as
player. or late he has been devoting
all his attention to the construction
end and with enormous success. From
success on the British Isles he was
called 10 Australia. where the game Is
making tremendous strides. and now
he has been plucked by America.
Great Character
He is one Of the real golf characters
abroad. He speaks no English. only
Scotch. lie has refused all his life to
wear hat. At entertaining he's an
other Harry Lauder. and he can even
lead band with eclat. But the best
thing he knows is welding a mashie,
the care ana building of golf courses.
A, SOmcrtOn he has one of the best
natural spots hereabouts to work on.
The topography Of the country there Is
picturesque. beautiful and ideal. You
stop and make a bow every now and
then out there to the pure grandeur OF
nature.
Fred is n brother Of Alec Findlny.
the genial pater of pros here. and to.
gether they arc working out the new
course.
Most Of the holes will be rcpllcas OF
famous tests on Scotch courses. partic-
ularly the greens. All Of these are being
built to face the shot. Nine of tho
holes will be blessed. or otherwise. with
water hazards formed by the waters of
creek out there.
The yardagc and par OF the course
will tell better than words how we'll
balanced it will be.