Evening star., 1928-05-06
MORE THAN 100000 USE
COURSES NOW IN A YEAR
From Modes, Beginning S. G. Leoller Has Built Up
Big Business Here. and Is Deserving of APP
probation From buffers of Capital
ry WALTER r. McCAILUM.

rY WALTER r. McCAILUM.
-RCM an infant course Of nine
holes, operated by the Govern
ment in West Potomac Park for
10 wears past and more, pubic
links golf around Washington
has become large and rather lucra-
tive business. ProSpering under the
capable management Of S G. Lcot1ier'
an erstvhile quick lunch proprietor.
81 has become an integral part 81 got
here. Not alone because more than
SOC, 600 persons use the eight pubic
courses of the large type each yesr,
bit because the publc links have
turned out some notable performers IN
the game. nlen who have become TOP
netcherS in the tournaments around
Washington and one of whom. Georse
! Voigt, has Won national reputs-
ticn.
We well remember. - years ago, when
Col. Hartz. then engineer officer III
charge Of public buildings and grounds.
vas in lengthy conferences with Walter
! Travis. Dr. Walter S. Harlan and
other golf authorities seeking 10 give
the Capital ample public links golf
facilities. The site chosen for the
venture WAS or the spot Of land re-
claimed hv Gen Hains from the bot
tom Of the river nearly two score years
back. now East Potomac Park Even
then there wsS q public links golf
course in WaShington-the miniature
nine-hole affair operated by the Gov
eminent IN West Potomac Park. where
the PLAYERS almost had 20 wear arror
IN keep from being struck by flying
balls. 50 short was the course and so
closely did the fsirwsys run together.
First Course in 1924.
The first nine-hole course in East
Potomac Park was completed under the
guidance Of Travis and DR. Harlan In
the Summer OF 1920 II comprised
what now are courses A and B-the
same course reversed TO-DAY the fine
Italian hand Of Walter Travis still is
apparent in the scientific bunker,ng
en6 the layout Of the greens Courses
c ard 2 cid not come along until 1923.
when the second national public links
championship was played there, which
Dick Walsh of the Scottish American
Club Of New York won,
TWO years ago Leofier, who had
added 10 his green keeping investment
III public links golf a complete course
construction kit Of equipment. built
courses z and P, laid out on fairly fat
ground west and north Of the field
house
Today these courses, not as well trap
PED as the first four, are by far the
most popular because lower scores can
be made on them b. the class OF play
eTs who use the public courses. And
probably so per cent OF the public links
Eclt devoteeS are buffers Of the first
beginners and others. who have
been bitten by the golf bug. who after
acquiring a degree Of skill over the
public links. viii Join private clubs.
LcofIer had been IN the quick
mncn" business for a short time back an
1890 and 1921 Being 3 business man
with keen eye for the big chance. ne
thought ne saw in the operation OF the
public courses in the Capital an oppor-
tunity 20 do fine thing for Washing
TIN and al the same time add to his
bank roll. Consequently when the Gov
eminent after operating the East FU-
tnraac Park course for one year, opened
bids for private operation in the Spring
Of 1921. Leofier vas one of the bidders.
A former officer in charge Of public
buildings ard public parks describes
Leofsers bid for the concession as the
I13zA EASA42Eee t9AS Ct A4gE igts A4c Dt2I~
els apparently just expected TO hang UP
their coats and 60 to work. apparently"
tire former osscer said. But Leofaer
pit IL his bid on a purely business
bash, and We made him the award
both for that reason and because he
offered something the others didn't
see"
Administration Is Satisfactory.
He has been operating East Potomac
Park now for nearly seven years. There
has bsen minor kicks" at the prices Of
sandwiches. or near beer or what have
you But on the whole. Leoffier's opera
tiel Is entirely satisfactory. both TO the
pals,ic and 10 the Government suthori-
ties vino award him the concession. il
nsiisi be or he wouldn't ger the con-
csssi3n from time 10 time His present
contract runs until December 81 1882.
Three years ago he organized an operat-
irg company 10 handle the business OF
public golf IN the Capital il goes By
the name oi the Park Amusement Co,
srsd il means something where public
links golf is concerned
Balt Iseofser himself has moved far
seY0rd MS humble start with q nine
hole layout down al East Potomac Park.
he operates the Marble Hal! public
ecurse IN Philadelphia. an i5-bola lay
out Nrere he is under q fpe-year con-
tract e. general manager. Wcstwood
ARD EsYen Pines at Richmond also are
cwnee by his company and operated as
commercial courses. WestWood has is
holes and land nos is being cleared for
another O. Seven Pines Is 2-hole
ecurss Last year LeofTeT entered into
q contract With the EeaveT Dam Coun-
Try Club ry which ne was 70 build ~
rev holes ard remodel the Old 9, for
which ne was - take 2 second trust
nste
So much for Leo1fer In reality. he
Is the spark plug IN the machine of
plDslc links golf around Washington.
lie has done things for the good Of the
Ran1e about which there has been little
publicity and for which he never has
sought publicity. All Of them have re-
bounded 70 mis- credit. PoY example,
every year he pays the expenses Of q
public LINKS team ~ four golfers 20 the
national public LINKS championship
J-aa, Is only one u the things ne does
without any ballyhoo lie deserves
soundant credit for his good work
without him public links g0lt would not
rave gone ~ Tar ~ II has tn the
Capital
g0ek Greek in Siztb Yesr.
pock Creck PARK ~as opened in May
fa27 attn the Spring tournament of
ihs Washington Ne~sps per Colt ciub
"a gb9fh President Harding vas a psr-
tteipSfi y vsE operated - eotices-
fion oy EcrmsE p YTosi his brother
enc Henry y. Miller golf professional
Tha trlo Tsn the coUfsf for yezr and
e}eni month"; Then the Government
toos y c|fr operating n fof year
I<ofTfE came ipD3 me J0cx Crfek i7syz
psctliYs in January, 1875 Immediately
re - about gcn1peelibg me course ~
bring IL W ~ the East Potomac PARK
standard Seversi greens we're rebuilt