Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-05
TWO NEW COURSES.
TO OPEN IN SPRING.
Fine Layouts for Golfers in
AnacoStia, Potomac
Projects.
BY WALTER r. McCALLUM.

wv rank WIN Lne ledQlnS
public links cities of the
Nation this year when S.
G.. Leoff1er opens up new nine
hole course in East Potomac Park
and another new nine-hole course
is opened in Anacostia Park to be
operated under the Jurisdiction of
the Board of Public Welfare.
From a city with seven nine-hole
layouts Washington will jump to a
city with no fewer than nine municipal
golf courses in every section of the
Capital except the populous Northeast.
And there is plenty of room for such a
course in the stretches of vacant land
that lie north of Rhode Island avenue.
For the first time since municipal
golf became a factor to be reckoned
with in Washington, Leoff1er is to have
competition when the Anacostia course
opens. The course was built by Johnny
Kearns, under the direction of o. P.
Fits. course supervisor at Columbia
Country Club, and although it lies on
nat land near the Anacostia River, it
will be one of the most interesting of
the public links layouts anywhere in
the Capital. 1t will be opened in May,
in direct opposition to the several Law
outs operated by Leoff1er where the
Anacostia River flows into the Potomac.
Courses Well Spread.
When this layout is thrown open
WashingtonianS who have golf on their
minds will have available for play
handy courses. The thickly populated
Northwest section has the fine Rock
Greek Park course in its heart. The
Southeast and Southwest sections will
have the AnacoStia Park course, and
from all parts of the city are drawn
the players who use the four layouts
In East Potomac Park
In the Spring a new nine-hoIe course
will be thrown open in East Potomac
Park, making five nine-hole courses in
all to be available for golfers in this
great waterside park and bringing the
dream Of the early developers of the
park nearer completion.
Under original plans East Potomac
Park was to be a great recreation CEN
ter for all the people. But the plan for
construction of great stadium south
OF the railroad tracks, extending from
driveway to driveway across the park,
has not been carried out, and the new
golf course now occupies part of the
site that originally was intended to be
used as the location of the stadium.
Across the park south of the railroad
tracks, under the plan for park develop
ment, Is to be cut canoe canal, which
would make an additional hazard for
the golf course if it were to be de-
veloped This canal would provide an
small craft from the Washington Chan
mel, but no steps have been taken to
bring 1t about
If the canal is dug, it would not have
TO disturb the golf course. for a water
hazard Of the width Of a canoe canal
would make an interesting problem for
the public links golfers.
VIII Be Fully Equipped.
Next year Washington will have am
pie public links golf facilities to serve
the city, thus going far ahead of the
netghbortng City of Baltimore, which
has only three courses, and none as
good as either Rock Creek or East
Potomac Park.
THE committee appointed to investi-
l. gate the possibility Of holding a
big national championship at Con-
gressional Country Club in 1892 is to
meet shortly to consider the question
In all its phases Henry j. Richardson,
chairman OF the Grounds Committee of
the club, and Guy Mason, chairman of
the Tournament Committee, are to at
tend the annual meeting of the United
States Golf Association in New York
January 10, and will be guided by the
nnal recommendations of the committee
as to what shall be done.
The inside dope on the Congressional
bid for the championship is this: Con-
gressional was advised shortly after the
amateur championship last September
that the club could have the amateur
title event In 1882 If sufficient pressure
were brought TO bear on the U. S. G.. A.
This came in an unofficial way from
one Of the officers of the national golf
body. Congressional went to work TO
flnd out about cost and convenience to
the club membership.
Donald Ross, prominent course archi-
tect, was consulted, and reported that
he could bring the course into first
class condition in ORDER TO hold the
tournament in 1882. but that the work
would run into considerable money. He
advised against rushing the course in
that fashion, but said it could be done.
With this recommendation before it, the
club board of governors felt disposed to
accept Ross advice, inasmuch as he
had told them the course can be brought
dition in 1885 or 1886 at considerably
lower cost. That is the situation in
which Congressional finds itself today
with regard to the possibility of its bid
for the amateur championship in 1882.
At the same time the George Washing
ton Bicentennial Commission has sought
national championship for Washing
ton in 1882.
Meanwhile Baltimore Country Club
is ready TO make a bid for the 1882
title event, and the feeling at Congress
sional is that it would be just as well
10 let the championship go elsewhere
in 1882. prepare the course for cham
pionship later and go after a title event
along about 1885. The committee is
10 meet shortly and make its decision
definitely known. but it is probable that
Congressional will not bid for the 1882
event.