Evening star., 1936-03-01
COURSESFOROWN
PLAY ONLY POLICY
U, S. Public Links Event in
.'37 or '38 Is Only Major
=. Tilt in Prospect.
RY w. r. McCALLUM.

unless some OF the clubs change
their. ideas about entertaining ma
tional field.
Two major golf tournaments have
been held on Washington courses since
golf emerged from the red coat and
spats era 20 years ago. Columbia
staged the national open champion
ship, won by Jim Barnes, in 1921 and
the national public links title tourney
was held at East Potomac Park In
1923.
Another factor enters into the con-
sideration of Washington, a good golf
town, as a possible choice for ma
tional tournament. That factor is the
fairway watering systems now in gen.
eral use at all clubs where major
tournaments involving national title
are held.
It is almost an axiom these mod
ern days that a national tourney
must go to club which has watered
fairways to eliminate any possibility
of concrete-fast fairways and unusual
course conditions which may follow a
red-hot Summer. Certainly it is true
that neither the amateur nor the
open championship has been held In
recent years on a course which did
not have fairway watering.
Clubs Shy at Tourney.
CHEVY CHASE is the only golf
course around Washington which
has a fairway watering system now in
use and functioning. And Chevy
Chase definitely is not interested in a
national championship, for the present
at least, according to Robert Stead, jr,
golf chairman. 1--WE have so many
golf members who want to use our
course that we wouldn't think of TAX
ing it away from them for any con-
siderable period" Stead points out.
Columbia also is not interested in
another major championship, accord
ing to Golf Chairman Martin r. West.
Columbia is after the sectional quail
hcation rounds for the amateur title
tourney this year, to be played on
August 25, but as for the national
tourney itself, mix" says West, ex-
planning that much the same situa-
ton exists at Columbia as at Chevy
Chase.
Both clubs have big memberships
and despite the glamor of national
the clubs do not feel like bidding for
such a tourney and taking away the
use of their courses for two weeks
and more from their members.
Congressional Passed Up Meet.
CEVERAL years back Congressional
could have had the amateur cham
pionship, virtually for the asking.
That was the year of the Washing
ton Bicentennial celebration, when
Washington was the center of series
of affairs commemorating the 200th
birthday of George Washington. But
the club turned down the chance then
and the sentiment hasn't changed.
Furthermore, those in power at Con-
gressional feel that several major
changes would have to be made in
the golf course before a major title
tourney could be staged there.
Burning Tree would be fine spot
for a major affair, with one of the
great golf courses of the East and
ample space for the side features that
always come up at the big champion
ship. But Burning Tree isn't inter-
ested and would need lot of chang
ing around before entertaining a
championship field by way OF added
hunkering.
U. S. G. A. After Money.
FURTHERMORE, the United States
Golf Association, with a weather
eye on the important gate receipts,
would think a long while before it
awarded one of the big title Journeys
to club not located near a trans
portation line. Oh, yes, champion
slips have been held far out in the
opuntry, where the only way to get
tb 'em is by automobile, but the gates
aren't so big as they are when the
championship venue is course near
an electric line or one on or near
afmain highway. a..
Some of the other clubs have courses
which are too short or without ade-
quate club house facilities for major
championship, and with these factors
iii mind it isn't likely that Washing
ton will see a major championship
tourney for years to come.
May Get Public Links Event.
RUT there is one affair which may
come Washingtonward before
long. That is the national public
links title tourney. Severine G. Loeff-
ler, jr., is getting ready to stick in
q bid for the municipal affair any
time now, and don't be surprised to
see 1t awarded to Washington in 1887
or 1898.
The tourney was played at East
Potomac Park in 1928. and won by
Dick Walsh Of New York. It may 60
back to the same spot again in
year or two. if Loefler will stiffen up
the course q bit and make some i'm
provements.
J. Three Capital Courses Open.
emily three golf courses around
Washington were open today as
thousands of the links clan looked
longingly toward the time they can
take a swipe at golf bali again.
Over at Washington, Greenskeeper
Dave Thompson relented and let the
boys play on 18 temporary greens,
where the putting wasn't so good, but
the thrill of hitting a ball again was
there, just the same.
Burning Tree opened up Friday
afternoon and yesterday the course
was thronged with all Of four four
somes. Burning Tree is that kind of
course. Bannockburn also was
opened, and Tony sylvester, the club
pro, who has just come back from q
Miami visit, expected quite a few
golfers out today.
1--WE have swept all our greens and
they are O. K.," said Tony.
OF course. there were some soft
spots on all the layouts which were
opened, but on the whole they were
not in such bad shape for golf.
AT Manor and Kenwood. club OH
ciAls held out hope the courses may |
be open some time this week. The
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