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WINNETKA TALK 7 July 17, 1926 With practically every piece of acreage of any size near the borders of Winnetka either in the hands of the subdividers or em- braced within the confines of the num- erous golf courses which dot this ter- ritory, the Village of Winnetka and the Winnetka Playfield association are realizing more and more the value to the community of the ninety odd acres comprising the Playfield golf course. Furthermore, this tract is at the very threshhold of the village. It is just across Hibbard road, at the western terminus of Elm street. To locate an- other tract of this size and con- venience as to accessibility, would be impossible, and especially at anywhere near the price at which the village was enabled to acquire Playfield a few years back. Not alone is this fact attributable to the ever increasing appreciation of Playfield's worth as a community golf course. The rap- id increase in the interest in the game of golf throughout the nation and particularly in the Chicago area, naturally makes of every golf course a greater and more valuable asset. to its F. Richardson, Jr. owner or owners. The Chicago territory has become within the past few years the greatest golfing district in the world, it is said and boasts the greatest number of golf courses of any other city. he Winnetka Playfield course is a part of the great park system of Win- netka, being under the direction of the Winnetka Park Board, to which the Winnetka Playfield association is re- sponsible. The latter association was organized in 1919, at which time the course comprised only nine holes and was under only partial development. Today, it 1s a splendid eighteen hole course, with enlarged clubhouse facili- ties and plans in the offing for other improvements. he association started off seven years ago under the most encouraging conditions, with an early enrollment of 142. members, which, today has in- creased to 842. Organized in 1919 The assemblage of Winnetka citi- zens, back on the evening of April 10 1919, when the Playfield association was formally launched and christened anticipated gratifying results from their efforts. There have been times intervening, when a renewal of the 1919 enthusiasm was necessary on the part of those who have the welfare of Playfield at heart, to give the move- ment added impetus, and, even today, it is essential that the citizens of the village, In general, keep ever in mind he worth of their possessions in Play- deld, that their support and interest may insure its continued growth ani development as increased membeship and new conditions demand. The verv first meeting looking to- ward the formation of Playfield asso- ciation was held at Community House on the evening of February 20, 1019, when a committee comprising S. Bowles King, Cuthbert C. Adams, C. C. Anderson. C Bvron. A. V. Hors. man, M. K. Meyer, G. H. Roehm. Ed- ward S. Roeers and Arthur Woods was appointed to formulate a plan of organization. This committee's report was made and accented at the meeting on the evening of April 10, following ; the association was named. the consti. tution adopted and the first officers elected. First President Wallace D. Rumsey was the first president: Charles T. Eastman, vice- resident: Alfred V. Horsman, secre- tary, and M. K. Meyer, treasurer. B. Blow, A. B. McDougal and John Ritchie were chosen directors for one year and Mrs. H. H. Barnum, Darrell S. Boyd and Fred T. Rich- ardson, Jr., for the two year term. The first chairmen of the various permanent committees, whose labors and guiding hands have meant so Playfield--Then and Now : %:& general benefit of the com- Thus, Skokie Playfield asso- for the munity. ciation, The First Members The first members of Skokie Play- field association back in 1919 were as follows : F. Jackett, H. F. Moses, H. T. Spies- Teeing Off at The Playfield The above picture shows the first tee at the Winnetka Playfield golf course, as well as the clubhouse and a portion of the parking space. The greens and fairways are in excellent shape this year and many residents are enjoying their very own course each week. community course, Hundreds of plavers use the much to Playfield, were D. S. Boyd, chairman of the finance committee; A. B. McDougall, chairman of the berger, Nathan Klee, G. Hass, A. M. Rosenthal, Arthur Wood, 8, J. Goldstein, Max J. Stein, A. W. Sevy, grounds committee; John Ritchie, C. J. Eastman, Clarence Fossum, Oliver chairman of the Voltz, John house Compt: Dethloff, Wal- tee; C. J. East- ter Dehmlow, man, chairman F. L. Mahoney, of the sports Playfield Pro E.S. Parr, Louis and pastime as 3 Anderson, C. committee ; A. Van Duersen, J. Horsman, chairman of the rules and regu- lations commit- tee, and Mrs. H. H. Barnum, chairman of women's activi- ties. The Winnet- ka Park district, with the object of making avail- able for public use and recrea- tion to the full- est extent the areas under its control, had laid out and was maintaining a golf course, baseball field and other facili- ties and had constructed a field house for the convenience of the public. At the meeting of citi- zens and park commissioners on the evening of February 20, 1919, the de- cision was reached to form an asso- ciation of citizens to aid the park board in furthering and controlling the use of these areas and improvements Walter Stelzel, Playfield Dahl, T.Hirsch- berg, T Grubb, Mrs. C. Dieboldt, Ethel Feldkirchner, A. W. Rosen- heimer, Mr. Walden, H. W. Sherman, Mar- tin Kloepfer, J. J. Kelly, Mr. Solomon, E. B. Friedlander, N. M:=~Clark,...B: Beach, H. W. Miller, Leo Schornhorn, M. Newman, H. N. Gottlieb, Mr. Nederstrom, J. T. Ritchie, J. Roe, J. Monash, T.- Hill, CS. Duper, R. Boo ner, r. bBrok- Professional at Skokie son, H. Hud- son, W. Smith, H. Luensman, L. De Santo, F. Salmon, B. T. McGivern, L. Bell, C. Grunlund, George Gon- salves, Wm. Jenkins, Alfred V. Hors- man, Carroll D. Murphy, Hugh A. Foresman, James H. Prentiss, Fran- cis M. Phelps, Louis P. Mercer, James Prindiville, Hans Kuhn, Francis B. Daniels, Walter "F. Wallace, Wm. D. Mc- Kenzie, Ayres Boal, Ayres, Park Scott C. D. Dallas, R. W. Bell, Nathan Klee, F. W. Burlingham, S. Bowles Xing, John Stuart, A. W. Converse, Law- rence Howe, Morris L. Greeley, Wm. S. Elliott, J. Roy West, George W. Gordon, John R. Leonard, Wm. H. Martin, Barret Conway, Cuthbert C. Adams, Allen F. Withers, Alfred Runnfeldt, F. Goddard Cheney, Henry P. Crowell, Robert S. Laird, Roger S. Sherman, N. A. Ritchie, A. C. Madden, M. Brady, A. D. Kaplan, Mr. Jacob- son, H. Hartman, H. E. Silverman, Mable Murrie, James Schimer, B. Ransome, M. Knox, G. Lindwall, A. Damaski, A. A. Tilroe, H. Hale, E. Kloepfer, Dr. J. W. F. Davies, F. Dickinson, Harry Anderson, T. Wein- stock, C. Rahning, C. H. Coffin, Louis Schramm, Ed Knapp, A. I. Wolf, Pat Dean, Dan Con- ley, George Walker, Elmer Nelson, Stanley Nelson, Mr. O'Keith, Miss Jefferies, Wm. Danner, John Kassner, E. C. Weissenberg, B. W. Blow, Ed- win T. Runn- feldt, Albert gaunorn Hale Eckart, Fred Eckart, Wm. Kloepfer, Alfred Ul- bright, A. Mac Dougal, Olaf Watson, Pete Smith, John Smith, Frank Smith, Jake Smith, A. Trapp, E. S. Harrold, D. S Boyd Early Tournaments Playfield association in the very first year of its organization started off with a number of interesting tourna- ments, which have since featured the management of the course every sea- son. In 1919, the sports and pastime committee conducted successful events on May 30, in the form of a Decora- tion day handicap affair; on the Fourth of July was held a handicap flag tournament; during the month of July was held the Park board cup tournament; in August came the Golf- ers' magazine cup handicap tourna- ment. The first season closed in Sep- tember with the Martin challenge cup tournament. These events were won by Elmer Nelson, F. Richardson, Jr., Art Woods and A. Tilroe, respectively. Monthly class tournaments have since been features, as have also the Harvest Home tournament each year; the Rogers cup tournament on a handi- E. cap basis and the Park board trophy. At Playfield, par is 66, with 33 on each nine holes. The course record is held jointly by Harold Fossum and Elmer Nelson, at 64. Playfield is a member of the Western Golf associa- tion. The present officers of the Skokie Playfield association are, George W. Perrigo, president; Dr. Ralph 8S. Childs, vice-president; Seward F. Mc- Kenney, secretary, and Allen Wein- stock, treasurer. Al Runnfeldt is care- taker and superintendent of grounds. Walter Stelzel, professional at Sko- kie Playfield since 1922, devotes his entire time to golf and the instruc- tion of players, has had during these vears of service at Playfield, the pleas- ure of giving scores of voung people of the village their first instruction in this interesting and healthful sport. In addition, his services are frequently sought by more or less experienced players, who appreciate his technical knowledge of the game and his pleas- ing manner in the discharge of his official duties. Prior to coming to Playfield, Mr. Stelzel was at Wood- stock Country club, Indianapolis, Ind., in similar capacity. Winnetka Park Board The present commissioners and of- (Continued on Page 8)