The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-02
TOPEKA MAY PLAY GOLF
Interest Felt in the New and
Fashionable Game
Imported From England-Like-
ly to Supersede Tennis.
Golf Links on the Meadows Southwest
of Washburn College Suggested
Other Sporting News.

The game of golf has Travelled from
the dunes of Scotland, to New England
via Old England and has now pushed
its way as far as Washington The
game of golf is played on the Pacific
slope but between the slope and Wash
ington it has not been as yet accepted
as a popular amusement. 1t will, how
ever, just as all such games, be ac-
cepted by the sport loving people of the
central and western states. Lawn ten
mis- came slowly and it can be expected
that golf will finally reach Kansas as
did the other games mentioned. Why
should Topeka lovers of sport wait Tor
some other city to set the pace? There
are many people in Topeka would be
glad to play the game and would take
a lively interest in the sport if some
one viii take the trouble to give the
enterprise a start. AS in all other inno-
VatiOnS there must be d head and at
present, those who are at least curious
to know something about the game are
waiting for a leader.
Mr.. Frank Weightman, who is a ma
tive of England, and has played the
game there said: 1t is a simple game.
Golf requires no special physical quail
hcatiOnS; any one can play it In Eng
land the game is played Oh pastures
where the grass is cropped short, but
the game can be played with good re
suits on any field where the ball VIII
not be easily lost in high grass. A sec
ton OF land would make an excellent
field for a chain of golf links but
much smaller field can readily be used.
The Washburn campus, the fair grounds
or some such place would make good
field. The matter of an outfit is gov
erned by the wishes of the player. An
expensive outfit can be had for those
who can afford it or the expense can be
made but little"
Charles Downing said jokngIy: Il
understand that the golf craze is a dis
ease and that once it gets hold of a per
son it cannot be gotten rid of short of
the Kelley cure. If there is that much
interest in the game 1 should think 1t
would be well worth the attention OF
our Topeka people"
Clarence Smith said: DO you have
to run like you do in la crosse? Well, If
you don't have to run am in favor of
the game. I am like a great many
others who are-in the Santa ke Offices
looking for a game that can be played
the greater part of the year and that
gives a good amount of exercise with
out OVer-eXertion. was a member OF
the La Crosse club and am in for
golf"
= George StansfeId said: L have seen
the game played in the east and am
heartily in favor of club here and
will be one to join if anything is done
towards an organization. There is
chance for pretty costumes and besides
other features it is a game that the Ia
dies can play and does not require as
much jumping about as lawn tennis.
Here it could be played for nearly eight
months during the year. In the sum
rner it would be a good game to play
in the evenings"
Dick Alden was in favor of a club
and said: by all means let US have
golf club next year. I should think
that plenty of ground could be found
for the links. 1 know nothing about
the game but should like to learn If
there is a club formed 1 will be glad to
join"
James Quine of the Santa Fe offices
said: 4 would like to be a member
of a golf club if the expense of the links
would not be too much. am acquaint-
ed with the game as it is played in
England and 1 see no reason why it
should not be played in Topeka 1t IS a
game that can be played by both men
and women and is not restricted in the
number of players. A single person can
play as the object is to see how few
strokes of the golf stick it will take to
make a circuit of the links. That is
really all there is to the game but new
ertheIess it is pleasing and scientific
A golf club would furnish recreation
to many who are confined to offices
through the day as it could be played
evenings and Saturdays. 1t would not
be necessary like base ball, football or
many other games, to have certain
number as any number of persons can
play by following one after the other
while the curcuit of the links is made.
One of the great social advantages of
the game is that both ladies and gen
tIernen can play it and there is no dan
ser of professionalism about it, as there
is about base ball. football, etc. The
meadows and pasture fields southwest
of Washburn college would be suitable
place for play.