The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-25

When the royal and ancient game
of golf was first introduced on this side
O. the Atlantic there were those who
did not hesitate to proclaim it fac
tat would soon die natural death
when the novelty Of it had been ex-
hausted... Instead Of this. interest in
the Scottish game has steadily grown
stronger and more universal, greater
number Of people are playing golf this
summer than played it last, and when
next season comes around it will show
a still farther increase. Golf may
have been fad to start with, but it is
now we'll past the fad stage. 1t has de-
veloped into a permanent fixture among
our out door sports.
The extent of this popularity may be
determined when it is stated that over
fifteen millions of dollars are expended
each season on the game by its devo-
tees. This vast sum represents only
what is spent in the way of club dues.
for necessary equipment. such as balls,
bags, ETC., for caddy fees. transporta
ton to and from the links, and for the
special clothing in which the golfer
garbs himself when he turns out upon
the greens" Large as these figures
are, they are probably unde, the mark
rather than over it, for there are some
six hundred and eleven golf clubs in
the country to-day, having a combined
membership of about one hundred and
fifty thousand.
The property of the various clubs,
club houses, and the ground occupied
by the links, no doub. represent many
millions more that have found perma-
nent investment in the game. But this
by no means fixes the limit. In addi-
ton to those clubs that owe their ex-
istence to golf, there are numerous
private courses that wealthy fashion,
ables maintain at their country places,
for the use and entertainment Of them
selves and their friends. There are
some fifty or sixty of these private
courses that are sufficiently extensive
and 80 perfectly kept up, that they de-
serve to rank with the best club
courA -. These links. club and private,
are scattered all over the country; in
deed it would be difficult to name
locality that does not boast a golf
course of some sort.
From what has been said Of the
amount Of money annually spent on
golf, it might appear thai it is a game
which only the very rich can afford to
enjoy. w Illlt lIllS Is III d measure
true, still many individuals play golf
at an expense of less than two hun
dred dollars a season. which of course
M ans rather close figuring. On the
other hand many players spend any,
where from five hundred to one thou
sand dollars each year on their favor
lite pastime, though they probably get
no more real satisfaction from 1t for
40 ha;c
ed fellows.
Henvy as the expense of some Amer
lean players are. 1t is doubtful If any
of our millionaire enthusiasts have yet
equalled the worthy Earl of Wemyss,
who resided in East Lothian, Scotland,
late in the last century and who was a
familiar figure on tn. famous Gosford |
links. He ended by becoming so
enamored Of the sport that he finally
built himself golf house, near the |
course; the result, according to John
Kerrs Golf Book of East Lothian"
was 1.-The present palatial building or
at least the main portion thereof. The |
Earl, though he built this mansion that
he might golf at Gosford, never in
habited it, When it was completed in
the year 1900, the idea got about thai
sea sand having been used in the
building, it was damp and unhealthy. |
The Earl therefore added to the old
building and made that his house, and
the new mansion stood tenantless till
1t was put in order and tenanted by the
present Earl in 1890. The cost Of the
mansion when it was built at the end
of the century was one hundred thou
sand pounds At the end of the ninety
years during which it stood unoccu-
pied the accumulated value at 4 per
cent.-with compound interest,-would
be above three million pounds" This
will doubtless stand for a long while
to come as high water mark in the mat
ter o. what man can do to make golf
costly when he really tries.
Just at present golfers all over the
country are looking forward to an
event of unusual interest. This event
Is the tournament that will decide the
amateur championship of America.
The contest will be held during tin
week of Sept. 18th at the Morris County
Golf Club, Morristown, N. j. These
yearly contests have grown in impor
lance each succeeding season as inter-
est in the game has deepened. Last
years was held at Chicago and resulted
IN a. j. Whlgham carrying off the anna
teur championship honors. The one of |
the preceding year was played on
the Shinnecock course. Both of these
tournaments were largely attended and
served to create an enthusiasm for the
sport in quarters where it had not nre.
viously been known. Judging from
present indications, the tournament of
1898 will prove to be the best contested +
most largely attended, and by long
odds the most interesting golf cham.
pionship contest played in the United
States.
The great number Of clubs in the i'm
mediate neighborhood of New York
and the nearness Of Morristown to tina
former city, is of itself guarantee of |
numerous entries. Some of the best
players in the east have signified their
intention Of participating, while the
more distant cities, such as Boston.
Detroit, and Chicago, will be well rep