The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-30

atirg uncertainties to every corner oil The
globe.
During the past twenty years, and
especialIy in the last decade, the progress
of golf has been altogether marvellous.
1t is certain that 10 other game ever
spread abroad and acquired universal
nonu]a7.;tv so rapidly In 1879 there were
in England only II golf clubs, including
one In jersey. The gar:e had not yet
been started In Ireland or Wales, ana
abroad was only played in India cine Cal
cutta club dates from 1920; in Canada,
where a club was formed in 1873, and at
Pau. i'll France, where The hrst CONT
mental links were laid out III lSoo. Zen
wears later, IL! 1889, the number OF Clubs
in England, ireland and Wales had in
creased to about 100. and the game had
become known in many parts OF the
world, including China, Egypt, the
Straits settlements. South Africa and the
tinted States. These figures show
fairly rapid and steady growth during
the period referred to; but 1t was alto-
eether trif1ing compared With what was
to follow. The Goifing Annual for 1872
1900 shows that there are at the present
tine In England 764 golf clubs, including
us ladies' clubs: Ireland possesses Ill
ami Wales 81 Thus, from leo golf CLUBS
in 1882 we have now reached the huge
total of 912 for England, ireland ana
Wales, and every year sees an increase
in the number. 4,,,
number of associations and unions are IN
ended. and by no means every CLUB mas
a course of it's own, still the figures test1-
fv to the extraordinary popularity OF
the game. and abroad It's progress has
been no less remarkable. In the Ohlted
States where golf was first started at
New York about the year 1883, there are
olNy he aP L.
iority possess links of their own. In Aus
traiia and New England there are 6S
golf Clubs. in India 81, in France 23, and,
taking into account 600 or go CLUBS IN
Scotland. we shall not be far wrong IN
= estimating the number spread abroad
throughout the world at considerably
over 1900. Truly this is a wonderful
growth. when it is considered that score
of years ago there were not out OF Scot
land more than five and twenty resorts
where golfers gathered to practice their
favorite pastime.
ADart from Its intrinsic merits as q
game of skill, suitable for people OF all
ages, which can be played In every month
Of the year, various causes have assisted
to bring golf so quickly to the front. 1t
was never likely to catch on In any
marked degree so long as ladies were
practically debarred from it's enjoyment,
and young men left 1t severely alone
But when the boom arrived with
startling abruptness about the year 1880,
the ladies We're not slow to appreciate
its merits Young men began to play
golf at first with the air of amused toll
GRANGE, which soon, however, gave place
to the enthusiasm which the royal and
ancient game invariably excites in the
breasts of those who seek to master its
difficulties. Captains of cricket elevens
and presidents of rowing clubs regarded
golf with jealousy as a dangerous rival
to those ancient English institutions, to
which they consider all the attention OF
athletic youth should be devoted. At the
present time there are not half dozen
clubs in the country whose representa-
tives would be likely to defeat the Ok
ford university team.