The age-herald., 1901-06-09
BY JOHN T. EVANS.

The great Scotch game of golf was first introduced in the United States about ten years ago, and it was sometime after that
 little was known of this very facinating game. Now old and young, male and fe-
 little was known of this very fascinating
 little white ball over the links. The req
 son of the popularity of this game is 90
 many can play it. and because it appeals
 to the intellect, and at the same time ex- ercises every muscle in the players body.
 Golf Is rapidly supplanting other games
 in the affections of the great majority of
 sport-loving Americans. Professional
 baseball and college football are becom-
 ing secondary thought.
 1t has often been said that golf was a
 game for the wealthy. but this is a great
 mistake, Large crowds of men, women
 and children line up at the first tee on
 Saturdays and other holidays, at the pub
 lie links In New York city, and with
 their paraphernalia represents months of
 hard-earned savings.
 It is said that when a young man makes
 application to a business man in New
 York for position the first question ask
 ed is Do you play golf?" Should the
 answer be in the affirmative his chances
 for him securing the position are very poor, as the business man knows quite
 well that the average player Is so en- unused over the game, little attention Is
 given to business.
 There are about 5OO0 golf clubs In the United States, with membership of 150.
 OO0 and many millions of dollars are in-
 vested in the links, paraphernalia, etc.
 Has Invaded the South. Until about three years ago golf was
 played in the east and north to great extent, but now it has invaded the South, and in all of the Southern cities and a | great many of the smaller towns links | can be found.
 | In Florida the finest links in the country | can be found, they being kept by the ho- | tels at the popular winter resorts, and | great crowds are attracted at the tourna-
 ments. Every train going to Florida in | the winter is crowded with players, with | their golf bags filled with clubs.
 Women are playing a more important | part in the game this year than ever be- | fore It beautiful red coats, short skirts i and jaunty headwear they roam over the l links morning and afternoon, take lunch con at the clubhouse and make them | selves thoroughly at home. This provea | a great attraction to the men and the membership Ills up anu tne ciup pioSP0i' Champion Woman.
 The present woman champion is Miss l Frances Griscom of Philadelphia, who | won her title at Shnnock Hills, last Au- | gust. Miss Griscom played in her first | championship tournament five years ago. | and at that time was a mere girl. Her playing was brilliant at times, but she could not compare with her opponent, Miss Beatrix Hoyt, fifteen-year-oid Bos- | ton girl, who won the national champion | ship In 1896, '97 and '9S.
 However. Miss Griscom did not become discouraged, and each succeeding year she | would enter the tournaments and would always make a creditable showing, but | she could not land the prize. She visited abroad in 1899 and 1900 and played daily over the different Scotch links, being in- structed by the best professionals, ana ar-