New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17
THE COST OF GOLF.
Fifteen MillioH Balls Used .4nnuaHg
IN Great Britain.

There are now about 1000 golf clubs IN Great
Britain and II is generally estimated that there
are about 100000 players Probably more new
courses were made in 1906 than in 1905 and
money has been sunk in them by thousands o.
pounds at a time While expenditure has been
on the grand scale. SO have receipts. In the sum-
mer leading club. with a famous south coast
links. took in 200 new members. getting 5000
guineas from them in entrance fees and making
them liable TO il for 500 guIneas in annual sub
scriptions. one club, Another club took ESQ IN
green fees from visitors in three days. and an
other drew 5000 in the same way in August
alone So far as can be estimated, il IS believed
that 10000 people who We're previously non
golfers were converted 70 the game in 1906.
What with entrance fees and subscriptions and
outlay on materials. the average new convert
finds his initiation costs him SO As on the
average each Of these new players VIII spend
t15 year on the game-how happy many Of Us
would be to get off with four times that amount
We have secured a permanent increase in In
come Of at least 100000. On an average max
Ing the very fullest allowance for a preponder-
ance OF comparatively small provincial organ
izations a golf club cannot represent less than
tl,OOO worth Of sunk capital which means
t2,O00,O00 for the whole country
We have stated 100000 golfers and as
have suggested that the annual expenditure %
each of them the aVerage-such annual eN-
penditure being almost the sole income Of the
game-cannOt be less than tI5. this means SIS. q
week for all and Sundry. and il can hardly be
possible for IL 10 be an OvereSttmate This gives
US total OF t4,5O00OO To this has 70 be added
the special commencing expenditure OF 10000
new players at f1O each. which for some time
may De regarded as permanent source OF In
come. These items added together give US q
sum total or f4.1OO,OOO spent golf in the year.
The playing of this game has given rise 70 q
considerable industry, and many thousands or
people earn a good living through its agency.
The majority OF clubs employ a steward walt
ers ana other servants. a professional ana :
varying number Of groundmen. An average or
ten would be very reasonable allowance Tor
clubs. IL Is estimated that there are $1,000 cad
dies. giving us a total Of 100000 employees at
tached directly to the various clubs.
Then there axe at least 5000 people engaged
in the ball making trade, as statesmen and IN va
rious other capacities. Just see how many are
needed by the great world OF golf To begin
with. there are those 100000 golfers IL mas
been reckoned that at the height of the summer
gol1ng season. when the players are busy every
where, not less than 100000 balls are used up
every week. This. indeed seems to be a most
reasonable estimate. 1t was Semi-Ofticiaiy
stated in June that one firm of makers. and that
not by any means the biggest, WORKING
night and day. and turning out 100000 balls =
week Taking the whole year round. II you say
one ball golfer week. that Is surely very
modest reckoning. At that rate we have >
grand total OF 100000 balls used up every
year by the British golfers on British hnkA
Fifteen miionss-Fry,s MasazipA