The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-03

Hnks-with an aggregate membershiP Of
SOmethinZ like $4,000.
MANY ara not active golfers, probably
only O~ne-quarter Of those listed. This
would bring the number Of live players
about New York 70 1900. the number for
merly listed on the general handicap list.
Yet at this conservative reckoning
for ~non-plRYers pay dues, oO-and not
including the hundreds who use Van Cort-
landt and other public links. at S27S a head
Ss25. 600 is expended annually on golf In
The Metropolitan association district by
81 the I,Ie4 clubs average 30 playing
members the personal cost Of The game
throughout the United States at the ratio
of &275 would 10 close to $40. OOO. 900. That
resort clubs do not always charge dues
is Offset by the daily fee and the hotel bills,
but many Of the smaller clubs do not charge
over SIS a year in dues. 30 the grand total
may be too large.
but the estimate Of thirty playing mem
bers TO each club is a low one and cancels
that O~vercharge. II gives IS. $50 players
only, yet we know hat the total Of names
on the New York. Boston. Chicago. Phila-
| delphia and PittBburg handicap lists ex-
ceeds 5000 and there must be at least four
times as many more players elsewhere
| throughout the country"
THAT caddie boy wasn't to the bad on
his wish. after ALL" commented the new
golfer. THE game runs into money all
SYet golfers get fair value for their money
, in the sport and physical good in their
game" resumed the statistical membe
But what they spend liz not all Out-Of-
pocket, to make a bull. for the enhanced
: value of the land used for golf since ten
years ago represents a profit OF the invest
ment Of each club. a profit hat each mem
Der gets a share of in one way or another,
besides sometimes an ultimate division OF
surplus.
aAn immediate return is Of benefit to the
entire neighborhood usually, for the clubs
first started for golf all blossom with pros
perity into country clubs. They then foster
many outdoor and indoor games to attract
others besides the golfers OF a family. while
as meeting places for dinners. tens. concerts
and dances the clubs become centres OF
the community's social life.
aHow much land il used for golf in the
United States. anyhow asked the novice
member
you can't have an eighteen-hole course
| of 5000 yards. which is about the minimum
length OF a good course, on less than an
eighty-acre plot. and It takes at least thirty
acres for any sort OF a nine-hole course
forty acres for one OF a good length" was
the reply. II won't average the land
covered by the l,l94 links. but some hgur-
ing may be lone On the PSF clubs in the
United States Golf Association.
The ~fOrty-three associate clubs have
! tlkugerh~uOlG GOuInCn dNA AAAly Onp-AAgI
or say fifty Of the allied clubs-have also
eighteen-hOle links. This gives 1850 acres.
and at thirty-ive acres average the nine
hole courses occupy q. 100 acres.
"On. these figures the 2s7. clubs in the
United States Golf Association use 14.A7C
acres. The average acreage of a club comes
to fifty. which Ia certainly on the low side.
Stretched out the eighteen hole courses
would make a links OF S1S miles n those OF
nine holes, at an average OF 1900 yards
a Dlau;nu IoDUth 90 naarEy aOO uiIa. This
does not include the courses not in the
United States Golf Association member
snip. To play this ols miles Of golf grounds
n would tee up in New York n hole
out very near to Chicago.
AT each big city the folks point Out
their 81 ,OOO,OO0 country club. The value
OF IN golf buildings and real estate in the
Metropolitan Golf Association has beer
put at 81, 1000, 900. which is not excessive.
yet the New York district has no mo.
noPoly Of elegantly furnished clubhOuses."
Money makes the golf ball go. | see.
broke in the veteran. N wonder il payI
to max clubs N balls"
Clubs don't sell as fast as when the
solid ball helped TO break the faces of the
drivers. besides they are better made nov
a when golf was new here. and, toe
the players know more about using Them
replied the statistician. yet including
those made by the professionals the annua
turnout is probably $4,000 wooden clubs
and $1,000 iron or aluminium ones.
Prices vary, handmade and patent
clubs costing more than those turned oui
at the factories, but 81 is a price that spite
the differences. OF say a gross valuation OF
$3.50 1000. am told that the combined
output OF new golf balls each season is
fully 100. 900 dozen.
They sell st retail. as you all know
from $50 to 90 a dozen; an average OF 8,
gives 800 900 for this item. This does not
include remade balls. OF which the output
Is as large and the cost half as much
"A poorly made caddis bag can be bouRf
for 81; good bags cost from 50 each to 81
for those Of pigskin with a cover and al
hand sewed. The market calls for about
5000 bags each year.
-Incldentals send money through golI
into many channels for instance. the US
Of sheepskins for grips helps the leather
trade: shafts and heads make a demand
for selected timber. iron Ia used in discs
rods and cups for the putting greens.
AS TO minor items the printers profit
from score cards. tournaments and OthsI
notices and from orders for the tasteful
year books. while the caddie masters buy
lead pencils in gross lots to be cut nto shorI
lengths for the member who keep records
of their scores.
The salaries Of golf professionals anC
the gross earnings OF Americas horde
of caddies, who are az common in the lanC
as grasshOppers. bring still more money
into circulation concluded the club
statlstician. That caddie boy who wishe.
; for all tho money spent on golf sought
. short cut 70 great wealth.