Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-23
Half the Population Golfers.

Half the population of st. Andrews are
golf enthusiasts who have built, bought
or rented residences here so as to have
the advantage of playing on the cele-
brated course, buying sticks Of famous
makers and being present at the many
tournaments and matches that occur here
annually. A large part of the town is
made up Of fine stone residences sur
rounded by lovely grounds which are oc-
cupied by such people and golf cranks
from every part of the world. many of
them rich. retired merchants. manu-
facturers, bankers and other business men
who are prolonging their lives by con-
slant outdoor exercise and enjoying them
selves beyond description. Thousands OF
golfers come here to spend their vaca-
tions.
There is surf bathing on the beach that
fringes the golf course, and several large
open-air swimming pools made by build
ing dams between the rocks which hold
the water when the tide goes out. They
are quite novelty.
Ancient Golf a Royal Game.
Golf is supposed to have come originally
from Holland, and is Of very ancient orr
gin. 1t was SO common in Scotland In
1457 as to require the Intervention Of par
Lament to regulate it and to direct the
attention Of the people to archery and
fencing. which were considered more
useful training for the defense of the
country. How long 1t has been played
at ST. Andrews cannot be stated, but
the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. which
Is still fiourishing, was organized here in
1854. The Oldest club in the kingdom is
the Royal Blackheath Club, near London.
which dates back to 1903 and several
kings have played regularly on its links,
which are very poor however. with only
I@1@ Yx 4
an entrance fee Of 95 and annual dues
Of f3 The second club in the kingdom
was organized at Edinburgh In 1885 and
the third was organized here.
There are now 1.G2O golf clubs in the
United Kingdom. and ten of them are in
ST. Andrews. The largest club is the
Ranleagh of London. with 1000 members;
the second is at Homburg. Germany, with
1,S42 members: the third at Richmond.
near London, with 1900 members: the
fourth at St. Andrews. with 936 MEM
bers. and the fifth at Cairo. Egypt, with
900 members.
At It All the Time.
Golf begins at daylight here and ends
at dark when the balls can no longer be
seen. The other morning at o'clock
we counted twenty-five people playing on
the old course. and after dinner. at $50
at night. We counted fifty-six. There are
hundreds of people on the grounds all
day long and sometimes thousands. in
Guiding multitude of American enthu-
siasts There are ten flrst-c.ass hotels
IN the town, and nearly every house takes
boarders or rents rooms. The winter
population is 1000, and the summer pop
uation varies from ten to eleven thou
sand.
There are three links of eighteen holes
each for men and one exclusively for
belong
the town. including the premier golf
course of the world. are free to all COM
ers under the rules adopted by the Royal
and Ancient club, whose house stands at
the gate to the links. Strangers and all
non-taxpayers are admitted on equal
terms by paying a shilling a day, shil-
lIngs a week or Is shillings month
Men. women and children, of whatever
age. race or condition, who pay taxes In
the town or the fees named have an equal
chance on the links daily by filing an ap
plcation on a card which is prepared for
that purpose.
Choice of Links by Lot.
Every evening at o'clock these cards
are placed in bcx. and after being we'll
shaken 12o are drawn out successfully.
The person whose name is upon the first
card drawn, and any partner he may
choose. have the right to the premier
.'> .io1h the heAl iiIoi HillS, oul
they forfeit the privilege If they are not
ready TO drive their balls when the of
fetal starter. who occupies booth at
the starting point sounds the gong and
calls their names.
At precisely four minutes past Q the
pair whose names were on the second
ticket drawn are started. and this pro-
gram continues Until o'clock in the
evening. the starts being only four min
utes apart throughout the entire day.
The lists of the order of starting are
hung up Immediately after the drawing
in the principal hotel. the post office, in
front of the city hall and on a bulletin
board at the clubho :se. SO that every